It's very rare that I fall in love with a menswear designer/collection. When I do I obsess over them/it (I can't help having an obsessive nature!). I want to buy it all, wear it all at once, and never take it off. Shaun Samson has captured my fashion-heart. I'm 'FASH-IONATE' for him.
I'm not going to lie, I don't know much about Shaun. The little I do know, I learnt from his website which tells us he is "a California-born British-trained menswear designer launching his label in 2011. With a strong desire to pursue design, Samson successfully completed his first AA in Fashion Design in Los Angeles. Samson managed to work on four collections for Jeremy Scott throughout his degree."
This doesn't really tell us much, but after looking at, and greatly admiring, his autumn winter 2011 collection, it's clear that Shaun knows a thing or two about dressing the male body. His collection consisted of eight looks, each emulating the kaftan-over-trouser trend that we saw on the womenswear catwalks.
Boxy, minimal silhouettes prevailed, which for me - I love an oversized garment - and hopefully a lot of men, is a favourite shape. He was careful though. In an interview on the Dazed website, Shaun comments: "The silhouettes were very minimal and the influence came from prison uniforms. I liked this idea of one-size fits all. I did make it slightly cleaner so that it wasn’t so shapeless."
He also explains in the interview that he uses a needle-punch felting technique which he used throughout this collection. In short, it's the technique of taking different fabrics (in this case wool, denim and knits) and, using a special treatment, melting the materials together to ensure a seamless piece of clothing. How bleedin' clever!?
Although Shaun's collection may not be to everyone's taste, it really does show once again how the lines between masculine and feminine fashion are blurring. Longer, cocoon shapes are fine for women, but it would take a man who is confident with his fashion choices, body and sexuality (be it gay or straight - why pigeon hole fashion?) to wear these head-t0-toe looks.
WHERE'S THE QUEUE FOR THE SHOP?? I'm so there. Big, HUGE fan of the whole collection. I can't WAIT to see what Shaun will give us for spring summer 2012 this month!
Enjoy...
