Nibbles: Risto Digital-print Silk Trench

Risto Bimbiloski is at the forefront of merging fashion and technology with his expertise in digital-age digital prints. (digital-print silk satin trench coat by Risto Bimbiloski)

The Dandy Project was featured in New York Magazine's the Cut twice this month. (See here and here.) It was also mentioned in an interview with new wave indie pop musician Twin Shadow on Dossier magazine. Thanks, New York Mag and Dossier, I am very grateful.

photo by Pop, Bop and Snap

French Pressed

The Dandy Project was featured in the latest issue of Elle France and made an appearance on French television.

The Dandy Project in the May 2011 issue of French Elle

The French Elle feature was in the one with perennially chic Catherine Deneuve and daughter Chiara Mastroianni on the cover. Dear Mother, look her up; Mme. Deneuve's style is teeming with inspiration for your countless dinner party outfits!

photo courtesy of Pelayo Diaz

I had my friend Antoine translate the article for me via Facebook, and it says something like "male fashion bloggers are the new wave of fashion bloggers", and that The Dandy Project, alongside Kate Loves Me and Bryanboy.com were great examples of this.

The Dandy Project was also briefly the topic of conversation on a show called La Chronique Tendances de Daphné Bürki on French TV channel Canal Plus. I spent hours last night dissecting HTML, trying to embed the video on this site, but to no avail. I took some screenshots of the show, and you can just click here to view the page with the video.

French television fashion authority Daphné Bürki is quite the comic

and is, of course, very chicly put together. Look at that mountain-print leather-trimmed (?) armor-like over-blouse!

my fist's five seconds of fame

See the full video on Daphné Bürki's blog.

Today is an awesome day to be a blogger; I'm very, very grateful for the recognition received. With this, I'm nudging those who wish to start a blog, and those with blogs but are perhaps too busy or too lazy (or too crazy) to update them---put honest and original content out on the blogosphere, and they'd be nuts not to let your voice be heard.

A million thank you's to the Elle France team and to Daphné Bürki and the Canal Plus team for the mentions, and special thanks to Mikee and Wax for taking the photographs featured.

Orthodox Inspiration

I know this has been posted a while back, and I can't believe I've neglected to share this with you guys. I was snapped by Mordechai Rubinstein of Mister Mort, one of New York's most regarded street style photographers. He is a classicist; and though I may not completely agree with everything he says, I respect his opinions on how he thinks men should dress. His point-of-view most definitely comes out in the images he takes.

Pendleton wool hat, Topman blazer and shirt, Comme des Garcons belt, H&M jeans, Prada bag, ASOS shoes

It was a rainy day that Fashion Week and I thought I'd wear my new wide-brimmed Pendleton hat as an umbrella alternative. Mordechai called me from across the street and told me how much my outfit reminded him of what Orthodox Jewish Bochurim wore back when he was in school. I was loosely inspired by the austerity of the Hassidic Jews' and the Amish' traditional garb, and it brought me such joy that he found my get-up remotely amusing.

navy cut-out monk strap shoes from ASOS

Philip Crangi railroad spike cuff, Number (N)ine cuff, Casio watch

Mordechai's animated write-up was quite entertaining, but if you're up for a few more laughs, check out the comments section and count the scathing remarks on my Prada "purse". Thanks, Mordechai, it was an honor!

photos via Mister Mort

I.T Post: Promise for Print?

I was privileged to be commissioned by the talented Kwannam Chu to write an article for the Autumn/Winter 2010 issue of I.T Post. My copy arrived in the mail today and I was floored with awe at the aesthetic richness that literally popped out of the pages.

the front and back covers, recursively printed with images of a model forming what looks like vertebrae

I.T Post isn't so much a magazine as it is an art project by high-end Hong Kong retailer I.T. Under the creative direction of Kwannam Chu (also of the popular blog on menswear and male models, We Could Grow Up Together), it takes the traditional fashion-spread editorials to a new level with progressive styling, experimental art direction, and even three-dimensional elements. The magazine feels like a piece of art to behold; I think today's leading fashion publications could take a cue from I.T Post to give their readers a reason to purchase the hard copy.

A peek at the 3-D elements:

Can an online magazine pop up into a psychedelic clear dome filled with miniature standees of select looks from the latest Gareth Pugh collection and sit nicely on your coffee table? I don't think so.

in one of the editorials: a layered pop-up frame that appears to be decoupaged cut-outs lightly floating above each other

close-up of the frame. Note the spiders, the gecko, and the other creatures.

Select pages from the editorials:

a face mask of nuts and washers that would go perfectly with my nuts-and-washers shirt, Margiela money clip that I would totally use if I didn't carry my life in my wallet

The piece I wrote:

By now you'd have noticed my penchant of rhyming and alliterative titles.

I would always be the first to rally for the merits of having anything online, but it's great work like this that remind you of the delight of having such a thing of beauty to flip with your own hands and keep neatly on a stack in the middle of your living room that spell some faint promise for print media.

I just couldn't be more grateful to have been a part of it.

I.T Post is available at I.T boutiques in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

China Ciao

The Dandy Project was featured in the August 2010 issue of L'Officiel Hommes China, aptly headlined "Online Fun". I can't begin to express my appreciation for this kind gesture on the part of the L'Officiel Hommes' editorial team.

(L'Officiel Hommes China August 2010 cover) Blokes in banana hammocks might not be a common sight on this blog, but it amuses me to ponder upon what sort of "online fun" the visual is insinuating.

I had a friend translate the article to me and I was floored as to how so much praise can be contained in such little space. (After all, one Chinese character, more or less, stands for one word.) Something the author said about "the blogger using his God-given talent" made those messy afternoons with newspapers all over my apartment living room and paint everywhere from my camera screen to my eyelids worthwhile.

featured alongside blogging bigwigs Pascal and Pelayo

Apologies for the delayed public expression of gratitude, but it took quite a while for me to get hold of a good scan of the feature. Many thanks to Quan for the scan of the article. Friends in China and Hong Kong, pick up a copy!

magazine cover scan via The Fashion Spot

gilded gold stars

Nothing complements a shirt pin-dotted with tiny star shapes better than a bib of shiny gold stars.

secondhand necklace, H&M shirt, J. Crew belt, Zara pleated pants, H&M shoes

These gold-embroidered velvet slippers have been my go-to shoes for quite a while now. I need more of them in my life.

Yesterday was my first 4th of July in the US. On a nice summer evening, rooftops with a view can make any brewed beverage or grilled food item taste ten times better. Stars and stripes! Happy America Day!

fireworks on the Hudson River

And another star stamp on my giddy kindergarten-boy hand, a feature on the website of ASOS, one of the biggest British online retailers:

Clicking on "Shop The Look" takes you to pages and pages of ASOS items chosen inspired by my look, which, in my opinion, was just as fascinating as being part of the feature. ASOS now ships to the US for a flat rate of $6 for standard shipping an $14 for express. I know I just recently took advantage of that; talk about buying from your own "Shop The Look" section!

Many, many thanks to ASOS and Steve for making me a part of this.

photos via Tony Shi and ASOS

The Giddy Blogger

The relationship between bloggers and print media is entertaining to say the least. It's almost like blogging is print's 18-year-old child: blogging, young and creative, seeks to conquer the world on its own, while print is wary of the rapid pace by which blogging is achieving its considerable success. They lambast each other like a dysfunctional family, eager to point out each other's shortcomings. But, that being said, nothing pats a blogger's back as tenderly as recognition by traditional media. I get giddy at the slightest mention of The Dandy Project in a legitimate publication. Having a feature in the papers or in a major magazine feels as if the parent you so sought to defy takes you back in her arms and gives you the approval you've craved for for years. Here are a couple of things that have been getting me feeling giddy and grateful for the past few days.

The first book (at least the first that I know of) on fashion blogs is out, and I am very honored to be a part of it.

Fashion Blogs: the book

In their groundbreaking work, Kirstin Hanssen and Felicia Nitzsche explore the phenomenon of fashion blogging: the people behind them, their motives for blogging, how it changed their life, and how they view the future of print media. The book is divided into five categories: fashion journalism, street style photography, party photography, personal style blogs, men’s style. The book features 34 of the pioneers in fashion blogging; included are: Style Bubble, Garance Doré, A Shaded View On Fashion, Glamcanyon, Sea of Shoes, Stil in Berlin, Abdul Lagerfield, Street Etiquette, Les Mads, The Streethearts, Pretend It Never Happened, Moderniteter, Kate Loves Me, The Dandy Project and many more. 
(via Fashion Blogs)

a peek inside: Susie Bubble, who was a fashion blogger long before the words "fashion" or "blogger" were ever in my vocabulary

Order/pre-order the book on US Amazon, UK Amazon, or d'jonge Hond (Netherlands).

I have also been working on a piece with the Philippines' Preview Magazine, one of the very, very few magazines in my country that do fashion with a capital "F" and do it right, and it's out in the current issue.

the June 2010 cover that was an ode to McQueen (customized sneakers, that's me!)

It was a simple DIY on how to turn a pair of regular white plimsolls into something more black-tie, and though I had to jam the entire DIY process (of planning, sourcing the materials, doing the actual DIY project and photo-documenting it, and finally, writing the article) into exams week, it was a really fun experience.

Find my article in the special section called Preview Men. I really hope this materializes into an actual magazine; there really isn't any men's magazine of this kind in the Phillipine market now.

Daryl, Andre, Vince, Eloise, and everyone at Preview, thanks very very much!

photos via Fashion Blogs and Preview Magazine

The Cape Crusader

The cape is high on my wish list for next winter, and I urge you to seriously consider getting one too. A bit dramatic, perhaps, but it serves a pragmatic purpose as an addition layer to wear over a wool winter coat, saving you the money you would otherwise be spending on a bigger, bulkier coat that, chances are, won't be as attractive. Plus, the new offerings in the cape department are much shorter and a little bit less voluminous, more Sherlock Holmes than Zorro.

Robert Geller FW 2010, photo by Chris Reed for Dazed

In his Fall/Winter 2010 collection, Robert Geller presented some handsome capes,

photo by Chris Reed for Dazed

as well as fur vests

from The Fashionisto

and even oversize stoles

from The Fashionisto

that can all be used as "coat enhancements", simultaneously warming up and adding visual interest to cold-weather coats and jackets that are already in one's closet.

I got a chance to briefly chat with the designer at his show's after party at the Jane hotel, and he talked about how the collection was inspired by the idea of just throwing pieces together that don't really seem to fit, sort of like dressing in the dark.

Robert Geller at the Jane Hotel, NYC

Though I may not be completely convinced of the carelessness of the styling wonder that was his Fall 2010 show, I was quite impressed at how pleasant he was. He's a nice guy, perhaps even slightly timid.

Earlier that night, I was at my friend Kasandra Crippen's studio, and played dress-up with a few of her structural, unisex creations.

the studio with a few works-in-progress

I really liked how the shoulders on this heavy linen cape were pointed and slightly structured without being stiffened up by boning.

heavy linen cape by Kasandra Crippen

the designer in her own creation, what I'd describe as a semi-structured shawl-silhouette cape-coat

Apologies for the lateness, but thank you to the Refinery 29 team for featuring The Dandy Project as one of the Four Best Men's Fashion Blogs. You made my stats go through the roof and my cheeks go a-blush at the same time.

Do you readers have any significant takeaways from the recent shows? Any items throbbing on your wish list, styles you aspire to emulate, pieces you'd like (me) to DIY? Do share!

The Dandy Project gets published

The Dandy Project was featured in last Saturday's edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, one of the country's leading broadsheets. Read the article here.

I was delighted that they used a quote from me as part of the lead.

the part on me

It feels great to be published for the first time, and it feels funny to think my face was printed over and over on newspapers distributed all over the Philippines and the world. Fashion blogging is slowly creeping into public consciousness, and I'm delighted to help pave the way for menswear blogs to get noticed.

A million thanks to the adorable Rosanna Aranaz of Little Miss Dress Up for doing this feature on me.

excerpt via Inquirer.net

The Dandy Project on Mykromag

In an interview with Robbie Spencer on Mykromag, the painfully stylish Dazed and Confused menswear editor mentions The Dandy Project as one of the blogs he enjoys following. Like a kindergarten boy showing off the star stamp he got for good recitation, allow me to blow up the part of the interview where this blog is mentioned:

He also mentions Style Salvage (congrats Steve and EJ!) among his daily reads, as well as personal blogs of his co-workers at Dazed and blogs by other people in the fashion industry.

Thank you very, very much for the mention, Robbie. From someone whose creative vision, career progression (Dazed menswear editor at 25!) and sense of style I look up to tremendously, it means a lot.

Mykromag is a fashion, art, and music magazine with a penchant for focusing on fresh talent, creating new inspiration, and making people think by instigating dialogue. Founded and edited by Sonny Groo, stylist and fashion week street style mainstay, it is a publication that is sent out to a select few people in the fashion industry and is also available online. I've just added it to my daily reads. Good stuff, do check it out.

Here is the interview in full:

Thanks to Naboonies for telling me about the mention, I'm currently walking on clouds while smiling from ear to ear!