GQ just
named the six finalists in its 2010 "Best New Menswear Designers in America" competition. And the nominees are:
First, let me congratulate the contenders, and then
GQ for recognizing those designers that have successfully shined in the current climate of restraint. Any FIT dropout can turn heads with decadent diamond-encrusted Day-Glo man-dresses, but it takes talent to do inspiring work within the limits of reality -- and the male version of reality in particular. Based on these six standouts, men's wear is heading in the right direction. A few years ago, for example, who'd have predicted that
J. Crew would be leading a style revolution driven by a confident return to quality, value, and age-spanning design. My hat goes off. (The winner will named February 12.)
GQ just named the six finalists in its 2010 "Best New Menswear Designers in America" competition. And the nominees are: 
Personally I'm rooting for everyone except Frank Muytjens. Sure he's done tons of collaborations, but the JCrew men's collection itself has been consistently unspectacular. He's really not a designer, more like a hack.
ReplyDeleteThis look is starting to get too familiar. That 'Caulfied Preparatory' in particular indicates that preppy has 'jumped the shark'. Time to shake things up and twist it a bit.
ReplyDeleteMy money's on Eunice
ReplyDeleteI wonder who the Choosy Beggar has his money on...
ReplyDeleteI'm really surprised Unis was added to this list. They are still skating dangerously close to that hipster over styling. Pants are far too small. Their plaids are eh..Nothing timeless. Nothing is practical. She must be good with PR, because there is no reason to be mentioned.
ReplyDeleteBilly Reid or JCrew land this one hands down. Both designers pump out things that work in both professional and casual settings.
Really all a man needs are 4 or 5 stores in Manhattan (shoes excluded)
Bill Reid
JCrew mens shop
Seize sur vingt - probably the best, never mentioned shirt maker in Manhattan.
Save Khaki - not sure why this was not mentioned.
APC - hit or miss with them, either they have something that is better than any other designer for the season or it's completely comical. Weird how they can sell a perfectly tailored mac and great jeans, but right next to it a poncho that looks like something from the 80's and a magenta and yellow sweater that comes in 3 separate parts. They should stick to their classic French styling and not be influenced by the stupid hipster American styling. It works best for them.
Always worth a visit are Varvatos and Lindeberg for more formal attire.
Otherwise everything else is irrelevant. Odin use to be, 5 years ago, a great stop, but these days forget it. Unless barnum and bailey are stopping in town, I see no reason to buy something from one of the many designers they show case these days.
Sorry for the long rant, just killing a few minutes.
I wear as much JCrew as the next guy, but they're in no need of being elevated by this award. I don't really understand why they would get nominated alongside much smaller designers. Unis has been perfecting the line for years, and leading the way in menswear for a while. She gets it right.
ReplyDelete