Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jan 11, 2012, 4:01 am
It's been so long since I've actually elected to wear a pair of shoes over boots that I've almost forgotten they exist. Anglo-Italian brand O' Keeffe seems, however, to be winning me back with unprecedented authority. On hearing about the label's inception (through friend, general brand master...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jan 7, 2012, 11:41 am
Alongside surviving another year in academia, moving to live in Berlin, blogging, discovering foie gras and Alan Hollinghurst, 2011 brought with it several new acquaintances - both professional and personal - some of whom have become fond friends. I've known Dublin-based artist Oisin Byrne a w...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jan 6, 2012, 9:42 am
Originally the focal point of fashion publications, then relegated to a back-seat position with the favouring of photography, fashion illustration is enjoying a revival within the industry and it's trailblazers like Richard Kilroy on the crest of the wave. Here's what he's planning for this ye...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jan 4, 2012, 1:40 pm
If there was one thing that characterised the year 2011 for the youth of Ireland, it was probably considering/discussing/actually emigrating to a place more forthcoming with its economic opportunities. Although the majority of fashion types have almost always had to re-locate to a fashion capi...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jan 3, 2012, 7:36 am
Go on, don't be shy, hands up if you're only now beginning to emerge from your post-NYE deep and dark hangover gloom. Wherever you were, whatever you did, I hope you rang in the new year with aplomb and I wish you all the very best for the months to come. As, I suppose,...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 29, 2011, 11:56 am
Just like chips, works of erotic fiction and gin martinis, good fashion documentaries are hard to come by. We've seen a spate of documentaries centring on the industry, its designers, editors and it-figures emerge since the early 90s, with many garnering positive critical appraisals and awards...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 28, 2011, 6:59 am
For those of you who were following the 5 Days of Christmas, I apologise; instead of advocating another potential purchase, I spent my Christmas Eve rambling around the bones of an old French townhouse, guzzling bière de Noël and generally being a sub-par blogger... A...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 23, 2011, 8:20 am
Have been getting a little too into the festive spirit of late and failed to provide you with dangerously last minute gift suggestion No. 3 yesterday, so it's a double dose this time 'round courtesy of none other than Dublin's beloved independent boutique, Indigo & Cloth. No. 3 is the below-pi...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 21, 2011, 2:50 pm
Reports of double-digit temperatures for Christmas Day have me re-considering quintessential festive fashion. Light exercise of walking from one shop to another in a snooded and gloved state had me sweating in a matter of seconds today and if this continues it'll soon be time to whip out a pai...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 20, 2011, 4:51 am
If it's not blankets of snow, it's '12 Days of Christmas' offers emails - there's inevitably something to be waded through at this time of year. Granted retailers have to break-even too, but isn't a whole twelve days a little excessive in this current economic gloom? Also, given that I've been...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 14, 2011, 11:38 am
Project 51, one of the most recent additions to Dublin's shopping haven of South William St., combines the traditional designer showroom feel with a relaxed retail environment. There's a wealth of work from Irish designers for women, but - oddly, and for once, - I think the guys have secured the bes...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 9, 2011, 3:36 am
When blogs first took off all those eons ago, anonymity was one of the most topical discussions surrounding the whole online affair: do you let people in on your personal life?; should people be able to identify you based on the pictures you post?, and so on and so forth. Whilst recognition was neve...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Dec 3, 2011, 5:01 am
Oftentimes an unapologetic cynic, I always claimed Dubliners' recent interest in keeping abreast of international fashion goings-on, changing aesthetics and rising/falling hemlines was a result of the Celtic Tiger-related influx of wealth (yes, you can be creative and look great on a budget but, ge...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 29, 2011, 1:15 pm
Chances are you're all approaching a level of immense boredom re: the heritage revival that's been brewing for at least the past year but has come all out guns-, boots- and elbow-patches-ablazin' this AW11 season. As much as I appreciate the finer sartorial details of yesteryear (sharply cut tweed, ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 22, 2011, 6:13 am
We're all familiar with the fashion big-boys who, since the luxury of the concept of legacy has started to be highly prized (i.e. since the onslaught of fast fashion), have turned to touting their heritage to boost sales even further/ensure they're recession-proof (Burberry, Vuitton, Farah, Bally et...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 16, 2011, 4:51 am
It's recently come to my attention that I currently have one pair of shoes in my possession. The rest, friends, are boots, and funnily enough, I'm not all that bothered. Since discovering what's often deemed the men's equivalent of the heel (albeit a hell of a lot easier to walk in...), I've never r...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 14, 2011, 5:08 am
Back from Berlin and ready for a week of Absolut Mode, absolute essays and absolute dissertation research. Since time's somewhat scant today, there's less of my verbal meandering and more of my shoddy photography to keep y'all entertained... Check back soon for a new Q+A, a way overdue giveaway and ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 11, 2011, 8:25 am
You might recall I suggested camo for Halloween attire a couple of weeks back. Now I'm proposing it for everything from your work-wardrobe (depending on your profession, of course...) to occasion wear to down-the-pub/club apparel. Granted you may receive a few sniggering 'G.I. Joe/Action Man' remark...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 7, 2011, 3:44 am
To Berlin this morning to spend a few days with fellow red wine and Evelyn Waugh enthusiast and good friend, SMP. In the absence of normal post frequency, here's a little something to tide you over... ^ Thread Issue 2 - 'One Thing Leads to Another' Thread Magazine is a fashion magazine for Dublin, ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 5, 2011, 1:04 pm
Considering it's been an eon since I last posted something vaguely personal style-ee, and seeing as the new wintry snap has given good reason to cover up that bit more, I thought it was high time I took the opportunity to show off my...er...wares... ^ Beginning to think that all of my kind of fast-...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Nov 1, 2011, 6:38 am
There's no stopping Simon Spurr. The English-born, NYC-based menswear designer and four-time nominee for various CFDA awards has just taken the plunge, and taken his acclaimed tailoring-based brand online. And it's great, save for a few unforgivable copy errors here and there ("The brands clean and ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 31, 2011, 10:16 am
Y'all know I'm not exactly one for seasonal posts but I'm making an exception for the holiday that's in it. Halloween Tip 2012 - you could do worse than camo, it's perfectly in line with the heavyweight trend-setters (mind the Fascistic post title there, though), can be interpreted variously as G....
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 27, 2011, 4:17 am
... her thoughts and highly cherished nuggets of wisdom with an audience all ... ) and never returned home (except, of course, for visits). Having had ... which channels a specific theme each issue, be it Scent, Taste, ... to the more commercial arena of Condé Nast publishing, taking up ... i...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 25, 2011, 4:30 am
Question: were the apocalypse pretty much imminent, what brand of clothing would you stock up on to brave the chaos to come? As arbitrary as this question might seem, I think it's perfectly valid when you're faced with scenes like the below 27 seconds of Titanic-esque destruction. ^ One of D...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 21, 2011, 1:57 pm
I really shouldn't be writing this post without having sampled the goods themselves, but don't consider this so much a review or endorsement, so much as a reflection on one of the world's most successful high-street brands' foray into fragrance. Back in August of this year, the UK's go-to hig...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 20, 2011, 5:41 am
I can't remember exactly when the news broke that the next designer brand to collaborate with hallowed high-street Swedish retailer H&M was to be Italian purveyor of ever-so-slightly-tacky luxury, Versace, but I do recall exactly what I felt on hearing the announcement - indifference. Actually, a...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 19, 2011, 12:26 pm
Inevitably enough, what was to be an afternoon of dissertation research on fashion documentaries, has instead become an afternoon of viewing the original Brideshead Revisited adaptation featuring he of the incredibly enivable cheekbones Jeremy Irons and the equally handsome Anthony Andrews. Living w...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 18, 2011, 11:29 am
You'd be forgiven for thinking that after 160 years in existence, a clothing and accessories brand would retain little of the appeal it held throughout the course of its more than lengthy life, but Swiss luxury brand Bally proves such an assertion so very wrong, still providing us all with one-stop ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 17, 2011, 7:26 am
Although hearing someone spout puritanical rules related to issues of style is, for me, akin to hearing a clowder of cats being violently strangled, I do think accessories, in the context of men's style, necessitates a little reservation. For many, necklaces, chains, rings, earrings etc. work well a...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 14, 2011, 2:30 pm
Writing an obituary on someone you've only ever marvelled at through Google Images and with whom you once struck up a v. brief email correspondence is, well, nigh on impossible. The late Francesco Cominelli was reputed to be one of the warmest, most industrious stylists enlivening what can often t...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 13, 2011, 9:51 am
Heads up marketing types - it seems this AW season, "inspiration" is the buzzword to throw around. From Dunhill to ASOS, Edun to 55DSL, brands seems to think we're thirsting for some well-styled role models to simultaneously inspire ambition and educate on all issues sartorial, too. Denim brand Dies...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 12, 2011, 5:31 am
As you'll have noticed from the hefty press coverage it's already garnered, London-based menswear designer nonpareil Carolyn Massey has collaborated with ASOS once again, joining forces to produce what's probably one of my favourite collections so far this AW 2011 season. Instead of re-hashing...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 11, 2011, 4:31 am
By some incomprehensible but v. flattering stroke of fate, I've made the Online Fashion 100 2012 list. An initiative established by Leon Bailey Green of Directorsof.com in association with Vogue.com, the Online Fashion 100 recognises the top online fashion types in Britain and Ireland, and I'm just ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 10, 2011, 4:38 am
Following on from his nostalgia-infused sporty yet smart collection for Spring Summer 2011, Shake Appeal designer Chanachai Ohpanayikool seems to heed that age-old adage - if it ain't broke, don't fix it, for his AW 2011 offering, Teen Dream. That's to say, it's more of that winning combination of ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 9, 2011, 10:03 am
... note to those of you who like to do good with your denim: London-based high-end boutique Start London has launched an initiative ... for Genes which aims to fund care and research for children with genetic disorders. Start have teamed up with two of their own favourite ... to be in with a ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 6, 2011, 6:38 am
Further to AW 2011 wardrobe possibilities, here's what could only be described as a genius collaboration between British brand and self-professed opponent of "shabby arrogance and gaudy mediocrity", YMC (You Must Create) and leather outfitters since 1892, Lewis Leathers. ^ Lewis Leathers store inte...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 4, 2011, 12:26 pm
Do you think maybe there's an equivalent of a rain dance for Indian Summers? Having grown accustomed to Dublin's muggier weather this past week, I'm reluctant to see the temperatures plummet and the layering of every item of my wardrobe all at once - not as an avant-garde sartorial statement, but ra...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 3, 2011, 10:27 am
... ? That's the crux of the concept for Lacoste's new range of fragrances, L. 12. 12. Inspired by the quintessential Lacoste piece - the classic polo shirt, the fragrance ... end of the spectrum, and firmly maintain your average Lacoste polo shirt smells of either Daz or sweat. ... Shop t...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Oct 1, 2011, 9:09 am
Non-London-based fans of London-based menswear designers, get excited - high-end online retailer, the corner.com, has just launched a space for LONDON show ROOMS MEN to act as the online counterpart to the tradeshow itself. Curated by esteemed style critic, editor-at-large at Style.com and writer o...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 27, 2011, 7:51 am
I've always been a bit crap at making a home from home. Having rented places since the age of 18, it's always seemed an effort to alter my living environs when the landlord's dictatorial or your budget's constrained. The whole thing involves expense and effort, which I'm not sure I could justify whe...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 26, 2011, 1:07 pm
London-based accessories label Stighlorgan, may not be an indigenous Irish brand but it's undoubtedly and enthusiastically waving the Irish fashion flag abroad. I've ranted countless times about the difficulty of establishing yourself as a designer or brand in Ireland what with a whirlwind of financ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 21, 2011, 5:03 am
Is it just me or is it at this stage a bit yawn-inducing when a designer states they've collaborated with Gaga? I mean, it's a feat, but who hasn't done it at this stage? Thanks to formidable side-kick stylist Nicola Formichetti, Gaga's secured herself a steady stream of eager, fresh fashion talent...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 17, 2011, 5:10 am
It's been a long week, and for those of you not clacking over the cobbles of Somerset House for London Fashion Week, I'd suggest the following for viewing during a moment of leisure... ^ ASOS Urban Tour in London teaser feat. Lil' Buck, Baby Bang and the world's best street-dance crew. Head t...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 15, 2011, 9:33 am
Another season, another incredible LENS offering from high-street favourite, Topman. The past few seasons of this collaboration between lesser-known designers and Arcadia's jewel in the menswear crown has seen some attention-arresting, yet wearable designs come to the market at affordable prices. Fo...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 13, 2011, 5:51 am
Considering it's been about an eon since we had a Q+A here, I jumped at the chance of getting to know Brooklyn-based design duo Eayrslee better when they got in touch with shots of their appetite-whetting accessories. Their range of leather and canvas accessories is delicious, and I don't mean that ...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 12, 2011, 7:35 am
Genteleman's style bible, Fantastic Man, and fashion's favourite Dutch artist duo of the moment, Lernert & Sander, have today launched a collaboration composed of several short fashion films combining figure-skating and the current Autumn Winter season's fashion. Now, figure-skating may not immediat...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Sep 7, 2011, 10:01 am
Cockroaches (beetles?) and kimonos. For the Autumn Winter 2011 season, Dublin-born, primarily London-based designer Sean McGirr has chosen to meld insects, elements of both traditional and street Japanese dress with a firm shoe-gazing nod toward punk. And, surprisingly enough, it works. ^ Sean McGi...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jul 31, 2011, 8:04 am
From Galliano to Daphne Guinness, armour and other medieval icons have often played muse to several designers in recent years. Winner of the Maison Martin Margiela award at this year's ITS#Fashion, and the second noteworthy grad to be featured here, Fah Chak has also come over all helmets and breast...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jul 27, 2011, 5:13 am
If the job market is proving less than welcoming for budding designers right now, there are, thankfully, alternative methods of carrying on your creative pursuits and being able to afford to live on something a little more substantial than a daily tin of baked beans. ITS (International Talent Suppor...
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Cillian O' Connor posted an article on Male-Mode - Jul 26, 2011, 10:14 am
Flea-markets are tough to do right. Get there too late in a hungover haze and you've missed the best of the bargains; get there too early like an over-eager child who's just eaten too many E numbers and you'll not get to fully experience the atmosphere. At last weekend's Kein Durst (No Thirst) Flohm...
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