
Bastien Bonizec is a model currently signed with Success

Little House of Horrors–Gather a high voltage chair, a splash of the macabre and the American sportsman and you have Thom Browne’s latest creation. Stuffed into Browne’s little gray suit, a steroid-induced man appeared with bulging shoulders against a petite alter ego, infused with punk. While sweaters, cut from mohair made for a giant-sized impression, studs and safety pins decorated seams and hems. Injecting the varsity jacket with volume, classic standbys were treated to a whimsical retreat into the dark corners of Browne’s creative genius. Juxtaposed with mid-riff baring tops and garments in watermelon green and pink, the idea of classic menswear was torn to shreds and presented as Thom Browne’s latest fantasy, in some aspects wearable but at large a stirring gesture to sit back and take in.

The Journey–Damir Doma’s loose silhouettes are treated to an exotic makeover, courtesy of an expedition that takes in rich prints and lush fabrics for the new season. Adorned with beads and dressed in tribal prints, Doma’s man reigned supreme with a certain entrapment. Belting jackets and layering with loose overcoats, sharp ensembles packed quite the bold punch before trimming down for a blackout. Turning to a quiet and focused dimension, militant garments filled a void for the fitted. Demonstrating a hand for both structure and swift draping, Damir Doma’s latest collection married the subdued to the extravagant for a striking fall/winter 2012 outing.

Raw Sophisticate–Yohji Yamamoto has always possessed the fine ability of being able to take honest garments and lend them a regal spirit, whether cut from luxurious fabrications or crafted on the mend with anything but riches on the mind. The fall/winter 2012 season is no different. Somehow, Yamamoto creates a romantic figure of his man, dressing down his signature loosely fitted suiting with oversize wraps in muted earth tones. Enjoying a little humor with floppy pipe top hats, a subtle cheeky image is juxtaposed with the somber mood, created by outerwear boasting militaristic insignia. Belonging to the same varied world, elegance is abound with coats baring gold buttons, prim white neck ties and an interesting take on the London banker. Altogether the perfect style palette for the season, Yamamoto once again excels with an aesthetic that once again feels fresh.

Boys, Boys, Boys–For my second day of this new exclusive ‘Casting Call Diaries’ series for The Fashionisto, I chased models across Paris from Haussmann buildings by the Chicissime Avenue Montaigne and Avenue de L’Opéra to some more industrial photo studios in more popular districts; out of a slightly ambitious program of eight castings I managed to cover six : Dior Homme, Mugler, Louis Vuitton, Arnys, Yohji Yamamoto and Alexis Mabille … This journey proved to be pretty intense behind the camera due to the amount of models who would never miss giving it a chance at castings for such major shows even if they have to carry an umbrella, but granted me to pin to my list of daily trophies the likes of Yuri Pleskun, rising star Bapstiste Radufe, Nicolas Ripoll, Matvey Lykov, Douglas Neitzke, Lyle Lodwick, Corey Baptiste, Paul Boche, Victor Nylander, Alexander Johansson, Juan Manuel Arancibia, Alexander Beck, Julien Chanca etc, some newer faces such as Andrea Bellisario, Timmi Radicke, Julius Gerhardt, Jay or Noma Han for instance and even the freshest first timers you can imagine : Justus Eisfeld (who doesn’t even have a paris agency yet) or Isaac Ekblad (who came to Paris to visit his family and was only discovered today by an agency scout as he was walking in the street !) … Also snapped were designers Romain Kremer (Mugler) and Alexis Mabille … check this space for more to come very soon !