12.14.07 5:00 AM CST
• Fashion
• Conor Hogan
Just as the temperature in Manhattan began to dip below freezing, the Playboy fashion department skipped town in favor of warmer climates. Last week we were in Turks and Caicos with photographer extraordinaire Antoine Verglas to shoot our April fashion spread.This year we are focusing on the lifestyle as well as the clothes. Says Fashion Director Joseph DeAcetis, “This years’ photographs will portray a very elegant way of life. We want to portray a man who looks good and feels good, regardless of the setting.” This means that even when it comes to casual sportswear by the pool, the labels read “Canali” and “Gianfranco Ferre.”
One constant on the shoot was the light-weight sports jacket. Whether silk or seersucker, this is a warm weather necessity that puts a polish on a strong look.
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Comments on this entry:
All well and good, but how about clothes for men who can't **afford** to fly off to Caribbean islands and look "casual" in designer labels? How about featuring clothes that most of your readers might actually be able to buy? If you are choosing in the upcoming year to concentrate on clothes as an aspect of a "lifestyle", then instead of just glamorizing the lifestyle to which they aspire, how about helping them with the lifestyle they have now? Show them how to appear "upwardly mobile" and "professional" by choosing the right clothes within their budget, and then after that pays off for them and they land their high-paying jobs, maybe they can start worrying about how to "dress down" poolside in the Caribbean while still flaunting their success by choosing the right labels.
This isn't the first time we've heard this complaint, so we--and most other magazines--have probably done a lousy job of explaining the point of shooting high-end clothing in exotic locations. (Not that this is the only direction we take; our May 2007 fashion feature took a more practical approach.) First, the locale helps make the photograph--it's easy to fantasize about the ideal moment and time and place for living well, with the ideal woman, when the photo looks good. And as for the expensive clothes, a few points: There is an argument to be made that buying one expensive piece is a better value that five cheaper items that may not look or fit as well or last as long. Also, the fashion industry is a top-down effort. The designers at the best labels set the trends and establish the looks for the new season. Then the bigger outlets and larger manufacturers take their cue and design similar outfits (which often aren't available in time for us to showcase them early). What we hope we offer is a guide for what to look for when you shop. You don't have to get exactly what we show; the closest item, within your price range, will do
Id like to know the name of the female model that did this shoot. Its not mentioned in the magazine..or on the site.
Thanks.