CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

WORDS BY HARRY BRADBURY

It seems as though each season a print of some description is seen waltzing down the runways of Fashion weeks for Spring/Summer. This year is no exception, with the likes of Gucci, Dries Van Noten, Dior Homme, Hermès, Saint Laurent, Dolce & Gobanna and Richard James all seen as campaigners for converting us to floral print some way, shape or form in 2016. Whether it’s subtle darker earthy tones or in your face full on blooming hydrangeas.
As always the word spreads and the high street brands pick up on the trends and in turn create affordable versions of what we see on the catwalks. Check out some of the best examples of the best floral prints trend for Summer 16 on the High Street.

  Zara

  French Connection

Reclaimed Vintage at Asos

  Mango MAN

TOPMAN

I know I’m not alone on this point, because one of the many endearing qualities which drew me to the long suffering Mrs Mc in the first place, was our shared torturous, sorry idyllic childhood holidays spent within Britain and Ireland. You know the ones, being blown up and down a promenade by gale force winds or blowing rain drops off your nose in a torrential shower, while being told, “Stop being soft, It’ll pass in a minute,” all the whilst this happening at the height of our British holiday season in Balmy August. Ahhhh, character building, well that’s what I tell the kids now anyway.

What I would have given back then for some good quality, non embarrassing wet weather gear, that didn’t make you look like you were setting sail for a month aboard a deep sea trawler. Well do you know what, I have the solution to my, I mean our prayers. Just think the summer holidays, festival season or even the commute to work needn’t be a complete washout, even when the weather forecasts for the UK are wet and miserable. Make sure you’re covered for any sudden downpour with Didriksons, who produce stylish waterproof and windproof designs for the whole family to keep you sheltered from the wind and rain ensuring that the outdoors fun lasts all season. Yeah !

Didriksons apply a simple philosophy: “we don’t challenge the elements, we adapt to them.” Way back in 1913 Julius and Hanna Didrikson began producing workwear for the fishermen in Grundsund, on the edge of Sweden’s western coast. For over a hundred years now the brand have been faithful to this basic principles. Making functional clothing that keeps you dry and comfortable regardless of the weather and as result of this a hundred years later, they are Scandinavia’s biggest brand of rainwear and functional garments.

Didriksons is still a family run business today, but the world is very different to the one Julius and Hanna started their business in. The brand prides self on constantly striving to reduce their environmental impact, and leave as small a footprint as possible behind them, here here. They minimise the use of chemicals, no toxic substances, and use as little water, energy and transport as they can in the production.

Playing around with notions of sex, gender and what is traditionally items of clothing for one sex being adopted by the other is hardly groundbreaking within the Fashion world and ok so men embracing their feminine side might still be less mainstream. What would the world be without such iconic imagery as Marlene Dietrich, Madonna and Bianca Jagger all playing with their interpretation of the tuxedo, the late, great David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Prince all playing with the stereotypes of gender or more recently, Gucci’s, item of the season, pussybow shirts and Jayden Smith front the latest Louis Vuitton Campaign. Gender neutrality is big business Zara, KTZ, Whistles X Stutterheim and Selfridges are all loving their agenderness. Females for decades have been helping themselves to their boyfriends wardrobes whether it be jeans, jumpers or Blazers. However, one wardrobe staple which has, until now, eluded unisex sharing has been footwear.

But for Summer 2016, luxury brand, Salvatore Ferragamo presents the Ferragamo Off-Duty project, a special footwear collection inspired by a new casual and sporty mood, without gender distinctions. This collection includes shoes designed to be worn by him and her – in sizes 31⁄2 to 15 – reflecting the unisex lifestyles of the new generation.

With its streamlined design which looks to sportscar drivers, the driver – one of Ferragamo’s best- sellers – stands out for its distinctive sole with rubber inserts making it incredibly flexible, an example of craft expertise, the brand is renowned for.

However, the driver isn’t on its own, it’s joined by the Stylish and understated, moccasin, with its double Gancio buckle is the distinctive signature feature, alongside a wide range of materials and this season’s colour combinations. Plus a hyper-contemporary street-savvy trainer, sorry, sneaker.

The palette for the Off-Duty collection imbues the driver and moccasin with the new unisex Piuma print or the warming tones of summer: Anemone, Mimosa, Orange, Grapes, Saxony Blue, New Sprint, Red and Blue Marine, as well as Black, the gender-neutral colour par excellence. Whereas the lace up sneaker combines parts in plain calfskin, patent, soft split leather, suede and Airspring print fabric, or Piuma print leather in three colourways: wine-blue-grey-brown, dark rain and burgundy, sand and rose.

Men’s leisurewear brand Hamilton and Hare, inspired by the original boxing short, have partnered with the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion in history, boxing legend Joe Calzaghe to create a limited edition capsule sportswear collection. Inspired by the aesthetic of British boxing, the collection transcends the gym for all day style. It uses only premium natural cotton fabrics, as synthetic fabrications are useless outside the gym and leave the wearer prone to sweating and overheating the range is created with a technical construction to provide excellent breathability and temperature control, cooler when active, balancing temperature during recovery and providing warmth when inactive in leisure time.

The first brand collaboration will feature details that represent Calzaghe’s superstitions in the ring. His ‘black only’ uniform became a visual mantra during his career as he continued to win and reached his undefeated status. This is reflected also in the range’s branding which includes Calzaghe’s distinctive Celtic cross, tattoo.

As with all Hamilton and Hare pieces, it has been designed in London and made using small-scale producers in England and Europe, quality and fit are a top priority. Their approach is to treat underwear and loungewear with the same attention to detail as outerwear. Combining the finest cottons fabrics with a masculine aesthetic the range of versatile wardrobe essentials is testament to their belief that basics don’t have to be boring.