5 Innovative Collections at London Collections Men + Trends From LCM

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London Colletions Men kicks off the menswear shows of the season and we always see the aristocratic, elegant and gentlemanly collections that we expect LCM to show. But along with that, there are some collections who make things a little more fun, and present to us an imagery the world takes as a granted part of menswear. If there's anything that LCM proves, is that the man of today is not afraid to take risk, be artistic and make his wardrobe a cool place of envy.



I present my list of the collections that did just that. Unusual collections with a side to them that's creative conceptualization translated in its best form.

KATIE EARY: Peace Out!


Katie Eary S/S'15 LCM London Spring Summer London 2014 2015


Taking a whole new spin at the 70's, Katie Eary's S/S'15 collection featured a colorful world of the cowboy who just might not be into bull riding, but prefers peace over anything. And along with peace, is into an array of colors; preferably sunset. Ombre hues of the sun dominated the tops, and the patterns seem to take inspiration from the sea creatures; with fish skeletons and fins. Don't forget the cowboy staple; denim. yes, people like that exist, it's not always about following your ancestors and traditions, we can take two cultures and mix them up to create harmony; and in the collection's case, something beautiful!


*****


Xander Zhou: Hormonal Balance


Xander Zhou S/S'15 LCM Summer Spring London 2015


With a dark collection, Xander Zhou maintained a simple aesthetic appeal to a probable manic collection that was down to earth and spoke volumes with the designs. It was a collection meant for the young adult, with all the hormones raging in, and the obsession with pop culture. But how it differs is the interpretation in a dark way. It was in short, a dark depiction of the years where one is going through so much psychological evolution, it's dark and bright at the same time. And the glitter seemed to depict the fun times, even though it was shades of dark rage.


*****


SIBLING: Fitting In By Making Space


Sibling S/S'15 LCM Summer Spring London 2015


Another one of the collections aimed at the young mind, but putting a different spin  on it. Sibling's S/S'15 collectiona was an ode to the effed up mind of a teenager where fitting in is hard when you are so different. But it gave a message that it is ok if you are weird, be yourself and you'll be beautiful. It's all about embracing the ugly, and sticking to your beliefs. It's ok to rebel and not be a part of the crowd. While the message came out strong in weird stringy silhouettes and the graphic skeleton prints and the bone necklaces, the collection was aimed at a more sickly part of young adult life where punk rules, and in an absolutely deconstructed, ripped up way; just like life itself.


*****


MAN: Childhood Collage of Memories


MAN S/S'15 LCM Spring Summer 2015 London


We know it is three designers that present in a single show. But what we need to know is how beautifully the concepts merge into each other. With MAN's focus being on childhood memories since long, this collection was an ode to the collage infested walls of our rooms from childhood memories, with stickers on our backpacks. And in these backpacks, we pack our memories of youth and take to the metropolitans of the world where we get lost in the fine patterns of the buildings. But hey, Bobby Abley knows we have everything on iTunes and DVD, so why not go watch The Little Mermaid and relive those memories from our childhood?


*****


Christopher Shannon: Filling the Empty Gaps


Christopher Shannon S/S'15 Spring LCM Summer London 2015 2014


While our dads read newspapers, all we did was make words out of headlines and the mashed up versions of the fonts got engraved in our heads. Then we came up with fonts mixing it all and gave it all to the digital world to use. With a laid back attitude to one's life where everything just comes along and happens, it leaves emtpy spaces to be filled by one's own mind. Christopher Shannon's S/S'15 collection was an ode to the time when windows were open and small was big, and innocence prevailed. The loose shirts and the long shorts exude an easy breezy vibe, that is reminiscent of childhood summers.


Now that I look at the collections, I notice how youth and childhood seems to be such a common theme among them all. I think nobody grows out of their memories, and somehow is looking for a way to express something close to their hearts. Also, it is a great market move. Nowadays, social media has made the ability to have it all in reach of youngsters, and the bigger consumers of the day are them. So it only seems right to target them. Sure, you can wear a suit and look dapper, but can you make a statement. With so many social hierarchies and divisions, it only makes sense to target the underdogs, the people who are different and don't conform to the norms.

 TRENDS


White Footwear


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Lose Silhouettes


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Denim


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Single Breasted Jackets


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White


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