London Collections Men on the last day saw a series of shows and
presentations as diverse as John Smedley’s store opening to New York-based
brand Coach’s second show in London. The four day fashion affair culminated
with the annual Samuel L. Jackson and Dylan Jones charity karaoke party,
which first debuted last year at the iconic Abbey Studios in North London.
It was Americana in overdrive at Coach’s Spring Summer 2017 presentation.
For a brand who’s bags and leather goods are the sales drivers, there were
ample new propositions for next season, such as leather shoppers covered
with studs, pins and other fashion paraphernalia.
While every look was styled around the most American of all products – the
humble t-shirt – the attention was thwarted to the laborious and vibrant
detailing that left no garment untouched.
FashionUnited will focus on the menswear catwalk season during the month of June, by featuring exclusive and in-depth coverage on Men’s Fashion Weeks, including (), Milan (Milano Moda Uomo), Paris (Mode Masculine Paris) and New York (New York Men’s Fashion Week) and more. For more articles on menswear, click .
Buckles were used in a big way, on the front of leather jackets, on shoes
and most of the outerwear. There were prints galore courtesy of American
illustrator Gary Baseman, renowned for his animation and playful creatures.
In the end there was little product that wasn’t buckled, printed, studded
or in some form over-styled, however if you like your fashion trimmed with
gratuitous extras this collection will tick all the boxes.
Some designers like to send look after look down the runway, making sure
there are plenty of hero pieces and press worthy ensembles to capture the
imagination of the industry’s journalists. Christopher Kane is not one of
them. This season his menswear was reduced to a look book featuring just 10
looks, unveiled during an appointment only event on the LCM calendar.
But those ten looks had a theme, and Kane titled the collection ‘Law and
Order,’ finding inspiration from cop shows and police identification
graphics. The clothes featured gingham, checks and traditional patterns, of
which Kane stated: “In many ways, the collection is a reflection of what I
grew up with; that clean, pristine, washed and ironed sportswear way of
dressing–the casual kids in Glasgow–mixed with the world of TV: Crimewatch
and Casual.”
A slippery fish-print on silk that featured on shirting, swimwear and
morning gowns may not sound like the most delectable of fashion choices,
but it was a tongue-in-cheek motif that dominated Katie Eary’s SS17
collection.
Models with their hair slicked back, shirts open wearing Ellesse sliders,
were clad, as Eary dubbed, in their ‘working-class, market town weekend
finery.’ It was always going to be a buoyant affair, with the catwalks
strewn with lobster pots and netting.
Less directional and shimmery but perhaps more wearable, at least for men,
were the striped fuzzy sweaters that came at the end. Top marks for colour
blocking.
Photo Credit: London Collections: Men, The British Fashion Council