MENSWEAR SS16

MENSWEAR SPRING/SUMMER 16' 

The Modern Man

The fashion world is always 5 steps ahead of the regular  Australian world pretty much always; we have only started  catching onto the previous seasons’ trends witnessed on the FW runway have begun being reincarnated onto the streets, and before we know it, ss16 is here to determine the trends for the warmer months. I never fail to find fashion magical – its ability to capture, inspire and lead the clothes we wear is astonishing. Whether we do it consciously or not, the things we wear are gathered from trends and ideas off the catwalk and big, internationally known designers; designers who tell the world whats in and what’s not, designers who determine what big- chain stores like Topshop, Forever 21, H&M etc. mass produce and distribute. Every season it’s like these designers release out rules and regulations (not actually…) that are followed to the dot by producers in order to gain profit, attention and acceptance by us, the consumers.

A good example for this, is the turtleneck trend. Before FW15, I have not seen a turtle-neck in sight (not including the occasional fashionista & dad ) , and now, all I see is turtle neck. It’s not a bad thing, don’t get me wrong- all I’m trying to say is that we are consciously and subconsciously ruled by the fashion world that determine the pieces we wish and want to pick (mainly because others around us are wearing them too, but also cause we like it) in order to feel pleased and on-trend with the thing we are wearing. This doesn’t just go out to the womenswear fashion world- menswear acts in much the same way ( even though less males are likely to go out and buy themselves a new wardrobe to suit the newest fashion trend), oversized coats, turtlenecks, sneakers , bombers, softer tailoring and patterns have been the recurring trend in FW menswear on the streets (witnessed mainly from MBFWA 15 streetwear photos) – of course determined by FW15 menswear runway shows. 

ss16 menswear has big things coming for us; I love menswear collections because each year they get more diverse, gender neutral and respectively more fashionable. Year and years ago, I hardly doubt that menswear designers focused on bright prints and shorts shorter than a girls gymwear shorts as the basis of their designs , but now it’s happening and there’s nothing more liberating than seeing such crazy, gorgeous designs transformed into menswear. So long are the days where women only get to have colourful prints and intricate designs- the world around us is changing at a rapid pace in terms of acceptable, gender neutrality and artistic expression and the fashion world is the biggest displayer of it. Living in such a world where society tells us what we can and cannot wear based on our gender is a terrifying and disgusting place- we as a modern , progressing society have no time for such medieval values and beliefs. If women can wear pants and tailored suits, why can’t men wear short shorts and pinks? What is wrong with that? Is one’s masculinity based on the amount of “MEN” colours they wear, the amount of “GUY” clothes they posses?? Last time I checked, a man is a man because he claims he’s a man, much like a woman is a woman because she claims she’s a woman. We as a society cannot determine what makes a man a man, and what makes a woman a woman just because one wishes to wear an item of clothing deemed the other sexes. All in all, the real pussies here are the ones who do not wish to accept the modern way of flexible and open thinking, and wish to bring down others for doing so. There’s nothing more agitating to me than knowing men all around the world get scruntinised and abused because they wished to wear something out of the ordinary of the societie’s wishes- mainly abused by guys who portray a superiority, misogynistic complex and will end up as losers in life.  We can all wear what we want, we can all  be who we want. The only ones who can determine what we wish to wear are ourselves.

With all that ranting out the way, menswear ss16 is the portrayal of modern menswear and I’m loving it to no end. I always have super high expectations when it comes to runway, and each and every time I am not disappointed in the slightest. SS16 focused on print play, modern suiting and branching out of the traditional colour palette. Although we saw a bunch of neutrals in FW15, this time around we are seeing pops of colour and ferocious lines. I guess that’s ss for you, but damn I am loving it. Menswear fashion for me is a little bit different from womenswear fashion- I get womenswear fashion just a tad more, and am more involved in womenswear designers; nonetheless I love the time when menswear shows come around because it reminds me that there’s so much more to fashion than what we see on the streets. 

front row seaters... VIP vibes 

some quirky fashion on the streets of the menswear runway scene. loving the new direction of menswear fashion, bright colours and relaxed shapes 

the gorgeous get up @ Burberry Prossum SS16. 

Without further ado....

Here are some of my favourite menswear runway shows from the ss16 season, enjoy.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

 double breasted coats, extravagant and luxurious yet quirky prints and an emphasis on the modern, relaxed tailoring is just one of the things that made Alexander McQueen SS16 so brilliant. hints of inspiration from traditional japanese attire mixed with the classic parisian and timeless suit is what makes this show stand out. 

DOLCE & GABBANA

 Dolce&Gabbana is known for it's brilliant print work and what better way to show this skill than at ss16 LCM? Gorgeous satins with daring print work, furs, mixed media and the occasional bathroom attire was the go-to for D&G. Full length pant, buttoned up suits and mid-length printed coats with no distinct tailoring cuts. loving it. 

CRAIG GREEN

 definitely taking on inspiration from the Japanese samurai/ tai kwan do attire / mean girls, Craig Green delivered a colourful, unique and quirky line up we can only dream off. From full length yellow on yellow action, to rain parka mimicking baby blue combo- all combined with a loafer or sneaker- create a casual, modern and fashionable look sought after by the fashion gurus of today. 

NASIR MAZHAR 

 This line up reminded me of a cross between army, KGB gang and magic mike- awesome. Models strutted out ferociously wearing black on black, camouflage attire, mouth-gear, jewellery, oversized pants + bombers and decided to, on a number of occasions, to ditch the top half of the outfit all together in exchange for some chest gear. Needless to say, the badass effect was re-created. 

COMME DES GARÇONS 

 Comme Des Garçons: the collection that never fails to surprise, inspire and weird me out a little bit every time. For ss16, CDG went for a RTW, casual look for their line up focusing on structured blazers, printed suits and crisp oversized shirts. The topping of the cake was definitely the head pieces- vibrant yellow wig... things... as well as that gorgeous oversized beret. All paired with some polka dot shoes. brilliant. 

OLIVIA POMPILLO
A bit of Harry Potter mixed with the schoolboy nerd is what Andrea Pompillo SS16 brought the menswear fashion scene. Subtle print work, mixing colour palettes and creating a stand out effect by utilising contrasting shades to maximise effect. Neck scarves, sweeping bangs, ankle length socks and those humongous glasses are what I love most about this line up, as well as that gorgeous blue _ black striped coat.

TOPSHOP TOPMAN

TopMan ss16 was all about knees and flares. Rain coat inspired jackets paired with shorts shorter than gym gear shorts to create a sports luxe effect, all with a perfecto colour combo to keep things high fashion and complimentary sneaker foot wear. Huge flared pants in a variety of shades; from pink, striped, blue, denim all the way down to black- all paired with structured cropped jackets, re-created the looks conventionally restricted to women only by society. Not anymore. 

CHRISTOPHER SHANNON

One of my favourite line ups this season, Christopher Shannon really took 'shower inspiration' to another level. Mesh, raincoat inspired frocks combined with hues of pinks, greys and timeless whites to keep things simplified yet modern. Monochrome and Duo-chrome was the go-to, humongous sneakers were the perfect partner for every look, and shampoo in hair was just the finishing touch that was needed to create one hella line up. 

AGI&SAM

The stand out point for Agi& Sam's ss16 line up was definitely the eye-capturing face paint combined with neutral, gorgeous layered looks to add complexity and a quirky touch to an otherwise timeless line up. Oversized shorts and jackets as well as a loose approach to dressing- the go-to look for ss16. loving the addition of wraps around the waist. 

GIVENCHY

One of my other favourites from this menswear season. Loving the dark colour palette with the addition of subtle JESUS prints - a dark approach to modernity. Givenchy is one of my favourite designers, I always love their stuff due to their incredible tailoring skills, brilliant ideas and a great eye for detail. Man skirts, mesh and loose fitting shirt pieces were just some of the features of this brilliant line up. absolutely marvellous. anyone who wears givenchy is a boss. 

BURBERRY PROSSUM

Burberry Prossum SS16- delivering us classic, timeless pieces with a unique twist. Re-creating the suit time and time again and not making it look boring is a gruelling task, and what better way to give the gruelling task to one of the worlds leading fashion design houses? Count on Burberry to deliver the goods every time. Animal prints, satin neck scarves to soften looks, loafers with pops of vibrant colour and of course the modern tailoring approach of slim fitting slacks + blazer combo works to make Burberry reign supreme. 

COACH

Brb, trying to stop hyperventilating. Coach ss16 impressed me to no ends; not only did it deliver eye-capturing, unique, never-seen before prints and styles but it was the PERFECT inspiration for my own design works. Love Love Love. Oversized bombers with vibrant, pastel, abstract prints. Sneakers. Leather Jackets. Statement Coats. Animal Prints. Sunnies. What does this line up lack? Absolutely nothing. By far my favourite line up of the ss menswear 16 season. So friggen good, I'm contemplating on spending all my savings on that jacket (second from left). 

Thank you for reading loves, I hope to see all of you very very soon. I hope you enjoyed this years ss16 Menswear line ups as much as I did- a big shout out to all of the designers involved. You never fail to completely amaze me, and never fail to bring the best , never seen before stuff to us every time. Thank you very much.

NOTE: ALL PHOTOS TAKEN FROM GOOGLE.COM - RESPECTIVELY THE OWNERS' PHOTOGRAPHS AND NOT MINE. I TAKE NO CREDIT FOR THE PHOTOS DISPLAYED IN THIS BLOGPOST.

thanks for reading& stay tuned for more...

Vera x

RESORT 2016

I love resort collections- they're slightly out there, ever so cool and have no set rules of expectation. Resort is something that I think all designers look forward to because it allows them to branch out of their usual zone and create looks otherwise uncreated and kept inside one's imagination; the resort time is a brilliant time for the fashion world. For me, the coolest thing about this years resort is shapes- designers decided to place the emphasis of their looks by re-creating voluminous shapes combined with clean lines and gorgeous colour palettes. This year, we see an emergence of neon and bright colours dominating the high fashion scene, as well as the womansuit making a very welcomed appearance as the look of some of the world's most recognised designers. Print was a welcomed aspect, and the re-creation of a mix between 70's flirty with 90's oversized structured silhouette was witnessed in a range of resorts this year- loving it. 

whether it be the gorgeous fur trimmed biker jacket from Jason Wu, the bright pink neon womansuit from edun, the ever so gorgeous quilted jacket from Michael Kors or the edgy oversized biker coat/dress from Fendi- resort 16 has been playing on my mind ever since earlier this month. Can we expect anything worse from the best designers in the world? I don't think so.  

If there's anything that the row can do better than anyone else; it's the full length jacket. The Row is notorious for it's gorgeous flowy, full-bodied attires in monochromatic colours combined with luxe fabrics and tied off with a beautiful, soft faced model to match: and resort 16 emphasized that the row is still famous for what it's always been famous for. Satin jacket on satin dark turquiose woman suit, soft camel and cream colours, the classic full-black looks was what we saw for resort 16- mary kate and ashley are masters when it comes to fabric manipulation. 

Marc Jacobs is one of my favourite designers, period. Usually, the designer does modernity mixed with a touch of weird, blended perfectly with a hint of classical. This time around, Jacobs decided to play it classic with structured midi length tulle skirts, button up shirts and cropped knits- a mix between haute couture and dior. What I love about this collection is it's simplicity and how garments so simple create such a wow-factor just by the addition of small details. I'm fawning over the red and white striped collared cropped knit + flared pant combo. 

Jason Wu of Hugo Boss is a master of tailoring- something about him which is clearly seen in his own resort line up. Creating a myriad of softly tailored looks combined with a soft, warm colour palette created a different look to the otherwise very structured, corporate looks we love Jason Wu for. Apart from playing around with coloured fur, Wu did not hesitate to throw in bright pops of red to bring diversity to the line up, as well as not forgetting to incorporate a classic black suit to keep things very Jason Wu. Love it. 

Neon sportwear- inspired attire dominated the Versache scene for resort 16; what better way is there to stand out from the rest? Dare to be bold, dare to be different. Donatella Versache is a genius when it comes to re-creating old looks into the new by tweaking the miniscule (like colour palette) to create a whole different perspective on the garment. Neon trench coats, chic pant + jacket combo's and colourful bombers were the main aspects of Versache's resort. Sportwear luxe is not a new trend in the fashion scene, but boy, Versache managed to create something completely unimaginable. 

Every single time I know a fashion moment is about to happen, the first designer I always look out for is Alexander Wang. I love Wang's stuff; I'm obsessed with his boots, bags, clothes, accessories, even his damned notepads. I love Alexander Wang's concepts and I love his versatility as well as his work ethic and determination. For resort, Alex Wang opted for a softer colour palette than this FW15 line up (which was mainly all black) by incorporating light greys, light browns and even whites to break up all that darkness. Oversized coats and blazers, softly tailored pants and leather- Alex Wang does not play around, ever. 

Gucci did not hesitate with prints this year and I'm so so grateful that they didn't , because such masterpieces couldn't have been created if not for the gorgeous print play. The vibrant colours combined with classic shapes and silhouettes remind me a bit of Miu Miu- yet Gucci bought individuality to the stage by adding flowy full gowns, playful sweaters and midi lengths. Youthful combined with the classical, what could be better? My favourite look from Gucci Resort 16 was the rose print sweater + gold pleated midi skirt combo. 

Edun's resort 16 caught my eye for a few reasons; 1. the woman suit turned casual, 2. leopard print + tartan combo and 3. neon pink!!!!!. Being drawn to print and colour, I instantly fell in love with Edun's resort line up as I witnessed some great things I have never before witnessed. Soft lines combined with structured corporate-inspired wear, generous print play and the addition of a striking colour in an otherwise quite neutral palette allows for versatility in the collection as well as showing that Edun knows what they're doing (and they're doing it goooood).

Hues of pink, coral and orange combined with 50's and 70's inspired shapes was the reason I fell in love with Christian Siriano's line up. Satin button ups, structured shapes and the youthfulness of the colour palette tied the line up together perfectly and created one hell of a collection. I love the addition of the print neon print on print- something which many designers stay away from but I think is so flattering and modern. The campaign shoots for this line up featured two looks of the same 'concept', allowing us all to see that Christian Siriano knows how to manipulate shapes and colours together to create a stunning effect.

Loving the colour palette for this years resort 16 line up, Michael Kors made me think of the 70's as each look screamed a mixture between relaxed cool and the polished daring. Flares, full pleated midi skirts and quilted coats were just some of my favourite moments from this line up- the addition of a tan coloured trench made us remember that Michael Kors is damn good at manipulating such a neutral colour to create a beautiful effect like no other. Quilted jackets done two ways are my favourite looks from resort 16 , Michael Kors.

Bringing it back to the basics, DNKY stuck with a majorly black, with a hint of silver, collection. Bringing us some simple looks with clean cut lines and timeless shapes, DNKY re-created what it's like to be cool, fashion-forward yet relaxed and minimalistic. Minimalism is so flattering when done right, and DNKY did it right, alright. The addition of silver makes the collection just a little bit more phenomenal, with oversized sleeves and high turtlenecks being some of my favourite fabric manipulations to date. All black fur jacket is the jacket of my dreams. 

Fendi blew me away with it's resort 16- it's EXACTLY the style I wish to embody in my own line up. Taking some advice from the master of the fashion world; Fendi utilised simplistic prints and a warm-toned colour palette to spice up the black and white neutrals. Clean cut shapes and short lengths added a touch of modernity, and the hint of sportwear created a relaxed and go-to look no matter what occasion. My favourite looks from Fendi are the gorgeous black oversized bomber with gorgeous print, as well as the printed pant + bralette combo with a sportswear inspired mesh oversized vest. Fendi , you've done it again. 

I loved Max Mara's FW15 line up, so I had big expectations for resort 16. I was not dissapointed in the slightest as Max Mara brought a generous colour play with the gorgeous oversized coats/jacket attire that caught everyone's eye with FW. Fur hats were thrown on models heads to add a winter's touch, yet the addition of a softer colour palette and print play made us think back to spring days. May I just add that the knee-length shorts aren't just a mum thing anymore and everyone should just accept that they look damn good. I also want that tan, black and white scarf in my wardrobe pronto.

Prabal Gurung's Resort 16 line up featured dark tans, egg whites and youthful print play combined with a softer emphasis on shapes and full-length bottoms. Gurung's designs are gorgeous bcause they allow for diversity without being overbearing- having a completely white trench with touches of satin fabric, dark tan colour is like nothing i've ever seen before and I'm loving it. The poncho is love, and the gorgeous pink prints on white background made as a casual button up is coming straight out of my dreams. Gorgeous collection. 

my favourite look from each designer 

more yummy resort 16 posts coming !!! All the designers are releasing their resorts and I must say I cannot get enough. Tune in to see the beauty for yourself xx. 

thanks for reading& stay tuned for more...

Vera x

FEMmasculinity - The Woman-suit

What makes someone look professional? Is it the persona they put on when they meet you, the way they talk, the way their dress or merely their reputation? Perhaps, it's a mixture of all these aspects at once, co-operating together to create a vibe of professionalism and an "I get things done" feel. We can all agree that the way we present ourselves physically has an immense effect on people's reactions and perceptions of us; walking into a 5 star restaurant wearing thongs and boardies is not only morally frowned upon but is actually a one step road to getting yourself kicked out (some restaurants have a specific dress code, none of which include thongs on the list), just like walking onto the beach wearing a ball gown would be regarded as strange (unless you're going to a wedding). We know that when we're going to a fancy ball, we need to dress black tie. We know that when we're going to a cocktail party, we need to wear a cocktail dress. We know that when we're going to an interview, we have to dress in a smart casual way that won't negatively affect your interviewers perception of the person you are. And even with all of that in mind, we sometimes forget to realise that these codes of dress are put in place for us in order to let us achieve a certain persona, a face, to put out into the public. What am I trying to get at, may you ask? Well, recently I have been falling in love with the professional side of things; woman suits, tailoring, smart casual and feel the need to share with you the wonders of femasculine fashion.

During World War 2, women wore pants solely for workwear purposes and remained faithful to the good old skirt and dress. It wasn't only until the late 60's and 70's that women became adapting trousers, pants, slacks etc. into their every-day wardrobe due to the sexual revolution and feminism strikes. Today, pants are regarded as one of the staple garments in anyone's wardrobe; women and men alike. Women love them because they have the ability to accentuate, or hide, particular parts of their legs depending on style and cut. Everyone loves them because they're comfortable, professional, warm, easy to style. What more could we want from a garment?
The concept of the 'woman-suit' has been around for centuries; dating back to the 1660's when women wore a full-length skirt and an accentuated shoulder cropped blazer for horse riding purposes. Later on in the 1960's, the woman-suit was created with a pencil skirt + blazer combo, and it evolved from there. Now, a woman suit is so many things and more. Long gone are the days of being constricted to pencil and full length skirts; women all around the globe are going to work in a full suit attire; slacks, tailored blazer, pointed flat shoes and a fitted shirt. Looking fiercer than ever, the woman-suit is a gracious, professional and ever so flattering attire for a woman; the tailoring of the blazer keeps a womans' body shape and the slacks/pants work to complete the look completely customized to the woman wearing it. 

 the varieties of the woman-suit are endless... photos all taken from tumblr. 

The coolest thing about the woman suit, to me at least, is the ability to change. A suit can be tweaked and changed miraculously just by a mere detail change; change one aspect of the suit and the whole look is different. Creating a more sultry look (for going out, parties) by not going with a shirt at all, creating a more casual look by swapping black flats to white trainers, spicing things up with the addition of a funky pant, or keep things interesting with a unique-cut shirt. I love the versatility of this look; you can go from the office to dinner without changing and still look hella professional throughout the whole day. You can keep a suit for years and years (depending on the fabric of the suit) without wear and tear. I recommend picking up a poly-visco fabric blend suit when choosing a go-to staple suit look; poly-visco is easy to maintain, is breathable, does not crumple and will last you decades. If you're prone to coldness, I would recommend you to pick up a cotton/wool blend fabric suit; thicker, warmer but takes a bit more care to maintain in crisp condition (but so worth it). Never ever EVER put your suits in the washing machine, or tumble dry; take it to the dry cleaners instead. There's nothing more painful than knowing you ruined a garment because you were too lazy to follow the cleaning instructions. 

Going away from the traditional black suit; I find stripes to be highly flattering, as well as untraditional colours like the white or baby-blue suit. Something about a person wearing a suit, 'suiting' up, is flattering to me on so many levels. It's symbolism that I have stuff to do, that I love order, I am ready to embrace the world in it's fingertips, I'm not afraid of traditional values. Love love love how a large variety of womenswear designers have designed a selection of woman suits for us girls to fawn over. Long gone are the days of stealing your dads, or boyfriends blazer jacket and hello tailored, fitted blazers and immaculately cut slacks.  

 modern professionalism meets high fashion 

Apart from the suit, I've been loving the pointed flat shoe lately. Highly flattering, extremely versatile, diverse, comfortable, smart, stylish. What more could you want from a shoe? I've been wearing the pointed flat at work as well as to uni, to go shopping, to go to lunch, even to pick up maccas. Literally anywhere. Here are some of my favourite pointed shoe styles; 

nothing classier than a pair of good shoes to complete your outfit.. pointed shoes are flattering and highly appropriate for any occasion

 Pointed shoes have definitely been high on my 'love' radar this month, so much so that I went out and bought myself a gorgeous pair from Tony Bianco and will be wearing them generously, perhaps for the rest of my life. These babies are great because you can wear them with casual attire to add structure, as well as complete a formal look (like the woman suit!!!). With shorts, jeans, slacks, funky trousers, skirts and skorts... pointed shoes are a personal favourite of mine this month. 

There are so many different combinations of the woman suit... here are a few that I have put together. 

Till next time, loves. 

thanks for reading& stay tuned for more...

Vera x