Beverly Hills...Louis Vuitton & Ermenegildo Zegna for that special man!

 

In spite of the torrential rains, the tony elite were out Sunday afternoon on Rodeo Drive in droves, in search of a gift or two for that someone special in their love-life over the Yuletide Season.

I was bowled over by the eclectic mix of elegant menswear ensembles screaming out at me on the racks at Louis Vuitton, for starters.

The latest fall/winter collection features a dazzling array of butter-soft leather jackets - cut high on-the-waist for a stylish zesty look - or lower on the hip for those who prefer a garment to hug the body politic and keep out the winter chill.

In addition to the casual offerings, there were a bevy of finely-tailored suits sculpted in sleek silhouettes, fashioned in either jet black or monochromatic hues popular this season.

The sweaters were elegant, and sported luxurious collars with nifty fashion flourishes, capable of singling out the man-about-town with the pizazz to pull the look off.

Slacks, though lean-and-mean (for the most part) were sparked up with leather inserts at the waist and buckle-down flaps on deep full pockets.

Over-the-top?

Never.

A handful of the Vuitton pull-overs and fabric jackets - just right for out-of-doors treks - were dreamy, too.

Shoes, though elegant, were pricey.

 $645.00!

Meanwhile, across the street at Ermenegildo Zegna, a yellow cashmere sweater - weaved with a delicious V-neck - was heaven to run my fingers over.

The full topcoats in rich fabrics - were so perfectly crafted - that they appeared to be hand-made by the fashion Maestro himself.

As for the tailored suits, well, the finery on display was difficult to match elsewhere in the upscale trendy hood.

A gentleman with a taste for the finer things in life (or a discerning male or female shopping for one) a trek down to David Yurman (on Rodeo) may be a worthwhile one.

There - male bracelets, jazzy cuff-links, and a choice selection of designer watches - will tempt the tightest budget-minded shopper.

What the heck, it's Christmas.

Splurge a little, eh?

http://www.thetattler.biz

Justin Bieber...shifts fashion gears! Style conscious now...

Pop flavor to Bieber's style!

  

OMG!

Justin has broken the "Bieber" heartthrob mold!

On the TODAY show this morning, for instance, the chart-topper gyrated to a different fashion beat!

Until now, Bieber has been pretty predictable when it came to the kind of star threads he chose to enhance his sexy boy-toy persona on stage!

Chic leather jacket! Designer Jeans! Snazzy signature sneakers!

Today, there was an unexpected switcheroo!

At the crack of dawn, Bieber trotted out in a luxurious-looking white sweater, chic black designer scarf - draped just so - at the neck, dress slacks in slate grey, and matching high-top sneakers.

Has Ermenegeldo Zegna being giving the  Pop Idol pointers on style?

News at 11!

http://www.thetattler.biz

Las Vegas...a fashion plate? Who knew...

Think of Sin City, and the desert oasis will undoubtedly conjure up images of gambling, booze, and broads.

But high fashion?

For the most part, the strip has been known to be rife with tourists in comfy colorful shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and ubiquitous flip-flops.

'Til now, that is.

Lost in thought one day, I strolled off the Casino floor at Caesar's Palace, and ended up amidst a handful of tony haberdasheries in the cavernous lower levels of the gambling house.

At Gianni Versace, exquisite silk dress shirts beckoned from one corner of the aesthetically-pleasing shop.

And, from another, finely tailored suits caused me to squeal in delight.

The moment recalled a scene in the Great Gatsby.

As Daisy (Mia Marrow) rummages through her lost love's walk-in closets, she is overcome with sensory overload as she takes in the spoils his fabulous vulgar wealth.

I was curious about the Vegas scene.

"Aren't folks pretty casual here," I queried the salesman.

"Oh, no," he responded quite emphatically.

"There is a great fashion sense here. Sales at this location are only second to the Los Angeles outlet," he noted somewhat proudly.



























At John Vervatos, the focus was more on individual style.

The trend tended toward monochromatic color schemes - in black and grey - for instance.

And, dress shirts tended to be sparked up with enticing motifs etched on lush enticing fabrics.

A high-quality leather jacket (cut at the waist) - with fashion flourishes like zips and snaps - was even paired with a dress shirt, chic tie, and designer slack - for a decidedly daring "look".

A posse of jackets were crafted in blends with a metallic futuristic look to 'em.

At Bernini, I gasped when I spied a white linen jacket dangling on the rack.

Pure heaven to the touch!

A great wardrobe choice for lunch dates under a lazy mid-day sun or the cocktail hour where the man-about-town is sure to impress with the right accesssories to match.

At Ermenegildo Zegna, the saleswoman was pushing shades of white, pink, and sand.

A Royal Blue dress jacket crafted in lightweight cashmere was a knock-out.

Zegna pays a lot of attention to the finer details when crafting the clothing in their factories in Italy, Switzerland, and Spain.

Fans of the celebrated designer may take a gander at the Spring/Summer collection which is featured in an eye-catching catalogue that has been published in slim book form.

Models were flown to the "pink city" - Jaipur - for the photo shoot.

The exotic locale was the perfect backdrop for Zegna's stunning offerings this season.

When I strode into DKNY (sweaters in sheer fabrics feel great on bare skin), a young salesman noticed the Zegna catalogue in my hand and excitedly queried me about it.

"I want one. It's great for the coffee table."

Undoubtedly!

If you hotfoot it over to one of Zegna's many retail outlets, maybe a bit of sweet-talking will nab 'ya one.

Say Julian sent you!

Don Johnson...dines alfresco, a little worse for wear.

I know I shouldn't have - the old waistline will be feelin' it tomorrow - but I took a break from a bit of editing and headed over to Rite-Aid for a regular single scoop of Cookies 'n Cream.

Ah, delicious.

On the way back home, instead of turning off on a side street to avoid the madding crowd, I strolled straight up Canon Drive amid the lunch-hour throngs.

Well now, who did I spy dining alfresco at the corner at one of the trendiest in-spots to be gandered at?

Don Johnson.

Gosh, anyone could have just bent over and given him a peck on the cheek!

But, I have to admit, the TIN CUP star was a little worse for wear; tired, and haggard-looking.

Didn't catch a soul scrambling for his John Henry.

Frankly, if I were so out-of-shape - physically down-in-the-dumps - I'd at least don a pair of sunglasses to hide a little of the baggage under those precious peepers.

No pun intended.

Or, is he casting about for a character role?

The image is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Miami Vice days.

Poor slip-sliding shooting star.

Guess the one-time heart throb was inclined to bask in the glow of a bit of the fleeting fame he has left. But, few appeared impressed by the sight of his cute chops at the popular upscale eatery.

In contrast, I got a ton of attention. Why?

By sheer accident, I ended up straggling down the street a hair's breath behind a young beauty with kno**ers out to there!

So, natch, all the wolves on the prowl - sittin' pretty all in a row 'round their elegant tables dressed to the nines in their pricey Ermenegildo Zegna designer suits - were inclined to stare "our" way.

Funny, that.

It wasn't until I brought it to the young gal's attention (she was on the way to the dentist) that she was aware of the stir she was causing.

Yup, that's the secret.

Don't possess a care in the world, or scheme for a show of things, and all eyes will focus on 'ya.

Maybe it has somethin' to do with the energy one exudes when they're innocent and carefree and - without motive - of course!

Maybe, the "me" generation is fading fast into oblivion, do 'ya think?



In heady days, Don was known for his "Johnson"...