Revolutionary Topman LFW 2012

It’s been brewing all season. From Kenzo’s romantic Hawaiian idyll to Givenchy’s menacing tropical prints, Comme des Garcons’ layered pyjamas to Walter Van Beirendonck’s exuberant Caribbean patchworking and even the obliquely tribal swagger of Christopher Shannon’s monochrome tassels. But it was Topman Design who pulled all that latent, vividly eclectic globetrotting energy together, a rich, decadent Marrakesh blitz of sunburnt colours and languid silhouettes.

For a whole generation of postwar writers, artists and designers – from Bowles to Genet to Saint Laurent – the louche exoticism of Morocco represented a luxurious modern Eden, ripe with guiltlessly hedonistic sensuality.

But the success of the Topman team’s spin on this well-trodden route lay in adding a blast of breezily modern youthfulness. Intricate scarf patterns and psychedelic landscape prints were tempered with taut, long-line tailoring in sombre urban shades. jackets and silk shorts skewed the silhouette in a relaxedly schoolboyish direction, emphasised by loosely-tousled banded knits in slabs of earthy colour.

Bohemian in spirit but coolly urban in its’ execution, (and evocative of Scottish designer John Ray’s underrated work at post-Ford Gucci) this latest outing from Topman Design was a further step in its’ evolution into a standalone menswear voice, mining iconic period reference and filtering through its’ own distinctively London Edge.

Jake.

Backstage Images by: Sam Wilson

5FWS RECOMMENDED OUTFITS

As you know I love man clutch and I think they are really fashionable and trendy. I really appreciate that Topman re-invented it and put it in his S/S 2012 collection. I also love bulging jackets and straight leg trousers.

Totally in love with those extra shorts in chic fabric and this floral shirt.

Coveri by Iazza - S/S 12 AD

The soundtrack made only for the ad spot of the new collection by Enrico Coveri P / E 2012 has the sensual Italian artist Paola Iezzi voiceprint, the brunette one of the duet Paola & Chiara.
"XCept you" is the title of the song arranged for the occasion by DJs Marco Bastianon and Stefano Tirone, fits brilliantly to the colored spot directed by fashion photographer Paolo Santambrogio in collaboration with Luca Parrini.

Enrico Coveri - Spring Summer 2012 - Ad Campaign
Directed by Paolo Santambrogio
Starring Emma MacLaren & Pete Bolton
Filmed & Edited by Paolo Santambrogio and Luca Parrini
Styling Raffaello Rivi
Hair Enrirco Mariotti - Make-Up Seiko Nishigori
Original Soundtrack "Xcept You" by Paola Iezzi
Music Arranged by Marco Bastianon & Stefano Tirone

Jake.

Make up of the season!

1. Eyebrows — Brows are large and in charge this season, brushed up and bushy, well groomed or even lightened, but they are a detail that has not been ignored. At Altuzarra, Tom Pecheux blackened the brows using brow pencils and black eye shadow!

2. Healthy Skin (Athleticism) — Very hydrated skin that is perfected with foundation. You are seeing this on the runways of Carolina Herrera, DVF and Doo.Ri. We use a lot of product to make it look effortless and like a perfect canvas. M·A·C Cosmetics foundation in Face & Body andM·A·C Cosmetics Matchmaster Foundation are being used consistently backstage. M·A·C PRO Basic Red Pigment mixed with M·A·C PRO Lash Mixing Medium to create bright, bold, red lashes which matched the bold lippy as well.

3. Pops of bold color all over — We are even seeing RED on eyes. This season, at Katie Gallagher, Javier Romero used M.A.C Basic Red pigment mixed with MAC PRO Lash Mixing Medium to create bright, bold, red lashes which matched the bold lippy as well.

4. Washes of soft color (pastels) — Soft blends of metallics at Elie Tahari gave a warm glow to the eyes and skin. Try using M·A·C Cosmetics Goldmine Eye Shadow and M·A·C PRO Shine Mixing Medium. At Preen, Val Garland gave the girls the look of fresh innocence by using new for Spring/Summer 2012 Preferred Pink and Fully Ripe lip colors on the cheeks and then adding a sweet peach accent to the lips with M·A·C Cosmetics Tendertone in Purring.

Jake.

The art of trench

There are many other ways to wear a trench coat without covering your whole outfit. For one, you can keep it unbuttoned, and wear some bold accessories. Many choose the scarf, and if you want to know different kinds of scarves you can wear that looks great check out my article on scarfs. Another accessory is the hoop earring. It looks very cute with the trench coat just be sure that if you have a dark shade of color silver is great, and if it is a light shade gold is amazing! Trench coats I think are made to wear in the winter, but in the warmer days a cute patterned skirt looks very cute, with a purse! In this picture her outfit looks great, right? Who wouldn't want to buy the coat after seeing how classy and sophisticated it can look. Now they can be very pricey so it is important to make sure your buying the coat for the right price.

TIP: try looking at the fabric it's made out of, it can really help to see if your buying an expensive one that is a cheap fabric or the other way around. So go out and buy one in your favorite color, and have fun dressing it up and down in so many mix n' match ways. You can buy a Burberrys one but you can also have a look at Zara or H&M and you will be satisfied!

Jake.

ASOS

Zara

Zara

Zara

Topshop

ModCloth

H&M

 Burberry - Fabric: Wool

Burberry Prorsum

Surprisingly, very few men wear a trench coat nowadays despite its enduring heritage. I hope this article changes that, as the trench coat is a classic garment that can add a punch of handsome to any outfit a man wears. In summary, the trench coat’s ability to meet the demands of warfare enabled it to survive for decades before being picked up by the public. When it did find its way into the civilian wardrobe, its heritage and usefulness made it an indispensable item. And so my question is – what’s stopping you from wearing one?

Zara 

H&M

Selected

Diesel

Ben Sherman

Unconditional (really modern)

Superdry