The Cannes Film Festival has been talked about as “the place to be” since the 1930’s. It is an event that celebrates films from all over the world on the French Riviera in Cannes France and is a “hot spot” for men’s and women’s fashion at the parties, as well as on the Red Carpet.

In the fashion department, there were a few looks to talk about. The first photo is Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, and Producer Baz Luhrmann who were at the Cannes Film Festival for “The Great Gatsby”. Leonardo looks casual chic in his black suit with tie-less white dress shirt and black laced-up oxfords. It is really hard for him to look bad. Carey Mulligan is rocking a black strapless Balenciaga jumpsuit with a hand-beaded upper chest that is offset by a simple bow and a layered bodice that flows into unstructured pleated pants. The jumpsuit is a 1970’s fad revived, which some people love and some wish it stayed in that decade. The Producer of “The Great Gatsby” Baz Luhrmann is dressed in a combination of blues with his navy dress shirt, cornflower blue sports jacket, and colonial blue trousers. His “blue combo suit” is offset by an ivory vest and brown leather oxfords. I didn’t like it when I first saw it, but it kind of grows on you.

The second photo from the Red carpet at the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival is who I have named, “The Tacky Twosome”. The leather tuxedo makes this guy look like a penguin and the low slung vest just accentuates the “wrongness”. A perfect match for tackiness is his date who is in a very see-through number with netting and fringe. It would be terrific for a Las Vegas show or a pole dancer, but the lack of coverage on The Red Carpet just looks tasteless. The netting and sparse coverage would also make for very limited movement, unless it is glued down with two-sided Hollywood Tape.

Ethical fashion has become a hot issue.With an ever-increasing consumer demand and globalisation of the industry comes exploitative labor, environmental damage, the use of hazardous chemicals, waste and animal cruelty. Many of us have begun to kick back against the upsurge of mass-produced, disposable fashion, questioning the ‘ethic chic’ of the clothes we wear.

Fair Trade is an organised movement in place to promote decent standards for workers, environmentalism and social policy concerning the production process, and it focuses specifically on exporting goods from developing to developed countries. This means that workers are treated fairly and paid a decent wage, and that these small enterprises are given the opportunity to flourish, often preserving artisan crafts and skills handed down over generations. Any Fair Trade certified item bought off the rack or online can be purchased with a clear conscience. You can be assured of a quality item produced whilst improving lives and protecting the planet.

So what to look for next? Sustainable means organic – clothing made from natural fibres grown without any pesticides. Cotton provides much of the world’s fabric, but growing it uses 22.5% of the world’s insecticides and 10% of the world’s pesticides, chemicals that can be harmful to both the environment and to the farmers who grow it. One label with an ethical ethos is People Tree, which actively supports 4000 farmers and artisans, and 50 Fair Trade producer groups in the developing world. Collections are designed to be produced by hand as much as possible, so garments have small carbon footprints and the company promotes natural and organic cotton farming.

Seasalt Cornwall was the first fashion brand to have clothing certified to Soil Association standards, also producing their own organic cotton clothing. They are one of the many fashion companies signed up to the Ethical Trading Initiative. Katherine Feiel also applies her eco ethics to designing stunning bridal wear. An advocate of the ‘slow fashion’ movement, she buys fairly traded products from developing nations, using both new and vintage fabric to produce one-of-a-kind, gorgeous custom-made gowns.

A ‘vintage’ piece can be either a new or second hand garment created with a specific era in mind, often ‘upcycled’ or customised to give it a new lease of life. Wearing a vintage item will always make a bold style statement and the trend remains eternally en vogue.You’ll not only look fabulous but you’ll also be recycling and clocking up zero clothes miles in the process! UK-based www.maiyafashion.co.uk uses recycled or ‘upcycled’ garments invintage fabrics. Its stunning collections use a wide range of sustainable materials such as natural silk, hemp/silk, organic herringbone weave cotton, fair trade hand-loomed cotton/wool, fair trade/organic cotton twill, organic cotton printed with low-impact, organic dyes and vintage/end of roll ‘upcycled’ fabric.

You can take your green philosophy one step further when caring for your clothes by using an eco-iron, which are now available. These steam irons from Philips are made of 30% recycled materials and use 25% less energy than a conventional iron with great results, so are the perfect choice for every eco-friendly fashion follower.

When it comes to getting dressed each morning, we get ourselves into a routine that usually consists of rolling out of bed and grabbing the first thing we see. If you happen to be the type who is so laid back that you couldn’t care less about wearing odd socks or a creased shirt, now is the time to reconsider your morning routine.

Now we live in the 21^st century, men are becoming more aware of their appearance and self hygiene which is a good step towards greater confidence and luck with the ladies. Comfort is the ultimate factor you must consider in order to assert your confidence. So the question is: do you wear boxers or briefs?

It is no secret that men often find it difficult to get their hands on underwear that is comfortable, durable and not to mention, stylish. While boxer shorts have always seemed like the ‘cooler’ option of underwear for a man to wear, briefs are also battling it out and becoming a popular choice among men of a variety of ages. 

Early last year, David Beckham revealed his underwear secrets about being a keen wearer of briefs. Having participated in a number of underwear campaigns for Armani underwear as well as designing his own collection of affordable briefs for high street store, H&M, it is clear to see that Beckham is both confident and comfortable posing for the camera in nothing but his underwear.

Briefs are thought to be much sexier, keep everything in one place and are suitable to wear underneath just about anything in your wardrobe. If you are not one for unnecessary, excess fabric around your legs then briefs such as Diesel briefs will provide you with support and comfort in all of the right places. 

However, boxer shorts are often worn by young men who love to achieve a stylish yet laid back approach. Offering a less-restricting fit than a pair of briefs, boxers provide men will breath-ability and coverage. Styles from designer such as Ted Baker boxers come in a range of fun patterns and colours to give your underwear collection added oomph.

So, what underwear do you feel more comfortable in? Boxers or briefs?

The finishing touch to any outfit is always the footwear you choose to wear. If the dress is perfect for that formal occasion and you’ve taken hours of effort to get your hair and makeup right and then worn flats instead of heels, you’ve wasted all your effort and ruined your look.

Your footwear should be the cherry on top of the cake and should not take away from your dress and ruin its essence. To know the right kind of shoes to wear, you also need to know what’s in style. Read on to find out more on the latest trends for spring in the world of footwear fashion.

1.  Boots – Western Style

Western style boots are pretty in this season, and they’re also available at horse equipment retailers like Western riding and work boots as well as a variety fashion outlets.

The boots work well with a pair of torn jeans and a peasant hippie dress, and the fine leather makes them look a class apart. Western Style boots can be worn on several occasions and also on events such as derbies.

2.  Flat Footwear – Gladiator Sandals

Nothing can replace gladiator sandals from among the trend of spring and summer footwear. Designed as being comfortable, airy and stylish, these sandals go perfectly with any casual and semi-casual occasion.

Gladiator sandals also come in a variety of different styles such as the basic ones, which reach till only your ankles while others that reach up to knee length. Gladiator sandals are a great option for just about anyone for spring and summer both because they perfect for everyday wear as well as any casual hang out with friends or family.

3.  Pumps – Snake Print Pumps

Pumps are the most oft worn formal shoes and are available in the most styles that range from the entirely plain ones to some outrageous offerings. The snake print trend in pumps this summer is a mix of both plain and the outrageous.

Spring is considered a time when life in every form seems to be in bloom and so spring is associated with bright colors. The snake print trend is mixed with bright pops of colors along with neutrals ones to make unique pairs of shoes that go with all your clothes due to the neutral shades and yet stand out with the bright ones.

4.  Wedges – Sneaker Wedges

Sneaker wedges have been popular for a while, but not so much as they are expected to be this spring when color and innovation will bring about the most magnificent creations in this variety of wedges.

There seems to be, once again, a demand for a lot of bling and glitter which is also expected to hit meet with sneaker wedges.

The result will be glitzy sneaker wedges so try to get your hands on a pair of wedges that dazzles up not only your outfit, but everyone around.

5.  Booties – Laser Cut Booties

Booties are an easy way to sneak boots into a formal occasion. Designed in a similar fashion, but with more elegance and a heel that is sometimes missing in boots, booties are quite a chic form of footwear.

Laser cut booties take these regular booties to another level. They are not only a trend on their own, but also incorporate two other trends including floral patterns in which the laser cut is done and the metallic trend which are the colors in which these laser cut booties are mostly being made.

Even though there have been times when glasses were not “in”, this year is not one of those times.  People have really embraced wearing their eyeglasses as much as a fashion accessory as a necessity.

One guy that is always on the top of the list when it comes to fashionable eyewear is Johnny Depp.   Whether he is on TV or in the magazines, he always seems to be wearing a new cool pair.  I’d like to see his collection because it must take up a whole closet on its own.  This particular pair is one of many different Moscot eyeglasses that Johnny has in both clear and tinted glass. The vintage look of the round lens and coppery colored tortoise frame blends well with any wardrobe, always remaining in style.

The second guy that rocks his eyeglasses is Justin Timberlake.  He incorporates his prescription eyewear as part of his look.  Justin goes for more of the “Buddy Holly” style in this pair of black squared-off frames.  The shape is perfect for his face and shows off his “baby blues”. You can find a similar pair, the Emilee Reading Glasses by Goo Goo Eyes to be exact, at pretty much any men’s reading glasses site worth its salt, e.g. ReadingGlasses.com

Another guy that has embraced his need for eyewear is Jay-Z.  His eyeglasses are a little more modern looking with the oversized black frame, but the style could also be a throwback to the 70’s and 80’s.  The shape is not really round or oval and the lenses are slightly tinted. Even though these oversized glasses might be called “geek-wear”, they are definitely right on trend. Check out a pair of Giorgio Armani 823 Bifocals to rock a similar look.

May 4th, 2013 was the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. It is a race of three year old Thoroughbred horses that began in 1875 and has been run yearly in Louisville Kentucky. Even those people who are not huge fans of horse racing, are familiar with the Kentucky Derby. It is a place for where the wealthy, celebrities, and the “Average Joe” can enjoy the traditions of drinking Mint Juleps and being all decked out in “Derby Attire”, which can include the latest and sometimes outrageous collection of hats.

In past years, the Kentucky Derby has attracted celebrities like Michael Jordan and John Sulley. In this photo, Michael is looking dapper in his beige and cream striped suit, while his friend John is sporting a great summer suit with a splash of color in his blue tie, topping it all off with a traditional Derby.

Next, a pair of ladies at the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby, show off their strapless dresses in salmon pink and baby blue with their intricately detailed hats. The fancy chapeaus protect them from the hot southern sun as well as draw people’s attention, but also pose a problem for possibly poking the eyes of some unsuspecting on-lookers.

Even these guys are getting into the “Derby” tradition with handcrafted hats that include scenes of the starting gate and an interpretation of the “Run of the Roses”. In the spirit of the whimsical fashion found at the Kentucky Derby, this guy’s red and white checkered sport coat just completes the look!

If you look through the pages of the men’s fashion magazines this year, there are some warm weather items that are essential for the Summer. One huge trend is toward the plain t-shirt. It is a piece that has roots that date back many decades.

One that was making headlines in GQ magazine was the white crew neck t-shirt by Todd Snyder NYC. The 100% cotton is said to have a cut that conforms to your body, but I don’t see what all the fuss is about for $70. I understand that sometimes simplicity is the most difficult design, but I have seen some ones that seem comparable for less. For instance, the mens superdry section at ARK clothing has some really cool crew shirts, like the one above, and don’t cost an arm!

Another item that you will need for your summer wardrobe is the tank top. This year is the one to have fun with color and patterns. Also at Macy’s, I spotted a brand called “American Rag” that had a collection of colorful tanks like these “Barb Striped Tank Tops” made of cotton and polyester for $9.99 each, which come in the colors of charcoal grey, deep royal, and Iguana green. They also had many other patterns to choose from, in order to step away from the plain white tank.

As far as combining the plain white shirt with a pair of shorts, the selection is endless. You have a blank canvas with the plain top, so it could be worn with the Zoo York Commander Cargo Shorts in the “ever popular” camouflage pattern with the colors of blacks, greys, and whites for $25 at JCP. You can also go for a solid colored Chino or Docker short, which will give you the ability to add dress the look up a little with some accessories. For pairing bottoms with a colorful patterned tank, you can be pretty safe with a jean short, or dark neutral color that will not compete with your top.

Born in “Motor City”, John Varvatos has made the cross-over from men’s clothing and accessory designer to the world of automobiles. Having grown up in Allen Park Detroit, he was no stranger to the car industry. With his love of “Rock and Roll” and industrial influence, he has partnered with Chrysler in order to produce the Chrysler 300C Luxury Edition Sedan.

Varvatos has a design history which includes Ralph Lauren in 1983, Calvin Klein in 1990, and creating the Polo Jeans Company with Ralph Lauren again in 1995. He opened his first boutique in Soho in 2000, expanding his original clothing line to include a collection of footwear, ties, eyewear, watches, cologne, handbags, scarves, and leather belts. An example of his design is this black leather “Racer Jacket”. You can almost feel the buttery black leather in this sleek jacket. Its waist-high length, seaming, and close fit to the body give it “head-turning” appeal.

There is a definite connection between his menswear and the overall design of the Chrysler 300C. The full sized sedan has a black lacquered paint job with a depth of color that was likened to the design of his fragrance bottle. John Varvatos has added designer touches to the sedan like a hand stitched heated steering wheel with “Deisel Grey thread and Titanium Chrome accents”. The interior is laden with exotic Italian black leather and the dash is embellished with an inlayed clock that has a pearl face and charcoal bezel. The shape of the clock nicely reflects the shape of the grill. The luxury accessories found in the Chrysler 300C have an industrial flair with the chrome accents.

If you are curious about the menswear collections of John Varvatos you can see all that he has to offer at http://www.johnvarvatos.com. The Chrysler 300C Luxury Sedan by John Varvatos can be seen online at http://www.chrysler.com/en/2013/300c/john-varvatos-limited-edition/ or contact a local dealer near you. It looks like it would make a great car to test drive!

In your search for a new watch whether you want something as a fashion accessory or just a decent quality timepiece that also looks good on your wrist, chances are you may get a bit lost in the numerous brands and all of their many collections, well search no further as one place you should be looking is with Nixon.

For the last fifteen years since Nixon was set up in Encinitas, California; Nixon watches have enjoyed success in over 25 countries which is quite simply because of the premium quality and design people have come to expect from them. Nixon mens fashion watches are designed to cater to a number of tastes and styles as originally they were specifically created for the action sports markets like skating, snowboarding and surfing and now offer something for everyone from musicians to businessmen while still maintaining their core spirit.

You can expect sublime design with Nixon fashion watches just take a look at the bestselling Nixon Rocker watch which merges a leather band design with a timepiece perfect for musicians, or the Nixon Private and Nixon Canon watches that merge a classic, expensive look with contemporary sleek designs. For something truly different the Nixon Newton watch has a dial that depicts two spheres ‘gravitationally locked’ instead of hands, or you can enjoy a more chic look with the Nixon Rotolog watches. They even make probably the best surfing watch available to buy in the Nixon Lodown watches which feature digital movements and an option to pre-programme tide charts for 200 beaches up to 15 years.

Aside from exceptional style you can enjoy with every set of clothes you have, Nixon men’s fashion watches are made with premier materials that give you reassurance with their durability like a hardened mineral glass window but also because they tend to be lightweight as well. Nixon watches are made with precision Swiss movement so you can rely on their timekeeping and most are water resistant up to 30 metres so if you get caught out in the rain you needn’t worry about a ruined watch. So if you want an all-round decent timepiece you can’t argue that a Nixon men’s fashion watch will do the job.