London Collections Men will enjoy a number of related events organised and hosted by big industry names, including Calvin Klein and Tom Ford. Attendees can look forward to a variety of entertainment such as the requisite catwalks, special fashion displays and presentations, and other shows.

The inspiration for London Collections Men was to show off some of the country’s finest in men’s fashion. Designers such as Christopher Shannon, James Long, and J.W. Anderson are perfect examples of how this area of the fashion world is breaking new ground and garnering high acclaim in international circles. James Long showed off his collection last season, with plenty of inspiration from David Lynch. This season he offers creations that combine natural fabrics with metallic fibres and shiny, hardware embellishments. On the other hand, Shannon debuts his new collection with sporty gear that makes use of logos, prints, and twists on clothing staples such as parkas, anoraks and jeans. Anderson pushed the envelope even further by attempting to see how far one can combine bad taste with good.

Having so much talent readily available, it was about time that British menswear was showcased in an exclusive venue of their own. Undoubtedly, the impressive list of top designers and labels, along with the Prince of Wales as host, will help to create a spectacular launch for London Collections Men.

And now the designer, who was appointed to lead the Alexander McQueen chain after his death, has done it again with a new direction that epitomises fun and feathers, not to mention heel-less shoes. Burton unveiled the new Spring/Summer 2012 collection at Paris Fashion Week recently, in a show that had both a magical and dramatic feel. The show signalled her commitment to the unique and dramatic identity of the brand that McQueen was so famous for and made the label much desired amongst the fashion elite, before he committed suicide in 2010.

For this season the brand seems to be going in the direction of soft layers of fabric and feathers, designed to create movement and drama and coupled with some very characteristic shoes. Heel-less shoes made from skins seem to heavily feature for a dramatic edge to an outfit, aligning with this year’s trend for skin bags. The shoes and the feathers seem to be destined to appear on the likes of Lady Gaga and other stars soon.

Burton initially started working at the company when she did a placement as part of her fashion course in London. She worked alongside McQueen for 14 years, her notable unique style and commitment causing her to rise up the ranks, being made creative director before she took over the reins of the fashion powerhouse following McQueen’s death.

Alexander McQueen set up the label himself after he left Givenchy in 2001, where he had previously worked as Chief Designer. His creations earned him several awards, included British Designer of the Year which he won four times. He was found dead at his home in London in 2010 after committing suicide.

The fashion industry in the United Kingdom is responsible for employing around 800,000 people. As well as this it contributes over £21 billion a year to the UK economy, making it one of the most important creative industries in the country. The British fashion industry has long been a firm favourite across the world, with London Fashion Week being at the forefront of the fashion season, along with the other ‘big four’ events in New York, Milan and Paris.

There are a range of brands available in Britain, and this is partly what makes the British high street one of the best in the world. At the more affordable end of the market there is an abundance of high street stores, from British brands such as French Connection, to European brands such as G Star Raw, to worldwide brands such as Soul Cal Deluxe. Many of these brands offer current styles that are on a par with the high fashion brands, as they have become more and more adept at taking influence from the catwalk and quickly delivering it to the typical consumer.

Since the turn of the 21st century, brands have also cleverly used collaborations with high fashion designers to create some unique collections for their customers. By giving a guest designer the opportunity to create a collection, the brand is able to offer their customers a piece of high fashion at a much more affordable price

The department store Hema claim that the push up bra Andrej Pejic is modelling can boost women’s busts by two cups.  This is illustrated by the fact that Andrej’s no-cup chest does appear to have been enhanced to a B cup in the advertising campaign pictures.

The campaign pictures have only recently been released.  However, they have sparked a huge reaction and response, with Pejic’s agent referring to the campaign as revolutionary.  Fans have been using online forums and social websites to comment, many believe the HEMA campaign is outstanding, stating that if a male model can look good in a push up bra, it must work.  

It is believed that a male model has never modelled women’s underwear for an advert campaign before.

Andrej Pejic other fashion shoots

The title is the BFA’s highest honour, and acknowledges Paul Smith’s innovative and unique contribution to the British fashion industry during a career that has spanned four decades, beginning when he left school at the age of 15.  He opened his first clothing store in 1970 and unveiled his first menswear collection six years later.  Today, there are twelve collections under the Paul Smith label.

Paul Smith’s spring/summer 2012 collection was unveiled at London Fashion Week, echoing the classic British essence that has made Paul Smith a national favourite.  The collection fused colour blocks of bright orange and navy hues.  Layering featured strongly alongside blue jeans and tapered trousers.  Sharply tailored jackets gave way to striking shirts with skinny ties in coordinating colours.  Belts stayed skinny and shoes were glossy and black – or a daring leopard print.  The collection is wearable and the result is slick, sharp and stylish.  It seems that Paul Smith has done it again.

Paul Smith

]]> http://www.sheltons-menswear.co.uk/paul-smith-receives-fashions-top-award/feed/ 0 http://www.sheltons-menswear.co.uk/tartan/ http://www.sheltons-menswear.co.uk/tartan/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:30:05 +0000 sheltons http://www.sheltons-menswear.co.uk/tartan/ Surprisingly, tartan clothing is on the rise. The patterned material has been seen on a variety of cat-walks and is now even starting to find itself in stock in local high-street stores. Big companies such as Burberry have even been getting in on the act. Burberry has recently released new products in primary hues, cross hatch with black including men’s jackets too so guys can get in on the act too. Brilliant.

However, tartan fashion can be slightly tricky. When it comes down to it, there are lots of things to remember, and lots of things to steer clear off. Below we have listed some very fundamental do’s and don’ts when it comes down to wearing tartan clothing.

•    Do mix and match- you don’t have to just stick with tartan. Lots of designers have been pairing up tartan patters with other eye-catchy ones such as animal prints. Wow. This gives a really cool and edgy look, however, I would advise only the more confident of fashionista’s to try it.

•    Accessorise! Why not try a basic tartan scarf? With a plain coloured or layer outfit, this could be the piece which completes the look. Adding basic tartan accessories allows you to follow a fashion trend and without going OTT.

•    Layers! As mentioned above, it is always a good idea to layer your tartan. You should pair up with cardigan and jackets. This style looks brilliant and it’s perfect for the colder seasons coming up, too!

•    Don’t be afraid of going OTT. Nothing should stop you from expressing your interest in fashion. Even the craziest of tartan outfits have been accepted on the catwalk, so you should never be afraid of standing out!

Gender Bender Style

One of the biggest features of the winter scene has undoubtedly been the tomboy style, with boys’ and girls’ wardrobes seeing many common pieces of clothing.  Fashion trends like the 80s-inspired boyfriend jeans have accustomed women to the loose-fitted, baggy look, and this autumn-winter collection takes the look further with suit jackets, shirts and even men’s flat shoes.

A few designers have chosen to break the monochrome of the all-masculine look by adding plunging necklines to silk shirts and heels along with sparkly trousers.  Another feminine twist has also been seen in the form of gilded embroidery and ornate sequin work.  Decorative work has been used to add a touch of ladylike charm to the otherwise severe men’s tailcoats and riding jackets.

Among the line of jackets and coats for winter 2011 are aviator jackets and Russian-style military jackets in intense colours like electric blue or deep green.  The androgynous look is in this season and audiences across runways the world over are getting a taste of gender shake-up.  So with those feminine curves hidden under layers of jackets and overcoats, be ready to look and feel like one of the boys.

Dell’Acqua first joined Brioni in 2009 after having parted ways with his own eponymous label. Speaking at the time, Andrea Perrone, president and CEO of Brioni, had said: “The appointment of Alessandro Dell’Acqua represents the Group’s desire to strengthen the womenswear collection, which has been a source of great satisfaction for some time.”

All the parties involved in the decision to cease production and part ways have declined to comment on the move, but it is widely believed that the plans laid down in 2009 had gone awry and that the decision is in some way influenced by the fact that the French luxury conglomerate PPR is interested in acquiring the iconic Italian fashion house. 

Few details are available beyond the fact that the house will stop producing womenswear after September and it is not known if the label will be present at Milan Fashion Week although it is due to show there on September the 25th.  The closure of this line marks a significant time in women’s fashion and the Italian giants will leave a large hole in the industry which many others will be keen to fill.

Designer clothes aren’t something many people can afford to buy a lot of each year, I find it easier to buy a designer suit or black jacket, to last me a few years, then other items which change often to fashion such as tops and shirts I go for cheaper brands or highstreet clothing options.

This season I have found that to keep up with a lot of the trends is to invest in a few t-shirts, men’s shirts and jumpers in earthy tones such as browns, beiges, greens and mustard yellows as well as slate greys, blues and blacks. These will provide the backbone to quite a few different trends this season and great to mix and match.

Some other things that you should try and look at are trousers, not just black, but more adventurous colours such as oranges, greens, reds and mustard yellows. Although you may think these could be a waste of money coloured trousers are having a bit of a resurgence which will no doubt be around for a while yet, after all we have had just denim jeans for a long, long time.

Brought to the capital by Metro, the Oxford Street Fashion Week offers an array of activities.  Amongst the events set to take place over the week are special promotions, style tutorials, mini catwalk shows and interactive fashion workshops.  Proving to be a popular concept, the event has led to both celebrities and large fashion retailers getting involved and the sense of fun and opportunity brought about by the week is creating a real buzz.

As the first event of its kind that has been held around the same as key fashion weeks on this scale, the event seems set to compliment rather than criticise the more prestigious fashion week alternatives.  The New York, London, Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks will always remain the linchpins of the fashion world, showcasing the world’s best designers and leading the way for the following season’s styles, but it’s certainly fun to have an alternative that allows the masses to be excited about fashion.