Thursday, September 24, 2015

September 24, 2015

A LA MODE DU JOUR

The Neaux Urban Man of the City

Written By: Anthony Leroux




Fedora: Zara. Jeans: H&M. Necklace: Syd Rocks. Necklace: Leroux Green Man Pendant. Bracelets: Gypsy Bound.

     Transitioning from Spring/Summer to Fall/Winter every year isn’t an easy task. I mean unless you use your fashion catalogs & window displays at your local favorite shopping stores, than it might be a little more easier for you. But ask yourself, “Do I really want to copy something direct from the mannequin?”, I think we should only take & pull certain pieces & ideas, tweak them, add our own touch, create a self-proclaimed idea of what something should be & own it. Don’t be basic, nobody likes a basic. 


Now……imagine a city, in which, fashion wasn’t necessarily meant to be followed, but was meant to be pushed to it’s boundaries. A place where if you had the same style as someone else, you were looked at differently, than if you were wearing something similar. A world where the limit does not exist. Where all things are possible & created because of the “will” you put into the universe; when things are put out, whether it be positive or negative, they are made into existence for your sake. A “be careful what you wish for” kind of omen. Now take that same city & enter Mr. Mickey, a beautiful Michelangelo of a man, a fashion architect in his own that can honestly do no wrong in any composition. A man with the ability to take any article of clothing he can grab, throw it together & make it look so impeccable that people ask themselves, “How is that even possible?” 


  It seems like a big trend this past summer was wearing no socks with dress shoes. While it seems that things are remaining rigid, they’re really addressing the idea of dressing for a lifestyle. You can take the direct looks you see on mannequins in your favorite stores & throw them out the window; the window displays aren’t meant to be copied direct, but to show a way that you can wear that certain piece you seem to have your eye on. Throw on that beautifully constructed Versace like blazer with no shirt underneath, put on some light-weight, fitted, white jeans, accessorize with complimentary metal & leather accessories. You can lose the socks when you throw on those suede loafers. Who says you have to wear a shirt when traveling the city? Place yourself in Miami or Havana & walk out the door to your destination. If we look at fashion today, it doesn’t make sense, but when has fashion ever made sense? It doesn’t need to make sense, just fashion sense.


90’s Versace/ Fresh Prince Of Bel Air Look: Blazer: Platini X Black Label. Jeans: Bullhead. Belt: Streets Ahead. Loafers: Nordstrom. Sunglasses: Spitfire. Necklace: H&M.  Bracelets: Gypsy Bound. Watch: Geoffrey Beene.


     But the true stamp of the fashion architect influence here is the hair.

  On the streets of Mr. Mickey’s town, he wears perfect as if he’s a world renowned coiffeur, he styles it from slightly pompadoured to slick back, even a more greaser look where it looks as if he reached into his glove department & grabbed some hair wax to drown his hair in. Giddy up, Pony Boy Curtis. With influences from Johnny Depp in Cry Baby or James Dean in pretty much anything he ever was seen in, this man is straight up a sponge for anything classic. Throw on those ripped up jeans that look as if they’ve been worn to every dive bar in the city, & those ratty Chuck Taylor’s that have tasted every morsel of sand in every sandlot & choked on it for years, & heads for the door, but not before that heavy, studded, leather jacket goes off the coat rack &  over the shoulder. But don’t forget to run your hands through your hair one last time in that mirror you have hanging for those last minute double takes. 


Greaser On The Street Look: Jacket: L.A. Roxx. Jeans: H&M. Shoes: Chuck Taylor Converse. Bracelet: Gypsy Bound.


     After parading the streets for the day, Mr. Mickey decides on heading over to the gym to workout so that he may gain some momentum back, & because he simply doesn’t care, his outfit has to say the same thing. Your attitude isn’t only worn on your face, but also in your appearance. Use it wisely! A man who thinks he slices & dices anything in his way like an “electric ninja”, at times goes to the drawing board to find ways to express himself. He does so by painting himself in some delicious, skin tight Alexander McQueen leggings under some distressed denim shorts. By using some appetizing textures such as these urban, dangerous leather boots, it adds another layer to this already tasty treat of a man. On a mesh, zippered, black velvet, hoodie, cut off goes to top off this already delectable delight. Add a dash of wraparound leather & hanging metal as your garnish, & you are done.


Electric Ninja Workout Look: Hoodie: Cherokee. Shorts: Levis. Leggings: Alexander McQueen. Boots: Urban Outfitters. Cuffs: Gypsy Bound. Necklace: Melany Rowe.


     Towards the end of his workout, Mr. Mickey receives a call from some friends & explains that they are meeting at their favorite coffee joint for some fresh brew & tunes, the man is always busy - never a dull moment in his life. They’d fancy a meet up to go over their next annual, fall vacation trip, one of the trips he loves & looks forward to every year. Coffee=Casual, at least half the time, & you love coffee as much as this man, then you’re always ready to showcase your love for color. How deep is your love? Hopefully, as deep as, this red-velvet cupcake colored, hand woven, leather Balenciaga bag he throws all his personal items in it. While reaching for his favorite comfortable pair of teal colored chinos he decides on a circle shape, pairing his circle patterned ZARA top with 2 oversized vintage beaded necklaces & a homemade shark tooth necklace. In this instance, you’d want to pair the colors with what you’re already wearing, not that you have to, but why would you not want to? Everything works so well together, from the bottom to the top, & seems so effortless - that’s the keyword here “EFFORTLESS”.



   South African Prep Coffee Meeting Look: Shirt: Zara. Smoking Jacket: H&M. Chinos: J Crew. Shoes: H&M. Bag: Balenciaga. Hat: Original Chuck Taylors .Sunglasses: Ray Bans. Necklace: Stylist Own. Necklace: Origins & Oddities. Bracelets: Gypsy Bound. Watch: Brera




      Directly after his meeting with friends, he rushes home to change before his monthly hair appt. with one of the top hair stylist in town, right after he is meeting a gal for dinner. The price you pay to look good can sometimes eat the wallet, but to look this good sometimes it’s a price you must pay. If you’re going to spend money on something, Mr. Mickey suggest you spend it on your hair; everybody notices your hair, if not your shoes, so why not spend a little extra to stay consistent with your look & tell them to shove it? He needs to look extra dapper for such an occasion so he dons on a pair of beautiful dark blue jeans from JOES, he decides on a light pink dress shirt by Davide Cenci with a bow tie by Calvin Klein. He blends this all very well, by color coordinating the Max Mara dinner blazer, some Beverly Hills Polo Club pink socks with these deep brown, double monk strap dress shoes he found at TOPMAN. By adding metals & leather here & there as accessories, he incorporates many different styles of texture into his outfit, which is the epitome of style. Sometimes, it’s always about the way you accessorize an outfit that can make or break your statement. Take notes from Mr. Mickey because he knows how to do it right. 



Midwestern Chic Dinner Look: Blazer: Max Mara. Button Up Shirt: Davide Cenci. Dress Shoe: Topman. Bow Tie: Calvin Klein. Belt: H&M. Socks: Beverly Hills Polo Club. Necklace: Origins & Oddities. Bracelet: Gypsy Bound. Beads: H&M. Watch: Forever 21 Men




     During his dinner, Mr. Mickey receives an urgent call from the President of his company asking him to meet as soon as possible in the conference room of their company building, along with 5 other employees. As he rushes home, he can’t help but think about how he’s so grateful he always has an outfit for every occasion waiting for this moment right now. From the everyday walking the dog outfit to a business meeting on the fly. With a quickness he changes into his already hanging black H&M 2 piece black suit, with a beautiful red & black houndstooth gifted from Paris by Two Boys Paris & completes it with a black bow tie by Ryan Seacrest Collection. Combs his hair back, grabs his SNUGG laptop case, buckles up his shoes, & as soon as he was home he’s gone without a single look back. Before he leaves the house, he grabs his on the run bag equipped with another outfit just in case he needs to jet set across the seas to another country that his business does work with. Always locked & loaded.



































Rush To The Office Look: Suit: H&M. Button Up: Two Boys Paris. Belt: Fendi. Bow Tie: Ryan Seacrest Distinction. Socks: Funky Socks. Shoe: Topman. Laptop Case: Snugg






     The new age generation is slowly creeping in, but as we say at a snail’s pace, in this context we look at him as an quintessential, fashion chameleon. Mr. Mickey pulls a variety of inspiration from different cities & cultures, blends them into one & simply manifests a luxurious tasting smoothie. He finds out he must head to Machu Picchu for an exquisite, yet very time consuming task of directing a huge conference. A little bit of play, a lot of work, it’s the usual in his industry so he’s totally fine with it, especially at the expense of the company. Before he leaves the office he changes into a more comfortable outfit that betters suits comfortability like his black cotton pants by Zara, a white long t shirt by Lytbrand & a last seasons sweater from the Maison Martin Margiela X H&M collaboration that he never wore. Mr. Mickey finds nothing wrong with recycling fashion into this seasons wardrobe, after all he can do no wrong. Before throwing on his wide brimmed black fedora from Zara, he buckles his feet into his vintage gladiator sandals by ALDO & grabs his lucky sunglasses by Chilli Beans & his Louis Vuitton monogrammed tote bag, & he’s off to the airport. Sometimes he even questions how he’s always ready for the next move, he moves so quickly like fluid ready for whatever comes next. Nowadays you have to be prepared for anything, & that’s what makes you who you are.




































Machu Picchu Flight Look: Sweater: H&M X Maison Martin Margiela. Shirt: Lytbrand. Pants: Zara. Luggage: Louis Vuitton. Sandals: Aldo. Hat: Zara



     Albert Einstein said, Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” He is saying that doing things wrong & making mistakes isn’t a bad thing, it’s simply part of the learning process. In affect he is saying that the only person who has never made a mistake is a person who has never done anything. The same goes for fashion , it isn’t meant to be held in a box, it’s actually quite the opposite. It wants you to challenge it, it’s meant to take risks, meant to push the boundaries, breaking all rules & finding your own voice with everything you decide to purchase. 


     Ask yourself at the end of the day, “Does what I’m wearing make me feel good?”, if the answer is no, then you just have to keep searching until it does. When that time comes, you will know. It will feel effortless, which is what personal style should be. 



















PHOTO SHOOT CREDITS: 
MODEL: ANTHONY LAFLAM
WARDROBE STYLIST/ MAKEUP/ GROOMING: ANTHONY LEROUX  
WARDROBE STYLIST/ GROOMING: VICTOR NAVARRO 


LOCATION: IMAGINATION IN FOCUS

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

September 2, 2015




Ordi + Eli 
Fall/Winter 2012 Collection


Fashion Comic



Today we look back at a fashion comic I created with my photographer friend, Simao Salvador, for my collaborative fashion project Ordi + Eli. Ordi + Eli was created with my best friend Danni Dee, as co-designers & best friends we decided to put it on hold for now. We both are busy with our lives & making magic happen on a daily basis, but there's no reason we can't look back to 3 years ago & appreciate the past! 


I had fun creating this so I hope you enjoy! 

















Ordi + Eli Fashion Comic Credits:

Photographer: Simao Salvador
MUA/Hair: Geo Melo
Models: Kashlee & Monique
Creative Director & Wardrobe Stylist: Anthony Leroux
Location: A Leroux Styling