For a few days, the British capital became the center of the men's fashion world, as a new edition of the London Collections: Men took place. The event that served as an inspiration for the new New York Fashion Week: Men event showcased the latest collections of British as well as of international designers. The collections, designed for the fall-winter 2016-17 season represented a rather wide palette of views and design aesthetics.
While most garments were wearable and could have went from the runway to the street, a few designers chose to play with prints, shapes and cuts in a way that made the clothes more experimental and artsy. And then there were those looks that were right in the middle: somewhat expected, but somewhat artsy as well.
Large prints, boxy figures and loose cuts were some of the trends many designers went for, but there were also sharp-fitting figures to be seen on the runways of London.
Let's take a look at the 10 best looks that walked the runway during the LCM FW 16-17 shows.
The colors of this Bobby Abley look are really amazing and the print-pattern mix is a remarkable duo. Remember: A print has a composition like a painting, while a pattern is a repeated construction.
This outfit is modern, dynamic and sporty and interprets color and pattern mixing in a very creative way. What you can learn from this look is that you can wear a print (the top) with a pattern (the pants) that feature the same color (green), but in different shades, and look amazing, even if you are wearing a sports outfit. Top it all off with a dark jacket that balances out the strength of the pants and top, and you are all set.
This ultramodern 1205 look is really outstanding. Composed of basic, simple, wearable pieces, this futuristic outfit makes a statement by using only fine lines, smooth cuts and overall flowing pieces. The result is a noteworthy look that can go almost anywhere.
If you love prints and pattern mixes, this is the look for you. The James Long collection featured many colorful, bold and cookie looks (in a good way). This outfit was one of our favorites, as it shows how you can wear clothes that are visually very strong with neutral pieces (the jacket) that will balance out the prints. Well done!
Opting for a simple, yet sophisticated and well-crafted aesthetic is always a great way to go and this Coach outfit exemplifies that. The clothes flow, but fit well, they are relaxed but in place. Moreover, the brown shoes are a great detail - they kind of remind us of Hardy Amies' statement: "To achieve the nonchalance, which is absolutely necessary for a man, one article at least must not match."
A very elegant outfit that makes use of strong prints and that makes great style inspiration is this look from Casely Hayford. It is remarkable how the label mixed a texture - a texture is a print that can be also felt - (the coat) with a pattern (the pants) that are bold, but made them make each other stand out. Contrast does have a lot of power and makes for great visual impact.
Playing with contrasts as well, J.W. Anderson offered this look as part of their autumn-winter 2016-17 collection. What one can take from this outfit is that you can mix patterns that are identical in shape, but very different in color. We loved the textured leather airy pants as well.
Generally, ponchos can go either very costumey or really good. In the case of Edward Crutchley, the poncho worked incredibly. Matched with a fun hat and a contrasting shirt colorwise, this look made us wonder whether ponchos shouldn't be a permanent trend. Moreover, this poncho looked so great, it even made the otherwise unflattering shoes look great! Talk about mixing high and low.
Mixing prints and textures of different sizes and playing with similar shades, this look from the YMC collection is definitely a look whose power lies in the details. The bag, made from the same material as a part of the jacket, is a great statement about how fashion is everything that surrounds us, not just our clothes.
Matthew Miller's take on classic menswear led to a futuristic interpretation of who the modern man is. With sharp pieces, oversized, yet well-fitted cuts and an eye for a deconstructive aesthetic, this outfit was one of our favorites from the Matthew Miller collection. The styling was also impeccable: the shiny shoes were the perfect choice and the belt worn over the scarf came as a nice surprise.
Boxing was the inspiration for the Sibling collection, which was in fact one of our favorite collections from the entire fashion event. Starting in a very concrete and regulated point and making it unique and original is what fashion is all about. This outfit was among the best outfits from the collection, as it was a balancing act between sportswear and very stylish clothes.
The fall-winter 2016-17 season definitely looks great in the minds of the designers that showcased at London Collections: Men between the 8 th and 11 th January 2016. Once again, the men's fashion world showed that it is powerful and that it can carry a whole fashion event, with a lot of new things to see and discover.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What look/fashion show did you like best from LCM? What brands are you looking forward to seeing at the next fashion weeks? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!
