Ever wondered what would happen if Rambo encountered Rocky in a walk-in closet?
In a move sure to have fashionistas scratching their heads, Sylvester Stallone has announced plans to develop Stallone, a “men’s lifestyle brand” inspired by his turns in Rocky and Rambo. The line will debut in 2012, and its first collection will feature jeans, outerwear, shirts, underwear and watches. Eyewear, grooming products, fragrance, and athletic shoes will follow. It’s unclear just how much camouflage will bleed into the designs, but Stallone says he will target men between 25 and 40, and sell the range in mid-tier department stores like Macy’s.
(More on TIME.com: Find out why Sly Stallone is one of TIME’s Top 10 Badass Geezers)
The action star’s foray into fashion isn’t as whimsical as you might think. Speaking to Women’s Wear Daily, the 64-year old said be became “truly involved in style” for the first time after the filming of Rambo 2, when he shed 25 pounds. “Nothing fit so I started buying custom clothing. I found out I really like this world.” Working with tailors in Italy, he relished new textures and patterns and fabrics—and they opened his eyes to fashion’s role in constructing personal character—and in building a movie character. As he says of Rocky Balboa: “If he wore white and pleated pants, it would have been a whole different thing. Clothes affect one’s attitude.”
To give Stallone ample time to philosophize about fashion, he’s appointed retail executive Michael Henry president of the newly-formed Sly, Inc. He claims that Stallone has great advice to offer on clothing and accessory options, and he clearly finds inspiration in Sly’s various roles. “Rocky at the end of the day is a love story,” Henry says, “while Rambo showcases the other side of masculinity, he’s a loner.”
Right. So maybe NewsFeed would benefit by embracing both sides of our personality and crafting a wardrobe that’s part rebel, part gentleman. But can we actually pair an ammunition-inspired belt with a three-piece suit? (via WWD)
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