Sailors, Playboys, and Intellectuals

In the Etro main collection for menswear Spring Summer 2012, "sailors, playboys and intellectuals all meet up amidst the colours and fragrances of Provence". Sounds like quite a gathering indeed. Tony Stark the "genius billionaire playboy philanthropist" would surely approve.

The assembly of sailors, playboys and intellectuals is itself decked out in a brilliant (in both senses of the word) combination of clothing. Nothing less than what we'd expect from Kean Etro, a maestro of colour and pattern (John Galliano and Paul Smith lay good claims to that title as well), whose runways showcase the wildest mix of hues, checks and paisleys that somehow avoids becoming kitschy. Bringing these groups together may simply be an exercise of artistic license, an excuse to bring together even more patterns and styles of clothing for creative purposes. Yet there may be something more lying beneath the aesthetics. Marcel Proust encouraged us to reach a suitable level of receptivity, with which we can learn as much from a soap advertisement as from a pensée by Pascal. Let us now attempt to do so from a fashion collection.

The Compleat Man

What are the qualities needed by the compleat man? Whatever qualities you may come up with, you can't deny that the compleat man exudes coolness by the megawatts. In the first part of this series we look at some men in very different fields who can lay claim to true coolness. 

Hippocrates Geometrica

I was dreaming of the Proust Geometrica again when the question struck me - would it be possible to integrate my interest in design with a career in medicine? Well, why not?

The idea is to have a stylishly and ergonomically designed hospital/clinic catering to rich patients. Through the use of colours and design, the building aims to improve the emotional conditions of patients and staff, which then leads to better health. This is not dissimilar to the concept proposed by the folks over at Reversible Destiny, that our surroundings influence our health. Perhaps they might even be interested in a tie-up, though it is likely most patients would be too sceptical.

Top 10 Reasons to Retire in Milan

1 Soccer.
Two great football teams to watch, AC and Inter. Oh right, Benítez is at Inter, make that one great team.

2 Fashion.
It is the world's fashion capital, with menswear such as Cesare Attolini, Etro and Trussardi in addition to the more famous names like Armani and Ermenegildo Zegna. People of style can be seen on the streets as well.

3 Food.
Pizza and pasta everyday, especially with a pizza oven of my own in the garden. Awesome for garden parties or chillax evenings.