STREET STYLE MENSWEAR article for MFN!!!

Just as eco chic is becoming more apparent in our ever-evolving fashionable lives, street style is having an increasingly large affect on the way in which we dress ourselves. In the fashion industry particularly, designers are now sourcing inspiration and constantly trend spotting, hip whereabouts and cities, for unique figures in the style stakes. It’s now the norm to take a leaf out of someone else’s fashion book and create a concept inspired by an individual who wears it well.

The latest Menswear collection from Japanese powerhouse Comme Des Garcons Homme SS/10 seems to have demonstrated this exact creative styling ethos. Clad in a youthful juxtaposition of suiting, knitwear, kilts, baseball cardigans, waistcoats and t-shirts, this collection sure is explosive in terms of colour and energy. A vast array of fabrics, prints and patterns such as tweed, checks, plaid, patterned knits, denim and an unconventional addition of the silk tie were featured in garments.

All of these striking materials were cleverly combined through the process of patchwork, which ultimately ties the collection together in layers, strips and blocks of contrasting colour and pattern. The palette echo’s that of a rainbow, with almost every colour on the spectrum making an appearance, from acidic bright yellows to primary reds and blues paired with shiny steel grey, orange and the occasional salmon pink.

Bold, striking and smart this collection exudes attitude, unconventionality and a hint of late eighties early nineties preppy gone wrong. Garcon’s fashionable look is considerably grungy; with visual references to street styles formerly worn by Teddy boys via the two pieces suits, turn-ups and side buckle brothel creepers, which have had a somewhat contemporary twist with two-tone acid bright coloured leather.

A character that indeed wears his well is Duckie from Pretty In Pink circa 1986, whose style bears a remarkable resemblance to this particular catwalk collection. Duckie personifies an eccentric youth, whose style revolves around thrift store finds and a penchant for Teddy boy attire.

Throughout most of the movie he is seen wearing a variety of preppy jackets, in coloured tweeds and plaid, with long front lapels, sewn on patches, cuffs rolled up and all. He pairs his with quirky patterned shirts, layered underneath silky waistcoats and accessorises with western bolo neckties to give a unique look. Just like Garcon’s guys, Duckie has his trousers rolled up to sport a pair of white leather low crepe sole pointed brothel creepers that are unashamedly beautiful. I want those shoes!!!

Surfers and Skaters alike, Garcon’s collection also showcases attire that references these comfortable and desirable wares, with the addition of Hawaiian style floral prints cut into harem crotch shorts and trousers to ensure a baggy fitting silhouette.

One of my favourite Menswear collections by far this year, I love the interesting and unexpected brilliance behind the attention to detail in Garcon’s work. Silk ties for example have been strategically integrated into formal jackets to create lively depictions of boldness through a DIY approach to stitch and pattern. Pockets have humorously been sewn inside out on shirts to provoke mismatched elements that cleverly steer away from the norm.

It is these details that hint in the collection eco wear, re-cycling and ethics, as the stitch techniques particularly to do with patchwork, are incredibly easy to achieve if you have some old fabrics lying around and are handy with a needle and thread. The models can’t help but represent to me youthful street swaggering eco warriors dressed in a psychedelic mish mash of anti-fashion. Eccentric, bold, smart, innovative and most of all very very beautiful.