Alvin Manalo is the head designer and creative director of Saint Augustine Academy. With the label now in its 11th season, Alvin has established himself as an inspired and talented designer being acclaimed by stockists and media alike. The label has had representation in some of the world’s most prestigious and respected boutiques, including H.Lorenzo in Los Angeles, The Lawn in Singapore, Midwest in Tokyo and in renowned Sex and The City stylist Patricia Field’s store, Hotel Venus, in New York.

As a regular fixture in Sydney’s art and music scene, Alvin’s collections are influenced by indie rock ‘n roll and all its sub-cultures; from the sleekness of the mods to the hardness of the punks, from the darkness of the goths to the eccentricities of the New Romantics. Signature features of Saint Augustine Academy’s collections are; a limited colour palette and directional tailoring. Moving forward, Saint Augustine Academy plans to expand their womenswear and introducing accessories and footwear. Sales-wise, the label will be exploring new opportunities and stockists in Europe and Asia.

Saint Augustine Academy has dressed numerous international and local rock bands for events and appearances – including Nick Cave, MGMT, The Killers, Bloc Party, Operator Please, Interpol, Hot Hot Heat, The Rapture, The Horrors, The Bravery, and The Scare.

More Info: www.saintaugustineacademy.com.au

Lifestyles

1. Men shouldn’t be afraid to experiment – confidence is your best accessory. Try wearing pants or jeans short and cuffed for an element of difference, or try a bow tie with a slim-fit check shirt.
2. Mix your genres so as not to look too ‘costumey’, e.g. mod-goth, dandy-grunge, business-beatnik…
3. Do up the top button of your shirt when wearing a tie and tuck in your shirt.
4. Everybody should own a pair of vintage cufflinks and say ‘no’ to shiny jewelry.
5. Don’t wash your hair everyday. You could even skip shampooing every other time. Washing hair too much causes the scalp to over-compensate the lack of moisture by releasing oils, causing greasy hair.
6. Good hygiene is as good as a good outfit.
7. Make sure that it is something that can be worn / used for more than one occasion.
8. Don’t look at an outlandish or eccentric piece as ‘too special’ to wear. It could become your signature piece.