That’s it, London fashion week AW12 is over. The season ended with Menswear and went out with a bang. There is some seriously hot talent in Menswear, which is often over looked with all the hoopla for Women’s wear. Kate Moss sitting front row with husband Jamie Hince at James Small gave the day a celebrity hit which is very much needed to gain exposure for the the designers.
For autumn/ winter you would be forgiven for mistaking these trends for summer. There were lots of bright colours including sunshine yellow and neon pink, plenty of cut-out details, crochet and mesh, even shorts, yes shorts for winter.
On the street the looks were dapper, many favouring full suiting or simple elements such as a blazer, brogues or cravat. Prints were were also chosen by many, echoed in the runway collections, subtle pastel prints will be big news come autumn. All this sounds very formal yet quite the opposite is true. Sportswear influences will always be popular on the street be it trainers with a suit or a casual rucksack.
One lesson we should learn from the guys is their eye for detail. This is something I actually feel many Menswear retailers are missing a trick with. The department stores are very drab, even monotonous with row upon row of extremely similar merchandise. Yet the men are just as keen, actually perhaps more interested in finding something unique in this mass market world. Talking to guys today from a range of ages and backgrounds the majority wanted something special, something different, perhaps limited edition or rare vintage. One group of well dressed young men got really excited telling me how they shopped, how they found a piece to complete their look. From new season Nike’s to bargains in TK Maxx, one thing is for sure, guys love to shop and image is everything!
FPOW + TK Maxx for LFW
(Kate Moss image via Grazia Live)
