Total look means dressing up from head to toe in just one brand or style. It’s a difficult and dangerous option, it’s best to choose carefully because it’s a damn fine line between  glamour and grotesque. In this specific case we have a total look Versace which is now available in stores: colorful floral patterns on white and the neo-classical greek freet , a common decorative element in greek and roman art which has become the symbol of the maison since the beginning. For this shot the stylist choose golden metal chains and bracialets adding opulence to the picture and that is the point: if it has to be “total” then it better be exasperated to the nth degree with no hesitations. The outfit is not enough though, it’s the typology of men that counts. To wear such an exceptional and “scenographic” look one should be an incarnation of celebrity beauty standards:  outstanding beauty,  height and  body structure, worthy of the name Versace. Perhaps it’s better to opt for a  classic total look, all fashion designers including Versace want the fashion show to represent their own world but looking  through their boutique clothes and accessories it’s definitely possible to find plenty of more traditional choices.

The art of “styling” is about being good at matching clothes and accessories, is about achieving results also through the combination of dissimilar fabrics in a perfectly harmonious way. Is the ability to combine clothing, body shape and proportions. It’s understanding the meaning of style after climbing the ladder for years. By mixing and matching pieces the “stylist” is able to express a certain beauty which is directly proportional to his skills. It’s a real job that involves a high level of professionalism indispensable for published fashion media. Stylists can help photographers building their careers, they can contribute to the success of magazines, editorial campaigns and fashion shows (or they can ruin them as well). It’s an important role that shouldn’t be underestimated. Some of them acquired great writing skills through the years and they now write remarkable articles not just for slick magazines but also for widely-read newspapers. When flipping through fashion editorial pages one should consider that behind each single shot there are passion, thoughts, good taste and quite a lot of work. Foto by Lee Strickland from Harper’s Bazaar Uomo, 1994. The model is wearing Emporio Armani.

I have mentioned here a few weeks ago a style very popular back in the days, sweaters tucked into pants. The social media response hasn’t been positive. To be more specific it wasn’t my intention to suggest such a look to our readers, although I was expressing my opinion about that particular outdated yet not unpleasant style from the past, which is what I usually do when I write this column. Armani and Dolce & Gabbana have been using that combination many times for advertising and fashion shows, fashion victims have been copying the style and often unfortunately with dreadful results… especially because sweaters used to be “thick” so on a full bodied figure the waistline was getting alarmingly big. We should consider that trousers used to be loose-fitting and not straight like nowadays so it was a balanced result of proportions after all. Long live to cigarette trousers! Too bad that when you stand up they stick to your socks. In conclusion, I can confirm that if the oversized trend could ever make a come back- body structure allowing- I would still appreciate the final result. In fact to tell you the truth, if my figure it’s slender enough and the sweater tight-fitting, personally, I tuck it in. In the picture, top model Greg Hansen at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show, 1992.