The Fall/Winter Collection from Walter Van Beirendonck is comprised of designs that are not for the faint of heart. His runway models in Paris are a cross between “Jason” from the movie Halloween and “Hannibal Lecter” from the horror flick Silence of the Lambs. The masks that they wear are as startling as the clothing pieces themselves.

Van Beirendonck uses color blocking in a totally unusual way. He takes plaid suits and shirts then, transposes a micro-version of the suit structure within the suit itself. This concept pairs unusual colors with each other and allows the inner portion of the suit to jump off the total look. His designs combine colors like chartreuse and lavender, periwinkle blue and forest green, and bubble gum pink with a pink and black buffalo plaid.

Walter Van Beirendonck brings his ideas to life by utilizing the boldest of colors in combination with patterns and textures that you will not see coming and going on the street. A few of his creations project the images of a preppy businessman spliced together with colorful fly fisherman, while others give the impression of a softer side that include plush, fuzzy sweaters in pastel colors, paired with monochromatic pants and shoes. He also manages to take an overcoat and transform it into a multi-angular piece of outerwear that incorporates the look of a cape, accented by the plushness of fur that is able to magically turn itself into a coat, through strategically placed buttons.

However, the designs of Walter Van Beirendonck are not for everyone. You would have to be the type of person who is extremely comfortable in your own skin before jumping into one of his fashions. His particular style makes a statement that certainly would not go unnoticed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w5aGA6iRvI

Another show stealer was Robert Downey Jr., who strode up to the podium in his custom Gucci black jacket with classic tails, a white pique cotton vest and a classy silk white tie to take his turn in presenting the Golden Globe nominees. However, the absolutely most stunning look of the evening had to be Johnny Depp’s number. He managed to put a spin on a traditionally formal look with his open collar white shirt, asymmetrical lapels, and contrasting green vest to his dark tux by Tom Ford. Also, he added a little whimsy with his long necklace, rings, and antique-looking pocket watch that hung by a chain below his jacket. For this, he was in a category all his own, which is exactly what you expect from Johnny Depp.

So, even though the Red Carpet at the Golden Globes was flooded with gorgeous women in their “one of a kind” creations and their museum quality gems, the men shone just as brightly with their own fashion sense. Bravo guys!

Although not greeted by tamed lions or clowns on stilts, a visit to the Brooklyn Circus provides shoppers with a fun and quirky experience with an encore of exquisitely tailored duds.

The store is charmingly decked with dark wooden floors, antique furniture pieces and a fabulous black chandelier to put a spotlight on the circus acts, particularly the glorious merchandise –graphic tees, dark denim, button-downs, polos, outerwear, military-inspired pieces and thirties-and- forties- inspired vintage accessories –all creatively exhibited.

The neckties are casually slung over velvet couches, bags are displayed honorably atop antique chests, while the clothes are neatly hung in wooden cabinetry. With jazz music filling the air, shoppers are in for a great show. It is with such thoughtful production that this Renaissance clubhouse of sorts gives its shoppers the feeling of entering a favorite local pub instead of a boutique. And so the hangover one gets, comes from perhaps the anxiety of overspending subjugated with the thrill of having an awesome loot on hand.

This urban boutique opened in New York in 2006 and mostly dedicated its goods to streetwear and a dominant supply of rare sneakers and labels. With the mission of merging classic aesthetics with antique motifs through modern design, the boutique grew to embrace modern Americana while upholding its streetwear roots. Spearheaded by its creative director Ouigi “The Bearded Man” Theodore, the shop acquired a more modern and mature aesthetic, with a hint of stylish idiosyncrasy.

Today, the shop has become a melting pot of vintage-modern pieces including shoes, jewelry and watches from designers like Grenson, Wolverine and Mark McNairy. The in-house label offers an eclectic mix of classic varsity jackets, oxford shirts, bowties, and bright-colored leather belts. The Brooklyn Circus has also expanded to San Francisco.

This Circus is definitely here to stay.

He returned to China in 2007 and opened a studio in Jiawai SOHO, Beijing where he launched his label bearing his namesake. Zhou’s vision is to restyle silhouettes, executed by conflicting elements. His designs combine the unexpected with high-quality, sophisticated tailoring. Zhou’s signature pieces are both classic and unisex. His creations include tuxedo shirts, wool crepe suits and boxy jackets.

His 2011/2012 A/W collection called “Undercurrent,” is a play on basic male garments suffused with texture and hints of color. Zhou complemented layered structures with irregular contours and exceptional weaving techniques, resulting in a new and reshaped male form. Tangerine, camel and mauve created warm contrasts to the dark, wool fabrics. Cashmere, nylon, silk and cotton were celebrated through wind jackets, double-layered coats with removable backs, three-fold coats, French-cuff collars and double-layered polo necks. Certainly, Zhao clearly demonstrates his contemporary point of view and successfully represents the emerging force of his country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfdaXSuOt5A

One of the sleekest, most modern look in men’s jewelry has to be Titanium. The substance itself is actually a chemical element, which you may or may not remember from your chemistry class, that is a durable silver colored metal alloy, very resistant to any corrosion or oxidation. When I see it used in men’s in men’s jewelry, it reminds me of the cool grey tones and geometric shapes of the city, molded into a wearable pieces.

Edward Mirell, a combination of Edward Rosenberg and Mirella Connor, is one of those design companies who has created a collection of Titanium jewelry for men that incorporates modern elements with classic design. Mr. Rosenberg was the founder of Spectore Corporation, which was the first jewelry manufacturer to introduce a line using the Titanium alloy. There are fifteen different collections at Edward Mirell, which will appeal to many different tastes and styles.

For example, the “Cable Squared Collection” has a ring with the cool grey tone of Titanium, accented with inlaid twists of 14kt gold cable and a center diamond. The lines are clean, the details are sleek, and the trend of combining two-tone metals is incorporated. The “Heritage Collection” leans more towards the “Gothic” look with its cuff links, dog tags, crosses, and rings having the Titanium mixed with silver scrolled designs, giving it more of a medieval flair. On the side of the “minimalist”, there is the “Tuxedo Collection”, which takes the cool and modern tri-tones of grey, silver, and black, combining them in a way that is classic and understated.

The designs of Edward Mirell can be found in both fine jewelry stores around the country and on the web at www.edwardmirell.com. If you prefer to check the jewelry pieces out in person, the NYC locations are DVVS Fine Jewelry and Gifts, Diamond Harmony, Maxwell Fine Jewelry, and at the Michael C. Fina Co. So, if you are looking for unique jewelry that is both classic and modern in style, then the Titanium line may be for you.

What’s that, you say? Who needs a wristwatch in our digital age of ubiquitous cellphones, MP3 players and other portable tech toys equipped with built-in clocks? Think watches are obsolete antiques fast going the way of VCRs and analog TV? Not so fast!

Take my word for it…no matter how much of a tech-fashion statement they make, the iPhone, iPod and iWhatever-Comes-Next will never replace something as beautiful and functional as a well-made and elegantly rendered wristwatch. That said, it has been a fairly long tradition among fashion designers to eventually enter the world of watches. Versace did so in 1996, when it began developing its first line with legendary watchmaker Franck Muller. Since then, the brand has upped the ante on watch design. Take, for example, this fine specimen, the Reve Chrono. Handcrafted in Switzerland, the bastion of fine watchmaking, the timepiece has all the ingredients of an accessory classic. This mobile device announces the time with artful decadence. With a striking gold-plated case and black enamel dial highlighted by the Medusa logo along with six brilliant diamonds, this chronograph fuses traditional military style with twenty-first-century attitude. Best of all, it features the best of both worlds: the craftsmanship of the Swiss watchmakers merged with the bold, luxurious styling that the Italian fashion house is known for. After slipping this exceptional timekeeper on a wrist, even the most die-hard techie may find himself feeling naked without one. Still think all watches are destined for the history books?

Ed Hardy, founded by the San Francisco Art Institute-educated and Japan-trained tattoo artist, is today an immediately recognizable brand, thanks to the creative force of flamboyant French designer Christian Audigier.

With trademark T-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with colorful tattoo-inspired images of skulls and dragons, punctuated by rhinestone-studded slogans like “Love Kills Slowly”, his rock ‘n’ roll-esque designs lend a youthful, hip dash—almost guaranteeing the first impression of wearers as reality show wannabes.

Sporting Ed Hardy is admittedly not for everyone and definitely not for those seeking timeless classic appeal. But for flashy celebrities and pop-culture-obsessed trendy types who embrace bold, edgy style, it’s definitely the ticket.

For more than 20 years, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, the duo known as Dolce & Gabbana, have regularly to come up with stylish clothing and accessories that have drawn a following from the halls of Wall Street to Hollywood (David Beckham, Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson are devotees).

The fashion house is known for its cool-and-sexy streetwear like aged jeans and clingy tees that appeal to young hipsters, like this one offered at Amazon, to high-end slim suits with a southern Italian vibe—marked by sharp Sicilian tailoring. Check out their Fall Winter 2011-2012 collection below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqkh9D1D9Jc

When Giorgio Armani first began creating menswear for Nino Cerruti in the 1960s, he did so with no formal training in the world of fashion design. More than four decades later, the once-little-known designer from Piacenza, a small medieval city near Milan, has become a household name.

His elegant, softly structured designs are today synonymous with fresh, unconventional Italian style, and are favored by dashing men like Tom Cruise and George Clooney. Armani’s most recent collection bears his trademark fluid style, albeit in luxurious heavier-weight fabrics appropriate for the brisk weather. Take a peek at his Fall/Winter 2011-2012 collection or for a closer look head over to Boutique Giorgio Armani, 760 Madison Avenue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rolC8hl_Jec