Lucid by Fintan Mulholland.

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Stephen Potter Photography

In 1998 David Beckham stepped out for a night on the town with wife and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. Wearing a questionable style choice. A black and white paisley printed sarong. Aka a skirt. 

Fast forward 14 years and we've seen JW Anderson's 2009 Man Skirt. Yohji Yamamoto's full length black skirt and more recently Givenchy's S/S 2012 tropical inspired collection featuring broad knee length skirts by Riccardo Tisci.Suddenly it doesn't seem so questionable anymore. Men can freely walk like an Egyptian anytime they like.
Something Fintan Mulholland, who commissioned a unique piece for Northern Ireland's debut Menswear fashion event Man Time in conjunction with London Collections Men, is sure to be happy about. Designing a bold lemon and mint green paneled pareo. Combined with a twisted knitted lemon and baby blue vest top. Entitled 'Lucid'.   
Naming Buddhism,  Eastern Cultures and religions as the main point of inspiration. With the colour palette taking influences from calcite and sulfuric crystals. The diffusion of one colour over the other. Fintan's hippy beach chic piece is every hedonist's dream. 

Luke Joyce Photography

The wrap skirt was crafted from a single piece of fabric molded around the body. Open at the back to allow both movement and comfort, both lightweight and draping allowing the colour combos to flow easily in an overlay achieved by the method of spraying the shades onto the fabric itself. 
Cotton. Linen. Viscose blend. Perfect materials for Summer for sure using a linked and cut out pattern to create a twist in the knitted top by offsetting the seams bringing them back to the sides of the garment. All securely tucked into place via the use of ribbed band. 

Luke Joyce Photography

Modeled by Johnny Deppesque Man Time Model Ross Wilson. Beach inspired necklaces his own.

Chuck Bass for Philipp Plein

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I'm Chuck Bass...and I'm really really really good looking.

Chuck Bass aka Ed Westwick made his catwalk debut two days ago at Milan Fashionweek. Already the face of their Autumn/Winter 2012 Campaign, Ed made his way down the runway for Swiss Label Philipp Plein's SS13 collection.
Looking his usual dashingly handsome self, the Gossip Girl Lothario donned a pale blue blazer, paired with a black shirt and trousers. He also sported a clay brown leather bomber jacket complete with Skull emblem paired with a tropical print v-neck t-shirt, white chinos and tan leather shoes to match.
As for his hair? Well it was slicked back to perfection of course complimenting the smoldering gaze with every single step. Oh and a mustache but it was hardly noticeable. Remind me why Blair Waldorf is now with Lonely Boy again? 

Take a look at Ed Westwick/Chuck Bass strutting his stuff for Philipp Plein in Milan in the brief clip below.

JW Anderson SS13: London Collections

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So I'm finally taking a more thorough look at the diverse menswear lines London Collections: Men had to offer two weeks ago. One in particular caught my eye. J.W. Anderson. 

I'm not sure if he got the memo about it being a Mens fashion show with sheer mesh floral print blouses. I really want to say the word shirt but they are not shirts. They are blouses. Complete with matching wide legged equally sheer, equally meshed and equally black sheen floral printed trousers. And of course the asymmetric cut matching silk transparent floral print baby blue vest.

Then there were the extremely tight fitting flared pants in scarlet red, lilac, mint green and stone grey and in sports luxe materials paired with matching jersey sports luxe short sleeve tops.  Carrying small black quilted leather clutch bags featuring a metallic silver zip. 

It wasn't all bad however. The futuristic collars on all of the shirts were extremely modernistic and sophisticated. With the digital block print white vest tops being one of the main highlights bringing a slightly funkier edge to the runway. 

Whilst the brush spot painted short sleeve shirt and matching shorts were my personal favourite of the bold collection combining a mixture of reds, blacks, mint greens and white in a stunning array of innovative design. Everything else sadly looked extremely feminine. 
Take a look at JW Anderson's SS13 collection at London Collections: Men via the clip below.

Baartmans & Seigel: London Collections Men

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Wouter Baartmans and Amber Seigel a Dutch and British London-based design pair and both graduates of the London College of Fashion. Graduates of the critically acclaimed and highly recognised BA and MA in Menswear Fashion Design and Technology boasting "classic elegance and modern masculinity'. 
Perfect then for London Collections: Men. Showcasing neutral, earthly colours of a hedonistic variety in a range of soft greys, calming whites and clean nudes. 

Minimal. Modern and masculine with a touch of classic tailoring oozing sophistication and like their statement claims, elegance as its core. Not to mention retro and luxurious. 

Oh and its inspired by a natural phenomenon occurring in Cuba known as the 'crab invasion' in which red and blue crabs take to the island on a mission to find their life partner. Naturally Baartmans & Seigel were inspired then by "the marine and fishermen culture of Cuba, marrying the relaxed atmosphere of the island with the nostalgic hues and colours, mixed cultural influences and retro styles."

It most definitely shows.  Perfect for any European city break, evening beach stroll or one of those bonfires parties I hear so much about with my favourite look coming from the tribal influenced salmon pink t-shirt tucked casually into high waist grey linen drawstring shorts.

Matthew Miller SS13

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Avid reader/follower/stalker of fashionbeans.com I naturally nearly jumped out of my vintage recliner when I caught sight of Matthew Miller's SS13 black, grey and white print suit prominently pasted on a productive and insightful post. 
Classically tailored.  Almost camouflage in its design, the colourful and creative statement suit is by far my favourite piece of the cutting edge collection boasting the exploration into 'the notion and irony of real luxury'.

Other highlights include the black silver metallic emblem t-shirt. Worn over a simple white short sleeve shirt. Paired with black shorts and black plimsolls. Edgy, dark, a slight modern punk edge. 

Neatly contrasted by spring lemons, ivory and off white chinos, shorts, round neck sweater and an extremely futuristic yet touch of retro inspired overcoat. Slick, dapper, clean and crisp at the very core with a contemporary twist forming an 'investigation into the technological vs the traditional'. 
For a full look and more information on the captivating collection take a look at matthewmillermenswear.com

Alexandra Burke Performs Album Set

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Yes I'm a hypocritical B-word. One minute I'm posting an honest review on her new sophomore album, the disastrous 'Heartbreak On Hold', and the next I'm salivating at the mouth as a result of Alexandra Burke's phenomenal live acoustic album set premiering hours ago over on the Splash at That Grape Juice.
Her new LP is still absolute balls, but Alex proved once again she's got the goods to deliver. Pity you didn't do that with your studio version. Electronically she just bores. Acoustically this girl soars.

I was nearly in tears at 'Let It Go'. A song I class as one of my current Summer Jams, but stripped down back to basics the lyrics take a completely different turn and as a result the track becomes a soulful ballad of stunning proportions.
Belting out note after note in an effortless wave of power, control and pure vocal talent Alexandra Burke has the voice ten times over. Reminding me of all the many reasons I fell in love with Alexandra form the word go. My request is that you put some of this power, control and pure vocal talent into your projects or at least make me an entire album of your acoustic material! Phenomenal.
Check out Alexandra Burke going strong and slaying it majorly on That Grape Juice's Splash performing her new single 'Let It Go'. ACOUSTICALLY! The full set can be viewed over on thatgrapejuice.net/alexandraburke. Alexandra Burke's new album 'Heartbreak on Hold' is out now.

Topman Rules Britannia

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Topman's NewGen designers Jamie Long, Katie Eary, Lou Dalton, Sibling and Christopher Shannon were all asked to create a one-off t-shirt using only the words 'Menswear Rules Britannia' as their inspiration. 
Five t-shirts.  Five unique limited edition must haves. My personal favourite being the phenomenal Sibling's GB Flag knitted Tee. Priced just £24 featuring a chain like detailing throughout the Union Jack flag design. Usually I detest anything Union Jack related mostly because of the area I live in and the political/religious connotations that unfortunately come with. 
I'm a stars and stripes guy through and through. Americana all the way. However on this occasion I'd rock it. Tribly on. Gold jewelery at the ready. Denim skinny fit jeans and a pair of military boots. Job Done. 
My second favourite being the white Chris Shannon Man Up Tee. Priced just £20 featuring the words Man Up covering every single corner. Gives me a Boy London feel my American Flag beanie hat would kill to be a part of.

The other three T-shirts comprising of Katie Eary's mirrored Tiger Tee, Lou Dalton's Sketch Tee and James Long's Print Tee are the slightly less appealing in my eyes. Priced at the slightly lower price of £18. Possibly for that reason.

£5 from the sale of each of the Menswear Rules Britannia range will go to the British Fashion Council Princess of Wales Charitable Trust in support of young and emerging designers. The range can be browsed and purchased in full online at topman.com. Take a look at Topman's Menswear Rules Britannia range in action via the clip below.