With less than two weeks to go to a new season of men’s fashion, we at MenStyleFashion are sharpening our pencils and cleaning our glasses. The British Fashion Council’s showcase for male fashion, London Collections: Men will enter its third season on June 16 and there is a whole lot to anticipate. Afraid you won’t get to see the best bits? Relax and take notes: We’ll run it down for you right here.
First off, there are exhibitions taking place at the Hospital Club. Among them, you’ll find quintessentially British brands and newcomers alike – Lee Roach, Matthew Miller, Dr. Martens (let us hope they have expanded their vegan shoe line!). Labels who have opted for private spaces include Hackett London, E. Tautz and Christopher Kane to name but a few. We’re especially keen on Kane; the man who brought us extraterrestrial prints in 2010, thus gaining recognition from every stylish East Ender and the Tumblr universe.
The Catwalks
And talking about tumblr, it’s a safe bet your feed will look like a digitalized version of the Polaroid wall at Storm model management for the weeks following LCM. Posts that typically re-occur on a 20 minutes basis are runway images. With more than 60 catwalk shows, London is gearing up to be the biggest menswear showcase of the season – sorry Milan, Paris and New York. As a faithful devotee to everything men’s fashion, you are of course aware of Tom Ford, Burberry Prorsum and Paul Smith appearing on the schedule but can we please have a moment to talk about Dolce & Gabbana? The dynamic Italian duo currently fined millions for tax evasion are set to present their collection on the eve of the 15th, simultaneously opening their first Menswear Store in the British capital. Looking back at their elaborate fashion catalogue, one thing is for sure: Domenico and Stefano always come up with something new and exciting, whether you like it or not. Their style has grown up over the years but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a realistic chance they will have David Gandy strut his stuff in a Mickey Mouse tank and banana skirt (can this please happen?).
Anticipation
However, what keeps us biting our nails with anticipation is what we expect to see from Alexander McQueen and J.W. Anderson! Last season, the former convinced us with pinstripe suits reminiscent of post-war Hollywood gangsters, radiant red tones and patterns and something we believe to have seen in Hugh Hefner’s bathrobe closet before. The entire collection felt like out of a movie; an impression only strengthened by the theatrical, serial killer-esque masks on some of the models’ faces. J.W., on the other hand, created a much more sexual collection. As if starring in a fetish porn movie, the male model gang was whipped out on the runway wearing leather dresses, skirts and boots in (50) shades of grey and some black. Anderson showed us where menswear could and should be taken in the vibrant London – away from what is ordinary and has been long established and towards a braver, more daring future. Young men are invited and encouraged to be experimental and question conventions. They are being given an outlet of expression in an industry that sometimes relies on the male tendency towards conformity.
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