The boys are back in town and set to bring down the house this season. Beekay, Komakino, Orschel-Read, Braille and studio_805 make up our menswear designers, and have already got our juices flowing with their refreshing, super modern perspective on 21st century menswear. For Pakistan born Beekay, tough, punky masculinity will be the order of the day. A powerful, confident aesthetic dominates the brand, mixing tough, rebellious leather with lighter, more flexible fabrics like denim and lycra.
Husband and wife team Komakino (pictured above) take elements of classic menswear and rough it up, slashing fabric, ripping off sleeves and featuring frayed edges and exposed seams. Fusing military influences with classic tailoring, the design duo use leather and fabric manipulations to create a clean, modern view of masculinity.
Over at Orschel-Read, expect suped up, futuristic boys to rule the pack, as innovative, new generation tailoring and sci-fi style lines are at the centre of this brand. Already worn by Ga Ga herself (unperturbed by the fact it's meant for men), and shot by photography gods Hedi Slimane, Nick Knight and David Bailey, Orschel-Read take couture fabrics and make them wearable and exciting.
Now, despite all this macho talk, every girl needs a gent from time to time, and Braille will deliver just that. Providing a fresh, crisp and upbeat look, Braille employs a smart, classic silhouette in natural fabrics like hemp and wool. Coupled with a soft, flattering colour palette, the brand expertly transforms the traditional suit and tie aesthetic into a clean, modern, relaxed look.
For something all the more surprising, studio_805, created by Leeds Collage of Art graduate, Andrew Bannister, takes mainstream menswear and administers a much needed dose, actually, make that a triple dose, of fun. Chocka-block with neon colours and bold, graphic patterns, expect a collection that’s a feast for the eyes from start to finish.
In a world when the girls always seems to get first dibs in the style stakes, this season it seems the lads are going to be spoilt for choice. Yes, men, throw out those ill fitting polyester suits and comedy socks, this season, you are about to be well and truly styled up.
Posted by Fiona Anderson