Florida Agenda

By AJ Cross

According to a recent survey of data
compiled from leading men’s magazines
such as Esquire, GQ, and Complex,
South Florida ranked in the top twenty
places with the “worst dressed men in
the country.” My guess would be that
this is due to the casual attitude men
here have, helped along by the high
temperature. I have to admit that after
reading the data, published by “Wire
Image,” we could definitely stand to
step up our wardrobe, boys. I have been
to New Year’s Eve events, weddings, and
funerals where men arrived in board
shorts and sandals: really?

Where have the black tuxedos gone?

Where are the pinstripes, bowties, and
suspenders? I think tha t there is a sad
trend that emphasizing “less is more”
when it comes to men—perhaps why so
many of us frequent Go-Go bars. I
personally love the mystique of a welldressed
man. The hottest thing about
Superman was that you had no clue
how hot he was as Clark Kent.

Fashion designer Tom Ford responded
to the survey by stating, “I think the
bottom line is that men simply have no
idea how to dress themselves. Even
YouTube gives demonstrations on how
to navigate your way around a bow
tie. There should be academies for
men’s fashion.”

Ask and you shall receive! Let me give
you some tips:

Tip#1: Pleated pants are out. The
trend is a clean, flat front pant with no
cuff and a modest break. The pant
should be just right in fit; not too snug
and not too full.

Tip#2: The belt and the shoes should
be in the same color spectrum. Black
shoes and a brown belt are NOT cute.

Tip#3: White still rules as the choice
of color for button-down shirts, but
it is BORING. Spice it up with a
light blue checkered shirt, or multi-color
bold pinstripe, or solid salmon or
micro-dot pattern.

Tip#4:“Formal” means tux or a suit
in the tux family. “Business casual”
means slim-fit khaki flat-front pant,
brown belt, clean shoe or loafer, and
slim-fit (European cut) button-down.
A man should look like a man.

Tip#5:If you want to wear sequins, satin
pants, a shirt you can barely breathe in,
or heels, then you might want to wait
till I write about trani-fashions.

Tip#6:Learn how to tie a bowtie.
There is nothing more pathetic than
a clip-on.

Tip#7: Know your tie knots and when
to wear them. According to W
Magazine the basic four are “Four
in Hand,” “Half Windsor,” “Windsor,”
and “Shell Knot.”

Tip#8: Vests are for guys who can’t
find a shirt that actually fits (or
lesbians), so unless the vest is part of a
three piece suit, donate it to Poverello
or Out of the Closet.

The bottom line is that there is
something sexy about a well-dressed
man, and about understanding the
current fashion trends. The ability to
know that you should be wearing a size
thirty-four jacket instead of a thirtyeight
will make all the difference
between looking like a stud and looking
like a dud. I hope that the next survey
finds South Florida men evolving into
the fashion leader.

AJ Cross

AJ CRoss is originally from
Montreal and has written the
“Cross Eyed” column for seven
years. He lives in Fort Lauderdale
where he serves as budget advisor
to the City Commission

By ERIC CHRISTIAN

Just when you thought the iconic house of Versace was becoming obsolete, you are soon to be in for a rude awakening! A big, loud and brash rude awakening that is. The wait to see and purchase items from the Versace for H&M collection is soon to be over. This is indeed the latest collaboration that is stirring all the buzz in the retail and fashion world!

For the fashion junkies that are familiar with the legendary fashion house, expect bright prints, bold colors, and reinterpretations of the iconic blazers, leather jackets, and pants. Plus, a first for the H&M designer collaborations, expect a home-ware collection too, including pillows and a hot beaded bedspread!

Versace’s men’s collection for H&M is a mix of sleek tailoring and pieces

with bold, eye catching patterns. Suit jackets and trousers come in either black, or pink, while a black tuxedo jacket has metallic tip trims on its pockets, and shirts have metallic wing-tips on the collars. Versace’s palm prints are used on t-shirts, as well as on thin-knit cashmere sweaters, while print is also used on velvet bombers, jeans, and even underwear. There is also a mix of classic pink and turquoise button down shirts that have matching tailored, skinny pants. Furthermore there is a striking range of black and white geometric printed shirts, tops and t-shirts.

There’s leather in the men’s collection too, with a quilted leather jacket trimmed with gold studs in the Versace classical Greek pattern, which is repeated down the sides of black cotton shorts and a rolled-sleeve t-shirt. As we ll as a stunning black top coat with leather sleeves and collar. Accessories include embellished beanies and patterned caps, embellished or print scarfs, as well as hi-top sneakers, brazen jewels and dress shoes.

The US and Canada will release the collection on November 19 in select stores. I got word that Palm Beach will definitely be one of them releasing the collection on November 17! The collection will be available in about 300 stores worldwide. I urge all you fashionistas that want a piece of this excitement to be at the stores at least two hours before they open!

The price point for the collection is not as low as what we saw with Missoni for Target. You will still be looking at shelling out over $200 for leather pieces. T-shirts are coming in between $25 and $65 with jackets around $150. Still, when you consider a leather Versace jacket is likely to cost over $2,000, you are still grabbing a bargain!

For fashion, luxury personal shopping, styling, closet editing, and shopping tours, contact Eric Christian at eric@styleconciergemiami.com or visit the website at www.styleconciergemiami.com.

Fall is approaching quickly, so be the first to layer yourself in this season’s rugged fashion. Whether you are enjoying the nature of a park or exploring a downtown urban oasis, enjoy warm colors and textures that are both practical and trendy. We’re showcasing many diverse options to suit the eclectic styles of fall.

Jaco Palo crocodile motorcycle jacket (price upon request, www.jacopalo.com). Versace Collection Circle jacquard woven shirt $250, at Neiman Marcus. Xtreme belt in aged bark $29, at Overland. Axist heavy wash denim straightleg jeans $55, at Kohl’s. Right: Shearling and suede zip/snap vest $949, and Hopper tote $335, both at Overland. MICHAEL KORS snap military shirt $125, at Neiman Marcus. Apt. 9 jeans $54, at Kohl’s.

MICHAEL KORS purple check plaid shirt $125, gray Moncler puffer vest $525, and Joe’s dark denim jeans $158, all at Neiman Marcus.

Right: MICHAEL KORS Watts check multi-pocket shirt in granite $195, and 7 for All Mankind jeans $198, both at Neiman Marcus. Woven black braided belt $28, at Kohl’s.

GAP blue striped wool scarf $24.99, at GAP. Center: Pure cashmere scarf in cranberry $55.99, at www.thepashminastore.com. Right: Banana Republic mini-stripe scarf $49.50, at Banana Republic.

Leather newsboy hat $39, at Overland. Diesel leather patch gray and green zip-front sweater, at Neiman Marcus. Apt. 9 jeans $54, at Kohl’s. Center: Neiman Marcus cashmere V-neck sweater with toggle closure $395, and Joe’s dark denim jeans $158, both at Neiman Marcus. Right: Vince sweater $275, at Neiman Marcus. Axist heavy wash denim straight-leg jeans $55, at Kohl’s.

Photographed by Chad Chisholm
Styled by Nick Mangiapane, Kevin Hopper and Dahlia Weinstein
Models: Kawyn Furstoss, Spencer Neveu, and Daniel Zimlich of Wilhelmina

Without question, black is the easiest color to wear.  It’s slimming, always classy and, of course, a classic. When a woman doesn’t know what to wear, her safety net is always the little black dress. For us guys, we can follow a similar route: If you have a good black suit, then it will serve you for that business meeting, first date or even just using the blazer with jeans – you will be set for any occasion.

James Bond, Zorro and a host of other mysterious men have gone for the all black look.  There is a fine line between slick and scary, so pick your pieces wisely. Though black has always been a popular choice for everything, it’s also a great base; you can wear all black and look smart and covert, or use it to show off a black and white jacket, or bold color accessories. It is a totally versatile color. The only thing to watch out for is shades of black – a shirt and pants where one is faded will undermine any look to the point of looking shabby.

Also, when working with black, it is always best to invest in pieces – classics if you will.  They will stand you in good stead and act as an investment in upping your style credo! A good suit, like the Gucci, will, with the right care, last as long as you fit in it.  A simple black t-shirt is a necessity, as is a good belt, and a well maintained black shirt.

Another warning when wearing all black is make sure you wear it with a relaxed attitude, or you will come across as a bit too gothic!
These are a selection of some of the hottest black pieces out in stores right now!

• Classic, Classy and Covert – The Best of Black
• The Field Irish Pub & Eatery “Sometimes you just need to get off the beaten path.”
• Jean’s Kitchen – Gazpacho
• The Naked Truth! Popular Fitness Myths That Are Full of Holes
• What is Home?

• In this week’s issue of Style & Entertainment we take a look at the hottest black pieces to keep help you get the look of an international man of mystery in Style and Michael French reminds us of the true meaning of coming home in Home.

We leave the beaten path and sample the “real deal” from across the pond at The Field Irish Pub and Eatery in D

ining, Tom Bonanti helps you dispel workout myths in Fitness and Jean Doherty lets us be the chef with a raw favorite, Gazpacho in Recipe.
We also have your favorites, Out in Florida and our State-wide Bar Guide.
Enjoy! H – AV

Celebrate Gay Days in Red!

By ALEX VAUGHN & ERIC CHRISTIAN

Gay Days at Walt Disney World is a gay pride event held in Orlando annually during the ?rst week of June. Various circuit parties and dance events comprise the majority of the schedule, culminating in a park-sanctioned (but not park-organized) “Gay Day” at the end of the week, in which gay travellers wear red to let others know why they patronized the park that day.Gay Days was created in 1991 and was, originally, a single designated day, the ?rst Saturday of June. It began as a suggestion by a man named Doug Swallow and his companions. They brought up the idea of meeting at Disney in a group of 15-20. Doug put some more of his effort into it by promoting the idea in gay night clubs. Since the proposed date to gather at the theme park was a few months away, the newspapers and some radio talk stations decided to broadcast the plans. On this day, the gay community was encouraged by outside organizers to come to the park and “wear red and be seen” At its beginning, there were over 1,000 people who identi?ed as part of the LGBT community who showed up at Disney looking to enjoy the day. Over time, as people went home and told their friends and their friends told their friends, Gay Day turned into Gay Days and is now a week-long celebration.

This event now attracts over 135,000 members of the LGBT community to spend the week in the Magic Kingdom. This movement is still identi?ed by the wearing of red as it symbolizes the unity of the LGBT community at this amazing event. So, check out our top red hot picks for this year’s Gay Days!