I've had the weekend to trawl through my pictures, notes and Tweets and to digest all that I saw over the three days of London Collections: Men last week. What a BRILLIANT season it is/will be for autumn winter 2014!My virtual wardrobe quadrupled in a matter of hours. After drooling over the delights of Topman Design - think big coats, floaty trousers and red red red, ogling the confections from Craig Green and Alan Taylor during the MAN show and dying over E. Tautz's incredible take on tailoring I'm truly inspired for next season. And I haven't even started with spring summer yet!
Anyway, here's some of my favourite things from LC:M...
***Kit Neale***
In another stellar collection taking on a different area of London (last season was Peckham), Kit Neale focused his energies on Elephant and Castle. I loved the literal interpretation of the elephant and castle motif, and the rats were... interesting too.
I spoke to Kit who told me that: "When we on a recce of Elephant and Castle, three massive rats ran out and us. And actually I used to keep them as pets!"
I must have some Kit Neale in my wardrobe ASAP. I must I must I must.
***Laurence Airline***
I first learned of Laurence Airline in Paris during men's fashion week last year. I've been hooked ever since. Laurence has her workshop over in Africa on the Ivory Coast where she employs only local people who learn the skill of making these amazing pieces.
African prints dominate Laurence's amazing brand. It's the colours that really captivate me. Amazing amazing amazing. And for AW14 Laurence introduces sweatshirts (the orange one above for example) to her collection. So soft and yum!
***Blood Brother***
When I got my hands on some of Blood Brother's amazing pieces towards the end of last year - check out my 'Never Alone' sweater here - I truly became quite obsessed with the brand. All the prints are originals from the brand's arty creative team.
For AW14 as you can see - mind the pun - it's all about eyes, one of my favourite things to be printed on clothes. Also there's that pony-front tee and rose print galore. LOVE IT ALL!
Check out some Blood Brother here...
***Alan Taylor***
For a designer to be THIS amazing with just two years of his own label under his belt really is testament to his incredible craft. Alan's 'thing' is taking tailoring and flipping it on it's head. Last season saw him take 3D parts of suits and making them 2D.
Autumn winter saw Alan take on oversized suiting, and adding some more of those skirt details. Stand out pieces for me are those swirly print tweed suits and the HUGE lapel coats.
ONE TO WATCH!
***E. Tautz***
Last season (as in this spring summer) Patrick Grant - creative director of E. Tautz - completely had me with his brand new, and quite frankly amazing take on Savile Row tailoring. Think boxy tops, liquid fabrics and loose trousers.
For autumn/winter, it's all about oversized house coats with geometric, Tetris-like shapes, berry shades, full printed suits and some amazing embroidery done by students of The Royal School of Needlework.
If I don't own some E. Tautz this year I might go slightly crazy!
***Gloverall***
