Ports 1961 Now Has Designs on Men

Ports 1961 debuted its first men's collection last month in Milan. Photos from Ports 1961.

THE very zen Ports 1961 has gone where heretofore the line had not gone before – into the realm of menswear.

Designers Fiona Cibani (sibling of Tia who designs the women’s line) and Ian Hylton took cues from classical architecture for the men. The duo imagined the form hidden within a block of stone that is revealed after the sculptor chips away the last recalcitrant chunks.

What debuted last month in a rococo setting during Milan Menswear Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2011/2012 was a collection made from the high-quality fabrics for which the house is known. Another signature touch is the kind and gentle tailoring. The color tableau is brown, camel, black and various shades of gray. Further, the new line is as masculine as the women’s line is feminine.

“We dress the self-aware urban gladiator, a man who chooses pure and noble materials to express his inner nature, a man who needs his clothes to be tough and ready for action, but relaxed and comfortable when he rests,” according the pr.

FC and IH also imagined that the clothes mold to the man and sculpt like a second skin. These eyes don’t see it, and that’s a good thing. Rather than squeezing the life out of a fellow, trousers and sweaters conform to the frame. On most jackets there is only the hint of a cinch at the waist, relieving them of any androgyny.

The slightly unstructured black jacket with peacoat undertones has no lapels and buttons as high as the neck. Where it is unbuttoned the jacket cascades into a dashing cutaway; it has not even a cinch hint. This alternative to the traditional suit coat is rather stunning paired with a grey turtleneck and black slacks.

Make no mistake, these are clothes for men – urban gladiators with the self-possession to venture out in trousers short enough to reveal some sock. The line should be available now where Ports 1961 is sold.

“This season, Ports 1961’s menswear throws down the gauntlet to
declare: from now on, only the best of everything...is good enough.”

Them’s fightin’ words.

Visit http://www.ports-intl.com/stores to learn where Ports 1961 is sold.

Playing in Dallas Before the Biggest Game of All
Designs from the Abi Ferrin Spring 2011 collection, right, will be shown during a fashion show featuring the wives of NFL players. Photos by Rania Batrice.

BIG doings in Big D tomorrow when Abi Ferrin and Off The Field, the NFL Players' Wives Association pool their collective resources for a cause.

A couple of weeks back it was a cocktail/fashion show. (See: http://vevlynspen.blogspot.com/2011/01/abi-ferrin-off-field-do-good-well.html). This time out the Dallas-based designer and the charity are staging an extravaganza.

Janet and Tony Dorsett at the Abi Ferrin fashion show at Stanley Korshak last week.

The 10th Annual OTF Players’ Wives Fashion Show is one of the hot tickets leading up to a certain little football game on Sunday at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Scheduled to take the catwalk at the Fairmont Hotel in AF’s latest are Sherice (wife of Tim Brown), Romonda (wife of Randy Jordan), Janet (wife of Tony Dorsett) and other footballer wives.

As befitting an extravaganza there are any number of activities such as autograph-signings by Emmitt Smith, Steve Young, TD and other NFL players.

Janet Dorsett, Romonda, Jordan, Becky Nguyen and Sherice at the Abi Ferrin fashion show at Stanley Korshak.

Also a part of the brunch-hour (10 a.m. - 1 p.m.) festivities are an awards presentation, shopping opps and live entertainment. Certain to attract attention is a live/silent auction. Among the items on the docket, a 6-plus carat diamond appraised at $1.4 million.

Again, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital stands to gain a lot.

Visit http://offthefieldpwa.com/fashionshow.html to learn more about the 10th Annual OTF Players’ Wives Fashion Show.