London Calling

the best of the menswear collections for fall / winter 2013

Alexander McQueenAlexander McQueen

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Last week London Fashion Week kicked off the Fall 2013 men’s collections with a bang.  I have always loved the British street style, as well as the ultra classic styling of a tailored made suit from one of London’s famed Savile Row ateliers.  The collections, as a rule, did not disappoint.

I’ve picked 4 top designers to highlight, and give you here a brief review of what I think you will see  hanging in the top designer shops around the globe, as well as featured in the best men’s fashion magazines.

The trends were varied, from ‘Napal Chic’ to ‘Gangster Stripes’.  There were lots of effortless dressing options from easy fitted waist jackets and overcoats to colors ranging from creme to bright sunset orange.

 Of all the collections I reviewed, Alexander McQueen’s was my favorite.  Absolutely brilliant!  Having opened a new shop on Savile Row must have had a strong influence on designer Sarah Burton.  The tailoring is SUPERB!

It was all about 30’s gangster chic, pinstripe mania, color blocked overcoats, and bold stained glass prints.  The eerily clear masks shown on the runway were in true juxtaposition with the theme of 30s ‘Al Capone’esque’ garments.  If nothing else. they were creepy.

 Here’s the runway show video, so you can see for yourself how splendid the collection really is.

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Richard Nicoll2

Richard Nicoll

Next up, Richard Nicoll, who presented a small but very concise collection that was extremely cohesive.  It is all about easy simple dressing with a very distinct point of view.  The layered pieces are very easy to wear.   The light blue wool suiting, layered over a paint splattered waist jacket and generously eased pants are brilliant.

Richard NicollThe different shades of grey, mixed with the silver pullovers are tremendous.  You can review the entire collection here.

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J.W.AndersonJ.W. Anderson

Another collection that garnered an enormous amount of attention was the ultra feminine offerings from J.W. Anderson.  My mother always said,”if you have nothing nice to say……”  I’ve also heard it said that no press is bad press.  If you’re in the mood for some comic relief, you can check out the rest of the collection here.

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TOP MAN 2Topman Design

Topman’s development director Gordon Richardson showed a bold and brilliant collection.  The parkas are excellent in all lengths, colors, and styles.  The Mount Everest Climbing Chic selections are perfect for après explorations.

TOP MAN 1All in all it’s a very chic collection for the man who likes to be fashionable in the great outdoors.  You can review the entire collection here.

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Jonathan Saunders 1Jonathan Saunders

And finally, I connected with several of the pieces from Jonathan Saunders ‘London Boy Chic’ collection.  His sense of color is absolutely amazing – from his blanket striped overcoats in orange and black, to his ombre shaded waist jackets in blues and greens.

Jonathan Saunders 2…………………………

My take-away from the shows – the trend is toward easy fitted pieces that are perfect for layering.  It’s also very clear that the London designers are moving away from the ultra-fitted sensibility, towards a more casual vibe.

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(A special thanks to fellow fashion editor Ian Michael Luke Turner for sharing his insight into the London shows.  All photos courtesy of Style.com)