Style Maven: Tyson Chandler

“‘The Body Issue’ is a chance for the ‘average person’ take a good look at athletes bodies and why we are able to do the things we do…. I think a lot of people are curious about it… I wanted people to look at my body and see why I’m able to do the things I do on the court. Also, it’s a very artistic shoot, and seeing that in past issues made me want to do it.”

Last year New York Knicks player, Amar'e Stoudemire was a subject of attention for Vogue when he was one of 2011's features in the annual ESPN Body issue. This year, the same can be said of this month's #IMFblog Style Maven, Tyson Chandler, who has become more acquainted with Vogue throughout the 2012 year. Reading, International Editor-at-Large, Hamish Bowles', article about his experience practicing with the Stoudemier and Knicks was laudable considering I can relate to Bowles "mutual incompatibility" with sports. Having played basketball since age eight, dabbling in a wide range of sports from gymnastics to track to football all my childhood, I would say I have a better understanding of sports than the famed fashion editor turned clueless Knicks-player-for-a-day, yet I too find I have the most passion and interest in things such as hemline lengths and seasonal color trends. Interestingly enough, as Bowles so exquisitely described, basketball can be just as much a graceful spectacle as fashion is. Stoudemier compared the NBA to "a land of giants", but says “When you put your fashion on—you know, your tailor-made suits or bow ties and fedoras—you feel like you’re swagger,” he says. “You feel elegant and rich.” Stoudemire collaborated with designer, Rachel Roy on a women’s capsule collection for Macy’s, and it was reported that he is in the midst of creating a menswear line. This must be why we have seen a wave of athletes fraternizing with Anna Wintour and making it into the pages of Vogue, including, Tyson Chandler, who was featured in this December issue of Vogue. It’s funny because as I read his profile in Vogue, his wife, Kimberly, explained to readers that, "The deal with Tyson is he grew up on the farm and on the street, but there is an elegance to him," and this got me to thinking—what exactly is the "elegance" of a man?

Chandler has stood out to me for some time now. Sans his performance coverage in sports news with the Mavericks and Knicks (not to mention his participation on the men's US Basketball team at this year's Olympics), he has stood out in entertainment news, especially fashion, which turns out to be a personal interest to him artistically. Complex Magazine named him one of this summer's “10 Most Stylish Celebrities of the Summer” saying this: “Tyson Chandler is one of the resident risk takers on this list, and should be applauded for that. The New York Knicks player and Olympic gold medalist is always willing to explore different trends. Sometimes they’re trends that other 7’1″ 240 lb. guys wouldn't even think of trying. So even if you’re not feeling his gothic look or his capes, you've got to give him props.” When I saw him in pictures at this year's MET Costume Gala wearing a distinguished looking navy blue suit ensemble, with black lapels, perfectly fit for his seven foot one frame, he channeled that James Bond "cool" I described in my recent Character Building post (especially considering blue suits are a classic 007 signature). At New York Fashion Week past season, he sat front row with his wife at the Boy. by Band of Outsiders, Alexander Wang, Altuzarra Spring 2013 collections and has gotten mixed reviews for his own daring, and off-kilter but suave style at public events. Hearing his wife describe her man as elegant may conjure up images of say a graceful male ballerina, or a dandy fashion editor such as Hamish Bowles, but Chandler is quite clearly neither of the above. Coming from more humble beginnings, growing up on a farm where his grandfather was a key influence of his own manhood and work ethic, in my fashion, Chandler represents the elegance of a man I feel all men are able to attain, if only we put in that 100% commitment to achieve it. Even though chandler doesn't work in fashion or anything like that, in my fashion, his elegance is exuded through his confidence to be himself, with a "not-going-to-let-ME-down" attitude.

Character Building: James Bond

One of my favorite childhood memories with my father was when, somewhere on TV, there would be a 007 marathon (in fact, starting this morning, the Syfy Chanel is hosting one today and tomorrow). We would sit down and watch them all day. We also would go see the new James Bond movies as they came out in theaters, and that was always good bonding time, no pun intended. In my fashion, what was so enjoyable about these marathons is that in 50 years of James Bond films, men of all ages can relate to the James Bond character. I would venture to say that there is not a man alive who would want to be their own version of James Bond.

In my fashion, if one paid close attention to James Bond's style, we too could become the elegant type of man women want, and other men would want to be. When you think about it, in a man's everyday life, he too is a sort of "00" agent in his own right. In our daily lives, we are trying to make a way in life for ourselves navigating between business and women, having to deal with an occasional fight here and there, for only the strongest survive. The many qualities of a spy such as James Bond gives great inspiration men to hone in on the skills that make us sexy, capable men. I was watching the first James Bond movie the other day, which came out in 1962 entitled, "Dr. No". Since then, up until now with this year's Novemebr 9th release of the twenty third installment of the franchise, "Skyfall", James Bond has served as a classic example of what it would be like to be a man who gets the job done, and knows how to get the job done with style. To men he is a version of a superhero that could exist in real life; one of which we could actually be, ourselves, if we tried. I am sure no man would refuse to be a man who can be trusted to get things done, desired by just about all women one comes in contact with, and can be brave enough to defend himself and others around him in any situation so effectively that he can be trusted to be responsible for the fate of entire nations. In my fashion, he shows how a man can use his intelligence to become the type of man worthy of such capabilities, one who uses his manly charm and wit as strengths towards MANifesting his Destiny. In my fashion, he is quite the example of an "elegant" man.

James Bond shows that elegance is not solely associated with women, gowns, and beauty. There are certain qualities of a man that can make him quite appealing in an elegant way too. Late editor-in-chief of Vogue, Diana Vreeland, said that elegance is innate. In my fashion, from James Bonds example, a man's elegance is rooted in his charm, wit, and intelligence. James Bond always knows what to say and do in any situation to get the results he is looking for. With his impeccable manners, these qualities working together lend him an easiness in his aura, an aura which makes others (especially women) find entertainment in his company. 

Another aspect that makes James Bond so elegant is his ability to think ahead and be observant. Instead of waiting for a something bad to occur, he marinates in the moment of a situation, assessing his surroundings. He exudes a patience that allows him to carefully observe key details that enables him to prepare for the worst. As a spy, one would have to think to themselves that anything could happen. What can go wrong, will go wrong, right? This is a very open mind set that allows one the freedom to use their intelligence to piece together inferences about their surroundings. James Bond represents this to the tenth degree. When you think about it, in our normal lives, aside from tasks like diffusing bombs, we have to have that mentality ourselves because life, in general, is constantly challenging us and threatening our livelihood. Being able to take in the energy of any given moment and recognize when things aren't right is essential to being able to protect the ones we love, and even though we may not deal with bad guys shooting machine guns at us on a daily basis, its like Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands as times of challenge and controversy."

Last, but never least on #IMFblog, is his appearance! James Bond always looks impeccable. Even when he's not in a three piece suit, his attire is always classically bold. His sharpness in dress matches his sharpness intelligence-wise. In my fashion, if you want to know how a suit should fit on a man, look no further than a James Bond film. Here are the 10 Ways Bond Makes the Most of His Appearance from AskMen.com:

1) Always Show Some Cuff

2) Black Tie Shouldn't Be Boring

3) Adjust Your Knot For Your Shirt Collar

4) Real Men Wear Trunks

5) A Winter Coat Should Fit Like A Glove

6) Manscape (Especially Your Back)

7) Go Tieless

8) Know Your Follicular Flaws

9) Always Keep Eye Contact

10) Aviators Always Work

While James Bond may be fictional character who is placed in exaggerated scenarios of life and death, taking away pieces of his character could quite possibly prove helpful as we seek to conquer life's challenges as men. I know what channel I will be watching this Thanksgiving holiday! I conclude this post with AskMen.com's advise on the Etiquette of a Gentleman because as they say, "being a modern gentleman doesn't have to be hard, and in fact it’s easier than ever. It’s all about self-awareness and consideration for those around you. Those never go out of style.":

Basic Manners

• Don't flaunt your riches
• Never let others see you looking at your watch
• Never groom yourself in public
• Be punctual
• Shake hands firmly
• Apply constant verbal grace
• Tip well and discreetly
• Project high moral values

Party Etiquette

• Acknowledge your acquaintances 
• Address new acquaintances by their title and last name
• Look at your interlocutor
• At dinner, address those on your left and right
• Never remove coat or necktie when in company
• Only talk when you've been formally introduced
• Let your social superiors address you first

Etiquette She Appreciates

• Holding the door
• Reaching for the check
• Opening the car door
• Entering a cab first
• Walking on the curb-side of the street
• Offering her your arm

Recap: Men's Spring/Summer 2013 Ready-to-Wear (Part 1)

As I promised in my Editor's Letter, this month is all about the guys! New York Magazine reported last December that the luxury Men's fashion market is growing at 14% per year, twice as fast as the women's market which has shown a steady growth of 8% per year. With the men's fashion market growing (mainly because of emerging Chinese luxury-goods buyers), in my fashion, it is imperative that we men stay abreast of the emerging trends of the moment to attract that special woman of our dreams. AskMen.com mentioned a great quote in their 2012 Fall Fashion preview: Henry Rollins once said, "I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself." Reinvention is a key aspect of growing, and moving towards MANifesting Your Destiny, which is why I emphasize staying abreast of fashion trends. Fashion is aspiration, and in my fashion, if men aspire to be the best man they can be, the first step is to look the part of a Man-on-the-Grow. The below photos come from Style.com. Remember, "style is transformative and can be your stepping stone to a lot more."

3.1 Phillip Lim 

Acne 

Alexander McQueen 

Alexander Wang 

Alexandre Ploknov 

Alexis Mabille  

Ami 

Andrea Pompilio 

Ann Demeulemeester 

Antonio Azzuolo 

Balenciaga 

Bally

 Balmain

Band of Outsiders 

Belstaff 

Berluti 

Bespoken 

Billy Reid 

BLK BNM

Bottega Veneta  

Brioni 

Burberry Prorsum 

Calvin Klein Collection 

Canali 

EDITOR'S LETTER: November 2012

Last month, I traveled to home to visit my brother for his birthday. My brother is a sophomore in High School and is a student athlete taking up football, basketball, and track. Me and my brother are seven years apart, and when I look at him I can't help to always remember him as my personal walk by punching bag of a brother. Only difference is, his punches come back just as hard as I throw them and I realize is becoming a man! As I talked with him and catch up on life, there were times when I found myself taking away life lessons from him and gaining strength from his words. I am proud to be able to learn from him because its showing me that he is learning the things that will make him a capable of taking care of himself, which is the one thing I want to not have to worry too much about when he leaves the comfort of our parents home. The video below is one which he shared with me that he gains inspiration and drive from, not just as an athlete, but as a growing young adult. 

In my fashion, some very empowering words were said in this video. "If you want something, work at it!" In my fashion, a man can get anything he wants in life if he can show that he is  "willing to put in the work” and exude effort.  “Effort is what is inside of you!" This month sort of goes back to my posts on Movement, for people who show the most effort, get exactly what they want out of life. Don't be lazy! In my fashion, a man who exudes that he can put forth the effort to contribute to others betterment are the most attractive men on this planet, and is the central quality a man can show to impress a women—and keep her. This month I want men to remember to not be lazy when it comes to creating dynamic looks for yourself day to day. “Its presence and essence that determines respect.”

How to Impress Her

This month I want to explore the crazy world of relationships. In the end, we all want to find that one person we can find companionship with. We as men want to attract to the most “fit” partner to walk with us in this life. This month I will be looking at the laws of attraction, and how we men can do what we can to bring happiness to our women. I found an interesting blog, LovetoAttract.com, which seeks to understand love and relationships. In my fashion its good information if you wish understand yourself further to take a better hold of your love life. This month, I'm talking to the men who are committed  to improving themselves daily; the ones looking for true love and companionship; the ones who want to be the best boyfriend, husband, father, son, and brother to the women in their lives. I do not endorse careless philandering and mistreatment of women, because if the tables were turned, men would not want women to mistreat them in that way either. I am also talking to the men who want to live most usefully on this planet, because to do so, is to live up to your full potential, and what's more fulfilling than “MANifesting Your Destiny”. In my fashion, we were all placed here for a reason, and it’s our duty, especially as men, to be strong enough to live up to our destiny!  Kelly Rowland said it best in her song “Work-It Man” from her most recent album “Here I Am”: Every good women is looking for a “Work-It Man”. Are you a "work-it man"? The one thing to remember this month is to be aware of the fact that the more effort you put into something, most likely, eventually, you will get it. Martin Luther King Jr. quoted, "One's sense of manhood must come from within." As I have found, what we are on the inside tends to reveal its self on the outside through our appearance. Is what you are on the inside attractive?

What Attracts Women?

Style is simply another word for character. Character is what is inside you, and your character determines your integrity. As I have found, if we as men are going to be able to fulfill our roles as men, it is imperative that we focus daily on building on our integrity! Few things on this Earth are more important than integrity, and we should always strive to portray excellence when it comes to our integrity. As I have postulated before on #IMFblog, "Excellence is the result of caring about what you do and putting your very best effort into what you care about," and from what we gather from the video above, "Greatness is a bunch of small things done well, day after day.”  In my fashion, if we men aspire to do great things for ourselves, and to be able to take care of the ones we love, putting in the effort to exude excellence at a viewer's first glance, everyday, will send the message to everyone that you are “available”—available compatibility-wise; available to take on a challenge; available to be a part of something greater than yourself. Fashion is a great vehicle to help one focus on aspiring to be better than you were yesterday.  To MAN-ifest your destiny, be daring in a positive way and insist on living usefully, putting in 100% effort, every day, in all that you do, and that is how I believe we men can reach out true perfection—man or women.

Body language is one important
Signs of Attraction

Of course, a main aspect of attraction has to deal with how we look. Even though fashion is primarily a women’s business, men are proving to be more than accessories to the fact in our modern day. The men’s market has grown quite substantially globally, and this month I will be focusing on what options we men have these days in fashion, especially for this coming spring. The men’s fashion market is booming more than ever before, so allow #IMFblog help you find some uniquely interesting looks to show off your character. Normally, macho men quiver at the thought of the metrosexual mentality, but taking care of ourselves is an important aspect of life, and doesn't have to be seen as "feminist". Maybe you don't want evolve to having to manicure your image all day, but in my fashion, there are ways each of us males can appear as though we deserve to be magazine-worthy at all times. Women judge our style just as much as men fiend and ogle over women.  I want to encourage all men to aspire to look as though they deserve to be cast in a magazine campaign on a daily basis, just as women do for men. Don't be afraid to be a bit more daring and experimental in your look some days, because it can be very enticing and appealing if you are able to pull off an original look with optimism and confidence. Women appreciate a bold man who is content in who he is, what he is doing with his life, where he is going in his life, and that he is fearless as to what others think of him. In my fashion, exuding confidence, optimism, and originality in your dress is the easiest way to increase the chances that women walking past you feel obligated to take a second glance. The second glance is the desired reaction we want from women, for if u can get her attention, you have at least won half the battle. This is what fashion is for!