Criticizing the NYT men’s fashions issue is like criticizing Maureen Dowd: it’s easy and cheap.
This Spring’s Men’s Fashions of the Times just arrived at my door. Jamie Foxx’s on the cover looking stern while wearing a very large diamond stud. Inside, he models two suits with white shirts and neckties and one white tux shirt with a bow tie, looking stern. The one-page interview is equally humorless. Smile for the camera, Jamie, you have a great smile.
Now for the rest of the issue: At first glance, it’s glaringly obvious that The Manolo‘s not a member of their editorial staff. The Manolo’s all about style and elegance, both of which are, for the great part, conspicuously missing. Instead, “The Remix” says “It’s all about . . . MICK JAGGER . . . MIAMI VICE. . . RETRO SPECS . . . VANITY RACETRACKS . . . ANYTHING BUT GIN AND TONIC”, while a photo of Mick from 35 years ago reminds you that it was some 35 years ago or so that Truman Capote said “Mick Jagger is about as sexy as a pissing toad.” The season’s must-have include a selection of print men’s shirts that back in my college days would have signaled DORK to anyone looking at them. Further dorkiness is explored in the Prints Among Men feature, raising the question, are you a rich enough dork to spend $3,000 on that Yves St Laurent jacket and shirt?
Suzy Menkes asks, Could the new James Bond be as slick as the old?.
Readers of this blog already know the answer is No
A brief item informs us that artist Gordon McHarg has sculpted a life-size figure of Charles Saatchi, which McHarg dresses up in costumes. No word on whether a matching life-size figure of Mrs. Saatchi is in the works.
There’s an article on a men’s charm school in Scotland, a feature on bearded guys in drag (as Ron White would do {{shudder}}) looking exceedingly ugly, and the “Talk” section has three words: Jib, Androgyne, Playboy.
Which reminds me, a week ago the Wall Street Journal had an op-ed page interview with Harvey Mansfield(*), who has an even better word:
Manliness.
Now, that’s that what I call a word.
Update, Monday March 13 A most gracious welcome to the friends of The Manolo. The Fausta is honored to have you visit, and invites you to continue to visit often.
(*) The Sunday Times Magazine has a brief interview with Mansfield.
(technorati tags fashion)
