Stop me if you've heard this one. "If you're going to wear black tie then follow Brosnan as Bond in Brioni. Keep it simple, minimal and with
catsuit zero personal detail." Please! Anyone would think the rules of formal menswear were written as an appendix to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Tuxedos didn't even exist until the early 20th century. "It was a dinner jacket evening - not tails, because they would only be three," wrote EM Forster in Maurice in 1914. Forster adds, "Though he had respected such niceties for years Maurice found them suddenly ridiculous." Quite.
'Tis the season of awards ceremonies and Hollywood's finest are having some fun with the traditional tux. A-listers like Leonardo were understandably tetchy being upstaged by the ubiquitous starlet in a Vera Wang meringue. So the guys got creative. Matt Damon and Rupert Everett put a spin on the tux at the Golden Globes by replacing the camp dickie with a black satin tie. The glimmer of black satin on lapel and buttons looks sharp. Damon's tie looked chic as it peeped from a high-button single-breasted tux.
Antonio Banderas ditched the tie in favour of a black satin band tied by the top diamond collar stud: very dashing with his Caesar- cut fringe.
For Spring/Summer 2000, 's ad campaign is a tableau of black-clad vamps surrounded by classic tuxedo-clad boys with shaggy Gallagher hair. A bit of rough with the smooth works. Sadly, went a tad too far for Autumn/Winter 2000. In what can only be described as a Keith Haring technique, Tom Ford reinvented the black tux in graphic black and white graffiti print. His bow ties are floppy, overblown velvet that even Oscar Wilde might consider too effete. Leave the tuxedo alone. Ditto the dress shirt. Play with shirt studs, zentai and the black patent leather pimp loafer. But the dickie bow is dead. Go figure.
In the current BOSS Black collection, formal, dressed-up style interacts with informal sportswear influences. Casual looks meet ultimate elegance. It is
zentai a clean aesthetic, with body-conscious cuts, subtle detailing and a unique lightness. A range of accessories complements the Spring/Summer collection including elegant lace-up shoes in stone-gray patent leather, and a goatskin weekender with a vintage patina. For the city safari, there are canvas reporter and messenger bags in canvas with leather trim. Boss Black is located at Greenbelt 4 and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.
Named Poacher, the new Dunhill leather range for Spring/Summer 2008 accessories imagines the roguish, maverick gentleman who marries mischief with charm and adventure. The collection, which comes in chocolate brown, is fabricated in buffalo skin. The collection consists of six luggage pieces: two North South bags (one small, one large); a dispatch bag; a document bag; the unusual double gusset messenger bag and the weekend bag. In addition, there are smaller Poacher pieces: a miniature saddle bag coin purse and a dual purpose billfold wallet and coin purse, both of which are equipped with a clip to attach it to any of its larger Poacher cousins. Dunhill is available at Rustan's Makati.
men take on a rebellious streak for the Cruise 2008 collection by breaking free of resort tradition. The collection merges a young and unconventional mood with refined elegance in construction and materials. shoes, bags and accessories are available at the boutique located in Greenbelt 4.
Salvatore Ferragamo's men's accessories for the summer of 2008 include Sand-toned day scarves in silk and linen blends, edging on the colorless. Tuxedo
costume zentai belts and bow ties flaunt luxe de grande soiree, with other elegant touches in daywear, such as pearl, mosaic and enameled metal zentai suit. Intricate patterns and jacquard for ties in refreshing colors; sunglasses and watches in pink gold. Salvatore Ferragamo has branches at Power Plant Mall, Greenbelt 4, Rustan's Tower, Rustan's Makati and Rustan's Ayala Cebu.
