Fay - Loving the Italian designs this spring!

Fay is part of the Tod's Design Group.  Once again, my fav does not appear to be readily available in North America.  It appears as though I must make a trip to Italy!

Few words are needed to describe this colorful retro spring line.  Love it!!

 

Holly Fulton

It was nice to wake up to some fresh designs for Fall 2013!  Fulton is a Scottish born, London based designer...LOVE

These are my favorite pieces from her fall collection...

And from Spring 2013...

Fun, Fresh and Wearable!

Twin Set by Simona Barbieri - Girls

An absolutely stunning Italian Tween line!  There is a huge gap in the market for girls between the ages of 8 and 14.  They either have to look like little girls, or dress from stores that are not age appropriate.  This summer's line from Twin Set Girl perfect.  Their online store is not available to North America yet so if you're travelling across the pond, I'd look for it. 

More from the site...I'm in love with this line!

Five Steps to Spring Style from Gilt - Guys

Five Steps to Spring Style from Gilt

An insider's guide to staying ahead of the sartorial pack this season

by Largetail in Style on 05 April 2013

Advertorial Content:

Spring is finally peeking out from behind the clouds here in NYC and the mercury is slowly rising across the hemisphere. Welcoming warmer weather means more than just shedding layers—your wardrobe can look forward to a lighter, brighter and slightly less formal break from winter wear. To help make the transition this season, Gilt's VP of men's creative and editorial Tyler Thoreson offersfive tips on how to master spring style with goods featured in their Spring Essentials sale. As part of Gilt's commitment to keep members ahead of the sartorial game, their editorial team works in conjunction with the site's bevy of emerging designers and exclusive brands—discounted up to 60% on a regular basis—to put it all together.

1. To start the season off right, dress down a spring suit by losing the tie and the socks. Pairing a pocket square with some blue or brown shoes can also add some spark to your look without getting "too matchy-matchy."

2. If a new suit isn't in the cards, Thoreson recommends livening up one you already own by changing up what's underneath. Opt for a button-down in color with a brightly hued, textured tie or start with a patterned shirt and a solid tie to reverse the contrast.

3. As for footwear, says Thoreson, a lightweight suede shoe is the perfect spring essential, and chukkas, drivers or desert boots will anchor your wardrobe for the season.

4. Next up, the scarf. Spring's lingering chilly evenings require an in-between layer which you can easily pull off in the form of a lightweight wrapper. Whether it's a solid or subtly printed woven to pair with a suit or a more vibrant linen to go with casual, lighter denim, there are a range of options to keep you looking sharp and staying warm.

5. On the flip side of dressing down your formalwear, injecting some sophistication into your casual look will get you ready for spring. Thoreson recommends slim, trim shorts and shows the outfit with a pair of driving loafers which inject a pop of color in bright orange. The colorful shoes may seem tough to pull off, but Spring is the time to try—it's not as hard as you may think.

To shop the Spring Essentials sale visit Gilt online.

Images courtesy of Gilt

Neighbour's Vancouver - Guys

Neighbour's Vancouver Storefront

Design collaborations and a story of textiles from Saager Dilawri

by Jonah Samson in Style on 21 March 2013

Neighbour, a small men's clothing boutique in Vancouver's Gastown area, gets the mix just right through owner Saager Dilawri's personal picks of lesser known brands and unique collaborations. Since the shop's opening, Dilawri has consistently impressed us with quality and variety, so we decided to meet with the entrepreneur to talk about the makings of a good menswear shop.

 

The first thing you notice when walking into Neighbour is the variety of color and texture. "We have always had an admiration for textiles, shades and colors, as well as for the production process—so that is what we focus on when looking at collections," says Dilawri. Through the variety of sophisticated but accessible design across smartly wearable apparel and accessories and sharp home objects, Neighbour is able to distinguish itself from the rest of Vancouver's thriving menswear stores. "We are very conscious of how the items sit and tell a story within the store."

Vancouver is something of a hub for Canadian menswear, although that doesn't bother Dilawri: "I think each store has their own niche, and so somehow we are all able to coexist." Neighbour isn't out to create hard competition for the surrounding shops, opting instead for a homey and friendly vibe, hence the name. His accomplishment isn't easy to do in an arena that can tend toward self-importance. "I'd describe our selection as somewhat more playful and not taking the menswear aspect too seriously," says Dilawri.

 

Neighbour's collaborations also help to set the shop apart, and their experiments aren't limited to clothing. "We recently did a furniture and object collaboration with a designer based out of Portland named Jason Rens," says Dilawri. "He specially made a set of seven chairs for the shop. Each chair was made out of a single eight-foot two-by-four piece of wood. The idea is similar to what Martino Gamper did with 100 chairs in 100 days by putting restrictions on design." Later this year, Neighbour plans to launch a shirting capsule collection as well as a collaboration with Unis