adidas Tennis Collection by Pharrell Williams

adidas Tennis unveiled the US Open 2017 outfits of the leading names in tennis, who will debut the adidas Tennis Collection by Pharrell Williams at Flushing Meadows. Angelique Kerber and Dominic Thiem will lead the inline campaign, showcasing the collection on court. Other players to wear the collection at the US Open include, Simona Halep, Jelena Ostapenko, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomáš Berdych.

Inspired by the sport’s ’70s-era superstars - their fearless attitudes and their bold senses of personal style - Pharrell developed a simple brief: remix their most iconic looks into a new tennis collection informed by the latest breakthroughs in adidas technology, such as adidas ClimaCool.

The result is adidas Tennis Collection by Pharrell Williams, a range of clothing, accessories, and footwear that brings a cool, colorful, and sophisticated spirit to the world of tennis apparel. The collection explores two distinct motifs - primary colour-block and off-white pin stripe. These elements are paired with fully-fashioned, engineered knitwear that boasts surprising details. The inline collection is in addition to the statement collection by adidas Originals, which will be worn on court by Garbine Muguruza and Sascha Zverev.

Defending champion Angelique Kerber will wear the inline New York Color Blocked Dress, which features a warp knit mesh body fabric with color blocked panels at the side. The 3-in-1 dress comes with Climacool to battle the heat and quick drying fabrics to keep cool and dry. Simona Halep, finalist at Roland Garros, will wear the New York tank featuring a flat knit ribbed collar design with with multi color stripes and four button placket. Alongside the New York skort that has a pleated design, matching the overall vintage tennis aesthetic.

Angelique Kerber, commented, “The US Open is such an exciting tournament for me. Last year I not only won the tournament for the first time, but also won the WTA World Number 1 ranking – reaching an achievement that I have dreamed of since I started playing tennis. To come back and play in a dress from such an exciting collection and collaboration is really special and I can’t wait to show my love for the city of New York on the court”.

Jo- Wilfried Tsonga and Tomáš Berdych will wear the New York Color Blocked Polo with flat knit ribbed collar and cuffs. Dominic Thiem will wear the New York Tee with a contrast color ribbed neckline. All will wear the New York Colorblock Short, featuring a multicolored elasticated waist band and stretch woven fabric with yarn dyed pinstripes.

addias Tennis’ footwear franchises also feature in the collection and will be worn on court. In a new Pharrell Williams colorway, the Ubersonic 3 women’s shoe boasts an innovative sock style ankle support, providing stability between points during fast paced play; a new approach to tennis footwear. The iconic men’s Barricade will also be available in a new colorway for the collection, with state-of-the-art design and craftsmanship the Barricade is the most stable and durable on the court.

The adidas Tennis by Pharrell Williams inline Collection is available online at http://www.adidas.com/tennis.

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Men's Book Style Setters "Men of Style"

And here it is... Modern Luxury has chosen five dapper gentlemen as their 2017 Style Setters featured in the Fall issue of Men's Book. I am honored and thrilled to be among the Men of Style along with Todd Hoyles, Leron Rogers, Drew Brown and Dennis Dean. Very stylish company.

The photo shoot was a blast! Shot at a swanky penthouse at The Sovereign by Patrick Heagney, he and Stephanie Davis Smith of Modern Luxury had me doing all sorts of wild poses - all in the name of fashion and editorials. 

I want to give a huge thank you to Jeffrey McQuithy at Vis-A-Vis The Salon for my hair and grooming and another huge thanks to Jeffrey Atlanta's Men's Store. I'm wearing a Gucci suit with a Dior shirt in both shots but switched out the Gucci sneakers in the Table of Contents photo for a Maison Margiela lowtop paint-splatter sneaker in the other shot. Notice the Fendi Monster eyes peekaboo bag in both shots - a #MUSTHAVE!

You can see my spread and the other dapper dudes in the current issue of Men's Book, HERE!

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Jeffrey Fashion Cares: 25 Years of Fashion & Philanthropy

Jeffrey Fashion Cares. (photos by Ben Rose)

Paris Fashion Week, Milan and New York jet-set their way to Atlanta every year. The last Monday in August has become one of the most anticipated dates of the year because of Jeffrey Fashion Cares. Many view the high-end runway show, live auction and philanthropic event as the kick-off to the Fall fashion season in the city. With designer labels such as Gucci, Celine, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, Dries van Noten, Saint Laurent Paris, Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik, Jeffrey Fashion Cares is most definitely the hottest ticket in town.

Jeffrey Kalinsky

The visionary behind Jeffrey Fashion Cares is its founder, fashion icon and philanthropist, Jeffrey Kalinsky. He has two namesake boutiques, one in New York’s meatpacking district and the other in Atlanta at Phipps Plaza. Jeffrey Fashion Cares, which showcases the latest looks of the season, occurs twice a year - in NYC at the US Intrepid as a menswear show and the other runway is in Atlanta and is celebrating twenty-five stylish years. While the NYC event brings out the likes of Vogue's Anna Wintour and celebrities such as Chloe Sevingy and Zachary Quinto, it is the Atlanta event that got everything started. Jeffrey Kalinsky spoke with us about the early years, when Jeffrey Fashion Cares was called “Shoe Cares.” Kalinsky got his start in the shoe business so his charity fundraiser was naturally all about shoes - fabulous shoes, of course. He pointed out that one of the greatest challenges in those early years was figuring out how to create an entertaining and engaging fashion show with shoes. Well, anyone who knows Jeffrey knows he’s always one step ahead - no pun intended - and he figured “it” out. 

I once asked Jeffrey how he keeps the show fresh year after year and he humbly turned it back to his amazing team and their hard work, but modesty aside, it’s Jeffrey Kalinsky’s vision, aesthetic and drive that keep him and his endeavors on the forefront of fashion. “Our job is to travel the world and be shoppers for our shoppers,” says Jeffrey. “We try every single season to buy the most beautiful things in the world,” he added. [And] on that last Monday in August, you can see all those “beautiful things” parade onto a 140ft+ runway. One of my favorite moments of the show, besides all the to-die-for looks, bags and shoes, comes at the finale walk where Jeffrey makes a runway stop to kiss his mother while she hands him a bouquet of roses. 

Jeffrey Fashion Cares CO-CHAIRS: Jeffrey McQuithy, Louise Sams, Lila Hertz & Jeffrey Kalinsky

Jeffrey acknowledges that breast cancer and AIDS have affected so many lives and that by coming to Jeffrey Fashion Cares, you are participating in something good. In its history, Jeffrey Fashion Cares has become the largest combined AIDS and breast cancer benefit in the country. Lila Hertz, who has chaired the event for fifteen of its twenty-five years, shared an optimistic and inspiring message, "We are so proud of the contribution we have made to the breast cancer and AIDS charities over the years. However, our work is not done—there is still much to do for these two diseases.  So, we want everyone to join us to celebrate our silver anniversary and contribute to help us reach our goal of one million dollars. Together we can do it!!” 

Jeffrey Fashion Cares benefits Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta AIDS Fund (AAF), and the Medical University of South Carolina. For more information and tickets, visit jeffreyfashioncares.com

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Frances de Lourdes -- Ladies in Tees

Frances de Lourdes, a new brand of luxury tees and tanks in ultra soft, lightweight Italian cashmere and silks. The collection, designed and produced in New York City by 36-year-old Alejandra Echeverria, was born out of a desire for a refined classic tee. Echeverria, who notes that the name “Frances de Lourdes” is a reference to her mother and father’s middle names, respectively, was inspired to create an elevated version of her favorite vintage staples - the perfect tee.  

A long time lover, wearer, and collector of tees, Echeverria set out to create a collection of timeless tees that she herself wanted and felt were missing from the market. Calling upon a decade’s worth of experience designing for various New York fashion brands and her education at both Skidmore College and Parsons The New School of Design, New York native Echeverria spent over a year meticulously developing the debut collection of Frances de Lourdes. The collection, which is tightly edited in both color and silhouette, consists of eight (8) timeless luxury tees and tanks made from fine Italian cashmere and silks.

The collection started with the Johnny Tee, which was based on an oversized vintage men’s tee that had shrunken over time to hit the perfect spot on the hip. Often when women wear a men’s tee it can end up looking sloppy, but the shrunken length of the Johnny tee provides the relaxed fit women seek without it feeling overwhelming. With a relaxed, easy fit, round neckline and short sleeves, the Johnny tee is classic and perfectly effortless - a natural addition to the regular rotation in every woman’s closet. The brand’s favorite ultra soft, light weight cashmere and silk Italian jersey (80% cashmere, 20% silk) is the final touch that instantly elevates the silhouette of the Johnny Tee.

Building off the Johnny Tee, Echeverria has created two additional styles with reference to the vintage men’s tee fit. The Frankie Tee - a deep v-neck alternative to the Johnny Tee - is the offering for those who may want the same relaxed feel seen in the Johnny Tee, but with a more revealing neckline. 

The final interpretation of the Johnny Tee is seen in the solitary long-sleeved style within the debut Frances de Lourdes collection, the Marlon Tee. With it’s signature relaxed fit, a round neck and long sleeves, this Italian cashmere and silk-jersey number (retailing at $340.00, the highest price point of the collection) is undoubtedly a staple essential for both summer evenings and winter layering. 

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Tim Gunn Surprises Crowd with Major Project Runway Announcement

Tim Gunn Surprises Over 6,000 Avon Beauty Bosses at the company's annual RepFest in Nashville. TN to Announce Avon as the Official Beauty Sponsor for Project Runway Season 16

Photos: Rob Loud

Tim Gunn Project Runway

Tim Gunn Project Runway

Avon

Project Runway + AVON

beauty

Project Runway + AVON

This past Sunday, Project Runway host and mentor, Tim Gunn, surprised an audience of 6,000 Avon Beauty Bosses (independent sales Reps) in Nashville at their annual RepFest Convention to announce a key partnership for the upcoming season.

Avon will serve as the official beauty sponsor for Lifetime’s critically-acclaimed and Emmy nominated design competition series for season 16. Gunn was on hand to share details about the partnership, including how Avon will be releasing behind-the-scenes content on the brand’s social channels to help viewers create "runway to reality" looks at home. With a team led by makeup artist Hector Simancas, Avon will be creating the makeup look on models helping to bring the contestants' visions to life. 

“Avon is legendary in the beauty world,” said Gunn during his remarks. “It is a brand that embodies the values of freedom, inspiration and empowerment, which are core to Project Runway’s mission of inspiring up-and-coming fashion entrepreneurs. We can’t wait to debut Avon beauty on our catwalk, with simply stunning and wildly creative applications that perfect each designer look. Get ready to tune-in to another exciting season, and learn how to replicate each runway-inspired look with Avon!”

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The Thom Browne Wetsuit

I was just at the beaches in California where there are surfers everywhere but not a single one was donning the Thom Browne wetsuit - well, in fairness, it's part of his SS18 collection for Moncler Gamme Bleu (so it's not available yet). Though, I'm not sure the the Cali surfer dude is the type to sport this sophisticated wetsuit that mirrors a traditional suit. It's made of neoprene and perfectly tailored, as one would expect from Thom Browne. I have a feeling this wetsuit will see more photoflash than waves.

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Thom Browne for Moncler Gamme Bleu Spring/Summer 2018.

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Behind-the-Scenes at Miami Swim Week with Art Hearts Fashion

Where's the party? Backstage, of course!

I have often said that behind-the-scenes is a fashion show in itself. Make it to Miami Swim Week and it's most definitely a party. See cover photo above - speaks the truth. Now, in fairness, the hair and make-up teams are hard-working, talented artists and they too are backstage, working feverishly to achieve runway beauty perfection. 

The photo gallery featured, chronicles the sexy, organized chaos electrifying the backstage madness of the Art Hearts Fashion brand.

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