Gap x GQ: 2012 Best New Menswear Designers Preview

A while back I posted about the upcoming collaboration between GAP and GQ's best new menswear designers in America. GQ recently released some sketches of the upcoming collection so here they are (images courtesy of GQ).  The collection will available in stores on September 27th, 2012 - can't wait!

 

BLK DNM

GQ: 2012 Best New Menswear Designers

A couple of weeks ago, GQ announced it's six best new menswear designers in America which includes: Ovadia & Sons, Ian Velardi, Todd Snyder, Saturdays NYC, BLK DNM and Mark McNairy.  As with last year, the group of designers will be creating a limited edition capsule collection!  However, this year the line will be produced in conjunction with Gap.  Last year the collaboration was done with Dockers and housed at Bloomingdale's.  Prices were definitely on the steeper side (i.e. $200 for slacks) so hopefully the partnership with Gap will help drive down price points.

These collabs are nice because they're just for the guys.  No angry-mobs, no colored wristbands with 15 minute time slots to shop, no need to grab everything in site and edit down once you get home and no hoarders (thereby reducing the craziness factor and the need to pop a valium while waiting to check out).

Here's a quick rundown of the designers selected by GQ and what they are known for:

Ovadia & Sons - high end suiting

Coming Soon: Park & Bond Pop Up Shop

WWD announced that Park and Bond will be collaborating with GQ and hosting a pop up shop in the Meatpacking District.  The store is set to open on December 7-18, 2011 at 414 W 14th St and will offer menswear pieces, footwear, watches and gadgets for shoppers.  The store will also house some items hailed as the "best stuff" of the year which is featured in the December edition of GQ.

The pop up shop is set to have different events running each day including a special promo by Amex for its cardholders.

According to John Auerbach - President of Park and Bond, "we have no plans to add bricks-and-mortar".  To me, not to set up permanent shop makes perfect sense since it goes against the online empire Gilt has built up.  Nonetheless, its always nice to see things in person before you buy. 

If you really can't wait until the shop opens up, head over to Park and Bond (they're currently having a sale online with select items up to 50%).

Dockers Designers Collection

Finally got a chance to stop by Bloomingdale's on 59th this past weekend to check out the Dockers Designer Collection. GQ's nominees for "Best New Designer" each had a chance to collaborate with Dockers to create one look to be produced and sold. Instead of having only the winner design a capsule collection (last year it was Billy Reid who created a collection with Levi's), this year all nominees a chance to work with Dockers.

Alexander Wang took home GQ's award this year and kept his look simple and in line with his T line. The utility pants are going for $200 and the T is going for $74.

For a more safari look - Michael Bastian's getup is bang on. The one pocket cargo pants are $200 and the 1/2 button up shirt is $175.

If you're going for a clean look - Miller's Oath has a great pair of cuffed pants ($200) and button up ($150).

If you're into pleats, Patrick Ervell created a pair of pants with tiny pleats at the waist line which are also going for $200 (accompanying shirt is $240).

For a more distressed look - Riviera Club has you covered (pants $200, top $150).

The last look (any my least favorite) is the getup designed by Rick Klotz (Warriors of Radness) - just personal preference I guess. The elastic bottom pants are going for $175 and the windbreaker is $175.

Overall, while I like the majority of the pieces - I think the pricing is a bit peculiar. Everything in the Dockers collection is priced relatively on par with each other - but when you look at the each of the designer's namesake collections, there is a definite divide in terms of price point (i.e. Michael Bastian being the highest and Warriors of Radness being the lowest). Also - A Wang's basic Ts retail for about $75 which is the same price as the dockers collab which again I find strange...

If you want to check out the pieces in person - head over to Bloomingdale's on 59th and Lexington.

Company of We: Fall/Winter 2010 Lookbook

Ever since Company of We began back in 2009, they've been getting raves from the likes of GQ, WWD, Selectism and the LA Times (just to name a few). Even in my hometown (Toronto), retailers including smaller boutiques and Holt Renfrew began carrying the line.

Their new lookbook just released online so here are some of the looks you can expect to see from the line this season:

Great blazers - especially the one on the left.
Tweed + Herringbone + Toggle = Awesome

The cardigan and wool coat above are probably my favorite from the collection. The sweater houses a few different types of knits/textures in addition to a toggle closure while the 3/4 wool coat just looks polished.

Overall, I'm more of a fan of their outerwear over their other product lines. The pieces have great construction, attention to detail without being over the top and wearability. On a side note, I've been looking for a toggle closure wool jacket for a while now but haven't been able to find anything yet - so these look promising!

Levi's x Billy Reid Collection

Earlier this year, Billy Reid was named the winner of GQ's annual Best New Menswear Designer in America. Other designers which made it to the finals included Burkman Bros, Richard Chai, Vincent Flumiani (Caulfield Preparatory), Frank Muytjens (J. Crew) and Eunice Lee (UNIS). Along with Billy's victory, he took home $50,000 and was given the opportunity to collaborate with Levi's to create a limited edition collection. In general, I'm definitely a fan of all of the finalists GQ selected - so kudos to Billy.

Generally speaking, there is a definite shortage of designer collaborations for men but hopefully this will change for the better in the future. I love collaborations since you get stylistic elements of two designers in one item and quantities are always limited so once it's gone - it's gone.

The collection was inspired by a blacksmith's work apron made out of duck cloth which was littered with abrasions, rust and oil stains. Overall, the pieces tend to be worked over with different treatments and in the end, all tie back to that apron.

The men's tote bag is a prime example of how the blacksmith's apron was incorporated into the collection. Tote bag = apron folded in half! Simple yet ingenious.

A few items were kept untouched including a high-rise jean based off of a pair of 1947 Levi's and a denim shirt (as shown on Billy Reid's picture above).

If you're looking to grab some of this gear, the collection is set to debut at select Bloomingdale's stores this fall so watch out!