London Collections: Men SS14 review

I never used to look forward to fashion weeks. Though they are the raison d'être for most fashionistas, yet to me, they just seemed like an array of tight women parading around whilst wearing regrettably outlandish clothing that afterwards, the models would scoff with their friends at. "What on earth did I have to wear?", the tall starving woman remarks. 

But I have grown to appreciate these high fructose environments that heaves and bustles culture. Primarily as fashion itself has evolved into a genre of passions that reflects both and all genders. London Collections: Men depicts how it is ok for the common man to like clothes. 

Fashion always works in advance. You've just bought this year's hottest garment, only to find out that it would be better in a dump in a years time. So if you really want to be the literal definition of a year in advance, incorporating next years styles and planning ahead is key:

Alexander McQueen:

A near ethereal feel set the stage for Sarah Burton. Continuing the late McQueen's signature avant-garde panache, her collection featured a dishevelled look of clean whites moulded into modern, sleek tailoring. Details were carefully crafted: frayed lapels, ripped away sleeves and tarnished, worn-down buttons. It's all in the details. Frock coats printed with ceremonial lace imbued a sense of strict tradition into a rather intangible collection. Loose shorts appeared delicate worn on the porcelain models' skin; the silk lining of the suits fluttering below the waist. 

Katie Eary:

Orange, orange everywhere! Eary's urban, youth-frenzied looks were reminiscent of the 90s; complete with branded skate boards. The clothing's graduating shades of oranges created an almost scorched aesthetic caught in this pattern madness. From leopard to crocodile to flamingo of course, all adhered to a sport-luxe stylings that was daringly revolutionised with animalistic simplicity. The looks themselves were simple, the emphasis was on colour. This is an easy trend to translate, keep the clothes basic, but the colours wild.

Kay Kwok:

Whilst not exactly the most wearable collection, Kwok's display dipped into the chrome-toned future. His sleek asymmetric clothing looks as if it was drawn from Galactic GQ circa 2121. Cut-out sandals were matched with minimal grey open-sided tops that exposed leather trousers lurking underneath.  It might not be the most... appropriate material for hot summer days, leather can still be used as an effective contrast. Anchored against dense metallic or geometric prints, leather can be a great alternative to overused suede.

Topman Design:

Topman Design's team are clearly besotted with Nashville, bringing a collection inspired by the uber-masculine cowboy. Entitled 'Techno-Cowboy', the outfits were a sequence of silk Western shirts with no bolo-ties in sight. Multicolored florals are added to soften these herdsman, but silvers and gold harden the looks. It's a bit costumey, yet portrays a streamlined statement where being imaginative with your clothes can end in success.  

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Were you inspired by London Collections: Men?

This unique assembly of established designers, both urban and sartorial, have showed that fashion is not just for the debutantes of the world. London continues to project dynamism and originality that is making it the Byzantine of men's clothing, Mixing styles from both 2013 and 2014 can make for a more original aesthetic than just following what we're meant to wear. Throw away your clothing regulations, and just wear what you want to, no matter how flamboyant.