NEW YORK FASHON WEEK FAVORITES

DKNY

DKNY took over Times Square on Wednesday evening, jumbotrons included. A row of dapper gentlemen in sleek grey suits lined the windows of the NASDAQ Marketsite, looking relaxed compared to the bustle two floors below. To complete the Times Square takeover, the brand’s ad campaign ran on several video screens outside, broadcasting the modern classics for everyone passing by. The slim silhouettes echo the return of Mad Men era style. The tailored pieces boasted a simple grey palette, but took on a whole different feel when paired with statement making shoes. Other key pieces from the collection include ombre knits from pureDKNY, the weekend wear label, and a three-button blazer. We passed a faux boardroom filled with models on the way out—bringing the collection’s office chic vibe full circle. 

STANDOUT: The tailored grey suit is easy to dress up (as shown) or down with a henley and chukkas.

 

 

 

 

Lacoste

Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first full collection for Lacoste incorporated luxe elements while staying true to the sportswear soul of the iconic French brand. The co-ed show focused mostly on women’s, but we got a glimpse of his new direction, which mixed sportswear and tailored pieces and featured cool cotton blazers and hooded anoraks. The palette consisted of crisp white, navy and royal blues, and military green with some subtle color blocking. Structured blazers were paired with shorts to showcase the elements of fine tailoring. 

STANDOUT: This olive jacket that hits right at the waist, mixed with the navy and olive combination, creates an eye-catching—but practical—look. The oversized pocket flaps add an architectural element for a modern feel. 

Photo: Courtesy of the designer 

 

Richard Chai

Downtown designer Richard Chai took a break from his typically somber New York palette this season and let his man bask in eye-catching, island-acid colors (tangerine with pop of bright and a hard-edged turquoise anyone?). His signature slouchy silhouettes and doses of playful patterns remained true to his DNA, though the tropical prints were a welcome breezy departure. If guys aren't up for the bold statement of a striped double-breasted jacket, they could keep their flair grounded with slick neon-soled brogues. 

Standout: Those neon-soled shoes. Wear them with a suit and you can keep it all business up top, party on the bottom. 

Photo: Courtesy of the designer 

Michael Bastian

There was a spark of excitement in the air at New York designer Michael Bastian’s show this week. After taking a season off from his eponymous collection, editors, stylists and fashion types were eager to see what the master of All-American style would come up with for spring – and they weren’t disappointed. The designer’s well-developed collection was an homage to James Dean that played out in references from a classic red windbreaker to cuffed jeans to the chunky 50’s eyewear. But Bastian’s rebels did have a cause: looking devil-may-care handsome in unlikely mixes of tailored clothing and sportswear. Each outfit showcased Bastian’s skill of mastering the details but also combining them in unexpected ways. A slim-cut cargo with a pinstriped blazer? Rugby shirts under tailored clothing? Absolutely. His man looked daring, but never reckless. 

STANDOUT: If you take away one thing from this collection, it should be lessons on fearless layering and combinations. As long as the fit is right and the pieces are well made, feel confident in mixing your weekend and work wear. 

Photo: Courtesy of the designer 

Fratelli Rossetti

This iconic family-run footwear brand has carefully reinvented itself since LA-based shoe designer George Esquivel began collaborating with them 2 years ago. Combining Fratelli Rossetti’s old world Italian craftsmanship with Esquivel’s downtown esthetic—which means washed leather and funky colors—the result is shoe nirvana. The idea here is pairing unusual colors with an otherwise classic shoe. Think slate blue, hunter green, eggplant and carmel in suede lace ups, woven leather loafers and elegant dress shoes. If color’s not your thing, fear not. The collection also includes more traditional black, brown and tan options. 


STANDOUT: White leather and tan suede thick-soled wingtips worn with a suit, jeans or shorts.

Tweet

Read More

Citroen Taranis

 

 

 

 

Citroen Taranis

 

Is it a car, or is a transformer pretending to be a car? The jury is still out on that one. But Peter Norris’ Citroen Taranis concept is an interesting design direction that the current crop of off-roaders (or if you live in London, Chelsea Tractors) should take note of.

The name has been borrowed from the Celtic god of thunder, who is normally depicted holding a wheel in one hand and a thunderbolt in the other. The cabin’s height off the ground is indicative of the Taranis’ intentions as an off-road vehicle. To counter the raised cabin, Morris installed four electronic motors inside each of the four wheels to bring down the car’s center of gravity, while also paying homage to its Celtic namesake.

The arms that connect the wheels to the cabin have been double jointed, allowing for large suspension setups to soften and adjust to the terrain. They can also turn in the direction of travel, reducing the size of the Taranis’ turning circle.

Not forgetting an element of style with the off-roader, Morris has dropped in a pair of gull-wing doors and a high-spec interior. So when do we get to drive one? Sadly, this is just a concept that forms part of the UK designer’s expanding portfolio. Someone give this man a job.

Pictured here:
The two-seater cabin looks like it's been set on a monster-truck chassis.

Tweet

Read More

How To Know If She Likes You

• What You Need To Know
• As soon as you start wondering whether she likes you, you lose your cool.
• Take control: Realize that how you feel about her is more important than how she feels about you.
• Attract incredible women by being your true, authentic self.

"The minute you walk around wondering, 'Does she like me?' you’re basically giving your power away to her..."

No matter what age you are, no matter what stage in life you’re at, the moment you feel that you like a woman, you start terrorizing your friends with this question: “Does she like me?” You rally all of them. You might go out in a group or call friends up individually and ask each of them, “Can you let me know what you think -- does she like me?” And you'll start going over some of the things she's done. You’re starving for their opinions. 
Here's the issue -- the issue we all forget: The minute you walk around wondering, “Does she like me?” you’re basically giving your power away to her, without even realizing it. Then, the next time you see her when you go out on a date, you're not really yourself because you're so caught up with wondering if she likes you and wanting her to like you that you hold back who you really are. And in dating, isn't that the whole point? 

In order to get the ending right -- to finally find that great woman you could spend eternity with, or at least happily ever after for two years -- you need to find someone who likes you (and is dating you) for who you are instead of liking you for who they think you are. You need to stop worrying about if she likes you, and you need to flip the switch and the power. You need to think: Do you like her? Is she somebody you can hang with? Is she somebody you can envision going on vacation with? Is she somebody you'd like to wake up with in the morning? Is she sexually compatible with you? Do you like the way she moves? Do you like the way she talks? Do you like the way she takes care of herself? And most important, are you able to be 100 percent authentic in front of her? Are you being yourself, or are you just being a version of yourself in order to get her to like you? 

The minute I stopped worrying whether a girl liked me and started being myself in every situation, I had an endless supply of women liking me. The funny thing is, I didn't like many of them. I found they were actually spending time trying to get me to like them instead of just being themselves.

So I've been where you are, and I've seen both sides of it. And let me tell you, if you flip the switch and start to do the things I advise above, you're never going to call another friend to ask whether the girl you like likes you back. You're never going to worry about whether she likes you. You're going to have complete control, complete power -- and you're going to attract the most incredible women. The eternal question “Does she like me?” won’t be a question anymore.

Tweet

Read More

Top 10: Ab Exercises

Year after year, countless men swear that they will work their abs and achieve the elusive six-pack; most of these men fail. The reasons for wanting great abs are simple: you'll feel good about yourself and therefore boost your self-esteem and girls love them. Here are 10 of the all-time best exercises for your abs. They will help you to whip that gut into shape. Just remember that without a proper diet and a fat-burning cardio regime (such as high intensity interval training), you're ab crunches will be in vain.

Number 10

Reaching Crunch On Ball

  

Instructions: Sit on a Swiss ball with your feet shoulder-width apart on the floor. Lean back, so that your back is almost parallel to the floor. Straighten your arms and point them toward the ceiling. Contract your abs, as you would for a crunch, while you reach for the ceiling with your fingertips. Hold the contracted position for three seconds. Slowly lower yourself back to the starting position. Do 10 reps.

Number 9

Twist And Crunch

   

Instructions: Place a mat on the floor and lie down on your back, with your hands by your ears and your legs perpendicular to the floor. Twist your hips slightly by contracting your left oblique muscles; hold that position. Using your abs, bring your right elbow across your body to the outside of your left knee. Slowly return to the starting position. Repeat the movement on your right side. Do 10 reps.

Number 8

Russian Twist

   

Instructions: Sit on a decline bench, with your legs firmly under the pads. Lean back slightly, so that your thighs and torso form a 90° angle. Extend your arms in front of you, so that they form a 90° with your torso, and clasp your hands together. Keeping your back straight, your chest out and your arms straight, make a semi-circle with your arms. With your abs flexed, move as far as you can from right to left and left to right, and do the motion as quickly as you can without sacrificing proper form or range of motion. Work your way up to 60 seconds of continuous movement.

Number 7

Hip Raise/Leg Raise

 

Instructions: Lie down on a flat bench with your legs up and perpendicular to the bench (hold the bench behind your head for stability). Lift your hips slightly off the bench by contracting your lower abs, hold for three seconds, and lower your hips. Keep your back flat on the bench, your legs straight and lower your legs until they almost form a straight line with the rest of your body. Hold for a count of three and bring them back to the starting position. Do 10 reps.

Number 6

Woodchop

 

Instructions: Add some weight (try 25 pounds) to a multipurpose pulley machine and grasp the handle attachment at shoulder height with your left hand. Square yourself to the machine and take a few steps to the right (away from the machine) until there is sufficient tension. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, bring your right arm across your body, and clasp your hands together while holding the handle. Keeping your arms straight and at shoulder-height, use your abs to bring your arms across your body, as though you were making a woodchopping motion. Bring them back to the starting position. Do 10 reps on each side for the excellent core workout.

Number 5

Jackknife

     

Instructions: Place a mat on the floor, lie down on your back and extend your arms above your head. Simultaneously lift your arms and legs toward the ceiling, until your fingertips touch your toes (if you can). Slowly return to the starting position. Do 10 reps.

Number 4

Windshield Wipers

       

Instructions: Place a mat on the floor and lie on on your back with your arms in the "T" position for stability. Lift your legs so that they are perpendicular to the floor and rotate your hips, keeping them in contact with the floor, so that your legs move from left to right, in a "windshield wiper" motion. Make sure to move in a slow and controlled manner. Do 10 reps.

Number 3

Reverse Crunch

    

Instructions: Lie down on a bench with your knees bent and your upper legs at a 90° angle with your torso; grab the bench above your head for stability. Use your ab muscles to pull your knees toward your chest until they reach your elbows. Hold the crunch position for three seconds and return to the starting position. Do 10 reps.

Number 2

Side Crunch On Ball

     

Instructions: Firmly place your right hip on a Swiss ball and lean into the ball; ensure that your torso is off the ball. Support yourself by pressing the soles of your feet against the bottom of a wall. Place your hands by your ears, and contract your left oblique muscles, lifting your torso up as far as you can. Hold for three seconds and release. Do 10 reps and repeat on the opposite side.

Number 1

Front Plank On Ball

  

Instructions: Rest your elbows on a flat bench and the balls of your feet on an exercise ball. Contract your abs so that your body is parallel to the floor and there is no dip in your lower back. Hold the plank position for 60 seconds.

Rock-Hard Abs

Throw a few sets of these ab destroyers between your other exercises at the gym, and within a few weeks, you'll be amazed at your newfound ripped and rock-hard midsection. Just be cool and don't become one of those guys that whips off his shirt to show them off at every opportunity.

Tweet

Read More

Headhunter Secrets

• What You Need To Know
• Don't lie about your background. Be honest about why you left your last gig.
• Stand out from competition by sending a thank-you letter. So few candidates do.
• Do your homework before negotiating salaries - like the going market salary for your position.

"In this job market, if there are 10 requirements, a hiring manager wants you to have 11."

You already know you need a great resume and a sharp suit, but in today’s economy, that’s just not going to be enough to get ahead. To get exclusive insider advice, you need to talk to the top headhunters who are shaping the senior corporate landscape right now, the ones placing guys like you in $300,000 positions. When it comes to job searching, interviewing and high-poweredsalary negotiations, this is the headhunter secrets cheat sheet you’ll want to have stashed up your sleeve.

Be Honest About Your Background

Executive interviewers are seasoned lie detectors and have years of experience cutting through bullsh*t. Chris Von Der Ahe at global headhunters Korn/Ferry International says, "When asked during an interview, 'Why did you leave your former employer,' don't say, 'It was a mutual decision.' It is never mutual. One party has to make the first move, and typically when we hear this from a candidate, it means that they were let go. It is best to be upfront about your departure regardless of circumstances. When we are interviewing candidates, we appreciate the ones who are direct and forthright."

Neal L. Maslan at Caldwell Partners in Los Angeles agrees: “Don’t mislead, don’t omit positions from which you had a short tenure or were terminated, and don’t overstate accomplishments.”

Set Yourself Apart From The Competition

Michael Reamy at top headhunting firm Accountants International in Washington D.C. says:

 “Make sure you have fully read over the job description and be prepared to address every single point. In this job market, if there are 10 requirements, a hiring manager wants you to have 11. There are two things at the end of the meeting that might set you apart from the herd. Wrap up the interview with a very strong close: ‘I’ve really enjoyed learning more about the opportunity and am prepared to accept this position if offered.’ In fact, toss out a potential start date to show you are truly committed. Do this in a professional manner without coming off as desperate."

He also recommends: "Follow up the interview with a thank-you letter immediately -- even if it has to be via email. I would say that only 10% of candidates follow up on an interview with a thank-you note today.”

Be Self-Aware

With a highly educated workforce on the prowl, employers are taking things like MBAs and advanced diplomas for granted. Among several candidates who all fit the position on paper, personal qualities are what can swing it for the one who gets hired. Michael Kelly at Caldwell Partners International in Dallas says that one of the most important qualities they look for in senior executives is self-awareness. “I always ask two questions. The first is: ‘When you have received criticism in the past, is there a recurring theme?’ Often, people are told that they’re too impatient or too hands-on. If a candidate says, ‘I’ve never really received criticism,’ then they’re out the door. The second question is: ‘How do you lead or manage differently now than you did 5 or 10 years ago?’ Those who are self-aware will recognize how they have grown and changed.

But you should also be well informed about market salaries in your field so that you are asking for a reasonable salary that matches your experience and education."

Be Tactful And Flexible During Salary Negotiations

If you’re lucky enough to have been offered a position, the next step is package negotiations. “You don't get what you don’t ask for, so feel confident in your abilities and be prepared to ask for what you are worth,” says Lindsay Fluke with Accountants International in Atlanta. “You should be prepared to confidently, yet tactfully, recap your relevant skills and how they will benefit the organization. But you should also be well informed about market salaries in your field so that you are asking for a reasonable salary that matches your experience and education.” Be careful not to get petty about your requests. Remember that this negotiation is one of the first impressions your future employer will have of you, and you don't want to start off on the wrong foot. “Be flexible,” she says. “Working together with your future manager to come up with a solution during the negotiation process will help develop a bond.”

Use All Available Resources When Job Searching

While applying for jobs online is a start, you also have to networkwith former colleagues, classmates and other professionals in your field. “Never say ‘no,’” says Angelica Mirza at Caldwell Partners in Vancouver. “Don’t refuse when a headhunter wants to meet with you or discuss an opportunity,” even if it’s not technically your area of interest or you’re not planning a job change. “I find it amazing when people refuse to just meet and listen. A meeting with a headhunter enhances your chances for future opportunities.”

Lindsay Fluke agrees: “Meet with recruiters, often several, who specialize in your field. They will all have different networks of contacts. Also, sign up for association meetings and get there early to make new contacts and let people know about you.”

Two Ears, One Mouth

Dennis Carey, the vice-chairman of Korn/Ferry International, recruits for elite executive positions. He says that the best way to get noticed by a top headhunter is to keep your head down and perform brilliantly in your position. “There’s no need to wave a flag,” he says. “If they’re doing well, I will find them.” He insists that although things like track record, skill set and references are important, the right personality is essential. “It’s true that people who are better listeners make better CEOs,” he says. “We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. Find a good mentor, surround yourself with excellent people you trust and listen.” 

Tweet

Read More