I've read a good number of commentaries for Gareth Pugh's latest collection - Fall Winter 2010-2011. One described it as 'apocalyptic' while another said the show and the collection is a 'tour de force'.

Says Hillary Alexander:

Gareth Pugh offered a tough, uncompromising silhouette in black, padded leather. Stiff, chevron-striped tunics, were cut in sharp-points, over ridged, bootleg trousers or over-the-knee, wedge-sole boots.

Trench-style and military coats, with an industrial finish, were high-collared, and tightly-belted. The mood softened, slightly, when the leather was chevron-striped on georgette, for long and short kaftan-like tunics with triangular hems, or mixed with dark stretch wool. [ read more ]

ABC News, on the other hand, appears to be more amused than Ms. Alexander:

The angel-faced British bad boy continued to plumb the depths of the dark side Wednesday with a fall-winter 2010-11 ready-to-wear collection of finely pleated leather leggings and bulky coats that looked sturdy enough — and imbued with sufficient attitude — to weather even the bitterest nuclear holocaust.

With their foreheads smeared with charcoal dust, models skulked the catwalk in wide-cut pants and leather bomber jackets with dangling flaps or tiny turtleneck dresses hung with a web of fine metal chains. Second-skin padded leather leggings were paired with A-line shearling coats embellished with vertical stripes.

Needless to say, nearly all the looks were in head-to-toe black. [ read more ]

Garrett Neff and Lily Donaldson were the chosen pair to model the latest ad campaign for Americana Manhasset Spring Summer 2010-2011.

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As a sort of 'introduction' to Modelwatch's upcoming Top 50 Male Models list of all time, we're mentioning a few names who might be included in the Hitlist.

Kelly Rippy is definitely one name on the list. Working for over 10 years as a top male model, Rippy has done it all - he has walked for the most prestigious runway shows, he has done the most lucrative fragrance and ad campaigns, and he has been involved in numerous fashion editorials under the helm of the most influential fashion photographers.

[ Kelly Rippy for J Brand, one of his latest campaigns. | via Bananas Blog ]

JD Ferguson mentioned top male model Kelly Rippy about 3 years ago:

Speaking of models, I'd like to give a personal shout out to an all-time hottie fave for his longevity and ability after all these years to remain at the top of a business where one day you're in and the next you're out. That would be longstanding Wilhelmina model Kelly Rippy, who, fashion insiders from New York, Paris, and Milan will tell you, has been at the top of his game for over ten years. I met Kelly in Paris a hundred years ago. Shy, humble, and never one to chase the spotlight, he is the working model's model to this day. So big ups to Kelly Rippy y'all.

While models.com has this to say about Rippy:

Reminiscent of a young Elvis Presley, this Tennessee heartthrob has enthralled both Calvin and Tommy. All American and thoroughly appealing, Kelly's audience is both the young and the old, the hip and the conservative.

Get to know more of Kelly Rippy + selected photoshoots after the jump!

One of my favorite (all-time) male model interviews is with David Lindwall. The guy is just honest and sincere and funny and smart that you'll always find him to be such a character. He's simply unlike anyone else - whether in the modeling industry or elsewhere for that matter. The top British model, who grabbed the media attention via Dior Homme, just recently launched his new website and part of the launch is his new collection of T-shirts.

Says David:

CAN A T-SHIRT REALLY BE ART? OR IS IT JUST FABRIC WITH A LICK OF PAINT ON IT? TO MAKE SURE I PAINT ALL MY PRINTS ON BIG CANVAS SCREENS IN MY STUDIO JUST TO MAKE THEM MORE REAL, TO SEE IF IT REALLY WORKS, IF I REALLY FEEL FOR THAT PRINT, AND HOW MUCH I WANT TO CARRY THAT PRINT AROUND ON MY CHEST - I WANT TO WEAR THAT T-SHIRT WITH PRIDE.

THINKING ABOUT IT THE T-SHIRT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO PUBLICLY AIR YOUR VIEWS WITHOUT EVEN HAVING TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH, ALL MT T-SHIRTS SHOULD SAY: "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH" OR "NO MORE". I BELIEVE - I BELIEVE IN FASHION - YOU MIGHT SMILE AND SAY THERE'S NOTHING TO BELIEVE IN BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A THOUGHT AND A MEANING IN FASHION, THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST SALES FIGURES. [ source ]

You can access the old interview here. Hopefully, we can do another interview, this time, I'd love to ask David more about his designs...

Browse David's new T-shirt collections and some photos of David himself after the jump!

Again, Sally Mumby-Croft, this time for James Long's Fall Winter collection 2010-2011 at London Fashion Week:

James Long is bringing the boiler suit back, and he’s bringing it completed with printed references to the work of Bruce La Bruce, an avante garde experimental film maker. Blood Stains made graphic (a recent exhibition of Wallpaper in Manchester featured wallpaper printed with splashed blood stains… one for avid CSI fans.) [ read more ]

[ James Long F/W 2010-2011 collection | Photography by Matt Bramford ]

ModelWatch: I just love Thomas Penfound on the catwalk! Kudos also go to Jacob Coupe, Alex Dunstan, Oskar Landström and Charlie France!

Watch the full show and browse photos from the collection after the jump!

London based conceptual design duo Komakino, Jin Kim from Korea and Federico Capalbo from Italy, launched their latest Menswear collection at London Fashion Week.

[ Komakino's Fall Winter 2010-2011 collection | Photography by Matt Bramford ]

Reports Sally Mumby-Croft:

Autumn Winter 10 appeared to be garments for the restless designed by slightly angry designers, upon arrival the viewer was greeted with a press release bordering on a strop as Komakino laid out the accusations that their designs are irrelevant.

Their answer was to produce a collection which seethed down the catwalk, the models were angry young men with dip dyed hair scowling as they swept past the audience. A sinister show, the feeling of unease emphatically encouraged through the choice of track. [ read more ]

More about Komakino's latest collection (Fall Winter 2010-2011) @ Amelia's Magazine.

Jaiden rVa James show during London Fashion Week is bizaare, intense, dark, hypnotic! Take a look:

Says Tim Blanks:

And it wouldn’t be London if there wasn’t at least one intensely polarizing presentation. Rasharn d’Vera Agymang and Jaiden James are buoyant twentysomethings who make clothes that are anything but upbeat. With Mad Max apocalypse and Mapplethorpe’s X Portfolio in mind, they produced a collection of fetish leathers that was numbingly literal. Meanwhile, Re:Bel, the magazine they make together, was being distributed outside in the courtyard of Somerset House. It’s an impressive feat, a manifesto that rebuts the bloggy brevity their peers opt for. In fact, Re:Bel looks so substantial that it made the clothes feel like an afterthought. But, from Karl Marx to Malcolm Maclaren, London has always been the city that is kindest to manifestos. [ read more ]

Says the designer himself:

I design for the cult Menswear label Jaiden rVa James which i co-founded with Rasharn Agymang. I enjoy giving my views on fashion and life in london. I love everything that culture has to offer from music, art,amp; fashion & film. What is life without Art,Music & Fashion they help remove the mundane trappings of everyday life.