NM men's fashion director Matthew Singer and Baby Eli.
NM’s sartorially smart men’s fashion director Matthew Singer is constantly on the road — attending fashion weeks, scouring showrooms and stopping by NM stores to style customers. We keep him busy, but off duty it’s all about spending time with the family. Below Matthew shares his plans for his first Father’s Day, laughs about stealing from his dad’s closet when he was kid, and also gives us a few dapper dad-approved gift ideas.
Russ Patrick & John Patrick, Empire State Building, 1985
With Father’s Day just days away, we decided to ask NM’s dapper men’s wear buyers to tell us about their dads — the unforgettable father-son moments at the ballpark, dad’s invincible golf swing, words of wisdom, and questionable Seventies fashion fads that he managed to pull off… The consensus? Style is hereditary!
NMd: How did your father influence your personal style?
Russ Patrick, GMM of Men’s: My father’s career was in the wholesale apparel business. For many years he lived and worked in Southern California, leading sales for a popular surf-inspired brand. He always had a somewhat casual and rugged sensibility while still looking sharp. I have always favored a slightly more formal wardrobe. Perhaps it was the result of all those years in school uniforms and 22 years at Neiman Marcus!
Did he influence your career choice?
RP: Having grown up in the business all my life — I am sure that influenced my career choice, albeit on the retail side of the business.
Was there a fashion piece of advice he gave you that stuck?
RP: ALWAYS keep your shoes polished! I still polish mine myself.
What is your most cherished memory with your father?
RP: Spending time outdoors together is always at the top of the list. We spent many hours water-skiing, scuba diving, playing golf, and riding motorcycles. I received my first motorcycle on my 10th birthday. I do not know what my parents were thinking! We live in different states today, but when we get together it still revolves around outdoor activities. The only frustrating part is that he is still in such great shape, I cannot keep up with him. And I am still unable to beat him in golf….
Norm Halus and Bruce Halus, Santa Anita Racetrack, 1983.
How did your father influence your personal style?
Bruce Halus, VP of Men’s Clothing: His style was clean, professional and gentlemanly. He had a morning routine that I find myself following today. I feed the dogs, read the newspaper (although I am getting my news online) and have a light breakfast. When I get dressed I set my handkerchief, change, pen and money out the same way he does. And I never leave the house without telling my wife I love her — also learned from my Dad.
Hi all. I just wanted to share some initial notes on what is happening for men’s pre-collections here in Milan. There has been some consistency in color stories. Softer palettes of dusty pastels, pale pink, mint, dusty blues and periwinkle, along with yellow. Grounded in navy or naturals. Within some collections, fiery red has been the pop color.
Stay tuned for Spring 2013 collections! The curtain goes up with Pitti Uomo next month.
See the current men’s collections at NeimanMarcus.com and Neiman Marcus stores.
Chill and rain put weekend 1 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival off to a mellow start. The line for coffee/tea was three times longer than beer, and most fashions consisted of last-minute hoodie purchases. Luckily for festival goers, by day 2 the sun came out, and girls and boys in shorts were dancing in the polo fields. Day 3 ended with Tupac revived via hologram with Snoop and Dr. Dre in an ode to West Coast rap.
Photographing the general admission crowd was more interesting than the VIP areas because the guys were younger, more bohemian. Although this festival is an extremely casual (at times shirtless) affair, it tends to set style trends for the summer ahead. And fashion brands are increasingly setting up camp there. Once the typical desert climate moved in, I saw guys wearing a lot of unrestrained prints, bold color, summer suede, woven shoes and straw hats.
In 1963, The Italian Ministry of Industry and Trade awarded Gianni Mostile the patent for the original driving shoe – an innovative moccasin with rubber-blend nubs on the sole and heel. Today, the combination of creative vitality and hand-made craftsmanship continues. Car Shoe is still crafted with leather from the finest tanneries, characterized by 160 hand stitches, and hand perforated for true luxury and comfort.
Since The Prada Group took over the majority of the Car Shoe Company in 2001, they’ve continued to modernize the brand while honoring the authenticity of the Italian hand-made craftsmanship. The casual elegance of the brand continues to evolve, broadening the world of the classic moccasin and enriching it for the occasion with a matching colored tread. This Spring, the Car Shoe’s design is inspired by a “country” mood, characterized by leather straps and side buckles. Fortunately, the driving sole remains unchanged, creating the perfect mix between tradition and newness.
Shop Car Shoe at NeimanMarcus.com or in Neiman Marcus stores. During the Men’s Event at Neiman Marcus, March 22-25, there is a gift with a regular-priced men’s purchase of $500 or more.
Trina Turk in Capri, photographed by her husband Jonathan.
Splashed in color and swimming with retro patterns, Trina Turk‘s caftans, maxi dresses and bikinis beg for the beach; and for Spring that’s exactly where the California-based designer sought inspiration. Work tends to determine Turk’s travels, but twice a year the designer and her photographer husband make a point to slip away and visit a place they’ve never seen before. Last summer, right before the Trina Turk Spring 2012 collection was underway, the couple crossed Turkey and Capri off their travel list.
“We chose Turkey as our vacation destination this past summer for its combination of culture, textile shopping and seaside relaxation,” Turk says. “The fact that the city of Istanbul is split between Europe and Asia is intriguing enough, but vague memories from college art history classes, the lure of the Grand Bazaar, and photos of the Aegean coast sealed the deal. On our way to Turkey, we made a quick stop in Capri. The warm sandy beaches of the Aegean, the blues of the crystalline water and the rocky terrain of the Mediterranean can be seen in our Spring delivery aptly titled ‘Mediterraneo’.”
At New York Fashion Week I’ve seen double-breasted silhouettes in both blazers and overcoats, and peacoats are increasingly popular. Blazers pass as outerwear in mixed weather, or layer under down coats when it’s colder. I’m also seeing some great color—in overcoats, chinos, corduroys—always a reminder that Spring isn’t far away, even on some frigid days. There are lots of bracelets around, and usually more than one.
Shop men’s wear at NeimanMarcus.com and Neiman Marcus stores.
Overcoats, turtlenecks, bold color, sweaters as outerwear, big scarves and duffle coats continue to show up daily, first in Florence and now in Milan, on both American and European editors at the men’s wear shows. Here are a few looks that got noticed.
Men's Fashion Director Matthew Singer
Matthew Singer, the new men’s fashion director of Neiman Marcus Group, started this week!
He’ll be providing trend direction to the company’s men’s wear buyers, spanning men’s wear markets including Designer, Sportswear, Tailored Clothing, Contemporary, Furnishings, Men’s Accessories and Men’s Shoes. He’ll be based in New York, where he already lives. And since we love a good baptism by fire, he is already off to Europe, to represent NM and sibling store Bergdorf Goodman at the Pitti Uomo fair in Florence and the Fall/Winter runway shows in Milan and Paris. He’s a seasoned retailer, so he’s already made this journey about a dozen times.
What’s your packing strategy for this two-week trip? Key items?
Organization is key. I lay everything out, put a few outfits together, and fill in the blanks. A key item for me is a navy sport coat. I can get a lot of mileage out of one jacket, changing it up with a pocket square or tie.
What are your expectations and hopes for the shows?
For me, the shows never get old! It always feels like it’s my first time. The lights go out, the music starts, and out comes the fashion. I always hope to pick up on trends and get inspired. The shows haven’t let me down yet.
What’s your favorite leg of the trip?
I can’t pick a favorite. Each city gets me excited—Pitti in Florence, runway in Milan, and boutiques in Paris.
Bruce wears one of his recent acquisitions, a Caruso made-to-measure double breasted, grey chalk stripe suit, on the Men's floor at Neiman Marcus in downtown Dallas. Worn with a Drakes of London tie and Ralph Lauren Purple Label pocket square.
As Vice President of Men’s Clothing for NM stores, you see every article of clothing in your market. What did you personally purchase for Fall/Winter?
Two Caruso made-to-measure suits: one double-breasted. grey chalk stripe in a seasonal English cloth, and one solid navy flannel with three open patch pockets and brown horn buttons. Double breasted has always been a favorite of mine and having the navy suit made with the open patch pockets allows me to also wear it as a blazer. A great item for travelling. I also bought Incotex grey flannel trousers with a cargo pocket and lots of seasonal neckwear in solid flannels and cashmere.
