LCM: YMC AW15/16 collection

To begin this post Iggy Azalea style, first things first, happy New Year! 

Starting 2015, in its third year, London Collections: Men nestled itself within the cosy four days of January 9th to the 12th. London Collections: Men, or LCM as it's typically compressed into, magnetises all that capitalises the fashion industry, convening both up-and-coming talent, but also established legends that are household names (I mean, does Burberry even need an introduction?). Floating into the already chockablock fashion calendar twice a year, it's always a phenomenal collective of all that the British fashion scene emblazons onto the cobblestone streets of London. I couldn't ask for a better way to start January!

So, when I attended the AW15/16 collection for vibrantly youthful brand YMC (You Must Create) I saw how menswear and London continue to be hand in hand, and the results are breathtaking, I'm sure you'll agree. This was my first ever venture into LCM, and being amongst legends of the industry, I've ever felt more young!

Held in the rustic Old Sorting Office, the mood; minimal and brisk. The looming hall was duskily lit, with wisps of vibrant front rowers speckling across the slate floors. Nick Wooster, whose silvery quiff stood, quite literally, centimeters away from where I was standing. Alongside Irish spark Darren Kennedy, donned in an ombré wool jacket and leopard print sneakers, who stood out against the palette of toned down winter suits and sullen faces that his stylish cohort decided to clothe. I had a brief chance to talk to him after the show, he defies the whole 'fashion people are mean' stereotype in one single, dulcet sentence "I love your bow tie, Josh!"; he's plain adorable! One of the sweetest guys in fashion.

Swooning aside (don't get me started on when I met David Gandy) the collection reworked pre-existing styles and infusing them with fresh new takes. The buttercup yellow raincoat was daintily masculine, complementing well the lime-green chunky knitwear which strategically silenced the  harmony of navy and grey tonal layering.

The East London gentry was polished and renewed, his boots de-scuffed and jacket tailored by YMC's team. An assistant led me through to a standing area, a throng of photographers eagerly ready to capture the leather Harrington jackets, attuned jogging bottoms, zip-up cardigans and navy suede loafers with matching zip details. YMC took ruggedly historic pieces and buffed them into the contemporary.

Styled by Mark Anthony Bradley, the palette restrained but texture broadened, with rubberised rain-wear and burnt burgundies trickling across the wind-swept staples,the delicate porcelain models braving a deluge of softened mandarin collars, alongside the speckles of 60s droplets of sharply cut trousers and checked shirts. Ribbed sweaters were drenched in nylon and shearling jackets.  

YMC are known for their practicality, meaning it was no surprise that the 'workwear' brand have tranferability to mind. The pieces can be easily worn by any guy, with Fraser Moss, the founder of YMC, permeating subtle twists into these menswear classics. What I love abut YMC is that they couldn't care less about trends, what they care about is clothing. All they want to do is create great quality clothing for men, and boy, do they deliver.

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It was absolutely surreal to be attending the same showcase as the likes of Nick Wooster, the Woost himself! In addition to many other menswear lodestars whose presence alone in the room captivated and titillated the impact of the clothing.
The collection was a practical reinvention of quintessential menswear staples, with playful punches of colour and texture thrown into the ensembles.

Me and the dapper Darren Kennedy!

What did you all think of the collection?