16 December, 2025

On the gentle patina of archive Armani in Arena Homme Plus

Arena Homme Plus Armani by Alasdair McLellan

Max Pearmain and Alasdair McLellan’s Armani tribute portfolio in Arena Homme Plus is a fab reminder of the casual greatness of Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans (aside from Giorgio’s soft tailoring legacy).

Pearmain’s mix and mismatch layered styling is complemented by McLellan’s contemporary lens and Piotr Chamier’s casting and all are underscored by Ashley Heath’s editor’s letter (below) celebrating the decades-spanning appeal of the recently departed sprezzatura master.

Arena Homme Plus Armani by Alasdair McLellan

Arena Homme Plus Ashley Heath editor letter

Another takeaway from this shoot is that most of the clothes are vintage – predominantly mid-90s. Sourced mainly from Dossier, it does away with the modern-day stylists’ tyranny of ‘full looks’, allowing Pearmain a degree of styling spontaneity. (Amen!) Not to mention the unique worn-in patina that old clothes have, that make them instantly look like ‘yours’, something runway-fresh pieces inherently lack.
Arena Homme Plus Armani by Alasdair McLellan

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGES: Alasdair McLellan / Arena Homme Plus
NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples. Please read my privacy and cookies policy here.

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Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Magazines, Photography 1990s, Alasdair McLellan, Arena Homme Plus, Dossier, Giorgio Armani, magazines, Max Pearmain, photography, vintage

1 October, 2025

Random Recs: Uniqlo’s secret sauce, Studio Nicholson, craft influencers, a secret Negroni Salon

Fantastic Man Autumn 25

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ Craft influencers. In a backlash to flattening algorithms and A.I. slop, young creatives are finding value in the imperfect qualities of analogue, tactile pastimes. Vogue Business reports on the craft creators transforming niche hobbies like scrapbooking (hi!) and journalling into fledgling brands and media platforms. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Design, Events, Magazines, News, Photography club culture, craft, Design Museum, exhibitions, Fantastic Man, influencers, Juergen Teller, Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski, Perfect magazine, Random Recs, Simone Weil, Studio Nicholson, Uniqlo

20 August, 2025

On Tommy Ton and the nuance of street style

Tommy Ton is the gold standard of Fashion Week street style photography for me. I think it’s his attention to details – nuances, gestures – a real feeling for how people inhabit clothes* and not just the rent-a-hype characters.

I love the way he documented the models in Michael Rider’s debut Celine show in July. There’s so much styling in these detail shots, whoever thought of getting Tommy to capture them is a genius ( most likely, Michael tbh). Fashion always looks better in 3-d movement than those generic ’shot from the front’ catwalk pics. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Designers, Fashion shows, Photography Celine, Michael Rider, photography, SS26, street style, Tommy Ton

1 August, 2025

Random recs: Marc by Sofia, Bill Cunningham’s archive, a perfect high-neck V

Marc by Sofia

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ SOFIA COPPOLA has made a MARC JACOBS doc, which will be shown this month at the Venice Film Festival. I’m gagging for tons of 90s Marc footage, NGL

2/ BILL CUNNINGHAM’S archive is getting a permanent NYC home. His photographs, contact sheets and memorabilia will be housed at the New York Historical in Manhattan, to be readily available to researchers and scholars. First up, an exhibition of his “Evening Hours” charity gala photos later this year. Read more here. (more…)