Men Dress to Impress.  And Boy Are We!

Men’s fashion on the red carpet doesn’t usually get much attention because let’s face it, a shirt, maybe a tie, pants, shoes and you’re done.  Not much time and effort to coordinate.  But the Grammy’s signature ripped up rocker and big and baggy hip-hop looks were retired on the red carpet this year in favor of a little spit and polish.  This is the “Year of the Gentlemen.”  Perhaps inspired by Ne-Yo and his Polo club chic man-style, dudes were pimpin’ in fedoras, shades and suits.

Disney tween scream stars, the Jonas Brothers, coordinated in Brat Pack black tuxedos with their usual individual flair.  Nick was head-to-toe in Burberry, Kevin’s was a classic suit from Versace and Joe was a little viva las Vegas in a metallic Versace jacket.  Where were the teenage boys like this when we were growing up?

“Miss Independent” singer Ne-Yo was very Thurston Howell III — in a good way! — sporting a patterned jacket with an ascot, gray pants that hit the top of his matching shoes perfectly (”What Not to Wear’s” Clinton Kelly would be so proud) and a fedora.  Swagger on.

Even funny man Jack Black cleaned up for the occasion!  The Tropic Thunder comic ditched his usual “whatever happens to be clean on the floor of my bedroom” style aesthetic for a suit and tie.

Rap mogul Jay-Z looked like he had “my mind on my money, my money on my mind” in a billionaire boy’s club ensemble, complete with pocket square and tie-clip.

Remember when rapper and fashion empresario Sean “Diddy” John (he’ll always be P. Diddy to us) used to wear full-length fur coats just for the hell of it?  Funnily enough, he was one of the most casually-dressed ones there! But his sneakers, which have a purple accent threaded across the heel to coordinate with his jacket, are pretty boss.

Of course, 808s & Heartbreak singer-rapper and newly minted Louis Vuitton designer Kanye West brought the too cool for school vibe to the red carpet, rocking his Michael Jackson Off the Wall-era look  (you know, before he got all creepy) in a sequined jacket, double gloves and kicks.  LV, naturally.  We’re still not feeling that mullet though . . .

Coldplay, who went home with a trio of awards, bucked the debonair dude trend, showing up in a rip of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover look.  Because they’re English.  And it’s not like anyone has ever gotten smack for comparing themselves to one of the greatest bands ever (cough*Oasis*cough).

Move the kicks to the back of the closet to make room for a slick and finely crafted pair of  dress shoes, like these from Alexander McQueen in dark blue.  That subtle detail, plus shine combined with luxurious quality, brings new edge to a classic and makes them perfect to pair with suits or jeans. You know what they say, every girl’s crazy about a sharp dressed man.

By ShoeMinx Red Carpet Watcher Paige Muller

Rapper Kicks Off Fashion Career With Line of Sneakers

When “Stronger” rapper Kanye West’s not busy posting cap-locked blog entries or making hit music, the self-proclaimed Louis Vuitton Don (cute) has been collaborating on a line of men’s footwear with the high-end label.  So we guess he’s the Designing LV Don now.

Thanks to TMZ, the 10-time Grammy winner (Now I ain’t sayin’ she a gold digger . . . ) was spotted previewing the kicks on his own feet before they officially walked last week in the men’s LV show during Paris Fashion Week.  The line will be available in LV stores in June.

Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs told WWD, “I think Kanye goes to the office more than I do. He’s really, really into sneakers.” The shoes were ingeniously conceived.”  Says Kanye about his design muse:

“We started from the sole. We made it lighter weight and flexible, so you can bend it…. I was inspired by the movie “Dune” because, as you know, I love sci-fi…. The collection had all these jackets that were very padded. They looked like maybe they had hockey pads in the jacket, and there was one where the collar came up really high. I took that element and I put that on the back of the shoe. It’s like the opposite of the tongue. Usually you have the tongue at the front. [This is] like a tongue at the back.”

Well, Kanye’s got the fashion speak down like a real designer, but uh . . . we’re not seeing anything remotely sci-fi -y about these.  They look like regular sneakers from the mall painted red, similar to these from Puma.  But add the LV logo and BAM, that’ll be $350, please.

But seriously, from a man rocking a mullet and those bi-sexual porn rumors, we expected something a bit more daring and less . . . pedestrian.  Maybe something in neon?

Not content with just two or three careers to pursue, Kanye will be moving to London in early spring to pursue his burgeoning career in fashion design. According to the Mirror, he’s applying to work at Louis Vuitton’s HQ there and other fashion houses in Europe. He also plans to unveil his own line, Pastelle.  Let’s hope his internship will be more real than The Hills Lauren Conrad’s stint at Teen Vogue.

By ShoeMinx Sneaker Pimp Paige Muller