men’s fashion
LCM AW15
I know … I know I was meant to review the collections from LCM and I know its pretty late in the day. But my apologies for that. For those who don’t know LCM is London Collection: Men, a fashion week dedicated solely to Menswear. Designers especially those in London do make it a point to have a presentation. While this time around the Fashion Week was a bit low key, needless to say it wasn’t without it’s major high points.
TOM FORD
Tom Ford deems it extremely difficult to change up evening wear menswear, one challenge that he triumphs everytime he ventures into a presentation of menswear. While it was not a runway show for him at LCM, Tom Ford has made it a point of showcasing his outfits through a personal appointment, primarily because of counterfiet. His collection, undoubtedly was sexy and a straight up nod to the sixties with optical illusions and patterns in a black and white palette. Successfully combining leather with evening wear as well as playing up on jackets with the shearling trend (you’d be surprised at the amount of designers who showcased this 70s trend) for upcoming winters in the northern hemisphere, Tom ford’s collection was visually stunning and immaculately made. From tailored fits to oversized coats with drainpipe pants, he nailed his latest outing for AW15.
CHRISTOPHER SHANNON
Never the one afraid to make a statement, Christopher Shannon’s latest offering seemed more like a social comment on the social standing of many people struggling to make ends meet. From taglines of Save me and Broke with trash adorned as headgear and some interpretation of garments as st-ripped plastic bag coming apart at seams, the collection made an observational comment on the conditions of the not so elite population. He combined the trash with loads of sportswear references. Oversized, Ripping apart or Cinched at waist (yes his corsets did make it to the runway), his collection hinted at the irony of speaking up for those who wouldn’t be able to afford it, while being expensive within its commerce. We don’t get to see much of these statements on runway these days let alone for menswear.
BURBERRY
The chic set, the live singer and a modern approach, the Burberry brand under Christopher Bailey has come quite a long way. This time around with a chic boho vibe to the collection, Burberry’s presentation within closed walls and indoors was a picture of luxe approach that the brand is known for. The Classically Bohemian collection hit quite a few high notes esp. for me since it was somewhat I personally like. Part boho, part chic, the pieces were relaxed, the silhouettes slightly upsized and with a generous amount of accents and pops within the ensemble. Rich tones, printed accents, fringed shawls (that green look was a-mazing) all came together for an outing of glam with a bohemian twist. Heck he even did leopard well in some of the garments (and no I still am not personally inclined towards leopard print… ever… unless done extremely well). From print on print to model sporting mirror worked shirts and scarves, this was one well travelled urban gypsy that made waves on the runway. However even in his Bohemian outing, Bailey’s twist on classics does lean on it too to provide that offset a perfect grounding to make that impact. What I liked… solids paired with prints, printed seperates, the green suited look with luxurious fringed shawl…pretty much almost everything
TOPMAN
The design team at Topman knows their commercial game all too well that they send down the runway a whole journey of looks covering a wide base of range that could later be trickled down in their stores. They know you need to amp it up for the runway and they do it how. Going the Bombay Rollers theme, the collection’s sixties theme was pretty evident within its presentation. With the psychedelic patterns running in the backdrop, I wonder if they went on a bit of Dum Maaro Dum journey… heehehe. The collection with its coming together of silhouettes from opposing ends of the world came together from capes and jacket to hippie prints. Graduating into plaid looks and shearling jackets, the Bay Rollers band inspiration played all too well within the collection. However the designers were careful not to present and overtly costumey collection. Particularly with menswear a slight alteration in fit or a centimeter or two more within that flare of hem and it would have been a disaster and that is where the brand scored. Exercising immense control over it’s ensembles, one could already see how the pieces would translate within the store as seperates. The brand held its own amongst the ‘designer’ giants with a precision and restraint that was impressive to every thread count.
J.W.ANDERSON
Part American Hustle, Part modern day dandy, J.W.Anderson’s collection oozed a lot of 70’s with its silhouettes and presentation along with his mishmash of references from the past. From flared trousers, extra large collars, corduroy jackets to seude coats, trim shearlings on jackets and and oversized silhouettes, Anderson unapologetically borrows from past and is not afraid to display his references. From that to evoking the turn of the 19th century dandy with solid colored suits and fringed scarves, Anderson’s devil may care attitude was pretty evident in his slew of ensembles that echoed bygone eras. The one to have fun with fashion, his collection was hard to slot … a perfect setting that went with his notes of ‘a free thinker with an interest in pataphysics (a prankish pseudo philosophy)’. With an intriguing quality that is hard to achieve as a designer to leave his audience with questions and discussions who the collection was for makes up for an interesting intentional feat to achieve where there is always a margin to look amatuer or look like it was put up in last few minuntes… If one was to go by his word, he definitely did not let his audience inhabit a comfort space for too long regarding his presentation as his ensembles made their way down the runway, keeping them guessing for who it was for…a futuristic vintage man (if there is any such) maybe!!! Who’s to say!
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Capturing the cenetary moment of World War I within the AW15 Collection for men, Sarah Burton at Mcqueen weaved history within fashion. With military as her reference points and all encompassing details… from epaulets to medals.. the whole hog but with a certain chic aesthetic. From jackets with boldly embroidered texts to pinstripe suits, Burton played upon the classic british uniform for men in all its glam. The poppies that were sent down the moat of Tower of London, as a remembrance, were used in abundance as a recurring motif. While I wasn’t too keen on the poppy trims that made for an ‘X’ on the models, however when rendered in silk jacquard for suits and coats for an overall effect made for a winning look. A play upon the armor with rose on the front of a three piece suit seemed to represent a sacred-ness of sorts of a protective breastplate like tiraz bands and calligraphic vests for Ottomans. It was melancholic with a dash of comment on the present times where war seems to be one of the major omnipresent thoughts.
PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND
Massimo Nicosia of Pringle of scotland believes in availing the opportunity of utilizing techniques both old and new (whatever he can get his hands into) within his collection. Approaching knitwear not in the usual way thus then results in an ensemble that is luxe and unusual. Manifesting design techniques and investigating into other areas, the brand pushes boundaries within knitwear construction by meshing for example 3D printing and knitting together. Be it being inspired by old tapestry, working with old looms or incorporating futuristic methods, the collection had a variety of chunky cardigans, coats, jackets in a chic avatar sent down the runway. What probably was of a personal visual interest was the fact he combined leather and knit, the clash, effortlessly within a single ensemble. Restrained and spiffy, this was definitely the modern day urban brit down the runway. My fav pieces had to be the salt n pepper cardigan and the tapestry inspired knits.
AGI & SAM
Probably one of the most talked about collection this LCM, Agi & Sam’s latest offering was one for the extremes. You either loved it or hated it. Playing upon their childhood memories, the collection was a deconstruction of their nostalgia of sorts sent down the runway which seemed to be styled such that it had its high and low moments within the short span of the presentation. Probably the most talked about pieces has to be their lego inspired head and face pieces that adorned the models. The duo known for their love for prints (definitely did not disappoint in that regards) and tailored menswear went the deconstructed route with their fall outing. Looser and wider silhouette with cropped pants dominated their collection. The prints and knits were permutations of VHS covers and prescription drug packaging that had been merged then given to children, who painted their own versions. I for one, found myself lusting after many of the pieces esp the coats. They were statement pieces that were bold, brazen and unapologetically brave… the kids definitely say the darnedest things
HARDY AMIES
Harking back to traditional techniques, roots and tailoring it was all about looking in the past via a different lens than what many others did this LCM for Hardy Amies. While many looked at different eras, Mehmet Ali from Hardy Amies focused on perfecting the art with a modern outlook. Inspired by his trekking, the collection had climber’s tube rope running through the collection as a common thread. Be it as graphics on flannel or woven in. Combining tailoring and knitwear with intense layering looking impeccable and non fussy, with a nonchalant vibe in some looks. The brand looked back at its tailoring which was bang on point, impeccable and finessed to perfection in very british fabrics. Going through the tested waters, the designer used traditional, teasel-brushed wool, a more or less obsolete technique. Who said you needed to shock in order to make a statement… get yourself pieces from Hardy Amies.
KIT NEALE
Lots of color, scrabble prints, cropped pants, cheeky tees and texture was what all Kit Neale’s collection all about. A fun affair with bursty color palette, Kit Neale’s collection embraced color in its entirety. While the pork pie hats in color pop shades provided the perfect accessory, the doc martens and forest green nodded the upcoming season. With an explosive array of typographic prints, Neale’s alphabet print pants were the one’s that garnered much applause for me. However it cannot be ruled out that with his take on single breasted suit, paired with shorts in print was quite an effort to turn tradition on its head. Bomber jackets and patched typo pieces evoked a bit of 90s and in parts childlike pre-teen inspired adventure life that played wonderfully with the youthful vibe of the show. With some statement jewels showing up at occasion during the presentation, imparted a bit of a rebel vibe with a taste.
KILGOUR
When a designer twists tailoring onto its head with an impeccable outing, you are bound to sit up and take notice. With its angled look and geometric lines, the construction by Carlo Brandelli is futuristic and contemporary while adhering to the Savile Row brand Kilgour. Playing up with the construction in its truest form, Brandelli manipulated the lapels and peaks within the traditional definition of ‘suit’ playing up with the recognizable shape and form yet giving it a futuristic edge. It is that cultural conversation of tradition versus contemporary that Brandelli seems to be wanting to explore with his set of design aesthetics with which he derived this collection. Almost wanted me to have these star in the Divergent series. Turning tradition inside out, the designer reconstructed the suit with a contemporary language that has all the potentials of turning into a modern day classic.
SIBLING
Following a pink precedent set by designer legends like Westwood, an ode to the british wild child of the boarding school, made up for a perfect theme for the collection. The pink short suits, blazers and jackets (striped ones were my fav), rebelliously laid back tied ties, pink shearling effect and pink constructed and ripped knits.. one of my favs was also the crumpled brown-paper-effect short suit. The pink and black collection with pink hair, biker jackets and use of leather also hinted at a nod to the punk. The Play School collection referred to the childhood nostalgia through the naively knitted oversized teddy bears that hung from models lapels and shoulders that added to drama of the pink power. The part hip, part brit and part punk collection byt the trio designers definitely made pink THE color of the season.
ADA+NIK
With an all clear or rather almost all black palette, Ada + Nik’s AW15 outing definitely gave me what I expected of the designers. With their signature design aesthetic in place, the nascent brand, with very experienced backing designers showed what possibly could be the future of the hipster look. Going for a much polished and minimal approach they kept the hip essence within the pieces with a contemporary outlook. There was a cleverness even within their strategy of keeping things simple. From tunics to bomber jackets, longline coats, biker jackets and tops in a variety of tech materials reflected an evolution of the brand’s signature outerwear. Heck they even showed the ‘Narrative Jacket’ – the world’s first leather jacket with in-built camera, in collaboration with the Narrative Clip to capture photos and location data without conscious interaction, breaking the fourth wall in the art of storytelling. Playing up with textures they used layered velvet sneaker net, showerproof tech fabrics, crease free memory cotton, sustainably intelligent cotton ribs and luxury airtex. One also got to see the oversized sweater (this trend seems to be for the keeps) looks as well as some interesting shaped pants. The NOIR DESIR collection was both statement and luxury while referencing the notion of Greco Roman meets 1970s British Punk culture. A masterclass in a constructed hipster chic look.
*Images belong to their respective owners
Docking
I’M WEARING: Trousers and shirts (Dockers)/ Accessories and Shoes (Mine)
US Brand Dockers has always been associated with a mature/corporate/ elderly client with its design philosophy. The brand notoriously famous for its corporate approach has been shifting towards a younger client with a steady pace. I for one, when putting together looks, with all the options, skipped the checks and realized that once I was shortlisting the shots. Be it the comfy linen pants for those lazy sundays, trust me they are soooo comfy, or the casual-to-corporate looking pants (grey ones above), or the notorious khakis in assorted colors, the options were fun. The pants surprisingly were well fitted (trust me I am quite iffy about it ) and were cut impeccably. The shirts, while keeping the brand philosophy, the linen and chambray button ups were easy breezy for those casual outings. The fabric being perfect for these sweltering summers was light and had me wanting to pair everything with every other thing.. lol Since I was looking to break out from the usual vibe the brand is associated with, I was pleasantly surprised with the array of options that lay before me (considering my preconceived notions about the brand) and much of it disappearing before me, and for good reason. Keeping the whole look with a certain laid back vibe, I particularlywent for lighter tones that were made to beat the heat. A brand certainly worth a place in your wardrobe.
*Photography by Fatima
Gilded
I’M WEARING: Jacket (c/o of Adnan Pardesy) / Shirt (Cambridge) / Pants (Denizen) / Socks (Sunday Bazaar) /
Wingtips (Pedro) / Feather Necklace (Stoneage) / handband (gifted)
For the fourth and final day, I went all out with an Adnan Pardesy gota jacket from his EXIMIUS collection from FPW. Having it all about the jacket and have it literally shine (no puns intended), I toned down the rest of the look to black on black so as to compliment the midnight blue of the gota. The gota jacket painstakingly crafted was one of my favorite pieces I wore during these four days. The texture…like I said in my review too.. was just soo pretty. Whats more is that the collection is available for retail at Labels. Got in a nice cotton basic button down and the cotton denim blend skinny pants from my go to brand Denizen. I just had to have some pop of fun color (can’t help myself) and that came via the yellow socks. I cuffed my pants into a single thin cuff for it to play just enough peek a boo while I walked. I finally got the chance to take out these shoes for a spin. I was gifted these babies by a friend on my birthday and was looking for a perfect occasion to flaunt em off. The suede wingtips with a worn out feel at the toes from Pedro went perfectly with the whole look. Loved Them… and did I mention they were comfy. Added in a necklace and hand band just for a lil something extra! A shout out to attire club for helping me with the looks.
*Images courtesy Mutahir Mahmood and Aqsa Razzak
Striped Affair
I’M WEARING: Jacket (CrossRoads) / Tee (random shop) / Pants (Zainab Market) / Shoes (Regal Store) /
Necklace (StoneAge) / woven hand band (gifted)
You can possibly never go wrong with black and white paired with a color. For Day 3, I did have a few calls, but chose to go with this one coz it looks chic, is easy breezy casual and fun at the same time. And since Day 3 was going to be a LONG day with 9 shows and two breaks, I wanted something easier to move around in. I was glad that guys from attire club were there to help me out with that. I know I know the non wearing capey styled jacket needs to go.. but I was long over due to try it out therefore did so with the black suede motorbikish jacket from crossroads. The striped tee is always a good idea to be paired with a solid color since it has that sort of graphic-y element to it. I chose to go with berry colored pants coz .. cummon!! how many of you expected me to go down that route 😛 .. Nude loafers were my calling for the day since they perfectly contrasted the pants and accented the whole look as well. Finishing off I went for a metal shark tooth necklace and a woven handband the curved square shaped specs finishing off the look.
*Images courtesy Mutahir Mahmood and Ikram Khalid
Spring in my Step
I’M WEARING Button Down Shirt (Outfitters)/ Chinos (Yellow) / Shoes (Stoneage) / Necklaces (Stoneage) / Hand band (Shehla Chatoor and other one was gifted)
For Day 2, I decided to do a turnaround taming my curls into a bun (yes! they survived the night).. I might have gotten quite a few more compliments for my man-bun, more than when I let my curls lose..hahaha…and considering quite a few people actually could not find me coz in a sea of heads in the lounge during breaks, all they look for is a frantically moving mop of curly hair 😛 I think I should grow them but its such a hassle to take care of longer ones ..As for the look, printed floral was a bit I have been high on for a while and was a must while attending the Fashion Week. This time around I went for something sorta dark florals that I had gotten from Outfitters a while back. Pairing them up with mustard yellow chinos from Yellow complimented the florals and cheered them up for some spring. Instead of going the black shoes (which would have been my obvious move) I went for a brown pair of suede bourges that I got from Stoneage (thankfully in my size, they always seem to run out of it), sans socks. This let the florals do all the talking. As far as the accessories go, the key and the feather necklaces were from Stoneage… just had to have them..Note to self: need to go to Sunday Bazaar for more jewellery finds .. As for the hand bands I went for a Shehla Chatoor giveaway from last year, since she was showing on Day 2, and a multi strand one that was gifted to me by a friend. Framing my eyes were the sporty big specs. Shot this at the ‘steps’ of fire escape of the place we were staying at .. just before we were scheduled to leave.
*Images shot by Umair Mirza and Mutahir Mahmood
Shades of Grey
I’M WEARING: Jacket (Myself) / Shirt (Bossini) / Pants (Zainab Market) / Shoes (1st step)/ Socks (gifted)
Prepping up for fashion weeks is always fun. But when I have to travel, planning goes in as to what to take and what not to, since there is a limit to the luggage too.. hehe. Red carpet is rolled out but its fashion week so why not take some risks while you are at it. I was glad that guys from attire club were kind enough to help me through the process. While I was at it, I just knew I had to wear metallic on atleast one of the days. Don’t even get me started on how last moment was this jacket. If you have been following me on Instagram (here), I’ve had this gunmetal shiny fabric for a while and I just had to get a jacket made. I purposely had one of the lapels as plain matte black so as to avoid looking like wrapped in foil and adding a dimension to the whole jacket. Deciding on it for Day1, and avoiding any quirky theatrics (trust me I had some wild ideas), the jacket was downplayed, since it was a bit too shiny (you think!! 😛 ). Toning it down with a white basic button down with cufflinks (borrowed from Umair who luckily had them), I went with a matte pair of pants that were cuffed for a bit of a fun look and black slip on shoes which pretty much gave it all an understated vibe. The only quirk possibly that came in was through the striped blue socks that were gifted to me by a friend and my big go-to specs these days.
P.S. The look was spotted in Trendspotting: metallics by Daily Times newspaper’s post fashion week style supplement Sunday DT 🙂
*Images shot by me, Umair Mirza and Mikail Soomro
Buttoned up
Pictures by Umair Mirza of Umairica and… me
I’M WEARING: Shirt (Cedar Wood State)/ Denim (Levis) / Loafers (Random Shop) / Woven band
Everyone of us have had one of those moments where we do an intensive impulse buying (the plastic money has ruined us)… well the shoes were one of those things and I finally got an occasion to take them out. The tasseled loafers were on my list for quite a while and this blue color just got to me. I got them while I went to watch a movie with friends and we later were on a shoe shopping spree LOL! . They provide the perfect amount of pop to the outfit without being overbearing. For the OK! magazine launch, I wanted to try a geeky look. Therefore went for a buttoned up all the way with huge specs that I recently got. While I do feel the need of a jacket to complete it, it was quite hot (Karachi missed the memo on spring). The polka dotted shirt was paired with cuffed up denim and finished with a woven wrist band.
I’ve got the blues
I’M WEARING: Button down shirt (Outfitters) / Blue denim (Stoneage) / Shoes (Outfitters)
Well for an alumni art exhibit I went for an all blue route this time around. I had done an all blue look a year or two back but that was all cobalt blue, sort of like a smurf (might do it again) but this time around I went for different tones of blue that I had in my wardrobe instead of just one. I got the small woven polka dots button down shirt from Outfitters recently, they had some great deals going on, and luckily I was in the store the day it had begun (they run out of my size every time). I first spotted the denim at Dockers but that one was pretty exorbitant, however Stoneage was just out with similar color and I just snagged it up. The blue and brown lace up sneakers, took them out after quite a while, completed my look.
Going Green
On the Job
I’M WEARING: Jumpsuit (myself)/ Combat Boots (Caterpillar)
So the story goes like I was keen to wear a jumpsuit and spotted one in the shoot by Bareeze and also a friend wearing one. It is one of my favorite pieces ever since I saw a couple on the runway of Hermes and was keen to try one myself. Fortunately I found a good breathable twill fabric and was able to get the perfect tailor for it. I had the jumpsuit made quite a while back but finally got the chance to wear at the red carpet of the fashion week. Wanted to go for a certain look therefore had to run around to get these combat boots just in the nick of time for the rough look I had in my mind. I pulled up the sleeves, but kept things simple and sans any accessories (though I do think dog tags would have been an interesting addition…there’s always next time).
