Paris Fashion Week Pick of the Day: Rue du Mail

Polka dot is turned upside down in this monochrome cocoon shaped blouson from the Rue du Mail’s spring/summer 2013 show in Paris. Teaming a lazer-cut circle linked white skirt with a statement giant orb polka dot sleek sport inspired blouson. Creating a quirky update of the traditional polka dot print.

London Collections: Men debut

We have previously posted a piece about London Collections: Men during London fashion week directly after GQ Editor and BFC committee chairman Dylan Jones officially announced the forthcoming event pre-James Long catwalk show. Planning for the event has been in the works for many years ever since the conception of men’s day, Menswear has of course grown in stature becoming an international reference point for innovative design across the world. 

If you’re like us a patriotic supporter in the amazing new talent that is currently being produced in the UK then you will surely be revelling in the debut London Menswear fashion event that begins in June, kicking off the Spring 2013 menswear catwalk season.

London is in good stead with more designer’s signing up to the first London Collections: Men schedule including American staple Tommy Hilfiger, Thom Browne which left us shocked and excited plus the return of Jonathan Saunders and Paul Smith whose menswear collection’s are always constant highlights during the Milan and Paris catwalks.

Prior to the schedule being announced the week was kicked off by protestors storming the streets of Savile Row in protest over the planned expansion of American mega brand Abercrombie & Fitch within Savile Row. Dapper gent’s favourite publication The Chap magazine orchestrated the event, a comment not just on the invasion of chain shops on to the iconic street but also on the state of men’s street fashion.  The Chap believes people have lost touch with style and have taken the no effort and laid back approach to fashion that is so favourably embraced by Abercrombie & Fitch. Savile Row needs little by way of introduction; its famous tailors are world renowned to pretty much everyone seeking the best of tailoring. Epitomising the underbelly of menswear in the UK’s distinctive aesthetic, being sharp, tailored, quirky and always stylish. Savile Row will have its own presentation slot with London Collections: Men’s HQ at the Hospital Club.

London Collections: Men comes at an amazing time, sure the Queen’s Jubilee and Olympics’ are creating an incredibly international spotlight but with the economy in dire straits this is the time to champion the UK burgeoning fashion industry. Cue Prince Charles whose championing of locally sourced food and British Wool will host a very special reception before the three-day event begins helping bolster it’s profile. 

But most of all the three-day event will give young talent that has kept people talking about London for so long access to more buyers and press in-line with the rest of the menswear season.  Topman’s NEWGEN initiative continues to support the best of London’s menswear designers including the return of J.W. Anderson, Lou Dalton, Christopher Shannon, Katie Eary and Matthew Miller to name a few. 

For the full provisional schedule visit the official website here londoncollections.co.uk

Full list of participating designers below;

London Fashion Week A/W 2012: J.W. Anderson

If there’s one designer whose collections echo the spirit of youth culture it’s J.W. Anderson. After season’s of carefully watching J.W. Anderson’s career unfold this season was definitely the moment where his showmanship has been knocked up a few notches. For A/W 2012 Anderson looks to the 70’s for inspiration, re-interrupting the golden age of youth culture with a spectrum of bright turtlenecks, cropped flares to graphic and textural knits. 

Bold chunky knitwear referenced mariner aesthetics in a series of textured oversize roped grids and optic grill’s, while Statement Fluro tangerine brushed mohair and primary colour turtle necks with pineapple broaches added a dash of colour. Retro prints add a fun twist from Farm yard cockerel motif’s on white sweater’s to the optic illusion 70’s psychedelic swirl two pieces in red and blue.

Shaking the roots of menswear design is always something Anderson has aimed for in his collections, and it rings true throughout this season from unconventional use’s of material, aesthetics to reworked masculine silhouettes. The most dramatic being a series of star war uniform-esque quilted leather all in ones layered with hats, skirts, aprons and laptop cases to rubber shiny look minimalist robed overcoat. The diamond quilted skirts worn over rubber look trousers showcases Anderson’s ability to blur the boundaries between genders, a confident and innovative stance on the future of menswear design.

Whilst at the London Fashion Week Exhibition we took a few photographs of the knitwear on display, we picked out our highlights which included this rainbow block stripe jumper, grid shirt and the luxurious peach brush throw knit with pineapple broach. 

New York Fashion Week: Lincoln Square

Check our photo diary from Lincoln Square at New York Fashion Week taken by our lovely photographer Amie Leeking yesterday.

Images Courtesy of Amie Leeking for The London Style Journal please ask before using elsewhere. 

New York Fashion Week: Tim Hamilton

NY Fashion Week Pick of the Day: Nicholas K

This ‘Dark Rodeo’ look dominated the Nicholas K A/W 2012-13 collection at New York fashion week today. In a similar vain to last season’s Miu Miu collection, ghoulish stark black colours and zombie-esque make-up styling was a recurring theme throughout the collection. Large cowboy hats, tassel blocking billowed dresses, sheer materials and slick leather all echo the dark Americana influences which underline Nicholas autumn collection.

courtesy of style.com

Menswear: Acne Angora Styling

Acne’s a/w 2012-13 collection utilized grunge’s signature oversized silhouettes and layered styling in a selection of striking fluffy angora knits at Paris fashion week last week. Utilizing a fresh colour palette of pastel mint green, grey blue, vibrant persimmon and white Acne gives these classic knits a contemporary twist. Staying true to grunge aesthetics Acne almost haphazardly layers garments together, but it really works especially when they team two angora knits together combing a mint green cardigan with a thick grey blue pull over.

Paris Fashion Week: Kenzo

Last weekend saw the debut Kenzo menswear collection under the creative direction of Opening Ceremony maestros Humberto Leon and Carol Lim. As with their own global retail empire and label Lim and Leon have their finger on the essence of cool, their debut menswear collection for Kenzo doesn’t fail to disappoint.  

Paris Fashion Week Pick of the day: Raf Simons

This look at the Raf Simons autumn/winter 2012-13 collection at Paris fashion week provided us with our pick of the day. Creating boxy silhouettes in this look Raf Simons creates baggy layering effect teaming a gradient tri-coloured jumper, oversized shirt styled on top of a tailored shirt producing an interested contrast of shapes in clashing autumnal palettes of teal, bottle green, aubergine.

Milan Fashion Week Pick of the Day: Prada

The shirt and waistcoat colour matching combination produces an extra special touch to this layered tailoring look from Pradas Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection. Whilst the deep cosmetic red of the turtle neck covering the models chin freshens up this subtle cool palette. 

Vivienne Westwood Milan Fashion Week 2012-13 

Day two of Milan menswear fashion week saw Vivienne Westwood present her latest Autumn/Winter 2012-13 Man collection. Inspired by the David Attenborough documentary series ‘Frozen Planet’, the collection observes primarily the global affect of climate change on the future of the Earth. More specifically Vivienne Westwood chose the polar explorers as her muse for Autumn/Winter 2012-13, with hooded fur coats and rugged thick knits acting as the foundation to the core design aesthetic of the collection. Highlights include fake fur trim parkas, oversized shearling golden brown coats, eagle motif placement knitted pullover, patchwork DIY suits, thick knit space dye turtle necks and black flurry thick fur coat. 

All Photos courtesy of Style.com Vivienne Westwood Autumn/Winter 2012-13