With Paris Men’s fashion week now in full swing we finish our round up of Milan Men’s fashion week from the 21st and 22nd of June.

Ermenegildo Zegna
The cravat was key at Zegna, in shades of burnt ombre, rich khaki and royal blue, it was worn just often with the more casual shirting as well as with the traditional suiting. Suits came in shades of peach and marl grey and was worn with tailored shorts and brogues, or worn with open necked shirts that were finished with a cravat. More casual looks had a slightly urban influence with parka style lightweight jackets in rich orange, worn over a striped jersey and paired with bright whites and sandals. But the Riviera influence was never far off with models donning sunglasses and wearing straw hats atop their head or held loosely at the side, as well as checked blazers that gave a contemporary nod towards the classic look.

Gucci
The look was chic and sleek at Gucci with classic slim fit suiting in luxurious suede and stand-out tailored leather jackets. Like many of the shows blue was a key colour, here coming in smart dark denims, midnight blues and cornflower blue shades and mixed with rich suede browns and rusty orange. Head-to-toe and denim was seen in the form of a safari style suit as well as with the more traditional double breasted suiting done in a denim-look fabric. Knitwear was made for Spring, done light and white in colour and oversized in style, the chunky-knit funnel necked jumpers were worn with super slim trousers in the same shade for ultimate contrast in proportion.

Etro
Verdant pastures at the Etro show laid the way for a refreshingly light-hearted collection that showed intricate print and embroidery alongside bursts of zesty colour. Tailoring was relaxed and wearable in shades of khaki, putty and white while gingham prints were mixed together with paisley shirting and bold Moroccan feel prints were worn together with shirt and short combinations.

D&G
It was picnic time at D&G with models carrying their hampers down the runway complete with French sticks and wearing the perfect outfits for the occasion. Fun hawaian print short shorts were mixed with gingham print shirts in shades of vibrant green and rolled up shorts were trimmed with the same gingham print. Tailoring was lightweight in pastel shades and worn with rolled up cuffs for an ultra laid-back look.

Canali
Canali showed us the contemporary gent, with understated simple suiting and separates done perfectly and without fuss. On the more casual side of the show chinos came in shades of buttermilk and corn with touches of taupe and sandy shades in the form of simple sweaters, polo shirts and cardigans. Footwear was key to the modern casual look at Canali with models in plimsoles rather than the popular brogue style shoe. The suiting was sharp but understated with a nude coloured short funnel neck worn under a light grey double breasted ensemble, accessorised of course with the contemporary man bag and shades.

Giorgio Armani
There was a moody feel at Giorgio Armani with a colour palette built around midnight blues, blueish greys and denim tones. Tuxedo style jackets were played down in denim shades and given a lighter touch with v neck tops in pastel blue tones. Powder blue blazers were worn with slim fit trousers in deep bluish grey and offset with touches of bright yellow in the form of the belt and shoe combination.

DSquared2
It was bold and wearable at DSquared2 with a colourful mix of blazer and shorts combinations in fresh fruity colours. Short cut green tailored shorts were worn with a light blue open necked shirt and a pastel pink blazer for a fun but wearable city chic look. White chinos and a strawberry coloured blazer were cut more generously than the more slim cut styles from other designers which added to the accessible feel of the collection.

To see the full coverage of the collections from Milan Men’s Fashion week visit GQ online.

Continuing our round-up of Men’s fashion week in Milan, we move on to Sunday 20th June with more highlights from the top designers.

Bottega Veneta
Bottega Veneta presented a chic and luxurious but extremely wearable collection, with ultra relaxed suiting in bright whites, earthy burgundies and deep blues. When jackets were double breasted they were cut slightly loose and worn with low slung, almost slouchy trousers for a chic, laid back look. The single breasted ensembles were closer fitted in shades of stone and putty, but still worn with an air of relaxed nonchalance. We also saw a great section of spring-time khakis and burnt terracottas, with rolled up shorts, open funnel neck shirts and a very short pair of deep brown leather shorts.

Emporio Armani
It was sleek, sexy and fierce at Emporio Armani with lots of leather, sheer panels, crocodile print and a few chains here and there too. Models wore fitted leather trousers, sometimes slashed, sometimes crocodile print, mixed with leather waistcoats, sheer shirts and beguiling eye makeup. The show had a monochrome feel, with most looks either all black, all white, or a mix of varied grey-blues. At its softest the collection showed looser tailored trousers in a two-tone bluish fabric mixed with a sheer shirting and a ultra short sleeved blazer. Closely fitted tapered cropped trousers in light tones were worn with ankle length crocodile skin pointed boots and paired with tailored waistcoats in powder and egg-shell blue.

Gianfranco Ferre
There was a distinct gentlemanly vibe to this resort-feel collection of broad shouldered, slightly boxy blazers in luxurious twill cottons and light pinstripes. Alongside the more classic suiting looks there were also louche touches with two-tone geometric print shorts and blazers in shades of gold and blue. The colour palette picked up on one of the emerging trends from Men’s fashion week, which saw neutral shades of taupe and cream mixed with richer ochres and bold blues. Details were key, with buttons featuring at the tapered ankle of wide leg trousers and on the oversized pockets of the non-dress shirts.

Salvatore Ferragamo
It was a super chic collection from Ferragamo with a Riviera inspired collection in shades of crisp creams, champagnes and burnt umber, as well as classic whites and midnight blues for a more traditional Riviera look. The more neutral ensembles were interspersed with short shorts and sweater combinations in contrasting bright blue and white, with a flash of yellow at the feet with bold sandals. Classic boat necks were done in bright white with neutral stripes and knee length tailored shorts worn with white brogue type shoes.

Alexander McQueen

At McQueen we got the urban gentleman – slim fit trousers with utility style pockets were worn with classic herringbone checked blazers and grungy leather was worn underneath a city-style trench with a rich brocade silk scarf. Trouser lengths were cut short at the ankle and either super skinny or tapered, while jackets focussed on proportion, notably with an oversized overcoat in herringbone check and an unusually high-buttoned double breasted jacket worn with a red pocket.

Prada
Double denim was taken to a new level at Prada as we saw all-denim suiting, even down to the tie, worn on the catwalk. Elsewhere denim tops were worn tucked into billowing shorts, making for a real contrast in proportion to the slim fit neutral coloured suiting that opened the show. In between the denim suits and muted beige ensembles we had bursts of colour in the form of a bright orange blazer and turquoise green t-shirts worn with fresh blue shorts, before colourful striped jumpers towards the end of the show.

See all of the collections in full at GQ online.

We all know that the secret behind a well groomed man is, surprise surprise – good grooming products, and whether you want the low-down on the best moisturiser, post-shave balm or anti-ageing cream the GQ grooming awards have got the pick of the best. With advice from an expert panel including Mankind’s Paul Jameson and the impeccably presented Mr. George Lamb, the people in the know at GQ have presented their run down of the top grooming products out there for men.

We’ve had a look through the winners, and trust us, there’s quite a few to choose from – so there’s absolutely no excuse for being anything less than perfectly groomed this summer.

Our own favourites from the winners include Biotherm Homme’s Aqua Power Absolute Gel for Best Moisturiser, Clinique for Men for Best Range, and Tom Ford’s Italian Cypress which was awarded Best New Fragrance.

If you want to check out the rest of the winners along with the verdict from the expert panel members visit the GQ site, and start making your shopping list now.

How often do you often find yourself receiving admiring glances when you step out in your finery? Do people stop in the street to congratulate you on your sartorial success? Are you, by any chance, the best dressed man in Britain?

GQ magazine has launched its very own search for the nation’s most stylish man, and rather than giving the accolade to a mere celebrity they are taking their search to the street. Their panel of style experts are looking for someone like you, with an innate sense of cool and a deep rooted flair for fashion.

As well as scouring the streets, the GQ team will be receiving entries via email too – and posting them for us all to see on their blog. And it’s not just the title of Best Dressed Man that the winner will receive, but a wardrobe worth more than £25,000,  including all the essential pieces that the GQ man should own – a suit from Zegna’s Sartoria collection, a pair of Berluti shoes, a tan leather 24-hour Bladon bag by Dunhill and a TAG Heuer watch. Once you’re kitted out they’ll also send you off to the celeb-filled GQ man of the year awards in September for some serious schmoozing.

Visit GQ for more information, and if you think you’ve got what it takes get snapping now.

“I go to L.A. and people tell me, ‘I love the way you dress, but I could never do that because everyone will think I’m gay.’ American guys worry too much about what others think. Fashion is fun, and you should be able to play with your look” — Milan Vukmirovic in GQ

Vukmirovic couldn’t have been anymore honest or spot on. This issue relates to men of all races and cultures, but as a member of the Black community, the sexual stigma of dressing in and possessing a somewhat peculiar style is even more immediate.

Homosexual labels are quickly splashed out to the likes of Kanye West and Andre 3000 because their idea of fashion and dress is nested in a culture that is somewhat different from what African American/Black men are accustomed to. Rather than branding it gay, let’s just settle with “different from the norm” or “the French Perspective”.

I did GQ Rules last year and I threw out all my suits and a sizeable chunk of my dress shirts. Yes, that’s how metamorphic the tutelage was. In a space of thirty days, I sat, watched, and listened to GQ’s seasoned fashion team deliberate on sartorial matters such as buying a suit that fits snuggly or the different types of collars and the appropriate ties to pair them with. Literally, GQ laid down and mapped out all the basic rules to catapult my closet from ponderous to vivacious. Building on the success of this month long style intervention, GQ Rules has returned, but with a cheeky twist.

Now it’s all good and well to diligently follow the canons of appropriate dressing, but in fashion, rules are made to be broken and that’s what GQ Rules is all about this year—edifying one on “becoming a well dressed rebel in 30 days.” For instance, laudable New York menswear designer, Thom Browne, will be paying a visit sometime during the thirty days to speak on the sockless trend—I’m there!

If our kind, prophetic words are not enough to convince you to embark on this journey, does a $10,000 J. Crew wardrobe pique any interest? Well enough talking; just check out the footage and see you in thirty days!

Visit GQ Rules here!

Clothes shopping is somewhat like playing the stock market: you make a sound investment and it pays off beautifully in the long-term.

Purchasing a leather jacket is one of those investments that requires a great deal of prudence. Unlike a pair of out-of-favour jeans or a relegated t-shirt, a leather jacket’s use should span a number of years if not a lifetime. The challenge, however, is selecting the right jacket.

A lot of factors such as one’s age, personality, and the intended utility of the jacket, play a part in the search and GQ does their bit to ensure that futility never befalls any leather jacket you purchase.

GQ’s comprehensive how-to guide tosses out some options and offers a range of do’s and don’ts on making sure the fit and style of your leather jacket are top notch!

Begin your “How To Buy A Leather Jacket” quest here.

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But such is life that we’re limited to GQ’s sartorial advice once a month. However, that is all about to change as GQ Connects releases a GQ Style Tip Widget that will provide you with “freshly squeezed,” daily style advice from GQ Style Correspondent, Brett Fahlgren. Operating via your desktop or laptop PC, GQ’s Style Tip Widget is tailor made to mesh into the technology-driven life of the 21st century man.

Now, although a fashion tip on how to pair ties with collars may prove trivial if say you’re not opting to go for a dress shirt-and-tie look that particular day, but trust, overtime those styling pointers will bolster your fashion schema ten fold such that fashion choices once brooded upon will become innate!

So click here to tap into the next best thing to a personal stylist! Really, what more could you ask for?

The widget is available for both Macs and PCs and automatically updates and delivers you fashion counsel each day. I happened to wake up this morning to an invigorating reminder of the two-in-one wonders of Gillette’s Hydrator + Body Gel! I’m doing just fine with my Dove Cool Moisture Body Wash, but I’m always welcome to GQ’s slice of variety.

[Image: GQ Connects]