New York – Last season, at the first ever NYFW: Men’s, it was clear that men’s wear
was falling into two camps, either athleisure or vintage glamour. It looks
like the trend in men’s wear is continuing with New York Men’s Day
showcasing the diversity of brands who still fall into either one of these
two camps.
To begin with, their was Krammer and Stoudt whose offerings gravitated
between the traditional stylish gentleman and the casual cool guy. There
were tailored suits, bomber jackets, and striped t-shirts. The brand proved
that high-fashion doesn’t always have to be either or when it comes the
picking between casual and formal, and a combination of the two can make
for a great ensemble.
Max ‘n Chester also emphasized this point as they paired blazers and
suiting pants with offerings like casual t-shirts and sweaters and snow
caps. The looks were very contemporary New York street style, and seemed
like something right off the go-to selections rack for many of the
attendees at New York Fashion Week: Men’s.
On the other hand, PLAC was all about the athleisure offerings and neutral
colors with a strong focus on black and white. Neutrals are always a safe
bet for men’s wear, as men tend to be more reserved about their fashion
choices (although that is slowly changing with more patterns popping up.)
The brand’s offerings for this season included white and black jackets,
black joggers, and neutral colored hoodies.
They are one of the many examples of how men’s fashion has adopted a more
urban aesthetic thanks to the athleisure trend. Garciavelez also falls into
this camp of designers who have turned toward a more relaxed look. The
label’s inspiration for the collection came from a thermal spa holiday, and
this season they were all about the loose layered silhouettes. Loose
fitting clothes don’t need to be tacky, as they proved with offerings like
a camel coat with rounded shoulders, baggy trousers, and wide cut t-shirts.
Then there was the creme de la creme of vintage glamour, David Hart. For
his collection, the designer took it all the way back to the jazz era and
used all Black models for a collection that seemed straight out of the
Harlem Renaissance. Offerings included plaid blazers, tuxedos and suits
made from coated fabrics, and leather and suede bombers.
The outlier from all the usual trends of men’s wear would be Edmund Ooi.
The designer, who had a very avant-garde collection last season, scaled
back his usual aesthetic for his fall/winter 2016 collection. This season,
he gave us cropped sweaters, leather moto jackets, and a polyester
trenchcoat. While the designer might be trending towards more functional
offerings, he always has the elastic waistbands as part of his signature
construction in his garments.
New York Men’s Day proved that men’s fashion continues to be an ever
changing landscape, and there is room for every look from the casual to the
formal. This is just the beginning to what’s to come for New York Fashion
Week: Men’s.
Photo:PLAC via Agentry PR