Joseph Abboud: He Came to Rock.

So, the real story, as I see it of this most recent Fashion Week was Joseph Abboud.

I mean, the man has made a reputation for creating, ahem, rather plain, solid, dependable menswear. Nothing extreme, nothing too risky, nothing you'd actually be able to identify as a Joseph Abboud.

No so any more. I couldn't believe what I was seeing on the runway.

I couldn't decide what to call this. Stock Broker Hobo? Boardroom Boho? Pinstripe Punk? Look at those jackets! Check out those accessories! Clearly, this was new territory for Abboud. Avant-garde. Young. Totally badass. And, yeah, completely unwearable (except for the models, rock stars, and fashion eccentrics in the audience.)










Pix from New York MagazineFor what it's worth, DNR called the look "gothic bling-bling." That cracked me up.

Later, on Full Frontal Fashion, the man himself revealed that his models were all wearing his jackets inside out. Hmm. They still looked good, mind you -- and of course, the way we all will be buying them will look a helluva lot different than they did on the runway (that is, inside-in.)

This is a good thing, because what I saw at the Abboud show is just not something that you'd be able to wear to the office. Or to a date. Or, anywhere, really, unless you're going for that model-rocker-eccentric thing.

Nevertheless, the fashion as displayed at the show looked nothing less than awesome, and it's something you should know about. One has to wonder, though, what's going to happen with regard to Joseph Abboud's sales -- after all, the label doesn't have a reputation for being hip and young.

Abboud later told DNR: "You have to look at it as theater; it's been five years since we last showed and we needed to make a statement."

I'll say. Key takeaways from the Abboud show:

* Mixing business (pinstripes) and big silver accessories (the Abboud show used biker chains, big crosses, rings, bracelets, etc.) is still a killer look for a night on the town. Just wear your jacket the way it was meant to be worn -- with the liner on the inside -- and keep your accessories tasteful.

* You still don't ever need to push up the sleeves on your suit jacket.

Get your tag on

It's no surprise that military design has influenced fashion throughout the ages. I won't blab about that now, but instead, I'll just say: These are awesome accessories.


You can buy them at BASE.