The very talented Alice Smith performed acapella numbers from her new album, She, at the spring 2014 Michael Bastian menswear show.
Her performance — right there on the runway — was lovely. (Though for those of us sat right in front of the speakers, it got a little too loud on a few occasions.)
Alice opened the show with her song "Cabaret," specifically. Enjoy a snippet right here.
And note the opening line: "Where are you going with your life? What kind of chances will you take?"
I can only speak for myself, but I was not prepared for that sort of existential introspection on the first day of New York Fashion Week. Mainly I just wanted someone to compliment my shoes. (Spoiler: THEY DIDN'T, THOSE BITCHES.)
Who knows if the sing-song query proved particularly thought-provoking for celebrity attendees Kelly Killoren Bensimon and Cheyenne Jackson, respectively.
Both have had their life choices questioned on occasion, you see. But we're not here to judge, are we?
Anyway at least Kelly and Cheyenne look happy. The question has sent this male model into a pretty moody pit of ennui and self-doubt.
Another question for the ages: WHY DOES NOBODY WEAR SOCKS ANYMORE?
Yeah, as you can see this gaggle of male models backstage are doing everything possible to avoid answering either Q.
Anyway, it turns out the correct answer to "What kind of chances will you take?" is very simple. WEARING PINEAPPLE PANTS.
And thus, voila. Good job Michael Bastian.
Or you could wear pants, which, though lacking in citric chic, are also amazing.
What Nick really needed, however, was (see below) some PINEAPPLE SHOES. The checkerboard Vans are, well, not so much a good look.
In other highlights from the show that aren't pineapple-themed, there was a lot of cute knitwear.
L—R: Bastian's "backgammon" sweater, a marvellous chunky cable knit and then a sweater with a parrot pattern.
Variations on this leopard-esque pattern showed up lots too.
Please note the continued absence of any socks whatsoever, despite the fact that they'd look really cute in this pattern.
As did variations on jaunty, old-school boaters and hats.
This is just a baseball cap, and it's also on the wrong side of the Atlantic. Oh well.
In other cute shorts: these models.
Our dashing friend to the right here also wins the "best facial hair in show" award.
Whereas this bushy beardfest "wins" quite the opposite award. Sorry not sorry, but you can't show up on a runway in sweatpants either.*
On the flip-side of sweatpants, here's some slouchy-but-still-sharp takes on suiting.
More nice slouchy suiting.
And then also, just to finish, here's a male model who's actually named Adonis.
Because really, with a name like that, the question "where are you going with your life?" is an easy one after all.
And the answer, in this instance, is the mens board at DNA Models.