Groupon's hottest deal ever: A chance to meet Brad Pitt for $10

Great dining and activity deals are expected from Groupon, but a chance to meet an A-list actor? Now that's an option too. Brad Pitt has teamed with the deal-of-the-day site to raise money for his Make It Right organization.

For a mere $10, fans and philanthropists can enter for a chance to win the opportunity to meet the "World War Z" star. The prize includes two VIP tickets to the Make It Right Gala (held May 17 in New Orleans), the chance for a group meet-and-greet with Pitt, airfare and hotel for two, transportation to and a private tour of the Ninth Ward site, and the option to volunteer for a day at the site.

Bruno Mars and Kings of Leon will be performing at the gala.

Make It Right was founded by the actor in 2007 to build safe, green homes and buildings for communities in need. He launched the group after visiting New Orleans two years after Hurricane Katrina hit, when he saw how little had been done to rebuild the hardest hit area of the city, the Lower Ninth Ward. 

For those with bigger savings accounts and who want a guaranteed opportunity to meet Pitt, Groupon is offering the "epic deal." A $25,000 donation gets the buyer everything in the contest, plus airfare upgraded to first class and a hotel suite. Only nine epic deals are available. According to the website, $22,500 of each epic deal will go to Make It Right.

Pitt is the latest A-list actor to offer fans a chance to meet him to benefit charity.George Clooney, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon all recently offered themselves up for dates in order to raise money for the organizations closest to their hearts.

Brad Pitt is wonderful dad: Angelina Jolie

Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie has revealed that she loves nothing more than watching actor fiance Brad Pitt taking care of their six kids.

Jolie , 38, who is yet to tie the knot with Pitt, said the 12 Years a Slave star is a wonderful and loving father, reported Showbiz Spy.

"Brad has always been such a wonderful and loving father. It's such a beautiful and sexy quality in a man when he takes his responsibilities as a father very seriously. I still get very emotional when I watch Brad play with the children -- he is so naturally devoted and joyful around them," she said.

The Maleficent actor  said Pitt instilled the sense of motherhood in her. "W hen I was younger, I never imagined being a mother. Then those maternal feelings  evolved and deepened once I began adopting and started living with Brad, which made me want to have children of our own," she said.

"Brad is so good about taking over when I'm working, but I'd rather be home for dinner and read my children bedtime stories," she added. - 

Fashion faves with Richard Moodyini

Real men wear pink.

They also get pedicures, trim their eyebrows and wear accessories like scarves and rings. That’s an assertion by one of the most stylishly minded men in the Twin Cities — philanthropist, producer, promoter and businessman Richard Moody.

“Men are embracing fashion more and more, because it somewhat defines who you are,” Moody said during a photo shoot at his downtown office. “Competition is really stiff now. … It’s important to sell yourself, and fashion is all a part of that.”

Unlike so many fashions that ride in and out of town like the wind, Moody said his “cowboy chic” style is tried and true. Whether he’s showing up to lunch with friends or attending one of his philanthropic events, Moody always brings his A-game — a pair of cowboy boots and, of course, plenty of accessories. Moody shared a few of his closet staples.

Scarves

“I always wear a scarf. I travel a lot, so I wear them for warmth. Also, they’re another accessory for your outfits. You can mix and match colors. They’re like watches or rings or jewelry. Yes, real men can wear scarves.”

Boots

“These are my cowboy chic boots and they’ve walked all over the world. They were made in Spain, but I got them at a flea market in Amsterdam. I have a closet full of other shoes and some designer shoes, but I always go to my boots.”

Accessories

“I love accessories. These bracelets are one strand and I’ve looped them a couple times. I love watches, too. A man with his watches is like a woman with her shoes. I probably have 15 different colored watches.”

Jacket

“I picked up this seersucker jacket at an upscale consignment store. It’s a great summer color — it just popped and it was $55. I love consignment shops like Second Debut or Fashion Avenue. It’s repurposed, reused and renewed, and that’s important because we wind up with so much in our closets. My philosophy is when something comes in my closet, I take something out to donate.”

Aimee Blanchette •

JD Sports Fashion tipped to 30% profit increase

RETAIL group JD Sports Fashion is expected to unveil a sharp rise in profits this week as it continues to attract teenagers and twentysomethings seeking designer trainers and tracksuits.

The firm cheered the City with its post-Christmas update in January, citing a strong performance for its stores over Christmas. Pre-tax profits are tipped to have risen by about 30 per cent to £71 million.

The Bury-based group, which has more than 800 outlets in four countries and last year bought a controlling interest in Scottish outdoor clothing stalwart Tiso, revealed this year that like-for-like sales at its core business in the 48 weeks to 4 January were marginally better than the 5.8 per cent reported in November.

It hailed stronger Christmas sales for its sports stores and said margins were largely protected despite widespread discounting on the high street.

The group also includes other brands it has been trying to improve – outdoor stores under the Blacks and Millets fascias and the fashion chains Bank and Scotts.

JD chairman Peter Cowgill has said he expects “considerable progress” this year as the company looks to continue the turnaround of its outdoor stores and improve the performance of the fashion stores.

In the first half of the financial year, Millets dragged on the group’s soaring profits, following its decision not to scrap the chain.

JD had planned to merge the business with Blacks after it bought both brands out of administration but changed its mind and decided to keep Millets going, saving a number of branches.

Chris Tiso sold a controlling stake in his eponymous Edinburgh-based chain of stores to the group last November for an undisclosed sum.

JD said the deal would allow Tiso to grow and develop its business, which includes Alpine Bikes, George Fisher and Blues the ski shop. Tiso became part of JD’s outdoor division alongside Blacks and Millets.

Cowgill took over as chairman at Tiso while Chris Tiso continued as chief executive, a role he assumed in 1992 following the death of his father Graham. At the time, the business comprised a single brand and five shops and had £4m of revenue.

Chris Tiso told Scotland on Sunday’s sister title The Scotsman at the time: “We carry on as we are now, except it will help to be part of a bigger group. I have been asked if the product will change, if the quality of service will change and if the name will change. The answer is no, no and no.”

Coachella Style: Selena Gomez’s Sheer Dress, Kendall Jenner’s Shorts & More

The biggest stars are in Indio, Calif. attending Coachella and they’re dressed to the nines! Check out our gallery of all the best style straight from Coachella!

Hotter only than the sun at Coachella is the style of the celebs attending! Stars like Selena Gomez, 21, Kylie Jenner, 16, and Kendall Jenner, 18, are at the huge music & arts festival wearing some of their coolest looks yet. Look through our Coachella gallery and vote for your favorite look!

Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner & More Coachella Fashion

It’s clear that Selena is embracing her sexiness now that she’s back with Justin Bieber, 20, and we love her confidence! Selena looked beautiful in her sheer white lace dress and it was a perfect choice to match such a light, pretty dress with lace-up black boots. And her accessories game is on point with huge mirrored sunglasses, a hat to fend off the sun, and a jewelled bindi.Both of the Jenner sisters love short shorts! Kendall paired hers with a cute crop top and jewelled belt and Kylie opted for a slightly edgier loose, heather grey tank top and a studded fanny pack. Um, did Kylie Jenner just singlehandedly make fanny packs cool again? Can we have one?

Jared Leto, Kellan Lutz & More Coachella Fashion

Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, 34, and his wife, Lauren Parkesian, looked so cute as they danced together to the music of Ellie Goulding. Her black flowered maxi dress was so interesting with its thigh-high slit and peplum top — perfect for twirling around! Fun fact: these two actually first met at Coachella!

And please, let’s not forget the boys. Kellan Lutz, 29, is sporting a brand new… neck tattoo? We can only assume that it’s for The Expendables 3, which is currently in post-production, but hey, maybe he likes the look? We sure do.

Jared Leto, 42, looks, as ever, like he was born to be at Coachella with his long ombre hair and palm tree t-shirt.

What do you think, HollywoodLifers? Who’s got your favorite look at Coachella? Vote and comment below!

How to succeed in fashion: Be nice

Whatever impressions you may harbour about the fashion industry (perhaps fromThe Devil Wears Prada, say?), they are not all entirely true, at least not if you ask Fern Mallis, who as creator of New York Fashion Week (NYFW), says those are the two things she tells anyone she mentors.

Like some of the most accomplished people in the fashion industry, Mallis’ name may not immediately register. But her credentials are what’s helped make New York the fashion haven it is now — which was not always the case. When she founded what is now known as NYFW in 1993, fashion was a rather private club and not necessarily the economic or creative powerhouse it is today.

“They have to be in it for the right reasons. I think when organisers are in it to make a buck, to do it as a profit centre, that doesn’t work to me. I think it has to come from the purest place of creative talent that needs a platform that needs to be seen and heard,” says Mallis, speaking after an industry luncheon on Thursday ahead of the runway shows this weekend.Today, she’s in Dubai, watching as another fledgling fashion week takes off: Fashion Forward, which is now in its third season, after launching in April 2013.

“That raw talent then needs infrastructure. You need someone to build it, someone to manage it, and you need outreach to invite the right people to come to it and you need help to market it and publicise it. What’s really nice in this day and age, and was not when I first started fashion week, are all these new programmes and incubators and mentorship programmes, schools and design districts. That’s all pretty fabulous. All of that is kind of coalescing now in Dubai. I think that all feels right.”

It’s not just NYFW Mallis has under her belt — she’s guided fashion weeks from Miami to Melbourne to Mumbai. Most things are the same, she says, but each city’s culture can bring something unique to a fashion week that shouldn’t be glossed over.

“I think the ones that work the best are the ones that are so conscious of their culture and where they are and who they are that they bring that to the table. If you take a textbook and try and do it it doesn’t always fit.”

Her lasting memories of Mumbai fashion week include disruptive photographers and of course, the Bollywood showstoppers.

“People love that and hate that. When they don’t do it, they complain, ‘where is the star?’; when they do do it, they go ‘why is this star on the runway?’ So that’s a no-win situation.”

That’s just as much the case with celebrity fashion show guests in other countries, she adds, remarking that more and more designers are paying stars to attend their shows.

“Some people consistently do it very well. Michael Kors has fabulous people and you know he has relationships with them, you know he is friends with these people, from Debra Messing to Michael Douglas.

“When those celebrities are there, and they are getting a tonne of media, they are in all the magazines — it’s a whole new ballgame because of tweeting and instagramming — that’s branding. That designer’s name is out there a billion times more than it would have been. I think somewhere it registers.”

Quote/unquote

“There’s about 400 fashion weeks in the world. Who’s to play God and say you shouldn’t have one? As long as people manage the expectations of what they are doing. Are they going to be the next Milan or Paris? No. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get some buzz in your city and get people excited and go shopping.” — On whether every city should have a fashion week

'FASHION IS TEMPORARY, YSL IS FOREVER'

Yves Saint Laurent was a prodigy, who introduced a new identity to women and made their bodies feel free. Apart from being an anti-war activist, Saint Laurent was a revolutionist breaking the borders between ready-to-wear and haute couture.

Now a film, "Yves Saint Laurent" (YSL), focuses on the life story of his fashion genius starting from when the highly gifted 21-year-old designer was the right-hand man of fashion guru Christian Dior. Saint Laurent took over Dior's place when he suddenly died and then Saint Laurent's popularity began to spread with his first collection. He then became a rising star of the fashion world. During one of his fashion shows, Saint Laurent met with French industrialist Pierre Bergé.

As the time went on, their friendship turned into an affection which entirely changed Saint Laurent's life. After refusing to comply with mandatory military service, he received psychological treatment and after he had recovered, Saint Laurent learned that he lost his job at Dior. After this, he decided to create his own brand, YSL.

As you may know, biographical films are always problematic. Generally, the family or friends of the person in question refuse to accept the validity of the film or will argue there are key omissions.

By contrast, "YSL" reveals Laurent's private and business life on an equal basis. You may see the clichés of biographical films in "YSL."
Laurent's first designs were not understood by his peers but managed to shatter the rules of the fashion world. He achieved the success he deserved.

Other cliché scenes include the social exclusion of Saint Laurent because he is homosexual, the problematic relationship with his mother and becoming a party boy following his success.

It is worth watching this film because Saint Laurent was a revolutionary designer who recreated the woman's identity, whether it be by presenting a female model in a men's suit during one of his fashion shows or producing readto- wear clothing. Laurent included ethical clothing and accessories in his collections and integrated art and fashion with his "Mondrian collection" in the 1970s. Laurent said of himself, "I would like draw models and create freely."

However, Saint Laurent was not always a stand-up guy. He was known as a drug addict and for hanging out at orgies but at the same time this king of the fashion world never abandoned his love for Bergé. The passionate relationship between Bergé and Laurent is moving.
Throughout his life Laurent was a friend of Bergé and the ups and downs of his emotional world seem to be, at least in part, the origin of his creativity.

Director Jalil Lespert screens the life of Saint Laurent through a simple film language.

His delicate world, the storms breaking out in his soul and his psychology focused on creativity come across as entirely realistic. On top of that the film's visual images are excellent.

When it comes to film performers, I can say that Pierre Niney did not only act, but experienced Laurent's life in his body. You may feel as if you were watching the real Yves Saint.

His performance is stunning. Do not be surprised if you come across his name or Guillaume Gallianne, who plays Pierre Bergeacute, in film award nominations.

Coachella, the biggest gift to fashion since Kate Middleton?

Is Coachella the biggest gift to the fashion industry since Kate Middleton?

It certainly seems like it from the marketing blitz that has blown up around the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which begins this weekend in Indio.

We all know that brands have been flocking to the festival for years, hoping to make an impression on tastemakers who attend by hosting star-studded parties at nearby venues. This year, Old Navy, Lacoste, H&M, Teva, Adidas Originals, Guess and Opening Ceremony are just a few of the names on the Coachella branding bandwagon.

Among the magazines throwing bashes? Harper's Bazaar, Nylon, Filter, Flaunt and Details, so they can shoot photos of well-dressed guests and have Coachella content for their pages. 

And in a truly funny twist, which really makes me question whether Coachella is a music festival or really just a giant fashion photo shoot, Sephora announced that it would set up nine beauty stations on the grounds where guests can, I don’t know, get desert touch-ups?

It’s appropriate when you think about it. All the style bloggers Instagramming photos of each other dressed in denim and fringe. Why shouldn’t their hair and makeup be perfect under sweltering skies?

But the blitz is not limited to the festival itself. In fashion marketing speak, “Coachella” has become more than an event, it’s a state of mind -- like so many other mythical SoCal locales, including Malibu and Abbot Kinney.  

Coachella signifies to the world a carefree, boho lifestyle. Or, spring break for people with lots of disposable income.

Which is why online retailers and fashion magazines are e-blasting celebrity-curated “Coachella must-haves” and “Coachella packing lists," full of springy merch designed to appeal to people who aren't even attending the sold-out event.

Local boutiques are hoisting signs promoting themselves as “Coachella Headquarters” (Flower crowns! Maxi dresses! Crop tops!)  There are even Coachella diets, naturally.

Old school bastions of luxury such as Neiman Marcus are getting in on the act too, believe it or not. The retailer is offering exclusive access to last-minute $1,500 VIP passes to members of its InCircle shopping loyalty program.

I wonder if I can put that on my Neiman Marcus card.

Coachella Outfits 2014 — Fun Music Festival Fashion

Even if you aren’t heading to the desert it doesn’t mean you can’t get in the spirit with some stellar music festival fashion! So break out the crochet shorts, the crop tops, and florals for days — and start shopping!

It’s that time of the year again…Coachella is here! A slew of our favorite artists, (along with practically the entire celeb set), is heading out to the desert, and that means one thing — the festival fashion is sure to be better than ever! Whether you are a music festival enthusiast or not, you can still break out your best boho chic looks — and rock them ALL summer long! Read on for more of our favorite finds.

Coachella Outfits 2014:

There’s one important thing to remember while you’re trying to master music festival fashion — and that’s that everything goes! My favorite thing about the look? There’s something so casual, cool, relaxed and comfortable about getting into the vibe. The great Cher Horowitz said it best: “I know it sounds mental, but sometimes I have more fun vegging out than when I go partying…maybe because my party clothes are so binding.” Fashionable, casual style coupled with the opportunity to take numerous selfies? Now that sounds like something Cher only could have dreamed of.

If Cher was heading to the desert she would gladly leave the Alaïa behind and pack her jeep full of with crop tops. Whether you can’t wait to unleash your inner hippie or if your definition of boho chic is simply rocking a floral top, there are a variety of ways you can work this look anywhere and everywhere.

How To Transform Your Festival Fashion:

If you can’t get enough of festival fashion like Vanessa Hudgens, go all out! Luckily crop tops are still everywhere for spring and summer, so while you can pair your fave top with denim shorts for the perfect ‘chella look, you can easily rework it with a high-waisted pencil skirt or high-waisted trousers if you want to transform it from festival to high-fashion.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out our favorite picks and start shopping!

10 best summer fashion trends

               Bold prints and bright colors ruled the runways. Here are the hot trends for summer:

1. Everything's coming up roses. The floral trend is everywhere — dresses, tops, bottoms. Even for the guys!

2. Mules rule. No longer a tired fashion, open-toe mules freshen up a summer look.

3. Sparkle and shine. Metallics are major. Think iridescent if you dare.

4. Go team! Athletic-inspired chic fashions and footwear are making a run for it.

5. Go sideways. Luckily for the ladies, horizontal stripes are meant for the guys this season.

6. Crop it. Think twice about that second cupcake. Crop tops are more fashionable than ever.

7. Say it like you mean it. Clothes do all the talking this summer, with wordy graphics.

8. Southern gentlemen rejoice! The colored suit for men is in — and no, we don't mean navy or gray.

9. Fringe finishes. Purses are a great way to sport the fringe trend.

10. Be radiant. When in doubt, think pink. The No. 1 color of the season is "radiant orchid."

Behind the changing fashion of 'Mad Men'

(CNN)

 -- During the past six seasons of the television show "Mad Men," audiences and fashion designers alike have obsessed over the cast's retro wardrobe.

So has Linda Przybyszewski, a University of Notre Dame history professor and the author of the upcoming book, "The Lost Art of Dress: The Women Who Once Made America Stylish."

The 1960s, the decade that "Mad Men" has inhabited thus far, was a time of tremendous upheaval that challenged the principles of the past -- and the fashions, she said. As women and African-Americans fought for social equality and men struggled to normalize their home and work lives, everyone's clothing changed.

What the late '60s really looked like

We asked Przybyszewski to weigh in on how the "Mad Men" wardrobe evolved, and clue us in to what those shifts said about the time.

Fans don't yet know in what years the show's final season will take place, but count on some bold, colorful changes.

After all, at the start there were "four guys essentially wearing identical suits, and now we have four guys each one of them with distinctive facial hair, color, cut, garment," she said. "That's what the '60s did."

The fashion model's guide to Milan

Editor's note: This piece, and several others on Milan, complement the CNNGo TV series. Starting with a tour through the city with two top fashion models and a photographer, this month's CNNGo TV episode then ventures into the "fashion quadrangle," arguably the most fashionable shopping district on the planet, and also takes a trip to the city's most famed umbrella maker. More on Milan plus the full show can be found here: www.cnn.com/cnngo

(CNN) -- Cabbies, concierges, local websites.

Traditional sources all, commonly used by travelers seeking local information.

But Italy's fashion capital of Milan is no common city.

In a place that feels more like one big catwalk, swarming with models, the best guides to the city are those closest to the fabulous action.

That's why we asked a panel of local glamour gurus to fashion a tour of the best places in Milan to get close to the beauty.

Fashion model Roberta Defez has done photo shoots for Italian designer labels such as I Ragazzi del Rosso and Gianmarco Rii and luxury hotel brand Belmond Hotels. The Naples native works for theICE Models Milan agency and has a degree in marketing and communications.

Milan Model Roberta Defez is ready to show you the town.

MORE: Happy when it pours: The umbrella man of Milan

Also from ICE Models Milan, Olga Lopatina, born in Yekaterinburg, Russia, is a showroom model whose clients include Ermanno Scervino, Pinko, Diesel, Jil Sander and Marlboro Classics. She speaks four languages and has degrees in foreign languages and marketing. 

Enrico Labriola is a well known Italian fashion photographer who has shot for Grazia, Vogue Italy, Max France and Paris Match. Clients include Pitti Immagine, Dupont and Pomellato, and his work is regularly exhibited at the Cannes' Fashion Photography Festival.

Below are the pros' picks for places models and fashionistas drink, eat, dance, shop and generally look hot.

Be prepared to bump into more than one.

Enrico Labriola does what models like -- makes everything look good.

Getting pretty

Before or after a runway walk, there's really no wrong time to hit one of Milan's luxury spas, salons and beauty parlors.

Vigal & Jus (Piazza della Repubblica 12; +39 02 3966 9451) is a "beauty hotel" with the expected hair and beauty services, as well as spa suites where models go to get the pretty on before a photo session.

Services suggested by our panel include baby-blond highlights and hot water stone massages that come with aperitif and finger foods.

Enclosed within Renaissance stonewalls, Milan's thermal bath at QC Termemilano (Piazzale Medaglie d'Oro 2; +39 02 551 9936; from €45) are a favorite hangout of model Roberta Defez.

"At night, the blue LED lights have a soothing effect and you can sip a cocktail while nibbling on some fruit," she says.

Most Milan beauty parlors and spas also cater to men.

MORE: Milan: 7 things to know before you go

Shopping

Arriving in style is key in Milan, as this Enico Labriola shot shows.

Milan has four main shopping districts.

Which one you visit depends on how much money you're ready to blow.

Model Olga Lopatina's favorite is the famed Fashion Quadrangle, even though she says can't always afford it.

"Prices are sky high here," she says.

One of the world's most fashionable shopping hubs, the Fashion Quadrangle is enclosed by four intersecting streets -- Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Corso Venezia. Inside of them you'll find shops from luxe labels such as Gucci, Armani, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana.

Roberta prefers three other more affordable areas: San Babila, Corso Buenos Aires and the Duomo neighborhood.

"You can find everything at these places, not just luxury items," she says. "I drain my credit card at American Apparel."

Models -- they're just like us!

MORE: World's best shopping cities

Drinking

Freshly scrubbed and empowered by new clothes, the Milan model is ready to start the day.

Or, rather, night, which is really the model's day.

Model Olga Lopatino is a fan of Just Cavalli Restaurant & Club: "You can have cocktails, dine and even party."

First thing to know -- evening drinks rule in Milan, a city where aperitivos often serve as an acceptable substitute for dinner.

"The fashion industry's coolest get-together spot these days is Armani Bamboo Bar (Via Manzoni 31; +39 02 8883 8703; from €10)," says photographer Enrico Labriola. "This is where you want to be and be seen by others."

Enclosed in a metal and glass cage-like structure, it's a classy-chic rooftop lounge with illuminated floors and a 360-degree view overlooking the Duomo cathedral.

Signature cocktails include the Tokyo Spritz with Aperol, wasabi and fresh ginger -- it's served with mozzarella braids and swordfish sandwiches.

Then there's the the Smoked Fizz, made with shaken salmon.

Yes, there is indeed salmon in the drink -- a tiny morsel of smoked salmon is placed in a cocktail bottle, smashed up to squeeze out the juice than shaken.

We know, it sounds disgusting but with just a delicate flavor of salmon it's actually pretty good.

There no dress code at Armani Bamboo Bar -- a pair of blue jeans and a white tee will do.

Defez also likes to hit Fashion Café (Via San Marco 1; +39 02 657 202; from €10) and Radetzky (Corso Garibaldi 105; +39 02 657 2645, from €10).

"Radetzky buzzes with people and it's at the heart of Brera and Moscova, the most trendy districts," she says. "A great place for show-offing."

MORE: Insider guide to the most fashionable place on Earth

Around midnight, the restaurant at Just Cavalli Club gives way to a thunderous disco. Models abound.

Eating

Models don't do huge meals.

So forget massive platters of spaghetti and pizza.

Lopatina and her pals often hang out at Just Cavalli Restaurant & Club (Via Luigi Camoens; +39 02 311 817, from €15), which serves snack plates of traditional Italian at a Michelin-star level.

Specialties include raw Sicilian tuna; mozzarella and cream burrata with tomato carpaccio; flatfish fillet in olives; and lobster and artichoke pasta.

"It's a nice place to hang out with bella gente, nice looking and elegant people," says Lopatina. "You can have cocktails, dine and even party. Stay the whole night."

Defez calls the atmosphere at Serendepico (Piazza Castello; +39 02 7209 3846; from €8) "fascinating," partly for its location across from an historic site.

"I love sipping my glass of white wine and tasting risotto in front of the Sforza Castle." she says. "It's spellbinding."

MORE: Italy's 20 regions, dish by delicious dish

Armani Privé is chic and shiny. Just the way Milan's fashion elite like it.

Clubbing

The fashion industry works mostly at night, so clubs are natural magnets for models to showcase their hotness and unwind after work.

As a result, Milan's discos are among Italy's best.

Defez calls Armani Privé (Via Pisoni 1; +39 02 6231 2655) the most élite club in town.

Located in the Fashion Quadrangle, where houses for all the top brands are located, the club is lit in soft, reddish tones and features a minimalistic Japanese design motif.

"If you want to be noticed you need to wear tight pants and 12-inch high heels, but the dress code doesn't stop you from feeling at ease and having fun," says Defez. "Different from other clubs, it's not cramped inside. It's spacious."

Defez and Lopatina also suggest The Club (Corso Garibaldi 97; +39 33 8951 5667) and Old Fashion Club (Viale Emilio Alemagna 6; +39 02 805 6231) -- the latter rises from inside Parco Sempione and has a large tree jutting out of its ceiling.

Cover charge at most discos and clubs is €20.

The scenery is worth it.

Addicted to buying clothes? Here's a way to help fashion's real victims

Many of us are addicted to fast fashion. Well, I am anyway. I have to confess to owning about six pairs of skinny jeans bought from a chain store. I got them in a sale for £10 a pair. How can trousers be so cheap? This season they are bringing out more in different colours; I feel the urge to go out and buy some of these too.

We may think we are using logic rather than our irrational desire when consuming fashion, but the only thing we actually do is come up with justifications to purchase more unnecessary clothes. My personal favourite baloney is to look at my full wardrobe and declare I have "nothing to wear".

Sigmund Freud knew we were controlled by urges first and then used our sense to rationalise these desires. It was his nephew, Edward Bernays, who took this information to change the way advertisers sold stuff. After Bernays revolutionised advertising, instead of ads just consisting of images and product information, they appealed to our subconscious minds. So rather than shopping for the soap that we needed to wash our clothes, we began unconsciously buying the lifestyles portrayed in advertisements. Image, and therefore clothes, are a big part of most ads, so for all our lives we have been getting the message that being on trend and looking our best is a means to achieving our dreams.

I don't suppose I am alone in knowing deep down that actually if I never bought another item of clothing for as long as I lived, I probably have enough garments to last me the rest of my life. If I bothered to mend my clothes they'd probably last me two lifetimes. Knowing this won't stop me from buying clothes though.

I have no idea who makes my clothes, nor if they get a decent living wage and have an adequate quality of life. I don't even know if these clothes are made by adults or children. I like to fool myself that I'm a moral sort of person, yet perhaps I am, not entirely unknowingly, encouraging human exploitation, and I certainly know buying unnecessary clothes won't do the planet any good.

What is the meaning of the short, sharp thrill I get at the point of sale and from my carrier bag of clothes? Am I merely addicted to buying clothes, or am I succumbing to advertising's lifelong manipulation of my psyche, or both?

Feeling a craving and then temporarily satisfying it, is not unpleasant even if a higher part of me knows I'm just being manipulated. But maybe if the supply chain was transparent and we at least insisted on knowing that everyone has been treated fairly we could be more ethical about our addiction to fashion.

On 24 April, the charity Fashion Revolution wants us to mark the anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh by wearing our clothes inside-out, labels showing, and asking fashion retailers on social media: "Who made your clothes?" According to a recent survey, 61% of brands don't even know the origin of their clothes, as clothing manufacturing is often arranged through third parties. We can apply consumer pressure to insist that retailers find out so that they can obtain fair conditions for those people producing their clothes.

Ethically made clothing may not be as cheap, but it's time we became accustomed to buying fewer, better-quality items. That's why on Fashion Revolution day I am going inside-out.

What every man should know about fashion in 2014

Men and fashion, it is sometimes said, go together like socks and sandals. We rub along, but not comfortably or happily or prettily. It's certainly true that some men feel excluded from and threatened by fashion. The word alone is enough to make them break out in an unsightly rash. But this needn't be the case. Indeed, it shouldn't be.

Style, in my experience, is a less loaded term. It's harder, though, to put your finger on what exactly style is. It can be taught, but it can't be bought. Happily, there are rules. Rules that can be broken, but only once they've been understood.

That's not to say I always get it right, even though, as  editor of Esquire magazine, I've been studying the rules for years. These days I wear a business suit to work. That wasn't always the case. I spent years as a scruffy hack in jeans and jumpers. But as I inched my way up the moisturised pole of men's style journalism, it became apparent that suits and shirts and ties and proper shoes were going to be more appropriate and less bother. I wear suits even on days when I could just as well turn up in shorts and a T-shirt. The challenge for me is the reverse of what it used to be. I'm sorted in the week. Now I struggle over what to wear at the weekends.

I'm not a trendy. Haven't been for 20 years. There are plenty of men who are – the peacocks, the dandies, the proto-Bowies – who have their own distinctive and individual ideas about what looks good. But how about everyone else? Men who want to look good, hip even, but not silly. Who want to be admired from afar but not pointed at in the street. Who want to be stylish but don't know how to do it. Who want to know: are skinny jeans still hip? Should men's ankles be on show again this summer? How late is too late for a slogan T-shirt? (Briefly: no; if you really must; any time after 1985 is too late for a slogan T-shirt.) Here are the rules for those men.

Should I grow a beard?

It's OK to grow a beard if you're Jeremy Paxman or a Shoreditch barista

Are you a barista in an east London coffee shop? Do you play in a folk band? Ride a fixed-wheel bicycle? Curate a Tumblr feed devoted to naked girls in 1970s Scandinavian cars? Are you Jeremy Paxman? Answer yes to more than one of these and you have my permission – even encouragement – to bin your Gillette. Otherwise, for goodness sake man, have a shave.

Should I get a size M or size L?

There is nothing less stylish than a man terrorised by his own trousers, nothing less attractive than a gut spilling over a too-tight waistband. Fit and comfort are crucial. That's why skinny jeans and deep-V T-shirts look ridiculous on anyone over 24 and 10 stone. But comfort comes not only from the right size but the right fabric. Basic guideline: in spring and summer, nearly everything you wear should be primarily cotton; in autumn and winter, it should be primarily wool. But even cashmere will feel uncomfortable if it's two sizes too small.

Rucksack, man bag or briefcase?

A brown leather briefcase is a safer option than a man bag. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

Depends what you're using it for. Bags should have practical applications. If you are hiking, cycling or running to work, a rucksack makes more sense than a briefcase. And vice versa if you are carrying important documents (and a banana) to a business meeting. Man bag is a neologism that us style snobs avoid. The best of all worlds, in my opinion, is a soft-sided briefcase in brown leather.

How much should I spend on a suit?

An inconvenient truth: you get what you pay for. By no means is high-end always better than high street, especially if you're under 30, but aesthetic and ethical considerations often go hand in (bespoke) glove, and for important purchases such as suit, shoes, winter coat – investments, you might call them – it's worth splashing out (£500 minimum for a suit, around the same for a coat). As a rule of (lambskin-clad) thumb, if it's handmade in England, France or Italy, chances are the people who made it were paid and treated better than if it was mass-produced in the developing world. It'll look better for longer, too.

Which sunglasses will make me look cool?

Just because a pair of sunglasses looked cool on Steve McQueen, doesn't mean they'll suit you. Photograph: AP

Sunglasses that suit your face. There's no one-size-fits-all in men's style. If you look as if you're trying to be cool, you're not. And just because they suited Steve McQueen (the dead one) or Bob Dylan or Marcello Mastroianni, doesn't mean they're going to suit you. So try before you buy.

Can I wear colour?

The stylish man's colour palette, at least when it comes to major purchases, tends to be limited. Blue, grey and sometimes brown are correct. Lilac, lemon, mint, fuchsia, tangerine, not so much. Navy is the safest colour of all. I have navy suits, navy blazers, a navy overcoat, a navy waxed jacket for colder weekends, a navy blouson for warmer weekends. Formalwear is black or white, midnight blue at a push. Shirts are white, pale blue, perhaps pale pink. Leather shoes are black or brown. Injections of colour into smart outfits tend to come from accessories: red socks, yellow tie, patterned scarf. Red jacket, yellow shirt, patterned trousers? Not so good. At weekends or on holiday, of course, all bets are off – knitwear, polo shirts, swimming trunks can be any colour of the rainbow. I still tend to stick to navy.

What about patterned shirts?

Topman flroal shirt, £86

Pattern is essential – the world would be a boring place without it – but it demands expertise. Generally, the rule is not to clash. If you are wearing a check jacket, make sure your shirt is a block colour, and vice versa. Leave the competing checks, the deliberately clashing colours and the oppositional prints (striped shirt with spotted tie) to the professionals. Better to mix pattern with texture. If you are wearing a patterned shirt, match it with a plain knitted silk tie.

How do I dress for the office?

A really good suit makes you stand up straighter, walk taller. Rightly or wrongly, it makes the world take you more seriously. And if it is cut right and fits properly (snug but not tight), and the cloth is soft and light, it is the most flattering thing a man can possibly wear. You don't have to go full bespoke to get a good one. Plenty of excellent off‑the-peg suits are available, and you can – and should – take them to an independent tailor after purchase so they can be fitted to you. As far as trends go, double‑breasted is fashionable again, after decades of obsolescence, and a very slightly more relaxed cut – a softer shoulder, a fractionally longer jacket, trousers fitted but not cut quite so close – has arrived to liberate us all from the excessively buttoned-up, Mad Men-inspired 60s-style suits of the past decade.

Must I wear a tie?

Don't follow our leaders in wearing a suit but no tie. Photograph: FilmMagic

Business shirts need not draw attention to themselves. That's what ties are for: shocks of colour and personality in otherwise conservative outfits. Just know this: if you take your fashion tips from Cameron, Clegg, Miliband et al (in case you hadn't noticed, style-wise our political leaders are a bunch of middle-management dorks), you will find yourself going about in a suit and shirt with no tie, and you, too, will be unkissably uncool.

What does 'smart casual' actually mean?

Nobody really knows. It was invented by a corporate torturer to make men feel apprehensive when packing for office away-days. In these situations, it is always better to be over- rather than under-dressed. I take smart casual to mean soft, lightweight blazer (in navy!), business shirt, chinos (also navy!), loafers or brogues: all readily available from your local department store or mall, or, indeed, online from the comfort of your wingback armchair. Equally, you could wear a cotton bomber jacket over a lightweight sweater and polo shirt, or a weekend jacket in tweed or corduroy. Unless there's golf involved – please, dear God, no golf – I'd leave the cardigan at home. Too Tarbuck even for the 19th hole.

Is there anything I definitely shouldn't wear?

If James May would wear it, don't. Photograph: Rex Features

The simplest of simple rules: if James May might consider wearing it, you never should. It may seem cruel to single out one man in particular for opprobrium, and May, the blokeish, shaggy-haired Top Gear co-presenter, is possibly not the worst-dressed man in Britain. (Laurence Llewelyn Bowen? Louie Spence? Ed Sheeran?) But he's close. May breaks every rule of elegant dressing. His outfits are so ghastly they bring on a sort of synaesthesia: I can hear his wardrobe: the jangling, floral-print shirts, the screeching leather blazers (Mr Byrite, autumn/winter collection 1978), the clanging boot-cut jeans. The fact that he is representative of a certain type of middle-aged British male – the classic-rock-listening, high-performance-car-driving, tin-soldier-collecting saloon-bar bore – only makes not following his lead all the more essential.

How do you wear jeans?

Simon Cowell is a constant reminder of how not to wear jeans. Photograph: Corbis

Denim might appear the most humble and democratic of fabrics, but jeans are fiendishly difficult to get right, as Simon Cowell so helpfully (and regularly) demonstrates. Many of us spend years trying to find the perfect pair of jeans – at which point that style is invariably discontinued by the manufacturer. I generally refrain from recommending specific designers or items, but fashion is full of exceptions and here's one: APC, a rather esoteric French brand, makes a product named New Standard Regular-Fit Selvedge Denim Jeans. I have numerous pairs, in various stages of disintegration. They obey every rule of good jeans: medium-rise waist; straight leg; slim-ish but not skinny; raw, indigo denim (it'll fade); absolutely no branding, or unnecessary stitching, or rips, or diamanté. By the way, that whole thing of wearing your jeans with a suit jacket, canvas trainers and an open-necked shirt? It doesn't make you look like a Lower East Side art rocker. It makes you look like an oily Euro sex pest.

Should I wear trainers to work?

This brings us to the question of kit. Kit is anything with a practical application beyond keeping you warm – or at least covered – and presentable. Walking boots, motorcycle jacket, tracksuit, these are all examples of kit. They should all be worn for the purposes for which they were designed. So: walking, riding a motorcycle, playing Nintendo Wii while eating crisps. Some very uncharitable style snobs include trainers – or sneakers, as fashion people, irritatingly, have taken to calling them – under the "kit" banner, insisting tennis shoes should be worn only to play that sport, running shoes for running, and so on. I'm of a younger vintage; I grew up fetishising sports shoes and am secretly thrilled that after years when technical trainers played runner-up to scruffy Converse plimsolls, colourful, mass-produced blobjects are back on fashionable feet. Word to the wise: unless you are a twentysomething creative at a bleeding-edge east London start-up, save your trainer-wearing for the weekend.

Is it ever OK to wear a fleece?

It's only OK to wear a fleece if you present Springwatch like Chris Packham. Photograph: BBC/Dragonfly Productions

Do you work at Iceland? Do you present Springwatch? Answer yes to one or both of these and you are excused. Otherwise, black mark.

How much attention should I pay to accessories?

If you can afford it, a good Swiss-made watch is a handsome thing to own – watches being, for most men, the only way to ornament themselves these days, eyebrow rings being so passé. A decent diver's watch goes from around £1,200 up to infinity. (Start saving now.) As for handmade English leather shoes, the really well-heeled man will own at least one pair of the following for work: leather oxfords, leather brogues, leather loafers. I would add to that: weekend brogues, desert boots or chukkas, suede loafers. Admittedly, none of these is cheap. But they are built to last. My Tricker's brogues were bought in the late 1990s (in the January sales, for less than £200) and I wear them at least once a week. I have them resoled occasionally, polish them regularly and see no reason they won't outlive me. My Panerai watch, also acquired before the turn of the century, has been worn every day since, except for two brief periods when I've sent it to be serviced. Equally, you could wear Crocs and a plastic digital watch. And never have sex again.

What should I wear in bed?

Derek Rose pyjamas, £135

I have reached a certain age. I wear pyjamas (Derek Rose, if anyone's really interested). But there are no rules in the bedroom, or at least none I want to lay down. Wear a silk dressing gown over a terrycloth pantsuit if that's what'll get you through the night. Wear a vintage West Brom football strip, wear a leather catsuit, wear nothing at all, let it all hang out, see if I care. Sometimes, a man should do and wear whatever the hell he pleases, and the rest of the world can go hang. Fashion's about that, too.