House of Bare makes its debut this spring with a collection available exclusively at Welcome Hunters.  Behind the label is Johnny Rodriguez.  Rodriguez is no stranger to the fashion industry, having worked as a designer for over five years.  Interestingly enough, up until this point, Rodriguez worked with womenswear earning praise and accolades in media outlets such as Woman’s Wear Daily, Paper, and Missbehave.

According to Rodriguez, the exciting venture into menswear was the “easiest way of expanding [his own] personal wardrobe.”  The idea of creating a functioning brand, however, came unexpected.  House of Bare began as “a little inside joke.”  The name, House of Bare was thought up, and then “silly ideas” were tossed around, “and the next thing” Rodriguez knew, he was “making patterns, cutting, [and] sewing.”  The label’s first collection encompasses Rodriguez’s fashion tastes.

Discovering Rodriguez’s own personal aesthetic reveals quite a personal collection.  Rodriguez’s typical everyday wear is “messy, oversized, and simple.”  This look transfers over to his collection in which he plays “with shapes and proportions.”

Rodriguez likes “ill-fitted and awkward silhouettes” with a dash of skin for fun. His color of choice is heather gray, because “it’s an amazing modern day neutral [that] can be mixed with fluorescent highlighter colors to black and anything in between.”

House of Bare will be available this coming spring at Los Angeles fashion hot spot, Welcome Hunters.  Ultimately, Rodriguez wants people to have fun with his collection “and make it their own.”  He feels that his clothes “are simple yet clever enough that anyone can incorporate a piece into their existing wardrobe with ease.  Fashion should be fun and not taken so seriously…it’s just clothes.”

GETTING TO KNOW JOHNNY

JOHNNY’S FAVORITE…

Designers: Henrik Vibskov, Kim Jones, Eric Lebon, Acne, Bernhard Willhelm, So Last Season, and Alexandre Herchovitch

Websites: Face Hunters, Style Bubble, Lynn & Horst, Refinery29, Bored & Beautiful…and if course theFASHIONISTO!

JOHNNY LAST…

Read the Japanese magazines POPEYE, and MEN’S NON+NO

Read the BUTT Book and Balenciaga Paris

Watched the movie Crooklyn

Listened to the Uncanny Alliance CD “The Groove Won’t Bite” that has been on shuffle from ’94

Wore an oversized white Daniel Palillo t-shirt from Welcome Hunters, ripped black denim shorts, and white patent gladiators from Topman

Please visit the House of Bare blog for more pictures and information.

Pictures from House of Bare

Designers Maria Thomas and Thoas Lindner’s label, BUTTERFLYSOULFIRE merges art and fashion. The fall 2008 collection is titled, “Inspired by the Magic Bullets”. It is based on the play The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets, an adaptation of the German folktale “Der Freischütz”. Clothes from the collection represent five of the play’s protagonists. One of the play’s characters, Katchen has a “naive dream of another life” that is highlighted “by a childishly flowing jersey dress opposing the strict uniform of his father in the style of a square felt coat.”  This inspiration gives the overall collection character.

I feel that this collection embodies what it is to have true style.  This collection is cohesive and the looks are effortless.  The color palette tones everything down, yet each piece has undeniable character.  In a wardrobe, the color palette is up to the wearer, but what separates those who have style from those who impersonate style is whether clothes and the wearer’s nature mirror each other.

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I’ve never really liked short sleeved button downs.  They just rub me the wrong way.  I think it’s the way the majority of guys tend to wear them.  It’s more than just throwing on a t-shirt, yet it looks plain sloppy most of the time.  I’m talking about the guys who wear cargo shorts, button downs, and flip flops.  I just cringed.  But that’s besides the point.  My mind is not made up and I’m starting to warm to the idea of short sleeved button downs.  I like the colorways of Original Sins’ shirts, the collar, and the styling.  The rolling of the sleeves is a nice touch.  Rolling is such a useful styling tool.  Style Tip: If you haven’t already, in winter trying wearing different layers and rolling the sleeves at different lengths.

Pictures from Original Sins

Henrik Vibskov has finally arrived at Tres Bien and my first impression is that I MUST snag a pair of the dropped crotch pants.  I never thought I would say this, but I like the use of silk for the pants in the bottom right picture.  It’s a nice interesting change from cotton and wool.

Article Scanned from Conde Nast Fashion Rocks 2008 Supplement

This Beatles era inspired editorial features model Sasha Pivovarova and musician Dhani Harrison, the son of the late George Harrison.  Dhani is in the band thenewno2.  The band just released their debut album, You Are Here this month. Check out thenewno2 on Myspace.

Scans from Fashion Rocks 2008 Supplement

Who needs another scarf when a new hybrid is available?  These two pieces would look great paired with a coat, jacket, or cardigan.  Extra points for how you play off their color.  To contrast or compliment?  That is the question.

Items available for purchase at Aloha Rag.  Click pictures for direct links.

Check out the color palette of David David’s fall 2008 collection.  It’s a perfect example of color matching within the same family.  The purples and burgundies together compliment each other so well and come off as effortless.  Another great pair of colors to play with is purple and blue when about a shade apart.

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