LCMSS2015 – AmeliasMagazine

Amelia’s Magazine | SANKUANZ presented by GQ China: London Collections: Men S/S 2015 Catwalk Review

SANKUANZ S/S 2015 by Gareth A Hopkins

After two seasons representing Kay Kwok, GQ China switch their attentions to Xiamen-based designer Shangguan Zhe, better known as SANKUANZ. As is often the case, I knew nothing about this up-and-coming label, but a debut London Collections: Men showcase is probably a good place to start.

SANKUANZ S/S 2015 by Chris Sav

A combination of an exodus to Milan and a debut catwalk show meant that inside Victoria House wasn’t exactly heaving. Staff rushed to seat everybody as near to the front as possible, so I took a spot on the front row despite having a standing ticket.

All photography by Matt Bramford

The first dozen or so looks were strong, but I felt like I’d seen it before. Long white lab coats had been embellished with embroidered black designs, inspired by Russian prison tattoos, ranging from obscure slogans to graphic phalluses. These coats were a fusion between 18th century frock coats and modern day sportswear. Translucent crew neck tops, crisp shirts and mesh hoodies, all in white, were styled underneath, flashing mouthpieces were used and Raf Simons-esque futuristic footwear completed the looks. Some pretty silly brightly-coloured fur shorts were the only break from white.

During a short pause afterwards I thought, ‘yes, I quite like it, some wearable pieces, a bit small as a collection perhaps’ and some other nonsense. Then, almost from nowhere, a model appeared wearing what I can only describe as a giant pair of brightly coloured papier-mâché claw hands. ‘Oh, here we go’ I thought to myself as I frantically tried to take pictures and pick my jaw up from the floor.

Without visual aids I couldn’t tell you a single item of clothing that the models were wearing during this ‘latter stage’ of the show, but I could remember enormous polka-dot lobster claws, Popeye-like forearms and gigantic acid-painted hands making an ‘OK’ sign. It was like a ludicrous tribute to Emoji and I enjoyed every bloody minute.

Looking back on the collection, these gimmicks were paired with some pretty decent garments. Black sweatshirts made more of the Russian criminal emblems and the frock coat in black was less lab-coat and more wearable, but that isn’t what I’ll remember this collection for.

Written by Matt Bramford on Tuesday June 24th, 2014 5:52 pm

Categories ,catwalk, ,Chris Sav, ,fashion, ,Gareth A Hopkins, ,GQ China, ,LCMSS2015, ,London Collections Men, ,Matt Bramford, ,menswear, ,Popeye, ,Raf Simons, ,review, ,SANKUANZ, ,Shangguan Zhe, ,SS15, ,Style, ,Victoria House

Amelia’s Magazine | Oliver Spencer: London Collections: Men S/S 2015 Catwalk Review

Oliver Spencer S/S 2015 by Fiongal Greenlaw

It seemed like every man in London had been squashed into the Old Sorting Office for the Oliver Spencer show last Monday. It was bloody packed. My standing ticket didn’t offer me any privileges, as per, so I did my best to position myself behind the shortest person I could find in the hope of seeing anything at all. The lights dimmed and out marched a drumming band who, with huge grins on their faces, energetically played a samba beat for the models to walk to.

All photography by Matt Bramford

Oliver Spencer S/S 2015 by Kate Sloan

Oliver Spencer‘s mantra is if it ain’t broke don’t fix it and this was another season of summery basics, smart tailoring and enticing prints. Cropped jackets were worn with longer t-shirts, featuring graphic designs. Rolled-up trouser legs revealed bare ankles.

Fitted blazers replicated the floral patterns of matching shirts, teamed with contrasting shorts and cravats. Boxy overcoats and suede jackets in ochre gave a 1970s feel; luxe blues and greens provided a modern counterbalance.

Oliver Spencer S/S 2015 by Fiongal Greenlaw

Oliver Spencer S/S 2015 by Kate Sloan

Soft linen jackets and shirts provided a welcome break from the more rigid tailored pieces and I longed to be wearing a loose, floaty Oliver Spencer tunic than the thick t-shirt and jacket that I’d opted for. Checked blazers in vibrant orange, nautical stripes and light knitwear came next, accessorised with retro shades, loafers and large luggage. Whilst not the most outlandish collection, it provided a vast range of wearable separates that would be difficult to get wrong in any combination.

For the finale, the drummers switched to a more uptempo tune as a busty carnival dancer led out the models; the final line-up featured a bevy of samba beauties. It was prime timing as World Cup fever sweeps the nation, but it felt a little forced; as the dancers rolled and twirled and cavorted with the crowd, the models looked a little stiff in comparison and I was left wondering if this was really the best gimmick. I’m hoping my rhinestone-encrusted bikini and feather head dress that I ordered shortly afterwards arrives in time for the World Cup final, though.

Written by Matt Bramford on Tuesday June 24th, 2014 9:08 am

Categories ,Carnival, ,catwalk, ,fashion, ,Fiongal Greenlaw, ,Kate Sloan, ,LCMSS2015, ,london, ,London Collections Men, ,Matt Bramford, ,menswear, ,Oliver Spencer, ,review, ,Rio, ,SS15

Amelia’s Magazine | Orlebar Brown: London Collections: Men S/S 2015

Orlebar Brown S/S 2015 by Helen Marudas

After the KTZ show on Monday I wandered down to Floral Street in Covent Garden to the Orlebar Brown store, where I found a rather excited crowd gathered in front of the shop’s façade. Four incredibly handsome guys with ripped bodies were struggling with a variety of dogs, and as I surveyed them I made a mental note to stop eating quite so many burgers.

All photography by Matt Bramford

Inside the store, more models showcased Orlebar Brown‘s S/S 2015 collection. Simple, bright shorts with metal fastenings were the mainstay, along with patterned shirts and basic, beach-ready footwear. ‘Under the sea’ was this year’s theme, translated with aquatic spiral and coral reef prints. I love the photographic printed pieces that the brand has become famous for, and I’ve added the Slim Aarons-esque t-shirt and shorts to my wishlist.

Back outside, the topless models still struggled with dogs. I felt so sorry for the gent that had obviously pulled the short straw and had to struggle with a Great Dane the size of a Shetland pony. You wouldn’t catch David Gandy doing this. I stifled LOLs as the great beast dragged the model passionately in the opposite direction from the store with gusto, while dog trainers desperately tried to catch up with them. It was like a sexy version of a Chuckle Brothers‘ sketch. Of all the dog breeds, why you would hire a four-legged recipe for disaster is beyond me, but it was a memorable presentation to say the least.

Written by Matt Bramford on Saturday June 21st, 2014 6:11 pm

Categories ,beach, ,fashion, ,Helen Marudas, ,LCM, ,LCMSS2015, ,London Collections Men, ,Matt Bramford, ,menswear, ,Orlebar Brown, ,Presentation, ,Slim Aarons, ,SS15, ,Swimwear

Amelia’s Magazine | MOSCHINO: London Collections: Men S/S 2015 Catwalk Review

Moschino S/S 2015 by Krister Selin

Moschino was the hottest ticket during London Collections: Men, and the 300-strong queue outside Lindley Hall was testament to that. Inside, the wall had been branded with a huge Moschino decal; cameras whirled above our heads on enormous tripods. The noise was deafening. Everybody seemed a bit sexier and they all had Moschino french fries iPhone cases.

My naivety, and inability to attend fashion weeks other than London-based ones, meant that I felt like I had been transported to a Versace show in Milan in the 1990s. My absolute favourite kind of fashion is trashy Italian fashion – the style of unashamed glamour that the Italians do so well, introduced in the 1980s and infamous in the 1990s. It brought us supermodels, leather chaps on the runway and more ghetto gold than you can shake a stick at. So when I found out that Moschino were to show at London Collections: Men, in our great city for the first time, I knew I’d bend over backwards to get in. Luckily I didn’t have to do that.

Moschino S/S 2015 by Krister Selin

Nobody seemed to be getting in from outside, and as I stood next to a woman dressed head-to-toe in that ridiculous, brilliant McDonald’s inspired ensemble, I envisaged a mass scrum and hours of waiting. I was surprised the show began a mere 20 minutes late. What happened after this is a bit of a blur, the atmosphere was so electric that I think I may have blacked out from excitement at one point.

All photography by Matt Bramford

Dishy models that must have been shipped in from Italy, or perhaps paradise, strode out to the sounds of a 1990s playlist. The first section turned soft drinks and pop culture into suits, t-shirts and swimwear. Then came brightly coloured tops, sweatshirts and bikinis emblazoned with enormous Moschino type.

Chanel 2.55 knock offs with gold Moschino letters replacing the interlocking C’s eveloped one model (above), one of my favourite looks from this show.

Next, on the World Cup bandwagon and a 1990s tip, models wore prints that were happy hardcore smiley faces featuring international flags. More 90s ephemera came in the form of oversized sweatshirts, nylon bomber jackets and black mesh pieces, with a yellow tailcoat tuxedo thrown in for good measure, naturally.

Then came a sort of homage to a range of luxury fashion houses – a mock Louis Vuitton monogram print appeared on jackets and trousers, the LVs replaced with serif Ms. A ‘Fauxchino‘ motif, added to my wishlist, looked so trashy that it could have been bought from a seaside market.

Want to dress like an Hermès carrier bag? Well now you can with Moschino‘s bright orange denim jacket and jeans with black Moschino logo strips. If Hermès isn’t your bag, perhaps a Versace-esque black and gold suit will suffice?

Rhinestone dollar signs and logo sweaters completed this collection:

I love the shocking, shameless abuse of other designer brands to glorious end. That’s a somewhat difficult sentence to type amidst outrageous alleged cases of high street copycats and even fashion powerhouses ripping off London designers, but Jeremy Scott and the label pull off the plagiarism with such panache that nobody seems to bat an eyelid. This blatant disregard for intellectual property has been at the heart of the brand since Franco Moschino launched his eponymous label in 1983. And, if this collection is anything to go by, Scott is without doubt the best person to take the Moschino crown. I’m praying he brings his army of merry men and women back next year.

Written by Matt Bramford on Friday June 27th, 2014 11:18 am

Categories ,1990s, ,catwalk, ,fashion, ,Gucci, ,Hermés, ,Italian, ,Jeremy Scott, ,LCM, ,LCMSS2015, ,Lindley Hall, ,London Collections Men, ,Louis Vuitton, ,menswear, ,Monogram, ,Moschino, ,pop culture, ,review, ,SS15, ,Swimwear, ,Versace, ,Womenswear

Amelia’s Magazine | KTZ: London Collections: Men S/S 2015 Catwalk Review

KTZ_SS15_by_Krister Selin
KTZ S/S 2015 by Krister Selin

It was at 9am when I rolled up at the Old Sorting Office for my first show of this season: KTZ. After a few too many Tequila-based cocktails at the Agi & Sam party the night before, I wasn’t in the best of states, but I was pleased (for myself, not for KTZ) to find that the venue wasn’t heaving. A raised standing area occupied one corner of the space and I was pleased that the organisers of London Collections: Men had finally given some thought to this issue.

KTZ S/S 2015 by Fiongal Greenlaw

Kenny Larkin‘s Drama remix of La Fleur’s Nightflow began pumping through the sound system, reawakening the remains of the previous night’s alcohol binge. I quickly found myself in the mood for what was about to be KTZ‘s best outing yet.

All photography by Matt Bramford

Inspiration this season came from Greek Hekatontarchs perfectly married with, as always, elements of street wear and hip hop culture. Pieces seemed infinitely more wearable this time, too – when you remove the sculpted torsos and headline-grabbing headwear. The opening section stayed true with the brand’s monochrome philosophy, starring oversized tops, pleated skirts, translucent shirts revealing bare torsos and basketball shorts. All of the above featured KTZ‘s staple ambiguous patterns; I noticed lightning bolts and elements of Greek architecture hidden amongst these ostentatious designs.

The latter section introduced a vibrant orange to the rest of the looks. Enveloping jackets, baseball caps, bombers with multiple pockets and tassels and towelling shorts were all highlights as the tangerine warriors drew cheers from the cavalry of KTZ fans inside.

The final pieces involved plastic weaves and tessellating plastic shapes: modern day armour for the modern day fashion fan. It was an incredible mix of historical references and contemporary styling and set a very high precedent for the next couple of days.

Written by Matt Bramford on Thursday June 19th, 2014 3:47 pm

Categories ,catwalk, ,fashion, ,Fiongal Greenlaw, ,Greece, ,Krister Selin, ,KTZ, ,LCM, ,LCMSS2015, ,London Collections Men, ,Matt Bramford, ,menswear, ,Old Sorting Office, ,review, ,SS15, ,Tequila

Amelia’s Magazine | James Long: London Collections: Men S/S 2015 Catwalk Review

James Long S/S 2015 by Helen Marudas

I haven’t been to a James Long show for a few seasons now. I’m not sure why. It might be that they just didn’t want me there. That’s fine. This season was a different story, though, and I’m dead chuffed that I went along. We were greeted by handsome chaps in trademark James Long graphic tees serving rosé wine. Just as I swallowed mine in two gulps, a lady kindly notified me that I could, had I wanted to, take it to my seat, which was a little embarrassing.

All photography by Matt Bramford

Anyway, gone were the glued-down hair dos and quilted fabrics of last season to make way for a fresh, beachy, summertime approach. Models appeared one after the other with flowing, surfer locks and nonchalant expressions as if they had strode in from some hipster beach that you haven’t heard of.

James Long S/S 2015 by Helen Marudas

Overall, it was a complex, multi-faceted collection. The show invitation had a small piece of fabric stapled to it, which would be a detail that formed the basis of many of the looks. The first model wore a denim jacket with aforementioned fabric stripes attached with abandon, teamed with a long, mesh t-shirt dress and jeans to match the jacket.

Then came shorts with the same treatment; frayed at the leg with thick, elasticated waists – a homage to boxers, which was a key theme here. Graphic, stripy t-shirts and stripy socks were aplenty. The emphasis was on jazzed up sportswear, with more mesh, more waistbands, tapered joggers and James’ trademark wrap shorts jazzed up for next summer. The quilted experiments of last season moved into bubble-knit sweaters, tucked into shorts to provide a laid back look that James has perfected this time around.

Statement pieces come in the form of t-shirts and jumpers with a loose, scripted ‘JAMES‘ logo that I am left lusting after. Appearing in different colours, this new logo filled the front and back of garments and crept up sleeves.

A collaboration with LUNETTES KOLLEKTION saw models wear a variety of circular, mirrored sunglasses and quilted nylon bags completed the looks. This was without doubt one of my favourite collections this season and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Written by Matt Bramford on Tuesday June 24th, 2014 12:53 pm

Categories ,catwalk, ,fashion, ,Helen Marudas, ,James Long, ,knitwear, ,LCM, ,LCMSS2015, ,london, ,London Collections Men, ,LUNETTES KOLLEKTION, ,Matt Bramford, ,menswear, ,Old Sorting Office, ,review, ,SS15, ,stripes

Amelia’s Magazine | Baartmans and Siegel: London Fashion Week Menswear Day Catwalk Review

Baartmans & Siegel A/W 2012 by Warren Clarke

Working for Amelia’s Magazine – proud pioneer of fresh talent – it’s always a delight to see a label progress through the seasons. It baffles me how designers make it into showcases like Fashion Scout’s Ones to Watch and then simply disappear. So I was delighted to see that Baartmans and Siegel – the dutch/English design partnership we’d enjoyed in the Ones to Watch show last season – had made it onto the menswear day schedule with their first solo outing. They’re stocked by Harrods and met at Viktor & Rolf, so their joint credentials already have them a high profile.

Baartmans and Siegel A/W 2012 by Gabriela Romagna

Unusually I was one of the first attendees into the show space at the Freemasons’ Hall, so I revelled in digging through the goodie bag (I’m pleased to announce I’m fully furnished with Label.M products again, after levels in my bathroom had reached worryingly low levels) and I read through the show notes. This season the design duo sought inspiration from, amongst other things, the Milk Tray man. I was already in love with this collection before everybody had even taken their seats.

All photography by Matt Bramford

Inspiration also came from 1970s British menswear and cinema. Baartmans and Siegel are obsessed with popular culture and it is the Milk Tray man‘s mystery and sense of indulgence that had them captivated in the run up to this show.

The first look featured a meticulously tailored blazer in a rich blue colour, which would become the mainstay. A pocket square of the same colour held the initials B and S, and the jacket was teamed with comfortable grey trousers with silver zips to give a futuristic appeal.

Baartmans & Siegel A/W 2012 by Warren Clarke

More tailoring followed, with loose-fitting tweed trousers and cashmere blazers worn over chunky knitted rollnecks. Then came sportier ensembles included padded puffa jackets – some with zip details, others with contrasting tweed sections.

The blue kept coming, as did a desirable palette of slate grey and, of course, Cadbury purple in honour of their hero. A classic grey jacket was teamed with jersey trousers with contrasting panels for a contemporary look, and sophisticated overcoats show Baartmans and Siegel’s expertise in dressing the modern man.

Baartmans and Siegel A/W 2012 by Gabriela Romagna

This is refined menswear at its best. Baartmans and Siegel expertly marry fashion-forward clothes with traditional techniques. Classic silhouettes, contemporary cuts, luxurious fabrics and deep colours make for an outstanding debut solo show.

Written by Matt Bramford on Monday February 27th, 2012 7:09 pm

Categories ,1970s, ,Baartmans & Siegel, ,Blue, ,Cadbury, ,cinema, ,Freemasons’ Hall, ,Gabriela Romagna, ,Matt Bramford, ,menswear, ,Menswear Day, ,Milk Tray Man, ,Ones To Watch, ,Sportwear, ,tailoring, ,Trace PR, ,Vauxhall Fashion Scout, ,Warren Clarke

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