Spring 2007 Trend Reports: Lounge Lizard
Photo: Marcio Madeira1/29Roberto Cavalli Spring 2007
Cavalli has always designed with the restless playboy in mind, and his high-sheen three-piece suit—snug around the middle and flared at the bottom—is tailor-made for a long night on the town.
Photo: Chris Astley2/29Gucci Pour Homme II
When Tom Ford launched the original Gucci Pour Homme fragrance in 2003, he described it as "a very warm, very sexy, very masculine fragrance in the kind of vein that you would have maybe found in the seventies." Ford may have moved on, but that sensibility endures in the sequel scent, arriving this spring and combining notes of tobacco, black tea, and bergamot in a macho, gilded bottle.
_ Gucci Pour Homme II, 100 ml, $65, available at Neiman Marcus stores nationwide, (888) 888-4757, www.neimanmarcus.com._
Photo: Courtesy Everett Collection3/29Robbie Robertson
Like a lot of their contemporaries, Robertson and his Band-mates started out more granola than lounge lizard. That had all changed by 1976, when Martin Scorsese captured their finale in The Last Waltz. Louche, dandyish, and very rock 'n' roll, Robbie Robertson's farewell getup remains as sharp as the day he wore it.
The Last Waltz_, $30, www.amazon.com._
Photo: Chris Astley4/29YSL, Dolce & Gabbana, Charvet
A sapphire-on-stone ensemble from YSL provides more flash than many guys can safely handle. If you're man enough, take things a step further with a little silk-on-silk in the form of a Dolce & Gabbana shirt and Charvet scarf. Set it off with seventies-style stubble (i.e., one day's growth—no more, no less).
YSL blue mohair two-button jacket with onyx buttons, $1,990, cotton pant, $865, both available at Yves Saint Laurent Boutiques, (212) 980-2970, www.ysl.com; Dolce & Gabbana shirt, $475, available at Dolce & Gabbana boutiques, (877) 70-DGUSA, www.dolcegabbana.it; Charvet printed scarf in silk twill, $370, available at Charvet Paris, 33-01-42-60-30-70.
Photo: Courtesy of Ligne Roset5/29Ligne Roset Facett chair
The Bouroullecs strike again: The French brothers' killer design chops are in full effect in Ligne's futuristic-yet-retro Facett line. And this wire-framed, flat-back piece is surprisingly comfortable given its skinny, quilted upholstery.
From $2,045, www.ligne-roset-usa.com.
Photo: Dominique Maître6/29Lemaire
Christophe Lemaire may be creative director of Lacoste, but lounge lizards are the only reptiles you'll find at his new Paris boutique. Built to showcase Lemaire's own line, the Franklin Azzi–designed shop is done up with seventies-era wallpaper and lamps, an overstuffed chocolate-brown Chesterfield sofa, and a burnished-brass ceiling that shimmers like a disco ball.
Lemaire, 28 rue de Poitou, Paris.
Photo: Chris Astley7/29The return of the loafer
Want to infuse your look with a dash of the playboy? Slip on a pair of these bad boys. In the case of Ferragamo's sapphire-blue pair (top right) and YSL's deep-red rendition (bottom left), they provide a little color as well. Not that leather loafers necessarily need tassels or bright dyes to stand out: Bottega Veneta's version comes in either somber beige or light green with a wonderfully world-weary patina.
_ Salvatore Ferragamo loafer, $470, available at Salvatore Ferragamo, NY, (800) 628-8916; YSL burgundy James tassel loafer with perforations, $525, available at Yves Saint Laurent boutiques, (212) 980-2970, www.ysl.com; Bottega Veneta loafers in Army and Limo, $680, all available at Bottega Veneta boutiques, (877)362-1715, www.ferragamo.com._
Photo: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures8/29Zodiac
Though the focus of David Fincher's riveting new flick may be some serial killer, it's Robert Downey Jr.'s style that has caught our eye: the musketeer-like goatee, jaunty cravat, and wrinkle-free wardrobe. Downey almost makes you believe that a lowly crime reporter could afford to dress that well back in the seventies.
Photo: Marcio Madeira9/29Gucci Spring 2007
In her first Gucci men's collection, Frida Giannini channeled her early days in seventies Rome for a surprisingly cohesive clash of textures, patterns, and colors.
Photo: Courtesy of Patek Phillipe10/29Patek Philippe Nautilus watch
A jet-set staple when it was first issued in 1976, this hefty, 18-karat gold timepiece was nicknamed the "Jumbo" and (for better or for worse) helped usher in the age of the Super-Size Watch. Reissued last year for its big 3-0, the Nautilus is water-resistant up to 400 feet—a handy trait, even if your idea of deep-sea-diving involves a Jacuzzi and a frisky blonde.
Patek Philippe Nautilus, approximately $21,900, available at Tourneau, Las Vegas, (702) 732-8463. For more information, visit www.patek.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Phaidon11/29The House Book
With this 1974 tome—consider it Wallpaper done up in a polyester suit—interior-design guru Terence Conran helped defined the aesthetic of the Me Decade. Numerous revisions and updates have been published over the years, but true aesthetes should scour for a vintage copy.
Photo: Courtesy of BBC America12/29Life on Mars
The latest BBC hit to undergo an American makeover, this bizarre cop drama is headed for ABC in the fall and focuses on a man who's transported from the present day back to 1973. In the Brit version, the cars, the clothes, and the vernacular are all period-perfect, and we're hoping its charm doesn't get lost in adaptation.
www.bbc.co.uk/drama/lifeonmars.
Photo: Chris Astley13/29Skins game
Despite the best efforts of dour animal-rights types, exotic leather accessories remain a staple of the lu life. No more so than for Spring 2007—as demonstrated by Gucci's decadent ostrich belt, this python-embossed dressing box from Smythson, and Alexandra Knight's lizard-skin card case. Pair them with these shades from Zegna and go out and frighten a vegetarian.
_ Gucci brown ostrich hoof buckle belt, $995, available at Gucci stores nationwide, (800) 456-7663, www.gucci.com; Smythson brown Viana watch and cuff link box, $560, available at Smythson of Bond Street, (866) 769-8476; Alexandra Knight ring lizard card case, $175, available at www.alexandraknightonline.com; Ermenegildo Zegna sunglasses, $260, available at www.bergdorfgoodman.com._
Photo: Chris Astley14/29Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Calvin Klein
Don't be afraid of the two-tone "suit"—especially when it's in the form of a sharply tailored three-piece like this one from LV. Wear it tie-less with a splashy printed shirt like this spread-collar by Valentino, made from cotton so fine it could pass for silk.
Louis Vuitton cotton pique two-button jacket, $1,694, cotton pique waistcoat, $924, and light cotton canvas pant, $601, all available at Louis Vuitton boutiques nationwide, (866) VUITTON, www.louisvuitton.com; Valentino black button-down shirt, $395, and black leather belt with U-shaped gold buckle, $350, all available at Valentino boutiques, (800) 997-0140; Calvin Klein patent-leather lace-ups, $375, available at Calvin Klein Collection Store, NYC, (877) 256-7373.
Photo: Marcio Madeira15/29Yves Saint Laurent Spring 2007
In theory, a loosely tied cravat and ample collar veer dangerously close to costume attire, but Stefano Pilati knows to tone things down with a sharply tailored blazer and trousers.
Photo: Courtesy of Island Records16/29Mika
Equal parts early Elton and eye-shadow-era Bowie, London-based Mika Penniman is one of fashion's latest musical fixations. His theatrical, piano-heavy harmonies and offbeat lyrics snagged him a number-one single in Britain with "Grace Kelly," and his foppish androgyny is currently on display in Paul Smith's spring ad campaign.
Life in Cartoon Motion, $11, out March 27 on amazon.com or available for import from amazon.co.uk.
Photo: Chris Astley17/29Martin Margiela pattern shirt
Few designers mine the past with as much skill and wit as Martin Margiela, whose men's collection sought to capture the mood (and mode) of seventies San Francisco. Case in point: this op-art print shirt, which manipulates lines and proportions to eye-blurring effect. Stare at it long enough and you'll see the face of Jimmy Carter.
Maison Martin Margiela printed shirt, $395, available at Maison Martin Margiela, NY, (212) 989-7612.
Photo: Courtesy of Hotel Everland18/29Hotel Everland
Bearing a striking resemblance to a moon rover from some vintage sci-fi disaster flick, this one-room "hotel" happens to be completely mobile. Current gasp-inducing views come courtesy of its location on the roof of a contemporary art museum in Germany. Come August 5, it'll move to the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.
www.everland.ch, $286 per night.
Photo: Chris Astley19/29Earnest Sewn white denim
White jeans are in the midst of an extended fashion moment, but nothing we've seen can match the old-school panache of this pair from Earnest Sewn (contrasting navy-blue stitching and ironed-in creases will do that). A tip: Stick with a straight-leg fit rather than the flared model. After all, there's a difference between being influenced by the seventies and reliving them.
Earnest Sewn jeans, $195, available at Redeem, Washington, D.C., (202) 957-9710.
Photo: Chris Astley20/29Brioni breaks out
Brioni, of course, is the outfitter of choice for the current James Bond, but this raffish look—spread-collar shirt in royal blue, flap-pocket jacket with contrast stitching and built-in belt—would look equally good on Daniel Craig's seventies predecessor, Roger Moore.
Brioni jacket, $4,100, and shirt, $305, available at Brioni, (212) 376-5777, www.brioni.com; rigid straight-fit jeans, $69.50, available at Gap stores nationwide, (800) GAP-STYLE, www.gap.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Emmanuel Picault21/29Reves Polanco, Mexico City
With its black velvet walls and black lacquer columns—not to mention a gilded ceiling with an entire houseful of gold-painted furniture bolted to it—this Emmanuel Picault–designed lounge in Mexico City could easily double as a disco-era coke den. Not that we're implying anything.
Virgilio 25 Col, Polanco, Mexico City, 55-5281-6775, www.revespolanco.com.
Photo: Marcio Madeira22/29Sure, Tony Monero wore a white suit, but so did Tony Montana, and almost any other cocaine cowboy worth his stash. As Roberto Cavalli demonstrated this season, the look is best paired with an optical print shirt and a tan.
Photo: Elissa Wiehn23/29Cartier necklace and Tiffany cuff links
Cartier's 24-karat-gold link necklace-cum-bracelet treads that razor-thin line between impeccable taste and "Jesus, man, what the hell are you thinking?" Just to show the world you mean business, wear it with a pair of flashy gold cuff links, like these from Tiffany's. (But, unless your last name is "Walnuts," it's probably best to stop short of a pinky ring.)
_ Cartier Spartacus bracelet in 18-karat yellow gold, $1,500, available at Cartier boutiques (800)-CARTIER, www.cartier.com. Woven cuff links from Tiffany's exclusive collection of Jean Schlumberger designs, Eighteen-karat gold, $1,950 available at Tiffany stores nationwide, (800) 843-3269, www.tiffany.com._
Photo: Courtesy of www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com24/29Wallpaper from the seventies
Despite it's being based in Germany, the name of this website isn't as literal as you might think. Instead of selling actual smoky-smelling seventies-era wallpaper, the site reproduces iconic designs from the decade for the modern bachelor pad. Whether you also decide to complement those designs with offerings from walltowallshagcarpetingfromthe70s.com is entirely up to you.
Prices vary, www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com.
Photo: Chris Daniels/Retna25/29American Gangster
Opening this fall, Ridley Scott's thriller stars Denzel Washington as heroin kingpin Frank Lucas and Russell Crowe, left, as the cop out to nab him. Drugs, guns, and polyester suits dominate the narrative, with Lucas smuggling dope back to America in the coffins of Vietnam casualties—and given the resurgent poppy fields of today's Afghanistan, the story may be more relevant than you think.
Photo: Chris Astley26/29Missoni polo
It may be new for spring, but this Missoni shirt, with its baby-blue-slash-chocolate-brown motif and contrasting patterns, is a sartorial love letter to the Me Decade. To keep things from getting out of hand, match them with something understated, like these rinsed-selvage jeans from Gap's premium collection.
Missoni Men's Mike polo, $710, available at Missoni, NYC, (212) 517-9339, www.missoni.com; rigid straight-fit jeans, $69.50, available at Gap stores nationwide, (800) GAP-STYLE, and www.gap.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Philips27/29Philips MiraVision TV
With the press of a button, this 42-inch flat-panel transforms into a large mirror and blends seamlessly into your home decor. (We shouldn't need to tell you this, but it's meant to be mounted vertically, and its LCD screen is most certainly not razor-blade-resistant.)
Approx. $5,500, not currently in production, but still available at various online retailers.
Photo: Marcio Madeira28/29Bottega Veneta Spring 2007
Be it a belt, a shoe, or a jacket, exotic skins are in, with Tomas Maier preferring crocodile hides to accent his collection.
Photo: Getty Images29/29Malaise
Gas prices are high, presidential approval ratings are low, everyone's on drugs, and the shit's hitting the fan in the Middle East—maybe we all just went to sleep and woke up in 1979?
—Story text by Mark Ellwood
—Styling by Keith Pollock