This season, museum curators in New York, Paris, London and Antwerp took part in the world of Yohji Yamamoto's Spring 09 look book. The collection is that of Yamamoto's  classic, less expensive line Y's. Every year Yohji produces a catalog with editorial conceit as reported at the Moment.

-Manuel Paul

Chris Stamp has been doing custom shoes for years and with tons of success. From his humble beginnings doing customized sneakers, Chris soon started to gain recognition and soon developed it into a full time gig.

Stampd LA is a Los Angeles based brand that Chris created and delivers custom one of a kind decorated sneakers to retailer some such as Fred Segal Conveyor. As the demand grew higher for his original Product, Chris Soon developed his own style of sneaker that is bound to be the beginning Of a signature Chris stampd Silhouettes.

Come January, the new Spring/summer collection for Stampd is set to hit retailers. Pictured above and below are just a few of the Pieces that are in the up comming collection.

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-Manuel Paul

British rock band Keane partnered up with sculptor Osang Gwon to have him create sculptures of the members of the band As part of the latest album release entitled "Perfect Symmetry". Osang Gwon’s style of art concist of a painstaking method of photography along with Styrofoam sculpture bringing together the 2-D world of photography with a 3-D world of sculptures. Keanes Latest release and Osangs Gown work on "Perfect Symmetry" is out today.

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As you know, Antony and the Johnsons will be coming forth with a new long awaited E.P. titled "Another world". I guess you can call me lucky since Someone out there knows I love Antony and gave me the E.P in its entirety early. They also Gave me "The great white ocean" track from the Prada "fallen Shadow" video along with it. Boy do I feel special!!! Thanks for the love!!!

Although I have the E.P, I won't pimp it out, Out of respect for  Antony (and fear of having his label breathing down my throat). So Since I can't give you the E.P, I can show you the teaser trailer that's for the release or "Another world" that has been floating around for a week or so. Don't worry, the E.P comes out in a couple of weeks. Untill then you can try to find the E.P on the net or enjoy the little teaser. Either way, its worth checking out.

-Manuel Paul

You Know you want one....

www.aloharag.com

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-Manuel Paul

Lounge Lizards- The Man of style,Tom Ford, Current Spring/summer 2009 look book (well..only a few pictures) is on display at Men.style.com. The man of many talents not only designed his collection of lounge wear and suits, but took the photoshoot himself ( did you see that coming?).

Also, while were on the same subject of Tom....

Men.style.com also reports that the designer is now turning director. One of Toms biggest dreams is coming true. Ford's adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's A Single Man is set to begin filming in L.A. in October, and Julianne Moore plans to be the leading lady.

-Manuel Paul

The deep indie soundings of Magnetic Fields (one of my favorite bands) has been inspiration to some and puzzling to others. Refinery 29 has a few questions on why the shoe brand Bluedy oddly chose Stephin Merritt (the brains behind the Magnetic Fields) as the name of a pretty nice chukka style. Bluedys site is in French, and from what I can understand (which is nothing), it seems more of an hommage to Stephin Merritt.

Will this whole hommage inspire Stephin to sing a tune about this experience? I can hear it now...."My life, the Shoe".

while were waiting for an answer lets enjoy some Magnetic Fields:

-Manuel Paul

I'm not big player when it comes to politics even though I should be. I listen and I don't really take sides. I also never really mix politics and fashion, unless I have to. I just thought for once on Men's Rag I would put something up that has to do with politics and shows my support for the Presidential race. I know this Picture is floating around and I'm not the first to post it, So here it is, take it in and enjoy. At least its not another Picture of Sarah Palin as Tina Fey.

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-Manuel Paul

Japan Vogue Introduces the reader to a Louis Vuitton "Daft punk-esque" 3-D World shoot, reports Selectism. Photographer Daniel Sannwald's work is now in the current Issue of Japanese version of the magazine.

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-Manuel Paul

Prada released on their website a 4 minute animated short entitled "Fallen Shadows". The computer animated virtual fashion short is set to the music of Antony and the Johnsons. The dramatic piece was directed and created by James Lima.

"The Great White Ocean" is title of the Antony and Johnsons track that follows the story of shadows Roaming through cities and getting lost is a Salvador Dali type world. A very angelic piece that compliments Antony's track beautifully.

www.prada.com.

-Manuel Paul

See the

Tokyo- Yesterday the highly anticipated Comme des Garcon and Louis Vuitton pop-up shop opened to the likes of local Celebrities and fashion editors, who were the first to see the the pop-up shop in the fashion district of Aoyama.

WWD Reports that the look of the store is true to Rei Kawakubo’s aesthetic decorated with Flocked steel wall mounted boxes on gray concrete walls. The new store opens up to the public today and will be there for three months.

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Renaissance man Karl Lagerfeld displays his love for photography in his latest project "la couture" for Numero magazine.  Issue #96 of the popular fashion magazine will feature models such as Karmen Pedaru, Heidi Mount and Vlada Roslyakova in classic film noir styling. The elegant imagery can be viewed on the pages of Numero's September issue.

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-Manuel Paul

Who needs real models anymore???

This month the style award goes to the cartoon world. The next model plucked from the surreal world is none other than the swedish chef of the Muppets.

This month's Pop magazine has the Chef looking so debonair in a Versace suit. Wallace & Gromit had their time in Alexander McQueen, and now its time for the chef to work his stuff, heck, even Kermit the frog became a Supreme model and we can't forget The Simpson's in Vogue.

I think my anticipation is to see where Miss. Piggy fits into all this or just her thoughts alone. I wonder if she would get along with Donatella?

-Manuel Paul

Some exciting news has been released from the Antony and the Jonhsons site today. His site reports:

"August 26th 2008: On October 7th, Antony and the Johnsons will release "Another World" EP on cd and vinyl. Below is the press release:

Antony and the Johnsons emerged onto the international stage in 2005 with their breakthrough I Am A Bird Now. The group were awarded the Mercury Prize in the UK and toured the world. Since then Antony has participated on tracks with Bjork on her latest album "Volta", appeared in the Leonard Cohen documentary "I'm Your Man", featured as vocalist with disco act Hercules and Love Affair, recorded for the Todd Haynes bio epic of Bob Dylan "I'm Not There", and collaborated with Charles Atlas on a European tour of their stage spectacle "TURNING".

Now Antony and the Johnsons have emerged with a new album, ‘The Crying Light’ which will be released January 21st 2009. "Another World" is the first single, and it will be released as part of the five-song Another World EP which is being released on October 7th.

On "Another World", Antony sings of a disappearing world. The EP also includes "Shake That Devil". Part exorcism and part Shangri La, Antony calls out shape-shifting perpetrators and banishes them one by one. Two other songs, "Crackagen" and "Sing For Me" are pastoral and surreal. Finally the epic "Hope Mountain" closes the EP, an episodic narrative set after a flood; people gather on a mountain to witness the emergence of a luminous girl.

The cover features a portrait of Japanese Butoh co-founder Kazuo Ohno, taken by Pierre-Olivier Deschamps in 1984."

Another World track listing:

01 Another World
02 Crackagen
03 Shake That Devil
04 Sing for Me
05 Hope Mountain"

So Excited!!!

-Manuel Paul

A Real man can pull off a floral pattern.

UM......Where can I get that broach from?

Do you like what you see? I know I do.

-Manuel Paul

The It man, Hedi Slimane Photo work will embraces the cover of Vogue Hommes Japan. The Premiere issue hits stands on September 10Th.

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-Manuel Paul

It seems that this year a lot of brands are supporting the 2008 Olympics with commemorative item such as accessories and clothing. Opening Ceremony brand is just one of the big names to wave the flag in perk up the interest in the most awaited celebration. The minds behind Opening Ceremony are using music and fashion to get into the Olympic spirit. The printed shirts have memorable and inspirational lyrics from some of today's big artists and bands hit songs,like M.I.A and Vampire weekend.

OC's founder had this to say about the exciting endeavor:

"We feel strongly that sports and music go hand-in-hand, we decided to ask some of our favorite musicians to give us an inspirational lyric that gets them pumped-up and ready for any competition. These lyrics will be screened onto a limited number of T-shirts and available, starting on the 8th, at our stores. The proceeds from this project will go towards a China earthquake relief fund."

You can read more here at selectism.

-Manuel Paul

Do I need these? A part of me says yes, a part of me says no.

What do you think?

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-Manuel Paul

!!!!WARNING NSFW!!

Click on picture to peek inside the new book from Taschen that ask 'how big is really big?'

you know you wanna see if you measure up.

-Manuel Paul

Popular French graffiti artist Fafi is taking over the globe. Japanese Vogue just featured Fafi's art by bringing the graffiti pin-ups to life. Fafi's artwork is know for the voluptuous,pouty lipped characters in suggestive poses. In this situation,If you can strip down (no pun intended) the sexual Playfulness of Fafis art and accept that these are little girls in a clean Fafi world, then the layout in Japanese vogue might just win you over.

-Manuel Paul

 The latest Chloë Sevigny project stamped with Approval is the Opening Ceremony Spring/Summer '08 collection flip-book.  The playful book is full of interchangeable prints, sketches, pictures by Mark Borthwick. Opening Ceremony co-founder Humberto Leon had this to say about Sevigny/ Borthwick project:

"You can flip all the clothing around. Its goes from mini little Santa Claus to wearing Chloë outfits…It's a cool little book."

The fashion flip book is available at Opening Ceremony, 35 Howard Street New York, 212-219-2631 and 451 North La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, 310-652-1180 and bookstores worldwide

-Manuel Paul

There are a few things I choose not to write about on Men's Rag. The list of things include Sales, celebrities, certain retail chains,upcoming events and Partys, and toys. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy those things but I try to keep those things separate.

Very rarely would I bend the rules for something exceptional like this graffiti AT-AT toy. The reasons why I chose to write about this is 1) The AT-AT was one of my favorite Star War toy when I was young and 2) I love graffiti. So when Graffiti artist like JK5 and Ease Get together with Hasbro they produce a Piece that makes me reminiscent of my child hood, Minus the graffiti.

The Graffiti tagged on the toy is Aurebesh, the alphabet and language used in George Lucas' Epic Star wars films. The Graffiti At-At Is being auctioned off at Christie's Graf-At auction.

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-Manuel Paul

John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld top the list of designers that re-created  Esquire magazine covers from the sixties. The Kitschy but yet amazing re-creations were all chosen by each designer to help celebrate U.K. Esquire's 75th birthday, and what a celebration it was. My favorite of course, is Karl Lagerfeld followed by Jonh Galliano's cover.

Check out the rest at nymag.com.

-Manuel Paul

The Swedes are at it again, but this time they're lending their creativity to Diesel's new project titled "Diesel Genes of Sweden". Many Swedish participants are using the Italian denim brand as a canvas for a personal design. The finished collection will be part of the Diesel XXX Party that will be held in Stockholm in October.

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-Manuel Paul

The first ever contemporary art exhibition from Chanel titled "The Mobile art Exhibition" looks as if it flew out from planet Chanel and made it temporary home in Tokyo. The traveling art pod showcases 20 international artist.

This traveling showcase is the first of it's kind to combine architecture and Fashion as a Mobile exhibit. New York, London, and Moscow are just a few stops for this ground breaking exhibit.

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-Manuel Paul