SPLURGE - Moncler x VISVIM Down Jacket - $618

This simple and stylish jacket is exactly what you would expect from a collaboration between the luxury ski jacket supplier Moncler and the Japanese streetwear fashion authority VISVIM. Moncler's classic shape is updated with a clean design in a beautiful blue grey that should look good with most anything.

While those label-whores among us will be upset to find that the Moncler logo has been dialed down to merely a white silhouette of its former self, I for one am happy to see an absence of branding alongside a strong presence of style and sophistication. Splurge.

TO SPLURGE OR TO SAVE - Gifts

I know, I hate it when the holiday season prepping has to come before even Thanksgiving has had its chance, but all the magazines and blogs are putting out gift guides so I figured I would just hop on the bandwagon.

Here are a few gift ideas for this holiday season. Usually I find clothing harder to buy, so I've included mostly accessories and objects in this selection. All objects are listed and linked below, and the collage was made on Polyvore. Happy shopping!

Clockwise from the top center:

Acne Special Edition T-Shirt

Engineered Garments Scarf

Woolrich Shirt

Moncler Vest

Gant Rugby Shirt

Nixon Watch

FujiFilm Polaroid Camera

Vans Sneaker

Property of... Wallet

Tod's Loafer

Super Sunglasses

BILLYKIRK Belt

Oak Fingerless Gloves

Converse by John Varvatos High Top Leather Sneakers

BILLYKIRK Messenger Bag

John Varvatos Boots

Fjallraven Backpack

Oak iPad Case

Fall Buy - Barneys, Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman

Earlier this week I hit my three favorite B's (Barney's, Bergdorf, Bloomingdales) for you guys in search of the best buys for Fall 2010. This fall will be all about the play on workwear and military inspired garments mixed with lush knits. I've tried to find garments that are not too trendy and will give you the most wear for their price.

Barneys:

My trip to Barneys began and ended with my search for the perfect toggle coat. While the classic Barbour or Peter Elliot option is certainly viable, I'm looking for something a little bit more modern, and a little less bulky.

This Gloverall coat was interesting, but still restrained with the exception of the leather panels on the upper chest. At almost $600, I was hesitant.

The search was over, though, when I came across this Oliver Spencer version. Priced at $100 less than the Gloverall (probably the best price in the whole store), this option is much more intriguing (plaid with contrasting brown leather detailing), light, and fitted. Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner! Sorry the picture is quite blurry, but I had to be secretive. Barneys is strict about the whole taking photos thing in case you didn't know.

Bloomingdales:

Bloomingdales has really stepped it up this season. Usually their men's selection is one of three things: extremely basic (they specialize in mountains of Theory, always for sale), incredibly outlandish ($2000 Marc Jacobs vests anyone?), or cheap. I guess I didn't give them enough credit because their fall men's wears are, for the most part, reasonably priced, on trend, and chic. Here are some examples:

John Varvatos Toggle Cardigan (Around $700)

Michael Kors Khaki Jacket with Grey Hoodie Insert (Around $325)

Comme des Garçons Parka ($1,100)

Paul Smith Fair Isle Sweater (Around $275)

Moncler Hidden Hood Parka (Around $780)

I think the John Varvatos sweater is a great statement piece, the Michael Kor's jacket is warm and the perfect take on workwear, the Comme des Garçons parka is full of design details (EX: a plaid patch on the upper back and rich brown leather elbow patches), the Paul Smith sweater is chic and phenomenally priced, and the Moncler coat is comfortable and simple.

Bergdorf Goodman:

BG was pretty dry with the occasional breath-taking piece that I could never afford, though I did manage to find a nice Lanvin scarf (still ridiculous at around $300), and some really cool bracelets.

At the end of the day, I'm going back for the Oliver Spencer Coat, the Paul Smith Sweater, and possibly a Moncler OR the Comme des Garçons jacket. Where the money is coming from for all of these is still a mystery...

UPDATE: A better look at the Comme des Garçons parka courtesy of Trés Bien Shop.

SPLURGE - Moncler at Bloomingdales - EXCLUSIVE Preview

I sat next to the nicest buyer from Bloomingdales on the Luxury Liner out to Southampton today. Apart from discussing the retail industry, she also gave me a sneak peak of their Moncler buy for Fall/Winter 2010. They bought 25 styles all together, but these are my three favorites. They are all new this season, and one is even exclusive to Bloomingdales, so head over to their 59th street location when they arrive in August and pick up one of these super warm coats for this winter. Splurge.

This model is reversible and also comes in navy. My favorite!

SPLURGE - Pharrell Williams & Moncler at colette - $640 to $1045

Moncler refuses to give up its number one spot as the trendiest luxury outerwear manufacturer in the world. After collaborations with Thom Brown (who now designers their Gamme Bleu line) and Sacai (a niche womenswear designer), Moncler is at it again, this time with Pharrell Williams designing a capsule collection of vests (resembling the bulletproof kind) and a coat (which shares the same forrest green tree print as one of the vests). The collection is entirely green and black and is full of excellent statement pieces for this fall/winter season. Might I add that Monclers are also, without a doubt, the warmest coats of all time. The coats are available at colette and are already selling out in their second day on the racks. Splurge.

Moncler Gamme Bleu - Spring 2011 - Review

Inspired by cyclists, Thom Browne took to the track for his spring 2011 menswear outing for Moncler Gamme Bleu. Each model was outfitted in a layered look comprised of everything the modern and fashionable cyclist would need for a biking trip across Italy. Thick ribbed sweaters of different lengths (one even extends to the knees), tailored sports jackets, windbreakers and rain jackets were chic and extravagant.

The show began with the first 4 models riding out in matching outfits comprised of Moncler-spriped caps, bike-printed ponchos, pink cycling shirts, blue mini-shorts, and matching sneakers. The bike print continued, pooping up again in leggings layered underneath shorts, on the shoulders of a khaki jacket, and again on a knee length man-dress. While all of the looks were unique, some seemed to echo a certain creative director of Chanel with their biker gloves, leather jackets, and cardigans over button downs and tight pants. While I can't imagine Karl Lagerfeld biking anywhere (despite the fact that he did design a special addition Chanel bike), I could guess that if he did, he would probably choose Mr. Browne's designs to get him from A to B.

Mr. Browne always puts on a good show, and this collection was no exception. While the collection will most likely look more wearable one it is divided into separates, the styling was impeccable and perfect for a runway presentation of such a magnitude. Though Mr. Browne's proportions are sometimes wacky, he has most definitely created some desirable pieces for the Moncler man come next spring.