Be Afraid...Be VERY Afraid

I read an article recently that talked about why men are no longer using condoms. The reasons were not all that surprising...

"I'm only sleeping with one partner"....

..."she said she was safe"...

..."I hate these f'ing things"...

..."I can't feel anything when I wear a condom"

...or my personal favorite

"I'm too big, condoms don't fit me"

That last one is the one I was using until I saw these print ads...

Now I don't feel very "big" anymore.

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

Real - Plain - Jeans

Even though the US denim market seems to be stabilizing, after over a decade of double digit growth, our beloved blue jean still accounts for over $5 billion of the over $15 billion bottoms market.

On another note...is it just me or does the phrase "bottoms market" sound like a place where a "Real Housewife of (insert city) would go to pick up ass implants??

I digress. The fact is, despite the fact that the US denim market is still huge there has been a gradual slow down as the premium denim market (driven by brands like Rock & Republic, True Religion and 7 for all Mankind) has become saturated.

A while back I did a post called Adore the Unadorned where I talked about my new found love for denim that DIDN'T have the brand name plastered all over the hip pockets. About a year later we are finally seeing a return to common sense jean wearing.

The days of giant "R's" and crochet horse shoes are fading fast. Men's fashion is turning the corner and the every man jean is around the bend. It's the jean made of 100% cotton, not 98% cotton and 2% spandex. It's the jean held together with cooper colored stitching and rivets that you can't see from 20 feet away (sorry...but something had to be said for those quarter size rivets on True Religion denim).

What has me most excited is the fact that leading this charge is the brand that no one expected. GAP...or "the GAP" as most people (including me) call it, has a fantastic range of denim that has just been introduced as part of the Born to Fit collection.

The collection comes in 7 different styles - from skinny to athletic, boot cut to straight leg the entire collection is just-PLAIN-outstanding (pun intended) and with prices from $59 to $89 the only holes in your pockets will be the ones that were there when you bought the jeans.

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

A blog about Underwear...

If I say to you "name a brand that makes great underwear for women", you would likely say something like "Victoria's Secret" or you might even say "La Perla" or any of the other dozen brands or women's lingerie brands. Fact is, women have tons of options when it comes to brands that specialize in creating great "skivvies"

...uhh...YES...I know the Victoria's Secret girls above don't actually have any lingerie on...and I'm okay with that. You should be too.

Now if I were to say "name a brand that makes great underwear for MEN" the field slims down considerably. You've got 2(x)ist and the omnipresent Hanes brand but the fact is us guys don't really have many options for really great underwear.

Enter Calvin Klein...For almost 20 years the house that Calvin Klein built has rested on a foundation of high grade cotton and elastic waist bands.

As a designer, Calvin Klein is best known for being the "master of minimalism". Creating tailored and casual clothing, for both men and women, that consistently transcended the confines of the trend de joir.

This focus on simplicity is, I believe, the reason why Calvin Klein underwear has continued to be so popular. It is, like the balance of the collections that come out of this design house, incredibly well made and unpretentious. Oh yeah....the new ads with Eva Mendes are easy on the eyes as well.

It reminds me of a quote from designer Tom Ford - "You will never look better than the way we look when we are nude. There are many ways to get dressed badly...there is only one way to be naked"....or in this case only one way to wear your "tighty whities"

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

Tod's Fall 09/10 Collection

Wow...has it really been that long. I haven't written an entry in almost a week and in the blog world that might as well be about a year.

Truth be told, like most of you, I've been incredibly busy but I'll share that story a different day....for now it's back to work.

First up, one of my favorite footwear and accessory brands has introduce an Outstanding Fall 09/10 collection.


Tod's has introduced an expanded collection of footwear for men and at first glace it looks like something that would come from a different house - the designs are very different vs. the suede, pebble bottomed loafers the brand is typically known.

But if you take a closer look I think you'll discover that each of these looks are very much in keeping with the tradition that is Tod's.

From the ultra utilitarian lace up ankle boot (above), to the incredibly sleek and beautifully scaled desert boot (below). Each of the items in the Winter 09/10 collection is rooted in classic design with details that give it a very timely aesthetic.

I especially like the desert boot and the Pierre Hardy-like trainers below. They even look great with the suit that that bloke is wearing

Of course, it goes without saying that each shoe in the collection is unquestionably Italian. The unapologetic substance of the penny loafer, the midnight blue canvas on the Tod's trainer...all accents that draw the eye toward the floor...toward the shoe.

You know what they say...The first thing a women looks at when she meets a man is his feet. I guess it makes sense that Italian men have so much luck with women...."must be the shoes"**.

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

** if you don't know where that quote came from click here

The Style & Design of TIME Magazine

I'm a huge fan of the seasonal supplement to TIME magazine called TIME Style & Design - essentially a global look at what is driving the world of fashion, travel, design and all things luxurious.

Every issue has a list of quotes from fashion and design luminaries, on various "popular" topics of discussion.

The Fall '09 supplement was interesting as it showcased quotations, from many popular designers, on the current economic crisis.

...."Yes" it is ironic that people who sell luxury goods are talking about the loss of trillions of dollars of market value and..."Yes" they had some interesting things to say...

"The crisis is the time when one should create new ways of doing things...find solutions...and put even the most basic things into question."

-Jean Paul Gaultier, designer

"I don't know anything about the financial crisis. We'll make a recovery by everyone loving their life, each other and being positive."

-Roberto Cavalli, designer

"I detest this period of fantasy we were in where you had something for three seconds and then you threw it away. The last few years have been a nightmare! It's one thing to have a dream, but this was overkill."

<>-Manola Blahnik, designer

"We are arriving at the end of a fashion cycle. There has been nothing very new for a long time, and a general tiredness has been established."

-Jean Bousquet, founder and managing director of Cacharel

"People say it will never go back to the way it was. I don't believe it. They're going to forget. They are going to want to enjoy their lives and spend again."

<>-Donatella Versace, designer

"I am too angry to cry."

-Christian Lacroix, designer, on his company's financial troubles

...I think I saved the best for last.

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

Best Dressed Real Man 2009

Yesterday (sadly), I had to relinquish my crown as Esquire's best dressed real man in America. The new title holder was named on the Today show. I actually talked to Dan (the winner) about a month ago and told him I thought he would win.....score one for Tweed & Velvet!..awww yeah!

Couldn't have happened to a better guy.....check it out

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

He's 22 years old and a student at NYU. What's more is that Mr. Trepanier has a men's fashion blog!

What's left to say except....Outstanding!

(at the risk of sounding redundant)

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

No One on the Corner Got Swagga Like Us (or this kid)...

Okay so I just finished a blog about the Barneys premium denim catalogue and I started doing some blog surfing.

I was going from link to link when I came across this little gem on the blog of a Singer/Songwriter named Esthero (best known for co-penning three songs on Kanye West's 808's and Heartbreaks release).

This kid has more swagger than you....and me!



I know....this has nothing to do with Fashion, but what the hell. It's an awesome clip....so why not share it with my friends here at Tweed & Velvet.

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

Un Adorned - The Barneys CO OP Mailer

Several months ago I did a post about my new found love for "un adorned" denim - that would be denim that doesn't have the designers name tattooed across the back pockets (I won't say the names but you know who you are...). So imagine my excitement when I saw this...

The new Barney's Co-Op Mailer is here, and...EUREKA!!...the entire book is focused on premium denim.....and there's not a hip pocket logo in sight.

Denim by Acne

Denim by Citizens of Humanity

The denim featured in the mailer is as diverse in its construction and wash as it is in it's heritage. The booklet features premium denim from heavy weights like Levi's (Capital E) and Citizens of Humanity as well as outstanding designs from high end designers like Marc Jacobs and newly popular brands like Nude and Naked & Famous.

But let's put the brands aside for a second and focus on the real lesson here...

Denim by Naked & Famous

....hmmmmm...let's see, why do you think there are no conspicuous logos on the front or back of these jeans....? BECAUSE THE DAYS OF ASS GRABBING LOGO DENIM ARE OVER MY FRIEND (and we should all rejoice...)

Denim by Nude

Don't get me wrong. I still have a few pairs of Rock & Republic jeans in my closet (I tried to give them all away but, after parting with over $1,000 in denim, the pain got to be too much) but they don't get worn. I've replaced them with some fantastic pairs of straight leg denim in light, dark and raw washes.....you should do the same

Denim by PRPS

(my personal favorite of the mailer. This distressed look would look great paired with a very clean top - tuxedo shirt or double breasted jacket - or a simple plaid button up)

Let me put it to you like this. Would you wear a a beautifully tailored blazer while wearing denim with two giant horse shoes on your backside?....If your answer is "YES" you should leave my blog and never come back

Make it an Outstanding Day!

- Kenyatte

p.s. I'm kidding....you can stay....but you have to take off the "horse shoe" jeans...