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It’s that time of year again when the weird, wonderful and darn right beautiful comes together, to create one of the most hotly anticipated events of the year: London Collections: Men (LC:M).
On the bill this year were many regulars from previous years, with the addition of lesser well known labels, keen to maximize their exposure. Of course a label that will always have my full attention is Topman Design.
It’s easy to pigeonhole Topman as being just a high street brand, however when you look at their fashion credentials and the strength of their catwalk collections, this mind-set soon dissolves away. The collection shown this year is a preview of what’s to come for autumn/winter 2015, and it looks set to be a nod back to the ’70s with ethnic prints, their trademark slim silhouette and beautiful fur coats.
The overall sense of detail is astounding and the clever mix of textures and prints leaves this collection poles apart from any other. The very slight models strode the catwalk in outfit after outfit of pure desire and wonderment. Ombre effect jackets paired with mustard hues and preppy shoes gave the whole look a modern take on the ’70s’ flower power generation.
The styling strategically pieces together outlandish prints with textured coats and colour, resulting in a very cohesive and trendy look. The expert eye on detailing also ensures that this collection doesn’t fall flat and into the realms of a more ‘costume’-style collection. Instead it seeks to bring a reinvention of a classic, bygone fashion statement.
Of the many prints to be carefully showcased from this collection, the gutsiest has to be the classic tartan. Expertly worked into classic pieces of tailoring with easy-to-wear silhouettes, this is possibly the strongest key feature of the collection. Out of all the looks the one that I adore is the yellow and black tartan jacket, with matching trousers and fur pelt jacket to top it off nicely. The end product is a very bohemian look with a strong aesthetic.
Lusciously layering the outfits with fur pelt jackets, Topman gave strength to their looks, along with a sense of decadence and androgyny. The quality of the fur used is second to none – of the faux variety, given that this is a mass-producing stockist.
The colour palette swings from neutrals to core colours, from mustard to rich ochre, culminating into very versatile shades for all consumers. The coats are by far the most exquisite pieces from the show, with key details focusing on fur pelts and in one instance to die for tassel/fringed jackets.
Whether its patchwork jumpsuits or bell bottomed jeans, the collection certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to a successful modern trend.
Key details to look out for when choosing your winter wardrobe are:
Pattern
Think mixing tartans and ethnic prints for a psychedelic trippy look.
Fur
Adding a fur jacket to any look instantly screams ’70s – and if a full coat isn’t your bag, then choose pieces with trims to this effect. If not, a fur detachable collar can be added to jacket, to give a taster of the final product.
Flared jeans
That’s right: flares. If they’re good enough for Topman, they’re good enough for me. Pick wisely as they won’t suit all frames and you may have to resort to a boot cut to get just a hint of the signature bell-bottomed look. Make sure you buy a longer length to really amp up the look with a deep cuff.
It’s fair to say I want all of the collection and I will most probably buy most of it. That being said, if Topman would like to bequeath me the full range, then I’m not going to say no! Well a guy’s got to dress well, right?!
