CITYist

As of yesterday, May 10th, menswear shopping site MR PORTER added J. Crew to its vast selection of menswear offerings. From knitted silk ties to jersey pullover sweaters, the collection is the epitome of the preppy yet cool style that J. Crew has perfected.

Look out shoppers: Net-a-Porter.com finally is finally attached, and it seems serious. In February of this year, The NET-A-PORTER Group will launch the Jack to this women’s wear site’s Jill with Mr Porter. In the ten years that Net-a-Porter.com has been selling YSL, Chanel, Marni and other luxurious designers to well styled women, it has remained exclusive to ladies.

An undeniable theme present in D&G’s Fall/Winter 2011-2012 collection for men is color. Hyper-saturated hues complement ensembles positively dripping with vibrance.

Bottega Veneta’s fall/winter 2011-2012 collection is all about reinvention. The focus is the remaking of traditional menswear items in never before seen ways. With classicism and timelessness having dominated the market in 2010, Bottega Veneta is suredly leading the charge towards the next phase in men’s fashion.

John Varvatos describes the men who inspired his fall/winter 2011-2012 collection as “sophisticated and rustic.” And they are appropriately so. Varvatos’ latest menswear collection is positively dripping with nostalgic charm.

Ranging from $550 to $3,250, David Yurman’s zoologically-themed cufflinks feature sterling silver and gold-cast wasps, sea urchins, and scarab beetles that will spike your suits with originality and style. All three are available at DavidYurman.com or at the Manhattan boutique at 712 Madison Avenue.

Alas, the epitome of menswear luxury has arrived at Prada: the made-to-measure program. Any man whose ever put on a suit, let alone had one precisely custom-made to fit his body, knows that the beauty of a perfect, timeless suit lies in the masterful tailoring and pristine details. With expert tailors trained in Italy and Prada’s reputation, what better hands to help you pick a lining and select the best collar? The made-to-measure program includes shirting, suits and jackets, and all of the garments are made at the Belvest factory in Italy. With a choice of over 250 suiting fabrics, 40 coat fabrics, and shirting options that range from classic solids to vintage Prada prints, the possibilities are endless.

While women swoon over J. Crew’s cardigans, layered, embellished hardware necklaces and classic coats, the menswear is often overlooked. Usually delegated to the back (or lower level) of most J. Crew stores, the preppy-infused modern men’s looks have finally found their own home at 1040 Madison Avenue. This is the fourth Men’s Shop for J. Crew, but undoubtedly its most expansive. At this Upper East Side outpost, men can revel in all the classic suiting, cargo jackets and Italian leather shoes they want, in surroundings inspired by a Swiss Alps farm house (think: pine planks and carved moldings made from reclaimed wood).

Lately, it seems a whole lot of iconic brands are realizing that collaborations offer a combined creativity of inestimable proportions. Now, Levi’s and Brooks Brothers are the newest to try out the formula with the less-than creative name Levi’s® Jeans, Made in the USA for Brooks Brothers. That aside, the line has lofty aspirations: to create a truly American, iconic jean to go along with both brands’ long-standing reputations. Levi’s is pulling out all the stops with its classic 501 jean, the 505 jean and and the modern 514 Slim Straight jean. Retailing for $148, the denim comes in classic washes available at Brooks Brothers stores. The goal of the collection is to tap into the pioneer spirit of both brands, each over a century old. And we have a feeling that in this case, the sum might be greater than the parts.

Keds has just released the newest addition to its Century line, the men’s “Call of Duty” shoe. Inspired by 1940s military sneakers, they come in muted olive, gray and a deep charcoal with leather laces. Retailing for $55, the canvas Keds will be available exclusively on the brand’s site. The subdued design of the shoe reflects a period of mobilization and patriotism for the war effort (they’ll certainly go well with the utilitarian, militaristic looks from the Spring runways). Who knew sneakers could lead to a history lesson?

Pringle of Scotland’s vision for menswear next spring is a very “aw shucks” moment in a palette of khaki and cornflower blue. While we can’t help but associate that with good ole boys from the Midwest, it’s probably safer to assume this has to do more with Scotland’s farmlands than Iowa’s. That’s not to say that the line comes off as provincial; the Pringle man looks like he’d be more at home in the library than behind a plow. The demure colors come in homey knit sweaters, flowing khaki trenches and sheer argyle sweater shirts that were paraded down the runway in Milan on Monday. Cardigans and skinny ties add just the right amount of nerdy rocker appeal, as evidenced by the show’s performers, Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand, who looked right at home in the collection.

Martyn Bal’s vision for fall is chalk full of musical references: The Beatles, Buddy Holly, The Sex Pistols. Citing rockabilly and punk as the key influences, Bal’s Autumn/Winter 2010 campaign features 60s high-waisted trousers rolled up at the bottom to show off shiny lace-up loafers and socks in the 50s fashion. Slim blazers are paired with charcoal pants designed to fit as effortlessly and with as much comfort as a favorite pair of jeans. And true to anything with real rock ‘n’ roll spirit, androgyny is the word, as evidenced by Bal’s choice of models as well as skin-tight leather jackets. Zippers, buttons and wool trenches with quilted leather sleeves add a punk touch, but overall, the collection is certainly rooted in a midcentury moment: throw a guitar in the picture and a mop top, and you’ve got Paul McCartney circa 1962.

The Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2011 men’s pre collection was broadcast to the world via live steam from Milan on Saturday. If you missed the show, you can check it out after the jump, along with a peek at five looks from the collection. All featured outerwear and accessories are currently available to order through June 26th, so don’t miss your chance to get an early advance on Burberry’s vision for next summer, including mid-thigh grazing trenches, tawny leather bomber jackets (and classic black motorcycle ones) and slim navy suiting. All in all, a well-rounded Burberry collection: a modern take on traditional menswear that’s both utterly wearable and infinitely stylish.

Partly because Father’s Day is approaching, but mostly because we like them, we’ve put together a selection of D&G watches so large in scope they would satisfy any man. Everyone’s represented here, from a rainbow-colored watch face that resembles a game board (Kanye West), to a weathered leather strap and tortoise-shell frame (Indiana Jones), to a navy rubber strap (Michael Phelps) and finally a slick, shiny time piece (any classic silver fox). Sometimes, men have fewer options when accessorizing—but not in this case. And if you’re planning on going the Father’s Day route with these, you must have a pretty cool dad.

If a $1,000 shopping spree sounds like something you might be interested in, you might want to pay attention to this post. NUMBER:Lab, the line of clean, preppy menswear that prides itself on superior fit—is asking all eligible bachelors (ahem, loyal customers) to submit a photo of themselves wearing the line. The object is to find the most attractive specimen that truly does justice to the garments. If that sounds a bit narcissistic to you, remember: free clothes are involved. Read on for rules and regulations.

Andy Warhol bought a pair of Ferragamo shoes. One day, he got paint on them. And then, many, many years later, after the iconic artist’s death, the Ferragamo family won them back at auction. Interestingly, they were also the only men’s model Ferragamo ever designed—and now you can buy a replica of Warhol’s shoes, paint splatters and all.

Thanks to their heavily styled, exquisitely lighted, smart-copied catalogs, J. Crew is now the king of retail fashion. The updated prep behemoth unveiled their Fall 2010 menswear this week at New York’s MILK Studios on an open-air terrace. Invite yourself to a sneak peek of the tailored classics—and the somewhat attractive male models.