Paul & Joe Menswear: SS13

May 15, 2013

Paul & Joe SS13

French label Paul & Joe’s SS13 menswear collection invites us to escape to the continent and admire the great outdoors, with inspiration taken from photographer Peter Beard’s passion for Africa. Paul and Joe’s designer, Sophie Albou, first launched the menswear line back in 1995 and now has a strong presence in the UK with a Covent Garden store on Floral Street. Though the new collection uses Africa for inspiration, it does so very subtly – staying away from large ethnic prints and instead focusing on the young, colourful designs the brand are renowned for. The collection features casual wear such as chinos, cardigans, tees and shorts as well as more formal pieces in the form of suiting, blazers and sharp outerwear. This season the label has also included a selection of complete outfits, with matching top and bottoms available in ornate floral prints and micro patterns. The collection highlight has to be the floral biker jacket. Taking a classic menswear silhouette and bringing it bang up to date via a striking all-over floral print, it is the definition of a statement piece. Other design touches include slightly cropped sleeves and a traditional asymmetric zip-up front. Overall, the collection offers a selection of fun and young pieces that are designed to get you noticed, along with more refined and smarter options that would be suitable for multiple occasions. You can shop the full range now at paulandjoe.com.