Milan Fashion Week AW13
Milan fashion week has been and gone and delivered us the vision of men’s fashion for 2013 from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada and Calvin Klein. Throughout the event, the collections harkened back to traditional menswear silhouettes and patterns, helping create a look that is hyper-masculine yet refined, dignified and always in style. Christopher Bailey set the tone for Milan with a show entitled ‘We Heart Classics’. Instead of taking the easy route of exploring the Burberry archives and churning out yet more classic trench coats (no bad thing), the collection showcased classic pieces that had been evolved through the use of new materials, detailing and shape – keeping everything fresh and certainly new. This was something explored by multiple designers, with Jil Sander developing her own distinctive take on traditional overcoat design and Salvatore Ferragamo experimenting with leather. There were plenty of other trends that were transposed onto these time-tested staples. Today, we run through the most prominent influences, in order to keep you ahead of the game this AW13.
Strength ? Maximalist & Minimalist
From the beefcakes at Versace to the pastel boys at Prada, both had strength in what they wore – meaning that no matter your style, you can be bold and daring come AW13. As is the norm at Versace, Donatella Versace continued her foray through maximalist prints and oversized, powerful clothing. It saw masculinity cranked up to the maximum but also luxury at its highest, with these bold, almost threatening outfits becoming something of desire and admiration:
Miuccia Prada offered a different stance – with the catwalk being surrounded by 1970s minimalist furniture, the collection had a sense of restraint yet oozed confidence. It was a look that could have easily been created after a rummage through your father’s old wardrobe, taking classic 1970s shapes/colours and combining them together to create a statement in a refined way. This was power-dressing for the masses:
Get The Look
Depending on your own personal style, try and integrate powerfully coloured, patterned or cut pieces into your wardrobe this year. Less is more, so team these bold pieces with neutral staples to draw attention to the garment rather than create an altogether garish outfit. Our favourite styles were seen at Prada, where the vintage check patterns reigned supreme. These type of pieces can make an effortless and subtle statement throughout the year and have a classic ‘mod’ appeal:
- Topman Grey Checked Suit
- Asos Skinny Fit Suit In Geo Design
- Harris Tweed Clothing Harrington – Light Jacket – Grey
- Savile Row Inspired British Wool Coat With Velvet Collar
- Collezione Wool Blend Double Collar Check Jacket
- Austin Reed Green Herringbone Tweed Overcoat
- Asos Slim Fit Smart Trousers In Dogstooth
- Asos Slim Fit Smart Trousers In Mini Check
- Topman Biscotti Check Skinny Suit Trousers
Print ? A Return To Classic
At Prada, Miuccia embraced the 1970s check once again but elsewhere, prints have also been returning to something much more timeless and restrained after the somewhat progressive and over the top designs of 2012. Giorgio Armani took an art deco approach with an understated design of block colours, which were also seen at Jil Sander and Bottega Veneta. They resembled the aesthetic of the Henri Matisse cut outs, being both childlike in form yet beautifully sophisticated:
Get The Look
These strong geometric patterns should be the focal point of a look and their clean, minimalist approach should be extended to the rest of the outfit. Simple black trousers and sleek shoes will provide the formal edge that complements a masculine patterned jumper beautifully – just look to Giorgio Armani for inspiration.
- Villain Nassan Jumper
- Lincoln Argyle Intarsia Jumper
- Jonathan Saunders Marcus Printed Sweater 147532
- Topman Villain Check Cardigan
- Ps By Paul Smith Two-tone Cotton Sweater
- Folk Omar Contrast-panel Crew Neck Sweater
Sportswear ? Luxurious Sweat
Umit Benan’s collection continued the theme of masculinity by looking at the hidden life of Milan’s graffiti artists, bringing a feeling of danger and letting him experiment with luxurious materials when applied to sportswear. It was an aesthetic explored further at Calvin Klein, where formal sportswear was made with performance fabrics that deceived the eye – masquerading as something familiar only to be revealed as something extremely futuristic:
Get The Look
Integrating luxurious sportswear into your everyday wear can be difficult. The easiest way would be through a beautiful pair of trainers. Lanvin are the brand that currently sets the standard for high fashion trainers, which look just as good at the gym as they do paired with a simple jeans and t-shirt combination at the weekend. However, there are plenty of good high street and mid-priced alternatives. In terms of casual wear, try adding just one or two key styles to your wardrobe this year – a sweatshirt or luxe hoody embodies the sports aesthetic, yet if you make sure they are fitted and constructed from high quality materials, they will not look scruffy when paired with other smart-casual pieces. For inspiration, see how Calvin Klein integrated traditional sportswear into more tailored looks.
- American Apparel Velour Drop Shoulder Sweater
- Paul Smith Mens Sports Sweat
- River Island Knitted Front Panel Hoodie
- Topman Black Studded Sweatshirt
- Billy Reid Reversible Cotton Sweatshirt
- Passarella Death Squad X Boxfresh Charcoal Shoulder Detail Haliprya Hoodie
- Marc By Marc Jacobs Grey Sweat Leather Yoke Thompson Jacket
- Gucci Moroccan-print Scarf 144168
- Jil Sander Heptagon-print Silk Scarf
- Austin Reed Viyella Rural Print Paisley Scarf
- Drakes Polka Dot Scarf
- Topman Mono Floral Neckerchief
- Topman Blue Paisley Neckerchief
- Vintage Brown Camouflage Neckerchief
Final Word
As the classics continue their resurgence, there has never been a better time to invest in a piece that will remain stylish for years to come. Fashion is turning back to minimalism after its foray into the peacock world – however, this new age approach has left its footprint. Instead of peacock, consider wearing one off items of flamboyance; a patterned overcoat, paisley shirt, colour blocked jumper, silk scarf or simply a bright pocket square. Whatever it is, allow it to make a statement by muting the rest of your outfit. So, what do you think? Do any of these emergent trends take your fancy and will you be investing now in preparation for the end of the year? Let us know in the comments section.
