Diesel Black Gold SS2011 preview at Milan Men's Fashion Week

Sophia Kokosalaki presented her second collection for the Men’s Diesel Black Gold line at the recent Milan Men’s Fashion show. This time, she pays homage to the elegance of sartorial construction. The Diesel Black Gold SS ‘11 men’s collection subverts the codes of tailoring to create a surreal, inventive stylishness.

A bespoke suit is at its most intriguing when it’s still under construction. At the first fitting, the tailor’s chalk lines and stitches are still visible. The artefact is not yet complete – it’s halfway between dream and reality. Diesel Black Gold’s SS ‘11 men’s collection evokes and enhances this mysterious moment. The garments look unfinished, as if ready to adapt to their owners. Hardware provides a flash of rebellion; colour a dash of style. The result is surreal and unexpectedly rock and roll – call it tailor-made punk. The look sums up the Diesel Black Gold man: creative, intelligent, unorthodox and casually charming.

The garments are challenging yet classic – an entertaining clash of styles. Key items include a super light & shiny nylon trench with a layered unfinished lapel, an under-construction jacket with metallic details; and even a knitted dinner jacket. Slim jersey and leather pants with cuts are matched with reversible waistcoats unveiling the in-progress side of garments.

 
The collection’s themes reflect a preoccupation with the tailor’s art. Numbers, recalling tape measures, are printed on the lining of jackets and on T-shirts and shirts. Images of tape measures also appear on the collars of jackets and the sides of pants. The architectural lines of paper patterns inspire curious cuts. Geometrical shapes are printed on T-shirts and blazers while visible stitching often appears on garments in an echo of basting.

The Diesel Black Gold approach to denim is in constant evolution developing a wide range of exclusive treatments and washes on both slim fit and regular fit with tapered low crotch. Dark vintage blue shades come to life through 3D whiskers while stone washing, manual abrasions, darning and patches appear on bleached cloth expressing the real Diesel DNA. Coloured denim pants, fully hand-crafted in Okayama (Japan) with a traditional process, express the real vintage look.

 

Bespoke tailoring is part of the history of men’s clothing, timeless and beyond fashion. Here it is brought into a new era with an iconoclastic yet respectful collection that wittily redefines notions of male elegance.

Stupid wins!

Diesel’s Stupid Ad Campaign Earns Award & Ban

Alisa Gould-Simon // July 01, 2010

Chances are you've seen Diesel's latest controversial ad campaign called 'Be Stupid.' There's Pixie Geldof riding backwards on the handlebars of a bike (in 4-inch heels no less) and a striking brunette clad solely in a bikini taking a photograph of her nether regions while an irritated lion looks on. No, it's not the smartest ad campaign, but then, they knew that. Brain cells aside, Diesel did manage to score a pretty prestigious award thanks to the campaign. "Anomaly, creator of Diesel's 'be stupid' ad campaign... [won] the Grand Prix for outdoor advertising at this year's Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival," says Fast Company.

While Diesel’s manifesto on idiocy has found quit a few fans in the ad world, it’s managed to piss off the Brits.The British Advertising Standards Authority has in fact banned some of the same ads that were being toasted in Cannes just weeks prior. “Diesel’s ‘Be Stupid’ campaign, which featured female models flashing their (mostly unseen) breasts at security cameras and snapping crotch shots of themselves, has been blasted by the ad watchdog for being indecent and antisocial, according to the paper,” says Stylist. Chalk it up to a simple case of British conservatism and French adoration of all things titillating. Regardless, in the fashion ad space all press is good press. Meaning, boycotts and all, this controversial campaign has proven to be anything but its slogan.

Everyone is a winner with 55DSL

With the World Cup well underway (go Germany!), I thought i join in the celebratory mood by purchasing my first 55DSL tee. This project done in collaboration with Panini, which has commissioned 10 cutting edge artistes to reinterprete the football fever from their respective countries.

Taking advantage of the limited free shipping offer, it amazingly arrived last Wednesday, less than 24 hours from when I ordered it ;)

Interested? choose your favourite teams here.