Name: Daniel
Occupation: Graphic designer/musician
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Favorite Shop: Avalon Exchange

I won’t lie, for some time I’ve been rather envious of women and their privy to Giles Deacon’s artisanship. Considering that my wardrobe is chockfull of quirk, I’ve been in a fit of jealousy since Deacon’s eponymous label, Giles, is tailored for the whimsical, imaginative, and witty woman. Although I’m all for androgyny, I’m not much of a cross−dresser so the idea of squeezing into a dainty sheath dress just because of my predilection for Deacon’s meandering aesthetic is a far distant reality.

Even when Deacon signed on with British high−street retailer, New Look, in 2006 to produce seasonal capsule collections, he stuck to appeasing his feminine admirers and rightly so. Thankfully, two years in, Deacon has finally unleashed a collection for men over at New Look and the end result was worth the wait!

The graphic inspired prints that sauntered down Giles SS09 show are visible in his men’s line for New Look. My personal favourite happened to be the spunky purple (they have it in a peach fizz hue, but I’ll kindly pass) animal print shirt. The short rolled up sleeves in concert with the jazzy animal print exude a grunge punk feel synonymous with London club culture. £16 £3, available at New Look.

Name: Dylan
Occupation: Student/Sales Rep @ Avalon Exchange
Location: Pittsburgh, PA

It’s non-stop for Gareth Pugh. With the release of the Paris men’s fashion week schedule comes news that that the British designer will be branching out into menswear.

His reasons? Speaking to WWD Pugh explained,

Following the last show, the first show where I did not have any male models, lots of people commented on there not being any men’s wear in the collection….It felt like a good time to take on a new challenge and do a men’s wear collection. The collection will have all the staples of a men’s wear show, but obviously with my own slant.”

His much anticipated men’s collection will make its debut in January at the Paris menswear shows. Often described as avant-garde the question on everyone’s lips is, “What can we expect?”

How interesting it would be if Pugh did a complete u-turn from his usual aesthetic. Naturally we wait with baited breath. …

For some time, the Marc by Marc Jacobs man has always hung in the shadows of the line’s female aesthetic. But Mr. Jacobs restored accord with this season’s SS09 show. Casual cummerbunds removed from the formality of a tux plus a slew of reworked vintage-inspired trenches, hoodies, and slacks gave the Marc by Marc Jacob man a definitive visage that shone through the collection.

That being said, you can’t pass up on Gilt.com’s Marc by Marc Jacobs sale. The exclusive sale serves up some enviable winter and summer looks such as a rather dashing blackish grey double breasted wool tweed trench to some loose knit cardigans and scarfs in an assortment of colors fit for both seasons.

If you’re not already registered with Gilt click here for a special MFL for Him invitation. Sale ends 11:59PM ET, Dec 12th.

John Legend may have eschewed all levels of style etiquette by venturing out with a suit complete with Wellingtons, but please don’t let his missteps lead you to cast a finicky eye over the trend. Unfortunately Mr. Legend didn’t get the memo, but keeping one’s Wellingtons away from the red carpet is a no−brainer.

As a child I had that lone pair of Wellingtons I trudged to and fro to school in, but once the pitter-patter of winter’s rains dissipated, I never really looked to gumboots as a stylish auxiliary. My partiality to see Wellingtons as a silly trapping continued into adolescence and began to extend to all four seasons. Whether it was raining cats and dogs or, in the case of Mr. Legend, not even drizzling a lick (in southern California), I had arrived at place where you would never have caught me dead in a pair of Wellingtons.

Then Glastonbury came, followed by GANT, and I began to reassess my leanings on what seemed to be the highly sought after Wellington. Was I being over critical about John Legend’s get up? Not in the slightest. The mishmash was just too much of an insult to my visual senses as Legend un−heroically paired the outdoorsy with formal. Stay with that point.

On the contrary, as I clicked through Material Interest’s photo-documentary on Glasto fashion, I realized that the jaundiced eye that I had glaringly cast over Wellingtons, as a whole, was a tad presumptuous. Amid the backdrop of a marshy, rain−bogged music festival like Glastonbury, Wellingtons stylishly foot the bill. Even the recent Sartorialist−inspired GANT fall ad campaign featured a rather spiffy looking Brooklyn hipster decked out in wellingtons. As removed as a concrete Brooklyn stoop is from the pastoral terrains of Glastonbury, the Wellies don’t look one bit outlandish. Moreover, the fall/winter months are marked by the occasional downpour so, in retrospect, investing and strolling about in a pair of wellingtons may not be a stylish faux pas like some (myself included) may think.

I do happen to draw the line, however, when suits, blazers or other proper modes of dress are thrown into the mix. When a scruffy gumboot is mirrored next to a sports coat, the polarity is a trifle too much to take in….

especially when one’s jacket is not even fitted….

And the moral of the story is this - when pairing Wellingtons for fall, rock them with understated outerwear like a cardigan, leather jacket or a hoodie and leave the blazer at home!

[Image: Style.com/GANT]

Two fashion no no’s – mankini’s and crocs, and preferably not worn together. However it looks like we have another fashion faux pas to add to the list. Boots worn with suits. Judging from John Legend’s efforts, this look clearly doesn’t work!

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Since it’s our first interview here at MFL For Him, it was kind of big deal that we set it off accordingly with an estimable menswear designer that approbates the enduring British sartorial codes of yesteryear. Some may think anachronism and traditionalist, but we think timeless strewn in with avant-garde when it comes to Carolyn Massey’s aesthetic. Hot on the heels of her AW08 Topman diffuse line, we decided to catch up with Massey to muse on fashion and life.

How did the seasonal diffusion line with Topman come about?

I was approached in my 1st season by Matthew Murphy from B Store who coordinates the LENS area. We started with a capsule collection seasonally, but the area has taken off so well that we are expanding up to 4 collections a year, and I’m excited to also be designing accessories to compliment the range.

How do you approach the design process?

My work is an ongoing love affair really. This is the reason I find it hard to write a press release of “this season its all about X!” My work follows similar themes, my research delves deeper each season. I feel like Im constantly searching, researching for ideas- research is my strength, so its completely ongoing and evolving. I am always gathering imagery and garments, I gather these together to form a story in time for a collection. I start by researching, but always imagery that I have picked up will be in my mind. I take photographs a lot, and my idea of heaven is spending a day researching in the library at the Royal College of Art, where I studied.

What’s the most defining moment thus far in your career?

I have moments of “oh my god how is this happening?!” But then quickly reality bites. I don’t help myself as often if something amazing happens I’ll have a moment of “that’s great!” But then it will be all about how I can push things further. Always- in almost a self-torturing manner.

Outside of fashion related work, what is your favourite pastime?

Dinner! Fabulous dinner out great food great service. Good and mind expanding conversation (which is rare and amazing these days) and then drinking so much gin I forget it all…. well you have to let go sometimes non?!

What are you reading now?

Currently as many books about Tokyo as I can get my hands on- I’m off for a week in mid november as I have been sponsored by the British Fashion Council to take my collection over there and present it in the English Embassy. Its an amazing opportunity for me. Other than that, re-reading Oliver Sacks’ “The Man who mistook his wife for a hat”.

As a child, say between the ages of 5 to 10, what did you want to be? Moreover, if not fashion design, what other career path would you see yourself in?

At the age of 5 I asked to be sent to boarding school. It was the most amazing time, and I can see now that this has formed my obsession with all things ‘proper’. But as for a career, I had no idea. If not fashion design, I’m not sure…maybe photography.

With all the embellishments of bows and ruffles in your designs, there’s a tad bit of androgyny and femininity that seeps into the collection. Any chance of womenswear line from Carolyn Massey?

I have just been appointed Creative Director of a womenswear label that will launch in February over london fashion week.

You’ve been heralded as a designer that seeks to relive the sartorial code of ‘what it is to be a gentleman.” What’s your idea of the perfectly dressed gentlemen? Are there any present day prototypes you take inspiration from?

This was my comment on societies assumptions of man and how this can be distorted through dress. This is something I am quite intrigued in.

Everyone who’s taken a look at your collection with Topman has been smitten with the Sherlock Holmes-esque cape. What was the inspiration behind this piece?

It was actually an idea from a Dutch nurses cape! I’m obsessed with researching- flea markets, especially in Paris, hold a wealth of inspiration.

Sum up your aesthetic in three words?

Dark, Romantic. Fabulous.

Occupation: Sales Rep, Club Monaco

Location: Washington, DC

Fact: men crave flawless skin. I know this because a male friend of mine is constantly asking for skincare tips. No he’s not gay. There seems to be a pervading stereotype that only gay men care about their looks. Not true!

If you’re wondering, I have just two pieces of advice…drink lots of water and find a good moisturizer. If that’s not enough, check out the book Top to Toe – The Modern Man’s Guide to Grooming..

A collaboration between Lab Series Skincare for Men and Tony Glenville, Top to Toe is packed with essential grooming techniques including fashion and style advice. Best of all the book is free with any purchase over £35 from Lab Series.