The Fall 2013 Designer Collaborations Worth Knowing

This fall, designer collaborations with mega retailers are going to be bigger than ever. Mega retailers like Target, H&M, Banana Republic, Kmart, and others have joined forces with other luxury brands, models, and celebrity artists to give you something unique to choose from this upcoming season. Take a look below at some of the collaborations everyone is talking about, ready to buy, and must have in your fall calendar. 

Designer Collaboration: 3.1 Phillip Lim x Target

What's Included: The collection will include both men's and women's pieces - accessories and clothing. Considering Phillip Lim's love for the streets, it is obvious this will be one of Target's best designer collaboration of the year. Mr. Lim found ways to stay true to his luxury brand and perfectly blend in techniques to mix his luxury taste for more accessible pieces that look refined and cool. Details are worth the try here, such as one men's navy/camo print shirt or a women's floral print blouse. Stay on the look for some "BOOM" sweaters as well.

Price: Collection will run from $19.99 - $299.99

Date Available: The collection is set to be available online and at most Target retail stores beginning September 15. The full collection will be available online though.

Designer Collaboration: Isabel Marant x H&M

What's Included: The collection will include a line of women's accessories and clothes, and it will also mark Isabel Marant's first collection for menswear. We know Isabel Marant could best be described as a French semi-country style � la luxury. One picture recently released by H&M shows the designer trying on a dress herself; it is Isabel Marant's DNA's gone affordable. What was more surprising was to see at last one shot of her menswear debut that shows a model wearing a dyed long sleeve shirt. We have a feeling girls and guys will go crazy for this retro looks very soon. 

Price: Prices have not been specified, but it will most likely be similar to most of H&M's designer collaborations - $50+

Date Available: The collection hits stores and online beginning November 15. Thank god for the new U.S. H&M online shopping experience!

Designer Collaboration: L'Wren Scott x Banana Republic

What's Included: The collection will include accessories and various amount of precious L'Wren Scott signature dresses at half the designer's luxury price (or more). There are only two sketches that were released earlier this month. Just from these sketches we can already tell you should expect to see some body-hugging dresses, slim-tailored suits, skinny pants, and very colorful prints and fabrics. The holiday season just got better with this upcoming collaboration.

Price: Collection will retail from $40 - $200. Not bad for a budget.

Date Available: The collection will be available just in time for the holiday celebrations exclusively at Banana Republic beginning December 5. We assure you their will be women ready to dazzle their purchase for Christmas or better yet, New Years Eve.

Model Collaboration: Freja Beha Erichsen x Mother

What's Included: Supermodel, Freja Beha Erichsen, is turning professional denim designer for her new collaboration with the eponymous denim label, Mother. The collection will include good fitted skinny jeans - leather included, chambray shirts, and more. Also, for every pair purchased 10% will be donated to Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian organization the model has worked and dedicated to over the past few years; consider it a nice aid for a great pair of jeans. And as for advertisement is concerned, she'll model them for you.

Price: Denims start from $145 - $300. Chic prices for cool model jeans and shorts.

Date Available: The capsule collection is set to hit Nordstrom this fall. Look for them very soon.

Artist Collaboration: Nicki Minaj x Kmart

What's Included: The rap artist has teamed up with Kmart to include a series of very affordable sexy dresses and others the artist is fond of. The artist decided to share and model her designs herself on her Instagram account. We have to say one particular dress the artist modeled - a blue printed one pictured on the left - seems she put dedication to make curvier women like her look good in them. Urban, sexy, and affordable over all.

Price: Prices have not been announced, but it may be similar to other past celebrity collaborations - $28+

Date Available: The collection will be available at Kmart sometime this fall.

Artist Collaboration: 222 by Adam Levine x Kmart

What's Included: We know Mr. Levine can have a unique sense of style. It will be Kmart's first attempt to include a specific menswear collection coming from an artist. The collection surely seems to include mostly casual and cool, edgy outerwear pieces for fall. There will be raw looking denim, military-style jackets, plaid shirts, and more, which will surely have a connection to Mr. Levine's cool rock style at very affordable prices.

Price: $14.99 - $69.99

Date Available: Collection is set to be available at Kmart this fall (September).

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Raf Simons' Floral Prints are Masculine

Raf Simons' floral prints may take some time to incorporate into men's wardrobe.

What is wrong with a man wearing a floral print shirt? Only that he has the confidence enough to pull it off.  And that's what fashion has been all this time in menswear. This season, it was Mr. Simons turn to design a 13-piece capsule collection that will only be sold exclusively at online luxury men's retailer, Mr Porter. The collection consists of shirts, t-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, high-top sneakers, and a bomber jacket, all of which are designed in vivid floral prints any men could actually wear. 

What I alway admire about Mr. Simons interpretation on menswear is that he always knows just how much to exceed and keep minimal. He seems to have a limit as to wear he'll cross the boundary, something that has gained him some more followers in men's fashion. Any type of feminine prints may be a subject of worry for other men, but Mr Porter knows exactly who they're selling too - the stylish and confident man who knows who he really is. As a customer, I particularly would be interested in purchasing a t-shirt or white button-down floral shirt to include into my special collection of designer pieces. One thing for sure is let the prints do most of the work and tone it down with neutral (black) shorts or trousers and cool shoes as Mr. Simons would have in mind - minimal. 

Yes, it may take time for most men to shift into this new type of era. Pink became a color most men got comfortable wearing over the years. But Raf Simons may become the greatest designer he is already, in giving men the confidence to pull of these floral print numbers. 

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GSR X Belstaff - A Collaboration Worth Your Investment

A tartan motorcycle jacket from GSR X Belstaff men's collection.

Belstaff is literally one of the best British luxury brands that exists. Very rarely are there brands that manage to succeed based on their iconic pieces. A Belstaff belted jacket is just as iconic as a Chanel tweed jacket would be. What makes a Belstaff jacket a favorite among many is not just it's quality, but it's wearability. 

Belstaff knows how to sell to the man who does not only look for something to stay warm and dapper, but  also seeks for the jacket that fits their lifestyle. Most of their outerwear pieces pertain particularly to the man who is quite adventurous - motorcycle riding, hiking, camping, etc. Their jackets are of superb quality that can be resistant to tearing, are waterproof, have built-in protection (shoulders, elbows, and back), are comfortable, and breathable without suffocating yourself. And much more included in a single jacket. What more can a man ask for? I call this a man's best investment of his fashion life.

I must say I feel Belstaff markets to the young adult in their late 20s. Not that this means anything, but the reason I state this is because the GSR (Goodwood Sports & Racing) X Belstaff collection totally appeals to a more younger audience - fresh, adventurous, and spirited. Their is definitely a great amount of Belstaff heritage injected into this collection though, but in a much more cooler version.

Details here are stunning, which speaks a lot for such a supposed collaboration. This appears more of collection that should carry on soon to a second round. In other words, the heritage sportswear british brand of GSR, and the lifestyle habits of Belstaff collide in one of the best menswear collaborations that I have ever seen personally.

Dark brown belted motorcycle jacket and blue jacket from GSR X Belstaff collection.

The tartan motorcycle jacket, dark brown belted jacket, and the details in the rubberized blue jacket are impeccably wearable for any occasion. It doesn't matter if it's day or night, zipped or unzipped, either way would work fine. At the end, isn't this what every man wants? Not have to worry which way pleases the best.

Casualwear polos, shirts, and t-shirts from the GSR X Belstaff men's collection.

Besides their great jackets, casualwear here should be of great interest. I love the effect that the tartan button down shirt and the oat printed jersey shirt offer. The knitted, diamond-shaped patterned polo shirt should be one to have a look at for it definitely does not appear like your average polo you may have in your closet. Normally, I am not crazy towards white t-shirts, but this t-shirt obviously does not seem to be like the one you would use for your sleepwear. For $195, somehow sounds convincing. 

Which coat or jacket would you love to wear?

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Krink X Coach | Best Menswear Accessories

Krink X Coach collection now available at Coach online

Coach has grown to be one of the best sought after accessories not only for women, but for men as well. I always have this doubt to wear a "portfolio," which for many men they see as a clutch they would rather not carry for certain circumstances. They would rather not wear a tote either to avoid looking odd, even if they are carrying a huge load of crap in their hands. You know you want one secretly, but you don't want others to take away your masculinity. 

Recently, Coach came out with one the best menswear accessory pieces in my opinion. They collaborated with Krink, one of the world's greatest art supply brand, whose streetstyle graffiti ink has taken them to collaborate with many amazing brands. 

This season it was time to aid Coach in designing 12 exclusive pieces for men which are sure to run out of stock very soon. The designs are just manly sick. These are the type of totes or "portfolios" I would definitely be comfortable wearing. You know I live in the South where most men are quite conservative; even the young adults. I feel Coach came out with a design piece that could be adequate for most men; not feminine, nor too fashionable. They added just the right elements I would be excited to purchase. 

I honestly don't have a specific favorite piece, because all of them are dead on stunning. Coach hit a great menswear fanatic target here. Whether you are a fashionable/stylish guy or not, you know their is something here for you to get. Why not go ahead and grab that tote you were not seeking forward to getting once? Or, you could get yourself the Krink iPad sleeve to make it stand out from the others. What ever you get, I guarantee you made the perfect choice. Thanks Coach.

Which is your favorite accessories piece from Coach?

Krink X Coach collection now available at Coach online. Shop the accessories here.

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Raf Simons X Fred Perry

From left to right: Short sleeve panel shirt, V-neck houndstooth sweater, and Knitted jacquard shirt.

It has been no secret how big of a fan I�ve been for Raf Simons. His position as new creative director for Christian Dior brought him more prestige than what he already was when at Jil Sander. Menswear has been no difference for this designer. Everything he designs is meant to be a trend setter for the men seeking to look �fashionable.� It is only for him where I can state his collections are truly on the fashion spot for men. They never fall in the side where something can look sort of bizarre for a man. You know what I mean. 

For spring, well renowned menswear brand, Fred Perry took the time to include a collaboration collection with Raf Simons. If you have not seen the collection then you must go see it. I guarantee there will be something for you to get your hands on. This is what I love about Simons. I don�t know how he does it, but he always manages to make a colorful patterned sweater or a cheetah print shirt appear so masculine. The three looks above are just some of the clothes I truly like. I honestly want to get the third look from the right (blue-green knitted jacquard shirt). It�s a must have for spring.

Do you like this collection of Raf Simons x Fred Perry?

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