The perfect single. In 2009 A single man, directed by Tom Ford, was out in cinemas. The cinematographic adaptation of the novel by Christopher Isherwood got an Oscar nomination and won a Coppa Volpi for Best Male Actor (Colin Firth, playing the part of the californian professor George Falconer). The novel lingers neither on the care that Falconer has for his appearance, nor on the nearly obsessive attention to details that, instead, represents a key element in the movie. Who internalized the figure of the professor thanks to Isherwood’s virtuosity, and then watched Ford’s adaptation, could have been annoyed by the softened and cold perfection of the character. The same thing happened for his bestfriend, Charlotte, interpreted by a sensational Julianne Moore. Tom Ford projected himself onto Falconer, even if he keeps the dramatic nature of the story. This would be Firth’s look (with accessories) if the story would have been set in 2016 instead of 1962. Tom Ford portrayed by Terry Richardson for Style Magazine (2009).

Yacht club. That kind of menswear inspired by the sea can be easily defined as timeless. Yes to jackets (for the yacht), windbreakers (for the sailing boat), pullover made of cotton (for both), accessories for watersports. And, for the most elegant, yes to the classic double-breasted blue navy blazer with contrasting buttons for the happy hour. Why are they timeless pieces? The striped sweater reminds us of the pictures of Dalì with Garcia Lorca in the 20s. The windbreaker reminds us of the legendary Jacques Cousteau in the documentaries of the 60s/70s. Actually, the steel cronograph can be also worn in the city, as the white trousers, that perfectly match red and blue (but never wear them all together, they immediately make think about the french flag). In terms of shoes, espadrilles are allowed only at the seaside. Jacques Cousteau on the Calypso, ex minesweeper of the Royal Navy, after a diving exploration.

Between art and style. “Artisan” and “artist”. Both come from the latin “Ars” (art) even if they have different meanings. The artist is the person that handles fine arts like painting, sculpture, music, acting. The artisan is the person that mechanically adopt one of the arts or that practices crafts that require experience and manual skills. Fashion designers are artisans of art and they’re not artists in the strict sense: they often take inspiration from art for their collections. Bear in mind this slight difference, even if there are (a few) fashion creations with a very high lever of artistic taste. Reworked version of a Self-Portrait of Michelangelo Buonarroti, from a print of the 19th century by Alphonse Francois.

Men with the beard. Beard: yes or no? Today we say yes. Like yesterday and the day before, after all. Like in the Seventies, and back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Trends that come and go, that last long, that vanish and then come back. Ladies, if you hate the shiver you feel when a bearderd man kisses you, live with it. Whereas, if you love that sensation of virility that causes redness on your pale complexion, exult. Someone could say that we look “untidy”, that beard makes us look dirty (sometimes it’s true: remember to wash it well, there are specific products), that we look all the same. The same happened, after the 68, with those manes à la Jim Morrison, that today make you exclaim: “Men were much more handsome in the past”. But at that time it was a trend too. And talking about trends in menswear: now that shapes are more loose, you regret that slim-fit trousers that have been in fashion until a couple of seasons ago. When you used to say: “These make your legs look like two toothpicks”. Conclusion: ladies, we can’t please you. You are too ahead of your time, or too capricious. Make up your mind. Clint Eastwood with an armadillo on the set of Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970)

The model guru. Cameron Alborzian was born in 1967, from english mother and iranian father. Between the late eighties and the early nineties he was a top model, that many of you maybe remember for Madonna’s videoclip Express Yourself. Then Cameron took an interest in natural medicine and became yoga and reflexology instructor, graduating in New York. In 2003 he moved to India, in Coimbatore, where he increased and improved his knowledge. He contributes to Huffington Post and during the years he writes for several newspapers, from The New York Times to The Times of London. I think that if today he meets Ms. Ciccone, he wouldn’t be shaken. The greatness of Cameron is a mirage for the main part of us. Cameron Alborzian photographed by Mauro Balletti in 1994 for Harper’s Bazaar Uomo.