Displaying items by tag: Pink

Hoping to take the toxicity out of masculinity and give a fresh lens onto the world of menswear is the Victoria & Albert Museum’s latest show, Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear.

Unbelievably, it is the first major V&A exhibition to celebrate ‘the power, artistry and diversity of masculine attire and appearance'. Presenting around 100 looks and 100 artworks, displayed thematically across three galleries, it features the extravagance of the European courts, to the subtle elegance of bespoke tailoring, to the vitality of today’s international fashion scene, all fashioned and refashioned over the centuries. Contemporary looks by established designers and rising stars sit alongside historical treasures from the V&A’s collections and landmark loans: classical sculptures, Renaissance paintings, iconic photographs, and powerful film and performance.

Left - 'Undressed' room welcomes you to the exhibition

Gender is like night and day or light and dark, it changes all the time. It is pretty much established that men can wear pink nowadays. Even Niccolò Machiavelli recorded a quip by Cosimo the Elder “in his Istorie back in 1526 that 'two yards of pink cloth can make a gentleman’”.

This is such a big subject that it is hard to focus. What are you supposed to take away?

With an exhibition like Dior, for example, the subject line is already established and the curators simply have to flesh it out and select the best examples. This is a subject that could go in any direction.

There is plenty of decoration here, it could do with focusing on a few key characters or historical influencers. There is a portrait and suit of Edward VIII's, and, Cecil Beaton’s fancy dress bunny outfit, that could easily have an exhibition on their own. The exhibition could have been called ‘Influencers in Menswear’ or ‘Menswear in Art’ and had more detail. It’s usually the people that make clothes more interesting.

Masculine energy, good or bad, is missing. The first room ‘Undressed’ feels confused and flat and doesn’t really inject anything sexual into the proceedings. There is no desire here and little objectification. It the difference between male beauty and masculinity. One is much easier to visualise than the other.

Where the exhibition did get stronger was with the portraiture. Historical portraits mixed with doublets, gloves and the most fantastic Grinling Gibbons carved cravat once owned by Horace Walpole. The rest of the exhibition was a kind of greatest hits, but with a few B-sides and modern remixes thrown in.

Sponsored by Gucci there is an expectation of an over-the-top wowness from the Italian brand which is missing here. The V&A should have been Guccified and made over like Oscar Wilde’s velvet lined panic room, but it just feels a little flat.

These blockbuster exhibitions need to feel like the best retail, just with the world’s finest objects, where you are seduced and bounced along the show.

Right - A billiard table houses the rainbow of men's pieces both contemporary & historical

Ironically, the room with the most masculine energy was the final room which houses Billy Porter’s, Harry Styles’ and Bimini’s dresses with a black glossy floor and film projection. It felt contemporary, confident and uplifting while spilling the beans that Anna Wintour made the final decision to add a tailored jacket to Harry's American Vogue cover look. Now, that is fashioning masculinity.

Open until 6th November 2022

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"Hollywood is the American Olympus," Alessandro Michele said of why he wanted to show in L.A, but where were the god-like looks?

Gucci just unveiled another mammoth pre-fall show - Gucci's Love Parade - as it took its latest collection to Los Angeles. With over 100 looks of women's, men's, and everything in between, there was only one that I liked - the pink cowboy. Perfect for a Vegas wedding.

We are all used to Gucci's eclecticism, and, when the looks work, they really work, but this felt like it needed more focus or theme to tie everything in. With Hollywood cited as an inspiration, and all eyes on the brand for the soon-to-be-released film House of Gucci, this collection was a disappointment, especially when there is so much inspiration and characters to mine from Tinseltown's past and present.

Gucci does fantastical and retro so well, so why not take inspiration from the Hollywood Walk of Fame the cast walked on?

I found this picture of Mick Jagger (below) wearing a pop-art style star shirt from the 1970s which would have been perfect to replicate on suiting and separates. Gucci love to rip-off vintage looks and this is pure Harry Styles eat your heart out with a bombastic Elton John kapow psychedelic look.

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Why should the shirt have all the fun? This is the question the jean is asking this season. A new label on the radar is Casablanca. Designed in Paris and made in Casablanca, it’s a bright and creative contemporary brand bestowed with the rich dual heritage of Casablanca’s French-Moroccan founder, Charaf Tajer. (He was previously associated co-founder of Parisian label Pigalle and is also a collaborator of Mr Virgil Abloh).

His tongue-in-cheek and playful aesthetic, and not so silly prices, makes this a brand to have fun with. This print has something of the sunshine Hockney/Luke Edward Hall vibes about and I love it. Wear these with everything!

Left & Below - Casablanca - Chambre Slim-Fit Printed Denim Jeans - £365 from MRPORTER

Not to be confused with the shoe brand, Casablanca 1942 - Read more here

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Nobody wears ties anymore, especially cowboys, but this playful number, featuring the masculine stereotype du jour is a joy. In striking fuchsia pink silk and featuring cattle, Stetsons and lassos, it’s a playful take on a vintage design. 

Wear with a sober business suit and plain shirt, and the style message is this isn’t your first time at the fashion rodeo.

Left & Below - Drake’s - Pink Rodeo Print Shappe Silk Tie - £135

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Trust Korea to give us this OTT type of toggle trouser. Drawstrings for days in hot pink thanks to 99%IS- and its designer Bajowoo’s experience of designing merchandise and outfits for underground punk and rock bands in Tokyo, Seoul and Europe.

For cash, Jaded London, has a similar pair at a fraction of the price with strings attached - pun intended. Soz.

Left -  99%IS- - Gobchang Stretch-Shell Drawstring Trousers - £855

Below - Jaded London - Black Nylon Ruched Toggle Detail Jogger - £73

Nobody came as a row of tents or Christmas, but the ‘Camp’ theme, to go along with the New York museum’s new exhibition, isn’t exactly new to the Met Gala. The Met Gala is Fashion Christmas and is definitely not for those who don’t want to stand out.

The more you think about camp, the most confusing and harder it is to define. But, we’ll probably all agree, it’s about colour, print and bigger-is-best outlandishness and there was plenty of competition for the craziest and most attention seeking outfits. Here are TheChicGeek takeaways from the men on the pink carpet:

The Boy With The Pearl Earring 

With Gucci the main sponsor, their poster boy, Harry Styles, was the Co-Chair along with their Creative Director, Alessandro Michele. Harry’s become known for his bold Gucci looks and this didn’t really take it up a notch on the night. It was pretty standard Gucci uniform. But, it was the drop pearl earring that left a lasting impression. Vermeer in his ear, Harry’s pearly earring is a romantic renaissance addition to your jewellery box.

Left - Harry Styles in Gucci

Camp Shoes 

For those a little nervous to embrace the full Liberace campness, it was all down to the shoes. Go for something striking in glitter, studs or sequins.

Right - Ezra Miller in Burberry, Far Right - Rami Malek in Saint Laurent

Still Obsessed With Pink

Pink has become the beige of our era, but it still looks fun and fresh. Especially when it perfectly matches the carpet.

Left - Anderson Paak in Gucci

The Winner 

This idea is straight from the Gucci catwalk, but to have your own version of a Madame Tussauds head tucked under your arm is really something. Jared Leto going out for a pint of milk is pretty camp, at the best of the times, but this stepped it up and added some Adams Family spookiness. 

Right - Jared Leto in Gucci

The Mind Fuck

This make-up reminds me of the creepy Chemical Brothers video, Let Forever Be. While the outfit is meh, the artistry of this is full face look is technically brilliant. Look into my eyes…

Left - Ezra Miller in Burberry

The WTF

All camp roads lead to Gucci and the king is Alessandro Michele, but this feels more sloppy Studio 54 reject than emperor of camp. 

Right - Alessandro Michele in Gucci

The Party Poopers

Move over Normcore, this is Bore-core. I’m sure if you sliced these two in half they’d be a rainbow inside.

From Left - Frank Ocean in Prada, Kanye West in Dickies 

Hollywood’s golden boy, and probably one of the coolest actors of the moment, Timothée Chalamet, is currently on his press junket for the new film ‘Beautiful Boy’. When you’re this in demand you can have your pick of the newest and best clothes, so it’s always interesting what they choose.

He’s quoted as saying, “I can wear cool clothes from some of the nicest designers in the world. [So why] am I going to pay someone to figure out what I should be wearing?” 

True, Tim, but sometimes you need somebody to help with the logistics and the ringing around, oh, and the returns!

This beautiful boy has got a lot to learn, but looking at him, he’s doing a pretty good job at stylising himself and is the perfect leggy shape for designer clothes.

Be inspired by Timothée in Call Me By Your Name - here

Left - Louis Vuitton SS19

Right - Alexander McQueen AW18

Below - Saint Laurent AW18

When you're a ginger, you can match your Millenial Pink to your nipples! Bring out the baby pink pastels in various shades this spring. Add touches of coral to highlight and contrast and look for classic, collegiate shapes in jackets and sweatshirts.

Accessorise with a handful of balloons!

Left - Credits - Shoes - Base London, Jacket - Scotch & Soda, Sweatshirt - Scotch & Soda, Trousers - Moss Bros

There’s something very millennial, and also sexy, about pink pants. We’ve not had a pair of desirable hipster Y-fronts since American Apparel closed its doors.

Left & Below Left - Boy Smells Men’s Blush Brief - $25 

Boy Smells from LA, known for their candles, has expanded with intimate apparel called ‘Unmentionables’. All styles are made in Peru out of premium Pima cotton. For colour, Boy Smells has chosen to further expand the brand’s signature pink with other neo-naturalistic tones: bone, buff, bare, and blush. 

On the other side of the Atlantic, Ron Dorff, the Franco/Swedish basics brand, has a pair of pink Y-fronts that will make everybody wink. Think pink for that underwear drawer refresh.

Below Right & Bottom - Ron Dorff - Y-Front Briefs - £28

This is the only suit you’ll need this season because it’s ticking a lot of boxes. Green, tick. Pink details, tick. Retro, tick. Comfortable, tick. 

You should probably know by now I’m crazy about forest green and also Fila’s vintage inspired sportswear ATM. This perfectly combines the two and is exclusive to Urban Outfitters.

Wear together or separately. It won’t hang around, so get moving.

Left & Below - FILA Johnson Forest and Pink Velour Tracksuit Top - £65 FILA - Johnson Forest and Pink Track Pants - £6

See more "Prawn Cocktail" inspired menswear here