Fashion Examiner: Joseph Abboud

Friday, August 5, 2016

Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017 menswear collection

Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

The Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017 men's collection was presented in July with a runway show during New York Fashion Week: Men's Spring Summer 2017. The designer, Mr. Abboud channeled adventurer, expatriate and legendary writer Ernest Hemingway in the styles of the clothes and even with the setting of the fashion show. The event was held at The Park, a sunlit restaurant on Tenth Avenue between West 17th and 18th Street. The atmosphere had a relaxed, privileged and friendly air. Guests sat at circular tables while they were served Cuban Frittatas, Smoked Salmon Crepe, deserts and pastries as though they were passing the time in a French cafe.

The collection is titled "Deconstructed Elegance" and imagines an "American voyager...hungry for knowledge and adventure who collects" his richly made garments "as he explores the world, from New York and Paris, to Havana and Madrid." The models walked down a couple small steps and made their way along a path that snaked in between tables, where guests such as actor and model Kellan Lutz got a close up view of the clothes. Models turned a sharp right, then strutted down a short, narrow, runway decorated with Oriental rugs and lined with worn but expensive travel luggage. Finally, each model sat at an assigned seat at the head of the runway until the man behind the brand walked out to thank the audience and pose briefly with the models.

As usual, Mr. Abboud's clothes look great. The pieces are made for the masculine man. One who likes a bit of room in his pants and jackets; but not too much room. Several pieces are made from linen. According to the designer, "ninety-five percent of the collection is 100% linen. I've always loved linen. I think it's a great fabric. A lot of men don't understand linen. The more you wear it, the more you use it, the more comfortable it feels." The colors of the clothes are white, ivory, sand, chocolate, flax and tobacco. Looks deftly straddle the line between formal and informal wear.

Some of the looks can be worn as a suit, while most of the pieces are worn as separates. Double-breasted suit jackets and blazers with large breast pockets are very dashing. Coats with belts are tailor-made for a safari trek. There are lots of visual options with stripes, checkers, solids, paisley and flower designs. One has to remember not to mix patterns too much, keeping in mind the saying, less is more. Overall this is a fabulous collection.

Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Celebrities and activists attend New York Fashion Week Men Spring Summer 2017

Actor and model Kellan Lutz (right) poses with model Brad Kroenig backstage,
before the Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017 collection runway fashion show,
during New York Fashion Week Men's Spring Summer 2017.
Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

New York Fashion Week: Men's Spring Summer 2017 took place in New York City from July 11th to July 14th. This third season of NYFWM displayed really attractive outfits on the runway, as well as great style and substance off the runway. There seemed to be a more diverse range of guests attending menswear shows this time. One year ago, the first season of Men's Week in New York in years, was attended mainly by the fashion press, some buyers and male, menswear aficionados. This season, in addition to the aforementioned, a surprising amount to celebrities, women and activists took part.

Actor and model Kellan Lutz was somewhat of an ambassador for Men's Week. He was given the informal role by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), the host of the weeks events. One of the shows Mr. Lutz attended was the delightful Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017 runway show at The Park at 118 Tenth Avenue. He wore a light colored suit with white shirt, as he posed with models backstage and later enjoyed the show.

Model poses backstage in an outfit from the Joseph Abboud Spring Summer 2017
collection, during New York Fashion Week Men's Spring Summer 2017.
Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

NBA player Andre Iguodala, from the Golden State Warriors attends the Stampd
Spring Summer 2017 collection on July 12, 2016 by Chris Stamp, at Skylight
Clarkson Square during New York Fashion Week: Men's Spring Summer 2017.
Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Public School fashion designers Dao-Yi Chow (lefit) and Maxwell Osborne attend
the Stampd Spring Summer 2017 collection fashion presentation on July 12, 2016
by Chris Stamp, at Skylight Clarkson Square during New York Fashion Week:
Men's Spring Summer 2017. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

The sports world was well represented. Professional NBA basketball player Andre Iguodala, from the Golden State Warriors, looked very sharp in a green/blue plaid suit, when he attended the Stampd presentation by Chris Stamp, held Skylight Clarkson Square. Olympic gold medal snowboarder, and award winning skateboarder Shaun White has trimmed his hair and began making rounds in the fashion circuit. He too was a good will ambassador for the week. The Linder runway show by Sam Linder and Kirk Millar was one of the shows Shaun White watched from the front row.

Olympic gold metal winner Shaun White (right) being interviewed front row at the Linder Spring Summer 2017 collection runway show by Sam Linder and Kirk Millar, on July 11 2016, during New York Fashion Week Men's Spring Summer 2017. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Fashion desinger Devin Carlson (center) greets Nick Wooster in the Chapter Spring Summer 2017 fashion presentation, at New York Men's Day on July 11, 2016 during New York Fashion Week: Men's Spring Summer 2017. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Politics also was present among the hustle and bustle of fashion. On Tuesday July 12th Black Lives Matter sympathetic protestors stood silently with their hands up outside Skylight Clarkson Square, the main venue for the men's fashion shows. They wore t-shirts that read "Stop Killing Us" and "Walter Scott", to protest the killing of unarmed African-Americans by police in various cities across the United States. The protest was organized by Hannah Stoudemier who stated, "I work for Lanvin, and when I walked into work they didn't have anything to say about it. But they were on their phones watching while Aston Sterling got shot. I have a black brother, nephew. I have a daughter, and so I do this today so she wouldn't have to do this when she gets older. "My big take away moment was I just wanted the fashion industry to acknowledge me, most specifically the CFDA because it's an American non-profit organization and I came right here to there front door. When Steven Kolb (President of CFDA) came out at the end of the shows, I ran out of line, I yelled his name, I said Steven, I just want to thank you because CFDA posted about two hours after we've been standing here...and I know you had to approved that." Ms. Stoudemier continued, "He is my biggest hero today because he didn't have to do that. He had so much on the line. So many people watch him and for him it's political. It shouldn't be political, but I know it is. And he not only restored my faith in the fashion industry, but in humanity. And I was ready to walk away from fashion and not have anything to do with it, because why would the thing that I've loved since four not love me back? I wouldn't be a part of that." Simple gestures can make a big difference to help promote peace, and bring about justice for all.

Model/stylist Zoe Monique Cross attends the Grungy Gentleman Spring Summer
2017 collection fashion show, by Jace Lipstein on July 14 2016, at the W Hotel on
541 Lexington Avenue, during New York Fashion Week Men's Spring Summer 2017.
Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Caro Morales, Argentinian actress and TV host attends the Chapter Spring Summer
2017 fashion presentation by Devin Carlson, at New York Men's Day on July 11,
2016 during New York FashionWeek: Men's Spring Summer 2017.
Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Dr. Martina Mcflyy spins tracks for the Grungy Gentleman Spring Summer 2017 collection by Jace Lipstein on July 14 2016, at the W Hotel on 541 Lexington Avenue, during New York Fashion Week Men's Spring Summer 2017. Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016

Natasha Nyanin - creative consultant attends the fashion show at Skylight Clarkson
Square during New York Fashion Week: Men's Spring Summer 2017.
Photo: ©Shawn Punch 2016