Elizabeth and James + Alexander Wang "Launch" Menswear

Elizabeth and James

Two of this Fall's most anticipated menswear collections are also, to my dismay, two of the most disappointing. Back in February, Ashley Olsen announced that Elizabeth and James would be adding a men's line to their collection this upcoming Fall; after the huge success of both the Row and Elizabeth and James, I was looking forward to them finally branching into menswear. Another one of my favorite women's wear designers, Alexander Wang, also recently announced that he would be creating some basics for his "T" label, intended to be sold with the male consumer in mind. Well, apparently the males buying from this particular line aren't the same ones who inspire his women's collections, because the innovation and forward-thinking fashion perspective are seemingly (and shockingly) absent. Of course, the looks that have been released are only a mere glimpse into the rest of the collections, but to be frank...I think I've seen enough.

Elizabeth and James

"T" by Alexander Wang

"T" by Alexander Wang

Telling it like it is

If you're interested in reading a very honest and truthful review of those bland, boring menswear looks that just showed at Milan Fashion Week then click here. Guy Trebay of the New York Times sums it all up quite well.

Milan Fashion Week: Roundup #1

So far, Costume National, Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, Marni, Missoni and Burberry Prorsum have shown their F/W 09 men's collections and I don't quite know what to think. While much of the construction is very sharp, tailoring is strong, and fabrics tend to be heavy yet soft, the colors are dark and muted. While lack of color tends to be characteristic of most fall/winter collections, one can't help but notice the sartorial reflection of our economic plight. However, as Raf Simons said yesterday of his collection for Jil Sander, "I wanted to present something powerful." And maybe that's the reason Marni's collection, however meager it may have been (their few pieces could only warrant a showroom presention in place of a runway show), appealed to me the most: it inspired. The colors and patterns at Missoni also made my eyes perk up amid a slideshow of blacks and greys, but what else does one expect? If looking at a Missoni collection doesn't feel like one is looking into a kaleidoscope then something's wrong.

Marni

Burberry Prorsum

Missoni

Burberry Prorsum

Men's Fashion Week!

I don't feel as though men's fashion week gets as much attention as it deserves. There are 5 full days of menswear shows at Milan Fashion Week (1/17-1/21) and another 4 days at Paris Fashion Week (1/18-1/21). I will be bringing you some of my favorite looks every day so keep checking back.