Helmut Lang is The Man

Just browsing through Austrian minimalist designer Helmut Lang's accessory collection (collection hommes accessories spring/summer 2005) and have come to the conclusion that he is, indeed, The Man. We knew he was The Man when it came to edgy, futuristic suits. But he's also The Man in accessories. Have a look.



Ring Belt with Clip Closure in Black Box Calf Leather



Motif Bracelet in Grey Resin



Fringe Rope Key Clip in Sterling Silver



Travel Bag in Silver Metallic Leather



Rope Belt with Eyelet Clip Closure in Natural Cotton Jersey



6 Cord Key Clip in PVC



3 Row Rope Bracelet in White Cotton Jersey

How I Could Just Kill a Man for a Verner Panton Pocket Square

Maybe it's because I've been watching so much of The Prisoner lately, but I am feeling the dire need for some mod.

Specifically, I need a Verner Panton "Geometri" pocket square. But in what's got to be one of the fashion world's greatest misses, there doesn't seem to be such a thing in existence! I've scoured the Internet, to no avail.

What is the Geometri pattern? It's only the BEST pattern to emerge from the entire decade of the 1960's. Don't try to argue with me.

Panton created the pattern (officially known as "Geometri 1," featuring a distinctive 4/2/1 circle design) in 1960 for Unika Vaev in Denmark; it was first shown a year later and won the International Design Award in the U.S. in 1963. New York's Michael Maraham now owns the design, and has re-issued it in purple and red casts.

In moderation, the original (and its colored re-issues) are a helluva lot more attractive than the other bold, signature patterns we've been seeing on women's (and men's) accessories during the past several years. (Read: Louis Vuitton, Burberry, you name it.)

I can't believe that the Geometri pattern didn't make its way into women's handbags and such too. Am I the only one who sees what it could have become? First, it would start small -- before blowing up among chic Asian babies, getting carried in a handful of trendy, perhaps featured on an annoying television show targeted at bloated, single, twenty-something bridge-and-tunnel women. Then, Barneys begins carrying the bag, and it enjoys six months of justly deserved fame.

This is before the inevitable backlash sets in, however, with Canal Street knockoffs being lugged into the city by those same bloated B&Ters, and with women in the Midwest momentarily abandoning their zombie-like Uggs fetish (they're still in the midst of the FIRST Uggs blow-up, which you and I remember happening, what, two years ago?) to hop on the latest bandwagon -- this cool, new bag that was in that TV show "everyone" watches.

Since none of this came to pass, it also means it's hard as hell to find a Geometri pattern in anything but a rug or lampshade. Ugh. Try fitting one of those into your breast pocket. I can tell you right now, it won't.



I managed to find a Geometri money clip for my sister after some time. There are Geometri pens, Geometri pillows, Geometri chairs, Geometri cufflinks (which are probably a little too mod for use today,) a Geometri business card case, and Geomeri totes

But there's still no damn Verner Panton Geometri pocket square for men. The closest thing we've got is a Gucci pattern (you can see it peeking out of pockets in some of the pictures from yesterday.)

Here's where you come in. Internet, get on it! FIND ME MY POCKET SQUARE!

Tom Ford Returning... to Menswear?

This sounds too good to be true. Ford is apparently moving back into fashion (perhaps the Hollywood thing isn't working out) and even though he'll be starting initially with women's cosmetics, this story suggests his first fashion line might be for men. Hot damn!

A fashion collection, though, is likely to come in the future. Ford warned: "Maybe it's not going to be women's, at least not at first, and maybe it's not going to be runway shows."

Ford's menswear lines for Yves St. Laurent and Gucci combined the sexy and the luxurious.







Pix from MetroNewYork.com