Men's style: Russia VS Malaysia

Years have passed since Mr Schuman's first entry and many ambitious photographers follow suit. Obviously I don't have all the time in the world to follow all the mushrooming personal style blogs, but recently I have discovered some cool men's styles, sourced from my newly-found style sites from 2 countries that are close to my heart (Malaysia and Russia). And so the battle between these two countries begins....

ROUND 1: Laid-back dandyism

team Malaysia

team Russia
ROUND 2: Simply the best

team Malaysia

team Russia
ROUND 3: Edgy attempt

team Malaysia

team Russia
ROUND 4: Patterns galore

team Malaysia

team Russia
ROUND 5: Denim, scarves and layering

team Malaysia

team Russia

images from: lookatme.ru, KL street style

Can the underdog in fashion world team Malaysia will emerge victorious in this style war? With a team of fairly diverse players, things seem to be looking up a bit in this mundane country, style-wise... Can team Malaysia manage to recover from the ashes, straight into style glory?

But more advantage sides team Russia in the physical department. Throwing in the layering factor, Russia seems to looks pretty strong against Malaysia in this match... who will be crowned as the victor? I sense an intense rivalry, gentlemen!

P.S: I noticed that looakatme.ru is quite interactive. The users are encouraged to create a healthy discussion over the looks posted. Despite a few unsightly insensitive remarks from some users the comments are strictly moderated and any comments that are deemed uncalled for will be shaded in grey (and the user's ratings will dwindle, natch). Unfortunately for the time being the site is operated fully in Russian language, but I'm sure it's sufficient for you guys to appreciate the looks from the natural beauties of Eastern Europe :)

P.P.S: Apologies for the seemingly long blogging hiatus. But I'll make up for it, I promise!

Paris + Moscow = Chanel

Image wwd.com

Well my yesterday's post about Anastasia and the picture that came with along it was an obvious clue about my entry today.

In case you're wondering, I'm talking about the Chanel Paris-Moscow Pre-fall Collection!

I'm digging the Russian culture references here and there: the Cossack pants and boots, the intricate head pieces, the red color (which screams USSR!) and of course, the military coats.

Now who says Russia's a bad bad country? Read fashion history much? (Wow, 6 years of living here I'm gradually turning into a Slavophile, which is not a bad case either!)

Okay, given that my narrating skills are substandard and below a schooler's level, for your reading pleasure here's an excerpt of independent.co.uk's article about the history of Coco Chanel and her relationship with Russia, which pretty much inspired Kaiser Karl for this collection:

" Chanel had numerous connections with Russia, one of the most significant of which, unsurprisingly given her lively romantic history, was with a Russian lover, the Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich. He introduced Chanel to the splendour of the Tsars, and to the embroidery skills of his sister, the Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna.

Intrigued by Chanel, the Grand Duchess would spend time in her studio, and in 1921, after witnessing an argument between Chanel and her embroiderer over the latter's prices, she offered her own services. She changed her name, bought an embroidery machine and hired young Russian women to help her create traditional Russian designs, trompe l'oeil jewellery, and images inspired by oriental rugs and Persian tiles.

Chanel was also influenced by clothes from the Grand Duke's wardrobe – the tunic, the fur-lined coat and the rubachka, the long, embroidered blouse of traditional Russian costume – and he introduced her to the perfumer Ernest Beaux, who created Chanel No 5 in 1921 and Cuir de Russie in 1927.

Chanel also collaborated with several Russian artists, among them Igor Stravinsky, whose recreation of The Rite of Spring she financed in 1920, and Sergei Diaghilev, who founded the Ballets Russes. In 1924 she created the costumes for his premiere of the ballet Le Train bleu, which combined acrobatics, satire and pantomime "

That coat is sleeeeek!


All hail the Textured Jacket!

Variations of sweaters:







Chanel, Paris, Moscow in Cyrillic

I like these women's pieces as they're totally MAN-ABLE at least pour moi. May I say, these are fiercer than your everyday coats/ cardigans!

Hot embellishments on the coat


Constructivism on a cardigan

Lastly, the headgears and the dresses are out of this world!

Images chanel.com

PS: Buddy Kotok said the male models are eerily Slavic looking. What's funny is the guys are not even Russians at all! LOLss!