Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1019393
Mark Benjamin in a full look by Dsquared2 and his own cowboy hat. "I like Valentino and Gucci for sportswear. The patterns Alessandro Michele and the team come up with for Gucci knitwear are beautiful and pay homage to classic designs from the house." —Mark Benjamin Frank de Biasi and designer Gene Meyer in New York. The home is legendary! The model was this cool guy, Serge Rigvava, photographed by Alex Lee and styled by Koen T. Hendriks. It was a fun and relaxed story with personality—Rei Kawakubo's clothes and Frank's interior design are two very particular aesthetics that when paired together created a sublime and compelling moment. TD: Who are the up-and-coming menswear designers to keep an eye on? MB: There are so many incredible rising talents. Charles Jeffrey Loverboy in London, Ludovic de Saint Sernin in Paris, Feng Chen Wang in Shanghai, Eckhaus Latta in New York and Los Angeles, Palomo Spain in Posadas and Blindness from Seoul. Whatever young designer Diet Prada is bashing on Instagram is probably a good gauge of what's hot. TD: Favorite sneaker? MB: Right now, it seems like there's a competition over who can create the ugliest sneaker. I think Stella McCartney takes the cake. My favorite boot, however, is the CK205W39 Western Harness Boot in calf leather, with a metal plate at the tip of the toe box. They're sexy and perfect for any occasion—you can ride a horse or rob a bank in them. TD: Favorite men's watch? MB: I don't wear watches but I appreciate them dearly. I love the craft. My best friend just bought a Rolex GMT-Master II Batman, and it is handsome as hell. TD: What are collection are you most looking forward to this Fall? MB: I'm excited to see Hedi Slimane's new collection in Paris for Céline in late September. Wherever he goes, he moves the needle for menswear. BAL HARBOUR 119