Raf Simmons

This year’s Men’s Fashion Week took us on a joyride of different levels and personas. Some personified 1940’s mobsters, while others opted for a more scenic route of paint-splattered coats and the vibrancy of loud hues, visually penetrating – and not to mention stimulating – the crowds-full of onlookers that partook in attendance, physically and digitally. Just when we thought we had seen the best show of the season, the following act disproved the prior theory by showcasing an even more mind-blowing show to set us straight. One after another, models stormed down runways, unwilling to give us a chance to cry out “Mercy!” or “Uncle!” completely overwhelming our senses – all five of them! Swoon-worthiness clouded the entire continent of Europe with a roster of coveted fashion houses giving our male participants a step-by-step guidebook of how to keep things warm and cool all at the same time come this fall. It was hard to narrow it down, but somehow we managed to sum up the top five best in show from Men’s Fashion Week! Care to join us? 5. Raf Simmons A collection noted of being an artist’s dream-come-true – the collaboration done flawlessly by Raf Simmons and artist Sterling Ruby presented a collection awash with paint-splattered trenches, tees, and everything in between. The duo, keeping true to Ruby’s artistic roots, postulated out-of-the-box staples like knitted sweaters with misplaced patches of infinite colors. The collection oozed minimalistic punk by way of tight, black pants with boxy, oversized coats that voiced out anarchy with the word choice of the day – FATHERS – to add a sense of rebellion to the fall fashion scene. 4. Etro Fashion is an unpredictable force of nature not easily reckoned with and this year’s collection by Etro proved just that – unpredictability. The Italian fashion house, known for their signature paisley print, headed for a more plaid palette this year, taking a leap of fait towards the unknown. The collection had a very Paddington Bear meets Sherlock Holmes feel about it, revealing slim, check and plaid three-piece suits being mated exceptionally with a matching neck-tie – and the occasional trench – to add an element of depth to the quadratic equation. The only thing that was missing was a wooden pipe and four simple words: Elementary, my dear Watson. 3. Paul Smith The name Jim Morrison was being whispered throughout the mouths of front row fashion-editors and prominent journalists covering the Paul Smith runway show this month in Paris. The old-school married to a new-school rock star aura permeated the air of what the coming of age “bad-ass” will look like a la fall. Wide-leg trousers with basic, loose-fitted tees set the standard, while hints of Last of the Mohican-inspired motifs glided onward in the shape of woven tunics, mocked-necks, and thick, notch-collared coats. The legend of Morrison lives on. 2. Umit Benan Strike three! You’re…in? A legendary revival pervaded the class-act collection that put Umit Benan on the map this year at Men’s Fashion Week. The filmmaker-turned-designer channeled the 1940s by paying tribute to one of the world’s most renowned baseball player, Jackie Robinson. The iconography of the baseball player was seen through cord and quilted jackets, releasing a vintage mood-setter out to the crowd. 1. Burberry Prorsum There’s always one designer that the fashion slaves of this world get wild and out about – the name’s Burberry…Burberry Prorsum to be exact. No one knows exactly why we melt in the presence of this iconic, textual, UK designer, but it might have something to do with its classic cuts, its playful sportsmanship, or its overly zealous love for plaid. Who knows? What we do know, however, is that the luxe fashion house put on a show filled with refined men wearing the finest, silk neckerchiefs, mesh tanks, long plaid scarves lurking underneath floral coats or jackets, peeping it’s unfinished hemmed head out from the bottom of the coat. Speaking of all this floral talk, its seems as if Christopher Bailey isn’t over the topic of spring just yet, underlining the subject of floral print on practically everything – scarves, trenches, and new wave style button-ups alike. For the finally the models marched passed the crowd in a single-file-line, wearing different plaid blankets draped over their left shoulder. Echoes of the past hit a resounding note best said by none other than Paul Revere and a warning only Burberry could be deemed worthy of: The British are coming! The British are coming!  By Nycole Sariol