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F&F design their clothing from the standpoint of the cloth being only half of what makes the look, with the other half in the relationship being that of the man wearing the cloth. Although this may sound to many as a rather trivial difference, one can not deny that designing from the standard of how clothing will look in use is vastly different from designing clothing on a mere static visual level.
The images above are from F&F's Fall '09 lookbook, modelled by Thom Gastelum and shot by photographer Alan Gastelum. The collection draws from the strong traditional aesthetic of the early twentieth century, reapplied to make it relevant to the modern man. The clean and simple looks, which can often be hard to design without looking overdone, manage to strike a well measured balance in their styling. What I was particularly interested in was the setting of the lookbook, which ostensibly puts both man and clothing in their natural environment of out in the elements.
In a passing moment I wondered to myself whether man's displacement from the natural world, makes this setting look foreign to our eyes, when compared to, say, a city setting for a lookbook. I suppose one is almost automatically drawn to making comments on the rugged simplicity and functionality of the clothing in regards to the harsh wilderness that surrounds it. Yet for me, there is a charm and a sense of comfortable belonging behind the shoot.
Although it may be daunting to many, man is often at peace when surrounded by nature, as opposed to the almost overpowering sense of utility and rigid order of the urban landscape. Are we so far removed from the original state of the fabrics and nature itself, that this seems in a way, unnatural to us?
Currently playing: Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 (performed by Lang Lang) - Chopin
xxxx
http://men.style.com/video/in-the-closet/in-the-closet/3000757001/in-the-closet-sunglasses-and-skinny-jeans-edition/17075753001
ReplyDeleteHey I thought you would like this ^
it's the newest in the closet video on Men.style
These F&F images are great; I love a creative lookbook
these pictures are so beautiful and so full of nature :)
ReplyDeleteamazing lookbook. so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this shoot! The man in these photos fits in so well with nature.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love all of the pictures! The pieces are amazing :D
ReplyDeleteHihi. Yes, it turned in to a good day :)
ReplyDeleteNice photographs !
The pictures are amazing and the nature is stunning!! It makes me smile when I see this.. There's at least some beautiful nature left!!
ReplyDeleteso wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always inspiring and thought-provoking. The first thing I was going to do as I was looking at these photos is comment on the wilderness surroundings but then got stumped as I was reading your commentary on the photoshoot. I do agree that we are detached from the original state of fabrics and nature itself that this kind of photoshoot does seem unnatural to us. In a way, that scares me because we've become so accustomed to city life and urban settings that the wilderness all of sudden becomes unfamiliar and all the more strange and mysterious.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this provocative post!
By the way, I have awarded and tagged you! :)
wow, okay, for a second, it looked as if you cut your hair! You also take beautiful photographs so i had to look up the brand to see if they were the same photos haha (then i read the post which obviously would have told me)
ReplyDeletethese are amazing photos and the brand knows how to market.
Clever name and fabulous lookbook! You always teach us something fabulous, DK!
ReplyDeletexoxox,
CC
inspiring from an artistic point of view but on a buz level u got to ask urself if this wld sell d clothes.....dnt think so :o)
ReplyDeleteI even had a Disney game for SNES, it was about Magic Kingdom and you could go on some of the rides!!! lol..
ReplyDeletexx
Very interesting question you pose in this post. The man almost does seem to stand out in the photos as something foreign to the eye, yet it looks more restful than any city setting. I'm not a nature person myself, but there is something alluring about getting back to nature.
ReplyDeletei actually think i'm partly in love with your page, and that's not being dramatic i't fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI think it's really fitting that they use a model with facial hair in the pictures. I think it's refreshing to look at something that keeps us in touch with nature other than the usual urban surroundings.
ReplyDeleteoh wonderful
ReplyDeletei loved your take on this shoot. i find natural settings create an interesting picture while not overpowering the clothing...
mxx
This is my good friend Thom!!! I was just thinking about calling him up because he is also a budding tattoo artist. He looks great! Thanks for posting this.
ReplyDeleteIt does remind me...especially, the beard..of some old photo post cards of relatives from Tennessee from my great Aunt's collection. all he'd need added is holding up the furs of the animals they'd skinned.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the note.
ah, I love the pictures! :D they're so cool. you have an inspiring blog :)
ReplyDeletethese pictures are lovely, you are a marvelous writer as well:)
ReplyDeletealicexinwonderland.blogspot.com
I dunno, but I definitely think that we need to be back to more natural things sometimes. I love the lines and settings!
ReplyDeleteOh and haha i've been meaning to ask but I always forget when I get to your posts! would you like to exchange links =)?
love the pictures! and again what a great read dap!
ReplyDeleteWant to grow a beard.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are so beautiful and enchanting as are the clothes. xx
ReplyDelete...thought it was you in the pics!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week Ninja!
Were humans intended to be clothed in the first place?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure.
But I enjoy reading your thoughtful posts everyday dk :)
Mmm, the outdoors setting seems to give every article a new meaning. That was a really wonderful move on the photographers part. And I love how model Thom Gastelum isn't the same 'pretty boy' as most designers sway towards :)
ReplyDeletepeace&love,
nicole.
For those raised in a city, the woods might be out of place. But there are still many who spent their formative years scraping knees climbing trees, discovering snakes, and laying in fields staring up at the sky. :)
ReplyDeleteI do adore these pictures--also the choice of "model" is so unique and perfect.
"Yet for me, there is a charm and a sense of comfortable belonging behind the shoot."
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! And his wading in the water in his boots is such a literal and perfect example of fashion intertwining with the natural flow of the earth.
what a beautiful boy.
ReplyDeleteThese clothes just fit in perfectly with the surroundings, and I honestly don't think that they could have selected a better model for this shoot. This is just lovely.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I know what you mean about the OC - it will always come #1 for me, I just adore it. One of my best friends and I always watch the entire series over each year and it still remains just as good!
OMG!! Nice photos! I really like it! :)
ReplyDeletei can see you wear everything. i love the looks. you could be a model for them, too!
ReplyDeleteLove these shots---great photography---loving the background and the clothes are amazing...
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your site---found you on another fashion site.
Great stuff.
Wow. I love the photographs, along with the beautiful writings. I feel like I'm in a dream land full of magic and purity. Wow.
ReplyDeletehope to hear from you !!
love always,
amy
i love the creative lookbook! these images are deep...
ReplyDeletetheres something so natural about that beard! 8D
ReplyDeletethe setting really compliments the clothes, much more than a cityscape would have.
the photographs are beautiful on their own, i didnt realise this was a lookbook until the last few photos.
I love this. This feels very earthy but very cosmopolitan at the same time.
ReplyDeletethis shoot is absolutely amazing..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ones !
ReplyDeleteWow amazing photographs! I love their dream-like quality:)
ReplyDeleteYou've just reminded me that I need to pay off my new glasses.
ReplyDeleteI love these pics and his glasses!
ReplyDeletejust wow! love those pics
ReplyDeleteit's great to see presentations that go beyond the "fashion" and give us a bit of stimulating ideas to chew on. kudos!
ReplyDeleteStunning! This could totally be you ;)
ReplyDeletexx, love
p.s. thank you for your comment a bit back, it made me smile.
These photos are beautiful! I love nature!!
ReplyDeleteLove the country feel of it. & lang lang too.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are great. I liked the man out in nature. It really added something special to it.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. I just did a post about when I plan to return to blogging. I hope you'll check it out. Thanks.
HOLY MOSES that is some greatgreat photos :O
ReplyDeletethose are great photos, love the last two
ReplyDeletelooks like u? hahah
ReplyDeletegreat pictures. really
ReplyDelete