(This article I wrote was recently published for an online magazine called FUSSED, but to my disappointment, it had been pulled to bits and reworded before it was published, and they made it sound awful. I was crying so much, I was so angry and embarrassed to have my name next to it! I won’t be writing anything for them again and thought I should put my ACTUAL work up, to make sure that my building portfolio is truly my own work.)

Style and fashion have, as we all know, two very different meanings, and the distinction between them turned out to be vital in understanding a modern man’s mentality towards his wardrobe. My interviewees – four men ages 19-40 – made it apparent that their main clothing concern was not to be in with the fleeting trends, but to stay stylish, in long-lasting, good quality wardrobe staples that could be worn over and again - almost every day. Nobody said they valued practicality over aesthetics, but this was because top-quality clothing has both in equal measure. A well cut pair of jeans and classic leather shoes or boots were popular answers when asked what part of their wardrobe they couldn’t live without, and it was the same response from all ages. A well-tailored, clean-cut suit was also a must-have: the 2012 Spring/Summer collections of Men’s Fashion Week were certainly not going to disappoint.

The catwalks were littered with the classic tailoring that deems a piece sophisticated. The key to these collections however, was the evolution of those pieces. Every designer added a twist that converted their clothing into modern, quirky, yet still wearable art, answering the calls of the contemporary man who begs for subtle fashion that isn’t too androgynous, but neither is it clumsy. Gucci managed this perfectly, keeping a sporty silhouette beneath the defined jackets and ankle-swinging slacks. There was a deliberate focus on oversized, sturdy bags and suitcases, and thick-soled, slip on shoes: both vital in the fast-moving world of today. These accessories brought the collection into the current moment for the ‘en vogue’ male.

Colours were another modernizing tool used by the designers to update their garments. Enrico Coveri threw zinging lime greens onto the lapels of all-white jackets, whilst Cavalli contrasted the white with a palette of rich, majestic hues. All the while, they stayed true to the enduring aura of the wardrobe staples that the men I spoke to described as necessities. Philipp Plein and Armani were mixing the well-known, casual rock tee with throw on suits; the rolling up of trousers and avoiding buttons on their blazers toned down formality. DSquared2 on the other hand refined the slouch and stuck to slim structuring and minimalistic decoration, very keen on the skinny tie.

Burberry was the beautiful antithesis of the week. Whilst ensuring a modern and wearable collection, the clothing simultaneously had an antique feel, induced by the patchwork designs on shirts and earthy colour palette. The durability of the clothes was wonderfully obvious and boasted timelessness – a definite selling point for the men of today. Chief creative officer of Burberry, Christopher Bailey said backstage at the show, “I wanted to celebrate the idea of craftsmanship. I love the whole digitalisation of the world. But I don’t think one has to be at the expense of the other.”

However, there is a growing availability of cheaper, lesser quality clothing on our high streets, a definite reflection of our current society. Modern life is quick moving with a throw away attitude, characterised by the Internet in particular. Information moves on so quickly that fashion trends are come and gone in moments – high street style blogs are on the rise and they’re constantly posting the latest look. It’s the retailer’s job to update their stock as quickly as the bloggers update their site, resulting in an age of ‘fast fashion’.

Christopher Bailey’s desire to keep a quality of control on the ever-growing industry is a heaven-sent opinion, planted right in amongst the professionals of the trade where it has the potential to spread. Trends are fickle, whereas quality and style are timeless, and men enjoy the practicality and permanency of that guarantee. Such high expectations will certainly be met, as the future of male fashion is looking so gorgeously promising; just when it’s thought that no other subtlety could possibly be added to enhance a wardrobe staple, another slight of hand produces something new. I highly doubt any designer is prepared to let their quality slip in order to keep up with the fast pace of the 21st century. By the way things are looking for male fashion, it’s the high street that’s going to have trouble keeping up with catwalk.

by Yasmin Leigh Hatfield

(Source: yasminleigh)