As Menswear Week wraps up, I ponder on why my husband showed no excitement towards the newest men’s fashions; there was no latent desirability either. You might be surprised to learn that my keen interest in fashion doesn’t extend itself to wanting my partner to be as keen as I am.
In fact, I have never been attracted to a man who is obsessed with self-care or one who feels the need to be constantly well dressed. I suppose you can conclude rugged is my type when it comes to men. It’s the reasoning behind my husband’s reluctance to be enthralled in fashion that I am trying to decode.
Fashions that lend themselves to showcase hyper masculinity, not necessarily in a pompous way, were missing from the fashion runway this year for Menswear Week. Part of the reason is possibly the industry’s focus on wanting to move fashion towards gender fluidity. Part of it too, could be to movement to more green and ethical advancements in fashion procurement. Unisex clothes are said to have less of an environmental impact.
Many brands like Gucci, Calvin Klein and Bottega Veneta have opted to sit out Men’s Fashion Week in Milan and merge their women’s wear and menswear shows together to be held later in the year. It should come as no surprise that menswear doesn’t do as well as womenswear, so this essentially could be a reason for the merger.
Whether it is gender fluidity, greening or just economics – because putting on a show is no cheap thing – one can conclude that menswear has evolved and for the most part it doesn’t resemble previous hyper masculine collections.
JW Anderson offered up chunky, multicoloured oversized knits, which brings one to conclude that his clothes are like modern armour and a depiction of the loss of British crafts. It is weird how there is some masculinity knitted in his description (armour being commonly referred to as a protective wear wore by men fighting battles) but there is still a desire for the clothes to have that for a man or woman look.
Wales Bonner gave a sense of calmness with his airy robes that resembled wedding gowns or perhaps a religious outfit of some kind. Whether it was religious diversity or gender fluidity he was trying to sanction, it’s not your typical day wear.
This is the thing with Menswear Week, its attractiveness can sometimes be too one sided. It is meant to appeal to men who aren’t as hyper masculine.
My husband argues functionality over art form. He owns about 4 pairs of jeans and a dozen shirts. When they are worn out, he buys something new. And I get his point to some extent. With the exclusion of some who don’t need to actually be in touch with day-to-day responsibilities of modern life – I say this with the thought of Craig Green’s carpet-made, Renaissance-styled get up. We can’t be the only ones wondering who the hell is wearing this stuff.
I suppose that hyper masculinity does also promote the utilitarian notion of what clothes are – the basics. I guess the question is whether gender neutral clothes can really become a reality. Are they really functional for everyone? It is key to note that street style, according to Vogue, remains as basic and as functional as possible.
www.online-runway.com
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