Recently in Menswear Category

I came across COS while I was walking around Munich's town center. I had never heard of the boutique before and was surprised at the mild prices (most everything is under 129 euros), given the quality of the materials used. The bi-level store was choke-full of monochromatic pieces that appeared simple, but had small details (exposed zippers, ruching, cowl neck...) for both men and women making for great staples; kind of like a frugal Ports 1961, no? When I paid for my buys I asked the sales woman about the line and she told me that it actually is owned by H&M! So far boutiques are only in select European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom), but hopefully they will roll out in the U.S. soon!

Because the urban terrain can be just as wild and difficult to navigate as the jungles in Brazil, Phillip Lim was out to prove that one need not leave the city to be adventurous. "Who says the city pavement isn't rugged terrain?" he wrote in the notes for his first-ever men's runway show. Cast in such autumnal tones as grey, navy, burgundy and sand and set on a custom-poured concrete floor, the strong willed collection, with a touch of Berlin-esque influence, featured a flurry of strong outwear pieces--namely coats boasting sleek leather accents, sharp buttons and shiny-as-can-be zipper details. Leather is looking to be a key signature fabric for Lim, and it was used in the right ways as to be modern and powerful: "bulletproof" vests, leather-layered-under-wool coats and cropped leather shorts. It was a futuristic look into a nomadic man--one whose portfolio happens to include rich leathergoods in the form of backpacks, gloves, shoes, not to mention eyewear--as he proved himself not just a dabbler in the men's world, but rather a most serious--and increasingly influential--player.

Hermès fêted the opening of its first-ever men's store--dubbed "Hermès Man on Madison"--at 691 Madison Avenue on Tuesday that drew such celebrity fans as Katie Holmes, Martha Stewart, Mad Men's John Slattery and Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon. It was an amazingly executed soiree! Guests were ushered in by greeters clad in black topcoats with Hermès orange scarves, and after a glass (or two) of Champagne and caviar canapés, I headed to the nearby Park Avenue Armory for the afterparty.

That's when my jaw dropped.

I've been to my fair share of extravaganzas in my career--Fendi's Great Wall fashion show in Beijing, Ferragamo's 85th anniversary bash in Shanghai and Valentino's 45th anniversary couture show/swan song in Rome--and this one easily ranked up there as one of the best. Ever. To echo the night's masculine theme, 1,000 guests were greeted by an art installation of an LED horse (a nod to the brand's heritage) that featured thousands of fiber optic lights aglow in Hermès orange, natch, custom made by the Japanese artist Makoto Tojiki, as they arrived. From there, I had the choice to enter one of four rooms: the travel room; the library; the game room and a jazz club. I nearly died.

The library boasted one wall of floor-to-ceiling factory windows and another featuring floor-to-ceiling library shelves stocked with 8,000 hand-dyed books designed as a dramatic installation. I had my caricature done by illustrator Caitlin McGauley while noshing on chilled lobster tails, Wagyu beef, baby Colorado lamb chops, Iberico ham and foie gras brûlé. Even the napkins were made from genuine linen! Next door was the game room, where I played a round of air hockey with a friend, but there was everything from vintage pinball machines to pool and ping pong tables. The travel room featured a feast of global cuisine: dim sum (China); tacos (Mexico); Indian Chat (India) and crepes (France), along with a Turkish coffee bar. It was almost too much. Then I entered the last room, aka the jazz club. I was ushered to a table and a waiter brought over Champagne and oysters for me to enjoy while a trio of performers entertained: jazz pianist Barry Harris; French music group Venus Gets Even and New York local young rock band Locksley.

I almost forgot that New York City was getting a snowstorm that eventually dumped a foot of snow I was dancing so hard! My friend, the incredibly talented DJ Coleman, spun a late-night rager that had everyone reliving their Studio 54 days. What a way to usher in the start of New York Fashion Week!

Rugged, yet ever as refined, best describes DKNY's fall men's collection. "These are not clothes for the concrete jungle alone," said Donna Karan, who presided over the lively showing at the Breslin Bar inside Manhattan's Ace Hotel, where a bevy of too-cool-for-school Ivy League prepster-like models by fashion's two new favorite words: value and versatility. Styled by Jay Massacret, the mostly layered looks included big parkas, tech-inspired quilted vests and shearling trimmed overcoats, not to mention oh-so-comfortable crewneck shirts and striped cardigans. I particularly liked a grey puffer down jacket worn with a wool/mohair suit, grey cotton shirt and shocking orange tie. For the Pure DKNY organic line, it was time to, as the show notes stated, "Take It Easy." Soft shades of oatmeal, chocolate and khaki permeated through blazers, sweaters, hooded outerwear and cotton twill trousers--all of which were paired with Merrell waterproof boots.

What about you, do you want to watch pretty boys a la Smith of SATC with perfect hair and sushi/veggie body or a guy like Nevan?

Couture Snob Tina asked a few weeks ago what everyone thought Michelle Obama should wear to the upcoming inauguration and the verdict came in and it read -- Oscar de la Renta! Now we ask, what should President-elect Barack Obama wear?

VOTE!

All sketches from WWD.