check it out

Mixupper.com is a online magazine focus on latest streetwear and fashion trends. www.mixupper.com/

Top 10 Mens colors for Autumn/Winter 2014 .

Top 10 Men’s Colors:

There has been a gradual shift towards a unisex color palette in recent seasons—and fall 2014 is no exception. Similar to the women’s palette, this season’s men’s collections have also been inspired by a need to explore—traveling back in time or into the unknown—resulting in a more adventurous use of color, especially through combinations.

Exotic Sangria invigorates the men’s palette while Aurora Red adds a sophisticated spark to any winter wardrobe. Pair Aurora Red with Cognac, a tasteful brown, for a confident and high-profile look. Cognac will also be popular with more vibrant shades in the palette, including Misted Yellow, which adds a touch of optimism to cold weather ensembles.

Both Radiant Orchid, a fascinating purple, and Bright Cobalt blue will be quintessential statement colors this season—bold and charismatic shades prevalent in everything from sportswear to shoes. Pair these hues with Sea Fog, a more masculine representation of Mauve Mist, for a powerfully poised fall look.

Combine Aluminum, a complex silvery shade, with versatile, elegant Royal Blue and bracingCypress. These hues will undoubtedly play an integral role in men’s fashion this fall, serving as staple hues for outerwear and formalwear throughout the cooler months.

For more than 20 years, Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season’s most important color trends. This report previews the most prominent hues for fall 2014.

Men's Hair guide : Styles and cuts .

Men’s key hair cuts & hairstyles

Slicked back undercut

The increasing popularity of TV shows such as Boardwalk Empire mixed with just how sharp this hair cut looks sees the revival of the slicked backundercut, influenced by the styles of the early 20th Century. Follow the link to find out the options for the men’s hair cut, how to have it, cut it and how to style it.

Good for: straight hair & hair that can be straightened

Brit-rock indie hairstyle

Inspired by many a British indie band (and a hell of a lot of Burberry catwalks in between), the Brit-rock indie hairstyle oozes kicked back and relaxed. It has nearly one rule: sweep the hair forwards. The rest of the details, from the cut of the top to the length of the sides, allows you to work with whatever haircut styles suit you best. Read our guide to the indie hairstyle for a complete guide to all the different indie hairstyles for men, including ways to have it cut and products to use to style it.

Good for: straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair that can be relaxed

How to create a modern men's pompadour

A throw back to the 1950s or something more thoroughly modern? In 2014, it's more of the latter than the former. This modern update on the men's pompadour hairstyle borrows from the likes of Elvis but in a subtle way. Keeping it cool and effortless, the modern interpretation is a little longer and a little less perfect, making it perfectly wearable and giving it little of that vintage feel. Fashionising.com's guide to the

Rockabilly hairstyle

It might have been on trend for several years running, but that hasn’t stopped this mid-20th Century rock hairstyle from featuring amongst current men’s haircut trends. More attitude infused than the quiff hairstyle it gave rise to, therockabilly hairstyle might be one of the most extreme men’s hairstyles, but it’s also one of the few that’s suited to most hair types. Follow the link to find out more.

Good for: straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair

Men’s quiff

The last time we saw the quiff popular as a men’s hairstyle trend it was infused with rock overtones. With the indie haircut dominating the music-orientated hairstyles, the quiff became something more refined altogether. It’s still infused with attitude, but, as far as the current men’s haircut trends go, it’s a very distinct attitude. Read our guide to the new quiff for a run down to all the different quiff cuts, including vintage inspiration, styling and product recommendations.

Good for: straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair that can be relaxed

How to style mid-length curly hair for men

If your hair is curly - or at least wavy - you might be tempted to grow it a little longer in order to give it weight and versatility. If you've got it to a mid-length, then it just comes down to knowing how to style it. Here's one take.

Long, curly hair with short sides on the Dolce & Gabbana men’s spring 2012 catwalk

Men’s hairstyles

While the list of haircuts and hairstyles above is dedicated to leading men’s hair trends, they’re not the only ones setting the tone. As always with men’s hairstyles, there are variations on themes and altogether different looks that, while mainstream, aren’t fresh, or which specifically appeal to men with a particular taste. We sat down with Melbourne hair stylist Annika to put together all the how to and styling information that you’ll need for each of the hairstyles. This is them:

Short waves / short curls

Over the past few seasons we may have been slowly introduced to a completely fresh decade, but its real exploration it’s only about to begin. If the last decade was all about buzz terms prefixed by man and metro (think manscaping and metrosexual), now we are all about exploring the masculine edge. Sure it’s refined, but there have been only a few periods in recent history where true masculinity didn’t come with a polished edge. Thus we leave behind a time when men and boy bands alike head to a hairstylist for the latest fandangled chemical straightening techniques and instead, for those of them with curly hair, the option of keeping things au naturel is making itself known. Natural, but never less stylish.

And natural is, effectively, where the short and curly hairstyle currently sits. Entangled, interlocked, and messy, it’s a hairstyle that not only connotes a relaxed lifestyle but it is relaxed itself.

Of course, the nature of curls is that they come in all degrees of severity, some tight and compact, others softer but no less prone to doing whatever the hell they like no matter how much product you seem to put in your hair. The dominant men’s curly hairstyle is based upon a look that captures some of what the quiffhas to offer, but with far less height and with little effort pointed towards relaxing or straightening the curls.

Wavy hair with short sides on the Dolce & Gabbana men’s spring 2012 catwalk

Who it is for

• A natural hairstyle for those naturally curly, or at least those with a head of seriously wavy hair. Don’t try and fake curls – this is a hairstyle that will work with natural, curly hair only.

How it’ll be cut

• Like most of the ongoing men’s hair trends, the hair will be cut shorter on the sides and longer on the top. The length will all come down to what suits you best, however.
• If you have tight curls and you are pursuing something that is easy to manage, ask your hairdresser to use clipper 1 and chop off your curls really close to the scalp. This would be easier to manage.
• Other option is to preserve the length, as this would give each hair strand its curly bend.

How to style it

• Styling is of the essence here. Curly hair is most prone to frizzy ends, especially during the summer months. To prevent this, apply a curl controller cream to wet hair and run your fingers through it.
• While other hairstyles make great use of it, stay away from hardening gels with this particular hairstyle as they’ll solidify and make the curls look brittle.

Short curls hairstyle with short sides on the Dolce & Gabbana men’s spring 2012 catwalk

Slicked hair with a side part

The slicked back undercut isn’t the only evolving men’s hairstyle that is built upon the revival of a classic haircut. Nor is it the only hairstyle that requires a sumptuous amount of product to achieve its slick look.

Straight hair, slicked to the side with a defined parting but no volume at Iceberg fall 2013

The men’s slicked hairstyle with side part enjoyed its major revival back in 2009 when Mad Men first impacted upon the global psyche. Courtesy of the man’s man connotations that Don Draper gave the style, it soon became the go-to hairstyle of many a man, the likes of actor George Clooney included. But where it was once for the older, stylish gent, the side parted, slicked hairstyle has morphed into a look for the young as well. As such, it was quickly approached by many designers for the styling of their catwalks. You won’t be hard pressed to find it worn, somewhat knowingly, by style conscious chaps on the streets.

The same men’s hairstyle from a front-on angle

Who it is for

• This is a hairstyle ideal for men with relatively straight hair as the hair is more likely to sit flat on the head complementing the hairstyle’s ‘slick’ shape.
• Those with curly hair can straighten or give it a straight blow-dry before commencing styling.
• If you have a receding hairline or fine hair and are self conscious of either, then discuss this with your hairdresser before getting your hair cut. This is a hairstyle that can highlight areas where men recede – though that’s not a problem for everyone.

How it’ll be cut

• This style is all about the cut. If it’s not cut so that it can be styled neat and tidy, the classic overtones of the hairstyle will fade away.
• The thumb-rule to this look is having a clean side part, with shorter sides and relatively longer hair towards the center.
• Your hairdresser must cut the fine hair around the ears, above the neck and around the hairline. There’s no scope for casual untidiness. When you’re checking your haircut before paying, double check these areas – they must be cleanly cut.
• A razor can be used to trim the hair at the base of your head for an even more refined and tailored look.
• Book a follow-up appointment with the hairdresser, six-weeks after the first cut.
• If you have straight hair: stick to a longer cut on top.
• If you have wavy hair: opt for a short length of hair on top, perhaps a few inches in length depending on the strength of your wave.

How to style it

• Keep the parting straight.
• For a wet slicked look: apply hair gel before parting the hair and then work the product with a comb all through the hair strands.
• For a natural matte finish look: Part the hair first, spray some hairspray on a brush and gently comb through the top layers of the hair. This will resist flyaway strands.
• If you’re after the classic finish to the look popular in both the 1930s and again courtesy of Mad Men, then your product of choice will be Brylcreem.

A wavy version of the side part with more volume and elements of the quiff.

Curly mop top

Not tight enough to be an afro and with the mop top being a hairstyle more akin to evoke the Brit-rock rather than anything else, it’s hard to give this hairstyle a name that connotes exactly what it is. So, despite the naff sound to it, please forgive us: we’re labeling the evolution of this particular men’s hair trend as the curly mop top.

Long, curly hairstyle from Umit Benan’s spring / summer 2012 look book

This is the curly kind of hairstyle that you’d wear to an indie gig or to a Bohemian festival. Scrap that. This is the curly hairstyle that you’d wear with bucket loads of confidence. But it’s not just confidence that’s required, but also the ability to style what is known as one of the trickiest hairstyles. The challenge here is to maintain the out-of-control curls, so it doesn’t look like you’ve just spent 18-months on a deserted island. Nailing the 1970s revival vibe, Gucci perfected the look choosing to concentrate on the front and present the hairstyle with both short and long curly hair.

Who is it for

• This curly men’s hairstyle works best for those with natural curls and plenty of length. As with all curly hair styles, we don’t recommend that anyone endures a treatment just to make their hair curly.

How it’ll be cut

• When at the hairdresser, ask for a blunt cut without compromising the length; you’re aiming to get a clear shape. It works better if the cut is uniformed and hair has the same length all throughout.

How to style it

• Before styling, ensure your hair is clean. An oily scalp won’t give you perfect results.
• Use a curl cream or sea salt spray to create texture in the hair. But remember to always apply these before running a hair dryer through the hair.
• Attach a diffuser to the hairdryer for best results. It won’t distort the curls.
• Once hair is dry, use a product that sticks on without ruining the texture or becoming too greasy. We recommend fibre wax, as that has a spiderweb like texture. Massage the product in the hair, concentrating in the scalp area.
• For additional curls, invest in a small curling iron. Or go the natural way and twist the hair around your fingers. Do the latter when hair is semi-wet.

Men’s haircuts

You’ll find that our list of men’s haircut trends is rather short, and within good reason as the men’s looks that have emerged so far have less to do with a particular cut, and far more to do with the way the hair is styled. If anything, we are experiencing a time when one particular men’s haircut can be styled in a number of different ways, most inline with the hairstyles we’ve focused on above. For men, this period is defined by the versatility of the haircut.

The undercut

If you have already gone over the in depth list of men’s hair trends above, the fact that the undercut is constantly perceived as a ruling haircut will come as no surprise. That look in particular though is aslicked back undercut that relies just as much on its styling, as it does on its cut. But because the styling is so distinct, other interpretations of the undercut began flourishing.

In fact, as a men’s haircut, the undercut still sits as one of the most fashionable and versatile options, one capable of working with most of the hairstyles we’ve noted above. Take the Brit-rock indie hairstyleas an example – given that it is swept from the side, makes it easy easy to work the hairstyle in with an undercut, keeping the sides short and the long hair on top swept over and forwards.

That’s not the only option of course. Take this style for instance, which marries an undercut with a side swept quiff. The beauty of this style lies in its irony, as it’s about boasting the uncut parts of your hair whilst making it look like it’s a damn fine cut.

An undercut, largely styled without product, from AMI by Alexandre Matiussi spring 2012 men’s collection.

Who it is for

• Any man with straight or wavy hair capable of growing the top long.
• It’s also a great hairstyle to conceal a receding hairline, but make sure there’s enough thickness to support the quiff.
• This style is not for those who hate hair falling on their forehead or moving at all.

How it’ll be cut

• It’s all about the lengths – keep the sides short and your hair on top long.
• Ask your hairdresser to create a disconnection between the hair around the crown and top with the rest of the head. This can only be achieved with a hair cut at the salon.
• The sides and back can be cut with a clipper guard (number 2 or 3 work the best) or by using the scissor over comb technique for a tailored finish.

How to style it

• The undercut works with most man’s hair types, be it straight, wavy or curly. If you have particularly thick hair, thin it down by styling with mousse.

Shoulder length haircut

Grecian God inspired or not, the shoulder length hair is never truly out of style, but it’s not always in either. The question for when it is in, is always answered by the type of man who sports the look. Is it the popular kick-back Indie kid, the guy whose life revolves around catching the next wave or an altogether different kind of man? The long, shoulder length men’s haircut is complemented by both a smart and a sleek finish.

Straight and smooth, shoulder length hair.

You’ll note that there’s a big difference between long men’s hair as a surfer would wear it and as a guy would wear it into the office. While we’re under no illusion that you’re going to start seeing shoulder length haircuts around the boardroom table of the world’s stiffest financial institutions, it is a haircut that again has an office-edge. It just happens that it’s an office filled with creatives instead of bankers and accountants. Zegna took the lead with a sharp and somewhat conservative take on shoulder length hair.

From Zegna’s spring / summer 2012 showing.

Of course, just because it’s a haircut that is again the domain of the well heeled, doesn’t mean that it has lost its relevancy to those with a more relaxed attitude to life. Adding some deliberate grunginess or tousle creates a textured long hairstyle for men that can work across different occasions and levels of casualness.

From Pistols At Dawn, Kimono collection 2013 campaign

Falke showed off another example of just how this particular interpretation can work with long, wavy red hair and matching beard.

A casual version of long men’s hair for 2012, from Falke.

Who is it for

• Any man with long straight hair or manageable waves, not running counter to turning the heads of the sex they’re hoping to attract.

How it’ll be cut

• Ask your hairdresser to remove just the right amount of weight from the hair – you want it to sit and hang in a way that suits you, and a lot of this comes down to the weight.
• Particularly with long, straight hair layering the hair is an option, but do not forget that a layered take on this haircut will require frequent follow-up appointments.
• If layering, stay with longer layers that end at the shoulders. Don’t take the overall length of your hair too short as that will detract from the overall impact of the styling.
• Maintain one length for the hair; create one solid line that ends just where the collar starts. If any longer, it’ll be hard to manage.

How to style it

• When styling this look, create texture with a sea salt spray and a smoothing cream to eliminate frizz.
• If you have long, fine hair and don’t have time to properly style it, wear it back in a ponytail.
• The styling for this cut works best if the hair is one-day old, as scalp’s natural oils assist in the creating of texture.

Armani COLLEZIONI Spring Summer 2014 out now .

Armani Collezioni Spring/Summer 2014 Campaign

22 feb / Campaigns, Spring/Summer / by Adriano B.

Justice Joslin fronts the Spring/Summer 2014 campaign of Armani Collezioni, photographed by Giampaolo Sgura.

Men's Fashion - 8 Men's Fashion Mistakes to Avoid

By Daniel Billett

Men's fashion mistakes - We all make fashion errors now and again, but some fashion mistakes made by men are just unforgivable. I have outlined eight fashion mistakes to avoid at all costs.

Socks with Sandals
Who decided this was okay in the first place? Living in the Northwest, I am unfortunately faced with some of the worst offenders of this major fashion don’t. I understand that when it is chilly outside we all dream of the warmth of the summer sun, but wearing socks with sandals doesn’t make the seasons change any faster. If you want to wear sandals this badly, move to a warmer climate. Take this poll and cast your vote on this rather hot topic.

Novelty Ties, Shirts, Boxer Shorts, Etc.
Just say no (I'm channeling Nancy Reagan). There is nothing lasting about novelty clothing nor does it project a stylish, put together image. Leave the smiley faces, hearts, reindeer, shamrocks, animal and various other prints on the racks of the store where you found them.

Blaring Designer Labels
This is a personal pet peeve of mine. I don’t want to be a walking advertisement and neither should you. It’s not a sophisticated look. Just because you are wearing a designer’s name on your chest, sleeve, or wherever, doesn’t make you stylish. Keep it understated and simple.

Backpacks at the Office
I work in a very upscale high rise in Seattle, filled with lawyers and other professional types and it never ceases to surprise how many men wearing nice suits are schlepping backpacks. Unless you are a student or are hiking up a mountain, leave the backpack at home. If you need something for your gym clothes, buy a nice looking gym bag (and there are options that don’t have big logos on them), or if you need something to carry your assorted papers, cell phone, day-planner, etc., get a nice messenger bag.

Chunky Shoes
These were okay back in the 90s, but the big chunky shoes, especially those with square toes, should be retired at this point. Choose something classic that stands the test of time.

Shiny or Glittery Shirts and Suits
If you are looking for something to go out nightclubbing in, I can think of much better choices than those that are glittery, shiny and ultimately tacky. If you are at a loss, try a form fitting black t-shirt or black dress shirt which can be worn with jeans or trousers and dress shoes or casual shoes.

Clothes That Are Too Loose Fitting
In a word, sloppy. Unless you are a hip hop artist, it’s not the right look. Choose clothes that fit your body. This might take some experimentation by mixing and matching certain cuts and styles until you find the right fit for your body that is flattering.

Unflattering Colors
That beautiful blue cashmere sweater you found on sale after Christmas might be really tempting, but if it makes you look ill it’s no bargain. The colors you wear should compliment your natural features such as your eye color, skin tone and body shape. Keep this in mind when putting your look together. 

.

check this out

The established brand FEFE' presents the collection S/S 2014 with an exceptional model: Mariano Di Vaio.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IapZ_ahByn4

Menswear in Italy : Zegna

Style Statements for Men

Ermenegildo Zegna is today one of the foremost Italian names in modern menswear, with outlets all over the world and a wide diversity of lifestyle products for men. Zegna spells quality, discreet luxury and style: a well-dressed man can hardly afford not to have at least one Zegna in his wardrobe.

The Inception of Zegna

When Angelo Zegna, Ermenegildo Zegna's father, set up a small spinning plant in the first decade of the twentieth century, little did he know that his modest enterprise would successfully pass on to the fourth generation of his family, and one day rule the world of men's fashion.

Out of Angelo's ten sons, it was the youngest, Ermenegildo, who would go on to bring immense prestige to the Zegna name. The story of the Zegna family is intimately connected to the brand: it has remained a tight knit family business for nearly a hundred years now. Ermenegildo Zegna started working with his father in 1910, and emerged as the business leader of the family after Angelo passed away in 1923. But it was not until 1930 that Ermenegildo established a textile mill of his own. By this time he had a degree from a textile institute. He had already traveled extensively and was particularly inspired by the high quality of English textiles.

Ermenegildo Zegna was keen on producing the best fabrics possible using the most advanced technology, and producing fabrics better than the English. To make his vision a reality, he imported the best English spinning machines and soon felt confident enough of his weaving techniques, choice of raw materials and designs to put his name on his fabrics as a guarantee of quality. This was a pretty unusual step for his time, and was well-received by his customers. The tradition of impeccable quality and continuous innovation for Zegna fabrics was thus established in Lanificio Zegna, which was founded in 1910 but truly came into its own around 1930.

Zegna fabrics and why they are some of the best

Zegna began with suiting fabrics and is considered a world leader for menswear fabrics even today, producing more than 2 million meters of fabric from its mill in Biella alone. This tradition of excellence started with Ermenegildo, who always put his customer first. Going against prevalent norms of not accepting fabric orders below 50 metres, he allowed tailors to order only as much fabric as they needed, and even invited many of them to see the production.

But the two most important things he introduced which have now become an unshakable tradition with Zegna, are the choice of only the best raw material and continuous technological innovation based on customer needs.

Zegna is currently known to be the one of the biggest customers of top quality superfine merino wool and the best cashmere fibres derived from the Kasmir goat. It is also the biggest customer of South-african kid mohair which is the finest mohair in the world. Mohair is important for Lanificio Ermenegildo Zegna because it is a crease-proof natural fibre, and is eminently suitable for permanent press clothing.

But these raw materials come into their own only because of the constantly innovative use of technology. 15 mil mil 15 is a precious Zegna worsted fabric that is fit for royalty, as is Trofeo, both produced using the best merino wool fibers and techniques refined through experience and modern scientific knowledge. Traveller and Traveller micronsphere are other worsted Zegna fabrics well known for their unparalleled feel combined with total crease and dirt resistance.

Other fabrics from Zegna like Heritage, High Performance, and High Performance Micronsphere have helped wool evolve into a light, trans-seasonal fabric for menswear. They are ideal for suits that need to travel across different climates in quick succession, yet fashionable and classy enough to be used in couture garments.

Zegna suits: Ready-to-wear and Su misura

This excellence in the field of fabrics had been achieved in the lifetime of Ermenegildo Zegna, but soon it became clear that the Zegna customer base mainly consisting of tailors of men's suits was beginning to thin out. Ermenegildo Zegna's sons Aldo and Angelo stepped in to this challenge by starting off a business of high quality industrially manufactured ready made suits. Suits were becoming more of office wear than church wear at about this time, and coming from an already established Zegna brand it was not difficult for the brothers to establish Zegna Confection in 1968.

The ready-to-wear was successful because its relatively high quality at low prices was attractive for a large client base, and Zegna went into expansion mode. A venture into Spain proved successful, as did a new factory in Switzerland Aldo and Angelo then made a strategic decision to step into the field of made-to-measure suits: because with the disappearance of personal tailors, a suit made to a client's measurements was much in demand. While going ahead with the ready-to-wear, the brothers did not lose sight of its limitations, and introduced an ingenious system of taking measurements at one station and precise manufacturing at a factory in order to claim the made-to-measure market, and thus was born the Zegna Su misura line.

Su misura is one of the most prestigious names in the gallery of made-to-measure suits available today, because the combination of the latest technology and a rich heritage of Zegna experience has proven infallible. Su misura comes in two different varieties, the "Napoli," that approximates the English silhouette and has a slimmer shoulder line; and the "Positano," that emphasizes the shoulder and body, both with their own privileged fan following.

In keeping with the times: Zegna sport , Z Zegna, Z Zegna Essence

With the introduction of Z Zegna, a younger line for fashionable youth now designed by Alessandro Sartori, Zegna has created a niche where formal buttoned-up dressing meets casual cool, to create an appeal all its very own for the young and trendy.

As the family leadership at Zegna knows very well, it never hurts to expand your client base if you can do it without losing your individual specialties. Zegna has also introduced the aromatic and fresh fragrance Z Zegna, which recalls the unique blend of the old and the new that Zegna has come to represent.

Zegna has gone on to have stand-alone stores worldwide, besides the Zegna fabric and suit being retailed from almost every prestigious menswear town in much of Europe, America, and now Asia. But that has not happened on the strength of Zegna fabrics and suits alone, though they are a formidable force in themselves.

Zegna has diversified into the Zegna sport which includes jackets , knitwear, beachwear, accessories, shirts and even denim with innovative, durable and exquisite fabric developments.

Zegna sport is a statement of comfortable, sportive elegance, always with that trademark hint of understated luxury. It is being championed by Eduardo Molinari in 2008, who says “Zegna style and technical performance fit my needs perfectly… for both golf and my private life”.

Zegna also acquired Lanerie Agnona Spa, a clothing and textiles brand which also works in womenswear, and this has further expanded the Zegna portfolio. The Agnona items are now retailed as Agnona by Zegna, and are almost as well known for their knits and woolens for women as Zegna is for men.

In 2002, Zegna formed a joint venture with the Salvatore Ferragamo Group called ZeFer in order to develop a footwear and leather goods enterprise. In 2006, Zegna entered an agreement with designer Tom Ford, in order to create the The Tom Ford Collection, which was first presented in Spring 2007.

In 2007, the brand was retailing through 525 outlets, out of which 253 are fully owned by Zegna. Zegna is the proud producer of 2.3 million meters of exquisite fabrics and 1.6 million sportswear pieces, besides products in other categories. The company brought in a turnover of 843.4 million Euro in 2007, and 2008 will only bring further growth in these figures.

What makes a Zegna a Zegna

At the bottom of it, Zegna is an ideal Italian institution, with strict vertical control from a family leadership that values honesty, quality, hard work, constant innovation, and team work above all else. A Zegna is a Zegna because of its tradition of quality and constant renewal, a tradition which has given the company the strength to become one of the most sought after menswear brands in the world.

By Damyanti Ghosh