Best of Theory Menswear SS18

NYFW | Trends and Highlights - SS15 Menswear Review (Ovadia & Sons, Billy Reid, Perry Ellis, Carlos Campos, Robert Geller and Bespoken)

New York Fashion Week is home to extremely interesting labels from named designers.These collections are some of my favourites every season because NYFW always pushes out very wearable and marketable pieces, especially for Summer. Love the strong focus of cleaner lines and staple colours this season and the catwalk looks are often sidewalk ready. SS15 menswear is definitely no different.

In this post: Ovadia & Sons, Billy Reid, Perry Ellis, Carlos Campos, Robert Geller and Bespoken.

NYFW | Romantic Parade - Zac Posen SS14 Review

Okay, the last designer post I will do for New York Fashion Week. Of course I save the best for last. Zac Posen creates stunning gowns for A-List celebrities and this season, the fashion was very frenchy, soft and romantic. Flowy dresses, sheer fabric, soft colours, flower embroidery and at times bright, rich pieces really make the collection luxurious.

The show was naive and innocent - models with flowers in their messy hair, big, beautiful pleats, and sheer garments. The show was also very simple - the dresses did all the talking. Have a look at the runway looks here.

NYFW | The Forest In Those Stories - Honor SS14 Review

Honor's show at New York Fashion Week was very enjoyable. The collection was cute, girly and fairytale-like. The atmosphere of the show in the woods with little LED lights like fireflies was mysterious and beautiful. Every piece was 'pretty' with flowers, lace and contrasting collars. Short skirts, long skirts, summer dresses, flared out layered cocktail dresses were all very girly and pretty. I loved the length of the dresses where the models' hands hanged lower than the hem. Some of the most fashionable pieces were the flower/lace cut-out sheer blouse, cut-out floral dress, lace cut-out short shorts and floral cropped pants. The floral winged sunglasses matched the looks very well. Everyone was probably on the lookout for the Big Bad Wolf. Check out the collection here!

Although I did want to stick strictly to menswear for NYFW (except some of my favourite designers), when I saw this show I was pleasantly surprised because all the pieces were very likeable but more importantly, marketable and sellable.

NYFW | The Latest Martian Fashion - Jeremy Scott SS14 Review

Jeremy Scott always holds the most memorable shows because he creates the most memorable and signature fashion. This collection in collaboration with Kenny Scharf at New York Fashion Week drew on influences from the 50s and Space Age culture. The youthful rebellion tied in with retro motifs created super hip dolls. It was awesome how there were corresponding designs between the guys and girls to make the collection very cohesive. Loud vintage is so much better and refreshing.

Print clash, retro TV test cards, lava lamps and even squeeze bottle ketchup showed off the vintage American culture. The cutting and structure of the pieces were also very retro, sticking closely to the theme. Hey, I want to go to Mars too. I love the way Jeremy Scott creates signature pieces season after season. His themes are always fresh, loud and memorable, but above all recognisable and marketable. This is branding like a pro.

Check out the runway photos here.

NYFW | The Park Or The Beach? - J.Crew SS14 Review

J.Crew always has very on trend clothing. This season at New York Fashion Week, the label created very outdoorsy pieces. The palette and prints used were about adventure. The menswear were more toned down compared to womens which were more lively and vibrant. Check out the collection here.

Guys:
Darker and earthier tones dominated the colours for the menswear. The collection was adventurous and explored the themes of nature. These pieces were well crafted for everyday wear but also had a few interesting key items. Outerwear is always strong from J.Crew and the suede bomber jacket is definitely one to look out for. Dustier and muted colours work well to complement the theme and materials used. The deeper, dustier blues were really good and I also liked the light parka. Everything was very trees and national park. See, three buttoned suit jackets don't always have to be so serious.

Girls:
Aloha! The large hibiscus print was definitely the stand out. It turns up the 'floral pants' thing into something much more stylish and Spring Summer. The heels were notable. Big floral print skirts were also good with denim, something J.Crew does well. The beachy theme was goof with thick stripes and lighter colours. The pieces screamed summer which is great to see and there were options for dressy or casual.

Photos from Fashionising

NYFW | Earth and Wind - Nicholas K SS14 Review

Loose and unstructured. Nicholas K's collection at New York Fashion Week drew inspiration from the original Americans. The runway looks were very interesting as they all centred only on one colour at a time. The palette used was simple and natural which adds to the loosely fitting garments in the breeze. The looks were very urban and casual. Some of Nicholas K's best selling pieces are in outerwear and in this season, there were some great parkas and jackets - but that's not all for this season.

Check out all the photos here!

NYFW | Boardwalk to Runway - Tommy Hilfiger SS14 Review

Tommy Hilfiger's collection was all about surf culture and SoCal at New York Fashion Week. The cool air of models walking down a boardwalk runway from "Melrose to Malibu" (said the designer) showcased love for optimism - definitely a strong theme for Spring Summer. The collection was interesting and quite innovative, where the shorts and skirts looked like peeled down wetsuits. The use of neoprene was also quite interesting, taking the whole idea of surfing quite literally. Even the designs running along the body of the pieces represented those on wetsuits and waves. It's a fun and sexy idea and the show also had florals.

There were so many good runway looks so check them out here.

NYFW | Blue and Plum Coast - Todd Snyder SS14 Review

Probably one of the most structured and traditional approaches to menswear. Todd Snyder's SS14 also brings about a Mediterranean breeze to American fashion. Nautical stripes, deep sea blues, ankles, and shorts with leather shoes are the style trend for menswear at New York Fashion Week. Light outerwear is great for Spring Summer. They look good in the wind and are practical too :D
Have a look at the collection here.

Plaid pants, skinny belts, short sleeve button downs are cool and classy. Unbuttoned blazers are also good looks for SS and it's even better when they are textured. The collection was less 'fun' than some of the others but more structured and traditional. One of the most eye catching pieces is the patterned plum suit jacket.

Photos from Fashionising

NYFW | This Time Like A Storm - Marc Jacobs SS14 Review

Closing off New York Fashion Week, Marc Jacobs was the most highly anticipated show. During the 5 days, I was waiting to see Cara Delavigne at the shows as one of the most popular models in recent years. She appeared only in one show. For the one and only Marc Jacobs. The theme for this show was dark to say the least. Most of the pieces were serious gowns and jackets full of detail, tassels and texture. Except one... the sweatshirt that resembled the Coca-Cola Logo. What?

You can check out the photos of the show here.

NYFW | The Crocodile With No Scales - Lacoste SS14 Review

For me, Lacoste dropped off the radar for a couple of years, actually except I think SS12 where I saw a nice pair of shoes. I like that they are sticking true to their brand colours. The emerald green is really good with white and Lacoste is always a strong player in sports luxe. The green also works well with the soft pink this season as the rose gold colour is popular with younger fashion consumers. The collection at New York Fashion Week is crispy clean. Minimalism works great when a brand has an iconic colour. Sheer is very strong this season and white on white is a great way for Baptista to create an upscale chic and clean look.

Check out the runway photos here.

NYFW | Carchitecture - General Idea SS14 Review

Bomber jackets are excellent for a more casual look. General Idea this season at New York Fashion Week presented colour-blocking in darker tones. The pieces were inspired by cars, clearly in the backdrop of the show. The colour-blocking made the pieces resemble the paint of cars along with the lines - creating headlights and other details of a car. It's an interesting idea, being a robot in disguise. Check out the photos here.

The bombers and other jackets created a top-heavy look which I like a lot. Bombers have become quite strong in more recent seasons and I hope it continues - it's dressed up but still modest. The lines used to section off the colours were smart and fresh. I think the blue jacket was particularly strong. The simple black shoes were good in the looks. Of course I have a keen eye for accessories and the blue/white/black backpack was great!

Photos from Fashionising

NYFW | Still Mod Chic - Ralph Lauren SS14 Review

I have to be very very honest, I was most surprised by Ralph Lauren's collection at New York Fashion Week. 1. It was a detour from what you'd normally expect from Ralph Lauren. 2. Mod was already a strong theme in SS13.  But you know what? If Ralph Lauren says it's still in then it is still in. The collection was very strong and chic, highlighting his interpretation and a better interpretation of what the mod 60's fashion meant. The updated pieces with masculine elements in monochrome were great to kick off the show, later which entered the brightly coloured gowns, ending on a storm of white garments.

I did however, want the mod pieces to be a little bit more feminine with the bags or accessories, but I don't care, I love Ralph Lauren SS14. The runway photos are all here.

NYFW | Another Spring - Robert Geller SS14 Review

It seems that many menswear designers have been taking inspiration from Europe for their SS14 collection at New York Fashion Week. Robert Geller has presented a new style inspired by Eastern European menswear. The pieces are conservative to preserve the masculine qualities of menswear and in this, mixed with punk influences. Darker pallets make Robert Geller's collection a stand out in the Spring/Summer season. See all the runway photos here (actually there might be a delay because of the Tumblr limit haha).

NYFW | Boho of Tomorrow - Anna Sui SS14 Review

Anna Sui's SS14 collection at New York Fashion Week looked back beyond 'hipster' and went straight to hippie. The bohemian style of the collection was coloured by the elementals inspired by earth, water and fire. The show was mysterious with the backdrop and the pieces were so interesting with the fine tessellating prints. The intricate details, earthy tones and material worked cohesively for a great show. You can see all the runway photos here.

For SS I enjoy the more flowy and unstructured looks.

NYFW | The Venetian American - Ernest Alexander SS14 Review

The Ernest Alexander SS14 collection unveiled at New York Fashion Week could easily be my favourite. The pieces are well created and trendy that they are stylish additions to anyone's wardrobe. It's also easy to match these with what you might already have. It's good to see that the looks are selling every  single piece so well from head to toe including the bags. There are strong elements of Italian and American suit tailoring, mixing up slim fit blazers with straight lines. Their non-padded shoulders give off effortless coolness. Check out all the looks here.

NYFW | Loud Secrets - Alexander Wang SS14 Review

Branding has always been the forefront of Alexander Wang inspirations and this season at New York Fashion Week, it was louder than ever. The discrete cut-outs of ALEXANDER WANG all across his garments was boastful yet modest. It was interesting to see this sort of approach to his pieces which were all very summery. I liked the cut-outs a lot, it's something new and fresh and bold. You can check out the photos here!

A little narcissistic perhaps - but he IS the creative of  the multi-million dollar Balenciaga. Alexander Wang besides having his name across the collection has signature motifs running throughout, themes like youth culture and just being bold about it.

NYFW | A Gentleman's Game - Michael Bastian SS14 Review

Inspired by French fashion, Michael Bastian has moulded his collection on arguably the most stylish man in the world. The pieces are quirky and fresh while still retaining the gentleman quality of menswear. This is charisma in fabric. You can see the collection here.

It's great to see fun but still classy prints - one of my favourite is the backgammon sweater although I have no idea how to play it properly, I just click it randomly on the old Windows game. The collection is not just prints, the textures make the garments much more refined.

NYFW | Snakes and Flowers - BCBGMAXAZRIA SS14 Review

I have to push these out like crazy cos London Fashion Week started last Friday and I really want to post on those too. Some of my favourite labels are there :D

BCBGMAXAZRIA at New York Fashion Week started the show off with a more light and natural palette and turned it up with deeper colours towards the end. I love the reconstructed pieces which were loose-fitting and the more sheer garments were strong with the lighter colours.

You can check out all the looks here. My friends and I love BCBG ;D

NYFW | Young Heart - Marc by Marc Jacobs SS14 Review

Probably the hottest line right now for younger fashion consumers. Marc by Marc Jacobs at New York Fashion Week showed off what being young is about. The stylish twists of varsity and cheerleading inspired outfits along with some statement novelty pieces were interesting. The use of pastels and satin was innocently youthful. Clearly, this line knows its demographic. Most garments were loose fitting and youthful. The energy was very high in the red pieces and the show ended with large star prints. You can see all the photos here.

The collection boasted some interesting pieces and their form was stylish but I felt underwhelmed by Marc by Marc Jacobs this season.