I'll pass on the camo

'Is camo coming back'? is one question we should never ask, because it never goes away. I get my camo moments though I always stick to pants as camo jackets make me a bit paranoid. I have this fear that I might get attacked in public by some psycho who thinks I'm with the army or the police because yes, I've been mistaken as belonging to either too many times to count. So if I do some sort of print (which is actually rare), I will skip the one logo on the breast pocket (do hip people still wear Lacoste??) and go for hipster like an American West inspired cotton shirt (which if you squint, can actually pass for a camo print); or be nationalistic for someone else's country with a flag themed collar on a crisp white Zara shirt. But one of my favourites, perfect for Auckland's predominantly temperate climate, is a simple nylon jacket from Gucci sporting designer Alessandro Michelle's endearing signature bee applique.

Gucci Men woolen jacket with bee applique

H&M lands in New Zealand 1st October

The (trying hard) fashionista in me should rejoice but I had the chance to see what H&M has to offer when I was in Melbourne and I was shocked that 50-65% of its stock was garbage. Bad seams. Bad fabric; the kind that doesn't forgive you after one wrong cycle in the washing machine. Bad fit (especially if you're fat and bravely asking the sales associate if they had something in uhm, 2XL). For about 80% of the general population, when will we ever learn that we're just deceived by stylist's tricks, photoshop and even by our own sense of bad judgment? And mine is this unwavering belief that if I visualised it hard enough (which I do), I can adequately fill those sleeves and those pant legs as if I was six foot flat with perfectly proportioned limbs.

I mean I don't look that bad, but I'm definitely not six feet tall and for most of these clothes, an additional 3-4 inches in height makes all the difference in proportion and symmetry. Sure, it's definitely how one pulls it off but again, one could over exert one's self-confidence. 

Take your cue from H&M itself and the irony that while it purports to make high fashion accessible for everyone, the majority don't fit the physical template these clothes are presented in. 

A drag