hot, hairy, MEN!

it would not be fair if we only showcase retro frocks for the ladies and leave the men out of the picture. since The Online Edition is all about seeking balance between the genders (yah, right! who am i kidding?) here's a post for by a man, for the rest of the gentlemen. this post shall feature a few vintage hair looks for the men!

image from fellow blogger

most modern hairstyles tend to lean toward spikes and a messy appearance. however, there are several popular retro hairstyles for men that have either never lost their popularity or are making a comeback. several of these styles are able to evoke a sense of nostalgia and transport one to a past era. however, choosing the right look depends a great deal on the type of hair one has.

1) the afro

those who have thick, curly hair may choose to blow dry it to get it to stand out from the head. with a little bit of shaping, this can be turned into a look very similar to the afro worn by men in the 1970s. the longer they let their hair grow, the thicker the style will be.

2) the mop top

men with fine, straight hair can go with a style similar to that worn by the beatles in the late 1960s. commonly referred to as a 'mop top', this is a form of shag style. the back is cut in a straight line across at a level even with the chin. the bangs are cut straight across the forehead just above the brows. the sides angle back in a straight line between the two levels. 

3) the flat top / the brush

one popular variation on this is known as the brush. it is so named because the top is left long enough to brush back or to the side while the sides and back are cut closely and tapered down to nothing. another is known as the flat top. here, the sides of the top hair are left a bit longer to create a flat plane across the top of the head. the hair in the center is cut shortest, creating a nearly bald patch known as a 'landing strip'.

4) the classic

one of the most popular of all time is a simple classic with the hair parted on one side and combed over. this look was made popular by cary grant and has remained in style since the 1930s. it is strongly favoured by men who want to project a conservative appearance and those who work in professional offices.

5) the pompadour

another classic retro look is the pompadour. this style was first made popular by rockabilly musicians of the late 1950s and early 1960s. it is created by having the hair cut short on the sides and back. the top is shorter in back, tapering to a longer length (up to three inches) in the front. the hair is combed at an angle tending forward. the front hair is then flipped upward and straight back. this creates height in the front.

originally, this look is created using hair cream that imparted a greasy appearance, it can now be created using pomade or wax to provide the needed hold. this gives the style a softer, more touchable appearance.

many of the newer hairstyles for men tend toward a lot of spikes and a messy, devil-may-care look. however, there are still several retro hairstyles for men that have never lost their popularity and are making a comeback in recent years. these include a wide range of buzz cuts, the simple classic, the pompadour and other short styles.

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men and hair

as one ages, we often tend to give less attention to our outlook. it seems that life has this strange effect on us. we start to ignore little details like the extra pound, the new wrinkle and the thinning hair. i am a firm believer of slowing down the aging process with proper diet, exercise and of course, a body-care regime. for this post, i am going to talk about a problem that affects about 70% of men: baldness

Chord Overstreet

more than 95% of hair thinning in men is male pattern baldness. male pattern baldness is characterized by hair receding from the lateral sides of the forehead (known as a 'receding hairline') and/or a thinning crown (balding to the area known as the ‘vertex’). both become more pronounced until they eventually meet, leaving a horseshoe-shaped ring of hair around the back of the head. a rough rule of thumb is that the incidence of baldness in males corresponds to chronological age. for example, male pattern baldness  affects roughly 40 million men in the united states. approximately 25% of men begin balding by age 30; two-thirds begin balding by age 60.

Prince William

Vince Vaughn

there is a 4 in 7 chance of receiving the baldness gene. onset of hair loss sometimes begins as early as the end of puberty and is mostly genetically determined. it was previously believed that baldness was inherited from the maternal grandfather. while there is some basis for this belief, both parents contribute to their offspring's likelihood of hair loss. 

well, know how we lose our hair is not most important. the question is if one can prevent and reverse hair loss.

Robert Pattinson

medication: in the united states, there are only two drug-based treatments that have been approved by the u.s. food and drug administration (fda) and one product that has been cleared by the fda for the treatment of male or female pattern hair loss. the two fda approved treatments are finasteride (marketed for hair loss as propecia) and minoxidil.

there is currently no way to instigate permanent re-growth of hair that has been lost through genetic or hormonal causes. however, it is widely regarded that with early detection, professional consultation and specialist products, the effects of hair thinning can be reduced or delayed. if the cause is reversible, such as an underlying medical condition, it is possible to stop hair thinning by treating the deficiency. there are also several measures sufferers can take to give hair a thicker appearance and to create an optimum scalp environment for new hair to grow and thrive.

a variety of medications have been proven to slow hair thinning, help grow new hair or enlarge existing hairs to create better coverage. most require long-term use as, if stopped, hair loss returns. some treatments are topical and activated by being sprayed or rubbed into the scalp, while others are taken in pill form. one of the most popular medications, corticosteroids, are either injected into the scalp, taken in pill form or applied in an ointment and are used especially to treat patchy hair loss.

stress reduction: stress reduction can be helpful in slowing hair loss. in 2011, researchers from the university of california and the u.s. veterans administration found that mice who had been genetically engineered to produce excessive levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone, lost hair from their backs. the high amounts of corticotropin-releasing hormone created a chronic stress condition in the mice. after treatment with astressin-b, a stress blocker, the mice had regrown the hair they had lost, four months later.

surgical treatments: hair transplant surgery was developed during the 1950s. it is usually carried out under local anaesthetic. a surgeon will move healthy hair from the back and sides of the head to areas of thinning, helping to restore a natural look. the procedure can take between four and eight hours and additional sessions can be carried out to make hair even thicker. transplanted hair falls out within a few weeks but regrows permanently within months. 

treating the scalp: as an extension of facial skin, effective cleansing and moisturizing of the scalp can help keep follicles open and create an optimum environment for healthy hair to grow and mature, preventing miniaturization and controlling thinning. certain products on the market are specially designed to remove the styling build-up, environmental pollutants and excess sebum that block follicles and inhibit hair growth, and nourish the scalp skin and hair to reduce breakage and promote health.

here's to your crown of glory!

fash'on... BAM!

under here, under there, under-where?

men and their underwear

i always like to start writing from the basics and what better way to begin the discussion on men's fashion than with underwear, the most intimate garment of them all. so how many types of underwear can you name or are you one who calls your undergarments, underwear? what's the difference between a boxer and a brief? is there such a thing as a boxer brief? your questions and more, answered... right now!

1) briefs

Briefs by Andrew Christian

traditional briefs are marked by a prominent elastic waistband that sits at the waist, a y-shaped front fly, about four inches of fabric that covers everything from the waist to the upper thighs, and full coverage of the butt.

mid-rise briefs are the same in every way, but they sit two inches below the waist at the belly button. low-rise briefs rest about three inches below the waist. both of these styles are great with low-rise jeans.

all briefs provide great support for the genitals. they're a solid choice for jobs that require sitting down all day (briefs are less likely to ride up than other types of underwear) or for physical activities. most full-cut briefs are white cotton and inexpensive. low-rise and mid-rise cuts can be found in many different colors and better fabrics such as silk.

2) boxers

Boxers

in many ways, and for many people, boxer shorts are the 'classic' men's underwear. boxers are the loosest -- and arguably the most comfortable -- of all styles. the shorts have straight-cut leg openings and cover part of the thighs and the entire butt; the length can vary from eight to 16 inches. and last, but certainly not least, boxers almost always have a working front fly.

tapered boxers are similar in nearly every way to their traditional cousins, with the exception that the leg openings are fit to the thigh, with side vents providing more freedom of movement. fly fronts are not standard on tapered boxers, but a front cup panel provides some support. boxers work under suits or loose-fitting pants like khakis. interestingly, boxers are the only type of underwear that can be tailored.

they do have a tendency to bunch up, however, and they offer precious little genital support. boxers are a poor choice for physical activities. the good news, however, is that boxers are renowned for their patterns and design versatility. plaids, solids and themed styles are all available in fabrics like cotton and wool.

3) boxer briefs

Boxer briefs by Naked

here's a popular type of men's underwear - especially with women, who tend to find them sexy. as the name implies, boxer briefs are the middle ground between boxer and brief. the underwear is cut like tapered boxers, but it fits tightly like briefs.

boxer briefs have the big advantage of providing support and coverage in a way that also sculpts the lower trunk. the underwear works under all types of clothes, but is especially valuable under tighter pants and during athletic activities. dark-colored boxer briefs look especially good if you have a little extra weight to hide; the dark hues supplement the shorts' slimming abilities.

good boxer briefs can be found in spandex or cotton. if you're willing to pay a little more, however, go for those made from a tencel and spandex blend; they will fit better and last longer.

4) bikinis

male athletic bikini

all right, now we're getting into the more risky types of men's underwear. bikini briefs sit well below the belly button; approximately four inches below to be exact. the sides of the waistband measure only about two inches. bikini briefs do not sport a fly.

with string bikinis, the waistband is about a ½-inch thick, leaving the entire thigh exposed. the bikini's seat still covers the butt entirely, however. bikinis work best with low-rise jeans and tighter trousers, and on men with well-muscled bodies (you don't see many bodybuilders posing in boxers, do you?). go with bold colors to make the underwear stand out.

ironically, such a little garment can cost a bit more than briefs and boxers, as it's usually made from spandex or nylon.

5) thongs

it's hard to believe, but thongs do exist for men and they're even smaller than bikini underwear. 

cast of Magic Mike

with a thong, the genitals sit in a small pouch, while a string serves as the waistband, and another goes up between the butt cheeks. let's be honest: thongs are extraordinarily uncommon among men. not only that, but you need an incredible body to pull them off. proceed with caution; many women are turned off by this type of underwear. that said, if you're going thong shopping, look for nylon and spandex blends, and stick with solid, bright colors.

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men of fashion

if men want to be fashionable, the best place to start is to learn from fashionable men. the three men that i have selected are not only fashionable themselves. their names are their brands, brands that not only men should know but brands that women have come to be very familiar with. let's see what the buzz is all about.

1) marc jacobs

The Brand

marc jacobs is an american fashion designer. he is the head designer for marc jacobs, as well as marc by marc jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than two hundred retail stores in eighty countries. he has been the creative director of the french design house louis vuitton since 1997. jacobs is on time magazine's '2010 time 100' list of the 100 most influential people in the world and ranked 14th on out magazine's 2012 list of '50 most powerful gay men and women in america'. 

The Man

over the years, marc jacobs' personal style has evolved and changed - from the early days of his career through to his butterfly-like transformation into the gym-honed body that appeared naked in his bang fragrance campaign; from a penchant for somewhat geeky ensembles to the kilts and sharp suits that we expect from him now. as creative director of louis vuitton and designer of two eponymous lines, he is also a style icon in his own right. 

The Empire

jacobs is famous for his sense of humour, which has been known to colour his catwalk creations and he's not afraid of a fancy dress opportunity: he wore head-to-toe stephen sprouse neons by vuitton and donned a blonde wig for Halloween one year, once dyed his hair blue in tribute to japanese artist takashi murakami and dressed as a 'camel toe' for his arabian nights-themed holiday party. here is a man who counts sofia coppola, dakota fanning and even miss piggy as muses.

2) jimmy choo

Jimmy Choo

jimmy choo, born choo yeang keat, is a malaysian chinese fashion designer based in london, united kingdom. he is best known for founding jimmy choo ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes. he made his first shoe when he was eleven years old. he is perhaps the most notable of students of cordwainers technical college in hackney, england, from which he graduated in 1983. jimmy choo traced his beginnings back to his workshop in hackney, north london, which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. his craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and he came to the verge of international notability when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of vogue. patronage from diana, princess of wales, from 1990 further boosted his image. in 1996, he co-founded jimmy choo ltd with british vogue magazine accessories editor tamara mellon.

Princess Diana with sons, William and Harry

in april 2001, choo sold his 50% stake in the company for £10 million. he has since concentrated his work on the exclusive jimmy choo couture line produced under license from jimmy choo ltd. when you buy a pair of jimmy choo shoes at a store like bergdorf goodman or neiman marcus, they may be gorgeous and they may bear the 'jimmy choo' label but the ready-to-wear shoes are not designed by jimmy choo. 

Jimmy Choo Couture

today if you want shoes that actually have anything to do with jimmy choo himself, you'll have to purchase them from jimmy choo couture. available by appointment only at 18 connaught street in paddington, london, england.

3) calvin klein

Calvin Klein

calvin richard klein is an american fashion designer of hungarian origin who launched the company that would later become calvin klein Inc. klein was born in the bronx to jewish-hungarian immigrants. he did his apprenticeship in 1962 at an oldline cloak-and-suit manufacturer, dan millstein and spent five years designing at other new york shops. in 1968, he launched his first company with a childhood friend, barry k. schwartz. 

Spring / Summer 2012 featuring Lara Stone

klein became a protégé of baron de gunzburg, through whose introductions he became the toast of the new york elite fashion scene even before he had his first mainstream success with the launch of his first jeans line. klein was immediately recognized for his talent after his first major showing at new york fashion week. Klein was hailed as the new yves saint-laurent and was noted for his clean lines.

2010 campaign featuring 2PM

klein's design philosophy is rooted in minimalism (extreme simplicity) and is known for his 'casual chic' clothing, stylish but casual designs created for active women. he typically uses neutral colors or earth tones (browns) and designs separates (articles of clothing designed to be worn interchangeably with others to form various combinations) that work in many different ensembles, from day to night and season to season. at the same time his advertising for jeans and fragrances was being criticized, calvin klein clothing was receiving critical acclaim for its clean, modern lines. time magazine named klein one of the twenty-five most influential americans in 1996. klein won the prestigious coty award three times in a row (1973–1975), becoming the youngest designer to ever have that honor. in 1982, 1983, and 1986 he also captured the council of fashion designers of america award. klein is undoubtedly one of the most successful american clothing designers today.

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that's what i men-t

so we all know that men and ladies are fundamentally different but exactly how do they differ when it comes to fashion and shopping? well, i thought it would be nice to look at the degree of difference before we go into the whole routine of do's and don't in the week to come.

image from foxy lady

taken from a paper by susan o'bryne:

much larger percentage of women have placed greater emphasis on what they wear as an expression of who they are, than men. the vast majority of men with whom i have worked and observed wear some variation of the professional ‘uniform’ – suits, shirts and ties – while women are a much more varied bunch, with a significant number more likely to wear ‘statement’ clothing as part of their expression of self. men may experiment at some level with their dress but in my experience it tends to be low key and not designed to distract from their work skills. 

Hollywood couples: note the difference in fashion

women’s statement clothing is more likely to be designed to make another person notice the clothes and/or the body first. this type of clothing can be designed: to stand out from a sea of grey-suited men with a splash of vibrant colour; to reinforce a sense of individuality; to showcase a figure; or to indicate that the wearer is up to date with the latest fashions. like a peacock, this show of feathers can be an overwhelming and distracting part of the first impression formed in a professional situation, particularly in the world of communications and public relations, where understanding the impact of visual image is an element of the job. It can also make gender a far more prominent part of the first impression.

from another study by pisey chea:

shopping is considered as female activity. to keep a sense of masculinity, some men avoid go shopping. the difference view of shopping between women and men construct the different shopping behaviors. men’s shopping is driven by the need. women’s shopping is motivated by reasons of enjoyment and relaxation. there is clear preference between women and men in shopping. women like going shopping for fashions cosmetics, clothes and accessories, while men like going shopping for electronic and high-tech devices. 

men shopping: a rare sight?

thus, women spend more time than men in shopping. however, men tend to spend more money in shopping than women in the context of comparable activities. men’s shopping activities can happen when the existence of need is established. men think that window-shopping and browsing is a waste of time. although men concern with price; however, they would rather give more value to time than money. instead of spending time visiting many retailers and comparing price and products, men prefer to pay higher price to keep shopping time to a minimum time.

Men versus Women

so now you know how men are wired!

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perfect prints

all right everyone, i give up. i am a terrible fashion writer and a worse writer of fashion. i have decided that i am going to stop writing about clothes, bags, shoes, hair and accessories. instead, i am going to write about photography and discuss extensively on how to achieve the perfect print! sounds good? of course not! i am kidding. the only angles i know are right and acute, beyond that, it's all nuclear science to me. if i scared you a little, sorry...

The Kardashians in prints

now, on a serious note, this post is about a big trend of 2012 (technically it was huge in spring but who cares? singapore is spring and summer all-year round!). so when you feel like showing your wild side, nothing speaks like a sexy animal print. here's how to wear it right:

perfect prints!

1) scale animal prints to your size. tighter prints like cheetah and leopard look great on most people. 

2) larger scale prints like cow or giraffe have lots of white space in them and are more difficult to pull of.

men and their prints

3) pair animal prints with neutrals (black, khaki, cream, white) or play off of equally bold colors (leopard with hot pink, zebra with lime).

4) if big pieces of print aren't for you try a coat with an animal-print lining or a print purse.

animal prints for the office

5) remember that you'll be calling attention to wherever you put the animal prints, so make sure you're putting it on your best feature (no print pants on big bottoms or tight print tops on large busts).

designer prints

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five types of body

after changing the opening lines for the umpteenth time, i'm going to keep this post plain and simple. i was wondering if i should slam those with great bodies but then i realised that it's just me being jealous. however, to credit them for their devotion to sculpting their bodies would make me seem like the exterior matters. i must admit that a nice-looking exterior is always great... right? 

who can forget taylor lautner ripping off his shirt in twilight? or for those of us from the baywatch generation, the running? be a nice reader and finish the post then you can watch the videos!

so when it comes to bodies, the experts will tell you to dress to your body type and keeping to the magic number, we will talk about just five.

image courtesy of sheknows.com

they are namely the pear, wedge, rectangular, apple and hourglass.

here are a couple of tips that you can apply:

1) pear: wear strapless dresses, experiment with light-coloured tops and dark-coloured bottoms.

2) wedge: wear full skirts and don't be afraid to bring attention to your waist.

3) rectangular: go for skinny, low rise jeans and try layering to give the body a little dimension.

4) apple: go for v-necks to elongate the torso and short skirts to show off your legs.

5) hourglass: wear a belt to show off your shape or a high-waisted skirt to flaunt the hips.

for a more in-depth discussion to each body type, do drop by sheknows.com.

men, i didn't leave you out... here are your fashion tips!

image from ethicalinstyle

you will notice that most shapes are similar except the hourglass. generally, in male fashion, the hips are downplayed, so the body types for me are triangle, inverted triangle, rectangular, trapezoid (wedge), oval.

1) triangle: jackets with shoulder pads and ensure shoulder seams are not wider than your shoulders.

2) inverted triangle: go for straight or wide-legged trousers and keep your tops fitted.

3) rectangular: go for outfits that enhance the shoulders. you want to achieve the trapezoid illusion.

4) trapezoid: you are considered the ideal shape for men so ensure that your outfits do not alter your body shape too drastically.

5) oval: try to create a slim, long torso. i'll suggest vertical stripes for a start, either that, certain brands carry slim fit tops which can prove pretty flattering.

more details here!

all right... here are your rewards! 

fash'on... BAM!

me tarzan, you jane

boys blue, girls pink... not sure if it's a boy or a girl, buy green or yellow... but have we ever stopped to think why? after all, if our first outfits came from the natural world, we would be wearing a lot of greens and browns... of course there is animal skin, feathers and fur but there are hardly any blues and pinks in the natural world.

mirabell garden, austria

so why the colour differentiation? well, fashion is not just about the individual... it is (unfortunately) an appearance that we put up for other people. so which is more important? the validation of the self... all about the individual and oneself or should we subject ourselves to the prejudice and judgements of the society?

whether we accept it, lookism exists... we are judged based on first impressions and how we look. so we can play the game and excel or simply try to be the bystander... if you got a chance to re-live your childhood, would you rather be the first to be picked for teams or you really don't bother...

we always assume that only adults judge and children are the innocent ones... we may be pleasantly surprised by how deep-seated some social prejudices are. try dressing a young boy in pink or get a girl to wear a blue tee with denim berms...

real men may wear pink 

but not every boy feels pretty in pink. 

fash'on... BAM!