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Which designer(s) best represent your style?

A Harris

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We need some new and interesting topics, so I thought this question might make for some good discussion:

Which designers/labels/custom houses come closest to reflecting your personal style? Perhaps selecting one for dress clothes and one for casual clothes would be a good way of answering. And what is it about your choices that you especially like?

I'll start. For dress clothes I'd have to go with Luciano Barbera. His meld of English and Italian style is pretty close to my own preferences in tailored clothing/accessories. I used to be partial to Isaia suits but they have narrowed the shoulder so much that I can't wear the new models. The new Barbera suits (made by Attolini) fit me perfectly (albeit in a regular length instead of a long - Neopolitans like to cut their jackets REALLY long.) The construction quality and fabric selection isn't quite as good as the old Saint Andrew's models, but it is still excellent.

For casual I'd have to go with John Varvatos. I especially like the eclectic dressy/casual vibe, rich earth-tones, abundant use of texture, the quasi-military styling of some pieces, and the pants cut with a generous leg-opening.

If I was forced to go with one label head-to-toe, I'd have to go with Ralph Lauren though. The quality and wearability of his line is excellent in every category.

So what says the rest of you??
 

The_Foxx

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Good topic.

I'd have to say Brioni suits; the classic styling and construction, with a powerful shape to the shoulders and waist. I think the shape partially appeals to me due to my military background. Oxxford's construction is at the top of the charts, certainly worth owning a few choice items (with double vents, that is), but the italian shape just isn't there for me.
 

A Harris

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Foxx, wait until you see the new Oxxford Crest suits and sportcoats - I think you will like them..
 

Thracozaag

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We need some new and interesting topics, so I thought this question might make for some good discussion: Which designers/labels/custom houses come closest to reflecting your personal style? Perhaps selecting one for dress clothes and one for casual clothes would be a good way of answering. And what is it about your choices that you especially like? I'll start. For dress clothes I'd have to go with Luciano Barbera. His meld of English and Italian style is pretty close to my own preferences in tailored clothing/accessories. I used to be partial to Isaia suits but they have narrowed the shoulder so much that I can't wear the new models. The new Barbera suits (made by Attolini) fit me perfectly (albeit in a regular length instead of a long - Neopolitans like to cut their jackets REALLY long.) The construction quality and fabric selection isn't quite as good as the old Saint Andrew's models, but it is still excellent. For casual I'd have to go with John Varvatos. I especially like the eclectic dressy/casual vibe, rich earth-tones, abundant use of texture, the quasi-military styling of some pieces, and the pants cut with a generous leg-opening. If I was forced to go with one label head-to-toe, I'd have to go with Ralph Lauren though. The quality and wearability of his line is excellent in every category. So what says the rest of you??
Great topic. I would LIKE to think that my style would be a melding of the casual elegance of the neapolitans with the "correctness" of the english. Along those lines, my dream outfit would be a bespoke Attolini suit coupled with a bespoke Kiton shirt with a pair of bespoke Cleverley's (And a Marinella tie)
confused.gif
 

spinlps

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Interesting topic, especially for a newbie/lurker like me...

I did an early spring cleaning today, and ended up donating 8 Uhaul boxes full of clothing to Salvation Army.

I'm mostly a RTW kinda guy and of the things I kept, a good majority of it is from Ralph Lauren, especially the more "dress casual" stuff. In particular, his off the rack blazers & sportcoats seem to fit perfectly with mininimal, if any, alterations... of the 10 I kept, 6 were "his."

One line that I'm drawn to lately is Daniel Cremieaux. I'm not sure if he's the new "house brand" at Dillards, or a designer in his own right with Dillards as an exclusive distributor, but the items I've seen seem to be of fairly good quality and with similar, if not slightly updated styling, as the RL lines. I received a very nice, gray moleskin blazer for Christmas that I can't seem to keep in the closet.

As you can see, I'm not a custom tailored kinda guy, but I think I might try it. Of the things that went to charity, a good majority of them were the dress/sport shirt items from Gap, Banana Republic, Tommy, Kenneth Cole, etc... that seemed like decent purchases at the time, but have  either not worn well or held up to my slowly evolving closet. :)
 

LA Guy

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My preferences run a little different from you guys. I guess that if forced to dress up, I would go with Attolini for suits and shirts, and pair that with some Lobbs. Hopefully, I wouldn't have to wear a tie; but if I did, I've seen

Actually, though, I like Miuccia Prada's idea of a "very chic army", and when I have to dress up, prefer minimalist and modernist designers for suiting (Helmut Lang silhouettes suit me particularly well) and probably Prada for shirts and shoes, as a homage in Miuccia Prada. My casualwear comes from all over the place, but often has military inspirations.

If I had to choose just one designer, though, I'd go with Costume National. Super sharp silhouettes and great jackets and shirts; but I'd be unhappy that I was denied my jeans (usually Paper Denims) and sneakers (usually just Chucks).
 

thc

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For me, I think my style is "classic urban" if such a term exists. I like to dress in modern, sleek clothing but still retain a classically tailored look. For me, my favorite designers probably embody this aesthetic: Calvin Klein, Helmut Lang (although not as of late), Jil Sander (pre-Prada) and hLam. I do have an appreciation for the more classic brands/houses of fashion. In particular, I very much like Oxxford. My favorite shirts are Battistoni.
 

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