The London Show

This is LWIS' first ever review of a fashion week. If you want to see coverage on the previous fashion weeks  (Milan, Paris, NY), they're on M's personal site (click here: The New York Show). But for now, we give you our favorite looks from the London Fashion Week menswear runway and the trends that were spotted.
*images from GQ.com UK

-Topman Design-

Topman is one of those stores that will never let you down. Not only are they known to be chic and affordable, but they keep that essentially British style and cut, although there is so much you cannot replicate from a tailored suit from Savile Row. Ready-to-wear, in essence, has to keep that form without compromising on authenticity.

• Inspired by: "Bohemian, Kashmerie and Moroccan influences in romantic palettes with patterns and printed silks." "Youthful bohemia"
• Highlights: "Smart suiting with an Eastern twist. Double-breasted jackets with cropped trousers. Bright patent tasseled loafers in fluorescent colours. Silk shirts and pyjama-style trousers in jacquard prints. Man clutches in printed Maroc leather."

 

-E Tautz-

• Inspired by: What was shown here was classic tailoring mixed in with athletic wear. "Patrick Grant told the story of how in the Twenties a Havana postman Félix Carvajal decided to ran for Cuba in the Olympics and turned up late. He ended up running the race in the full outfit and would tip his hat to the crowd as he went round the final lap of the stadium. That story inspired further research into classic athletic wear."
• Highlights: The athletic tailored pants stood out the most. In this show: "Technical jackets in waterproof Ventile. A beautiful orange high-vis parka. Reinvented pac-a-mac in Ventile. Some very wearable of linen cable knit sweaters. Pre-fall - Grant revealed that E Tautz will now be doing four collections a year - inspired by American artist Richard Serra and they showed double breasted suits in eight-ounce worsted with cropped trousers." 

 -Hardy Amies-

• Highlights: One by one, I kept seeing flavors of Italian style, while traditional British three-piece looks were kept intact. The summer colors were muted here, which is perfect for this type of collection. I couldn't help but think this collection has plenty of sprezzatura. It was almost a fusion of styles in the design and colors. Lapels that could be seen in a French label as well from some of the jackets in display. This was a great surprise to have in the week and a pleasure to include in our favourites list.