Model : Bruno Rosendo (part 2)

Living god Bruno Rosendo’s philosophy is: “Life can only be understood looking backwards but can only be lived looking onwards”, he asserts. Not only does this young man look outrageously handsome, but he also is clever. Ain’t this the perfect brain/brawn combination ? He doesn't need to zhuzh it up, he’s got what it takes to stump kerazy stylo skeeziks...

Jump to part 1 from here.

Kris van Assche

New Dior Homme’s top man Belgian designer Kris Van Assche (above), 31, offers up a big-time collection of clothes for a day in the life of a man he essentially envisages as a kept boy. Like Julian, the “American Gigolo” Richard Gere played with perfectly calibrated charm, this boy arose in his underwear, worked out, lunched, played tennis, had dinner, and accompanied his client to the opera. All of which gave Mr. Van Assche a chance to display a full repertoire of his signature sleek tailoring (from dressy athleticwear to jackets with a curious peaked shoulder) and to inject design flourishes like the odd red accent or the epaulettes on a polo shirt.
As you can see below, Kris Van Assche’s clothes are less outrancier than Hedi Slimane’s : let’s bet next Dior collection will be sublime, manlier and finally wearable !

Poivre Samarcande

Poivre Samarcande was designed by Jean-Claude Ellena two years ago for Hermès’s exquisite fragrance collection called Hermèssences, available at Hermès boutiques only.

The spices that open the scent make quite a statement, but it’s not long before the woods check in with an even greater statement. Together these create quite an impressive declaration. It comes on strong and clear with an abundant yet not oppressive use of spices. Szechuan pepper is elegant, as usual, and combines with the precious woods to make elegance to the second or third power. After a while, an incense note appears and it is so sublime… by this time, the fragrance has become very subtle and sensitively refined. The cumin notes make it smell like a warm and delicious sweat. This sweat in Cartier's Déclaration (another Ellena’s creation) is a bit too much (btw, who can forget Alexander McQueen’s so wild Kingdom ? ), but in Poivre Samarcande, it is lighter yet much there. By the drydown, this extraordinary masterpiece has become a wonderfully transparent fragrance with a smooth, rich and full-scored ambiance that has good staying power. Definitely a must-have for dreamers and aesthetes…

Turkish delight (part 2)

Keremcem


Arif Akpınar


Tarkan


Gürol & Hürol


Cem Adrian


Selçuk Şahin


Murat Başaran


Murat Boz


Volkan Doğan

Have a look at part 1 here, and don't miss the bombshells there.

Beefy cowboy

Osklen

Osklen is Brazilian soul par excellence. The founder of this awesome label, Oskar Metsavaht, 46, began his professional life as a sportsmedic and only discovered fashion in 1986 when he helped out at a catwalk show in Paris. When back in Rio, he then changed direction and today he’s still exploring his limits, doing a fashion of his own, creating shapes that resemble what he likes to wear, that fit into his universe. This is a place that unites hectic urban life, a true love of nature and constant worry about the future of the planet : he uses organic cotton, natural silk and latex produced by indigenous Amazonian tribes.

Zu'Elements

For Naples-based designer Dante G., the laws of coherance begin with creativity. Shapes and structure shout dissonance and irony through a blend of fabrics in total sartorialism. Bringing together the intention of clothing and the extra value of its weft (sic). In all its elegance, Zu’Elements is one helluva titanic Italian label !

DKNY

Izreel

In 2003, Kazuhiro Takakura set up his label in Tokyo and because he liked technical challenges, he began by producing shoes. Izreel means ‘is real’ and symbolizes the designer’s strong willpower and attitude for creation, he never compromises in looking for the genuineness of every product. The Japanese touch : Okayama denim treated with 100%-natural indigo dye. If you still can’t believe Izreel is real, just try it on for size.

Dior

Kris Van Assche will succeed Hedi Slimane as creative director of Dior Homme. The Belgian designer, who previously worked at the label before launching his own line in 2005, has been chosen by LVMH for his comprehensive knowledge of the company and reputation for fine tailoring. As reported yesterday, contract negotiations between Slimane and Dior had been proving difficult since last June - predominantly because Slimane was keen to start his own label, but reluctant to give up complete control of his trademark. Friction between both parties was said to be filtering down into the rest of the company, and Dior yesterday decided to cut all ties with the designer. The brand is looking to change the direction of its menswear but keen to keep a sense of heritage within future collections. The move, which is bound to shock many in the fashion industry, smacks of the surprising splits between Jil Sander and Helmut Lang, who both left their namesake houses in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

For those of you who don't know who Mr. Van Assche is, click here and there.

WAD

Quarterly French outstanding fash-mag WAD's #32 "al dente issue" is out !

Clive Christian

In 1999, Clive Christian acquired the Crown Perfumery, a celebrated British house established in 1872 that gained its name after being granted the use of the royal crown by Queen Victoria as a mark of quality and excellence.

N°1 for Men is a pure oriental ambery perfume. The world’s most expensive fragrance created without reference to cost, using the finest, rarest and most precious ingredients is presented in a deluxe handmade crystal bottle with a single natural brilliant-cut diamond in gold collar. Top notes of this perfume include bergamot, lime, Sicilian mandarin and cardamon. Heart notes of lilly of the valley, rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang emphasize the base notes of cedarwood, sandalwood, vetyver and ambery wood