A Review of the 2014 Men’s London Collections: Not Your Typical Everyday Attire

From bold solids to quirky prints to intricate patchwork to bucket bags (don’t ask) this season’s collections have provided the men’s fashion world a few trends to ponder. With collections that show classic styles similar to Mad Men and others that preferred a mouse (not a real one) as the print, you are bound to have a plethora of options to wear this fall.

“Season four of London Collections: Men promises to be the best one yet…”
– Dylan Jones, Editor GQ & Chair of the London Menswear Committee

Review of A/W14 London Collections: Men

Designer: J.W. Anderson
Look: 1970’s – 1980’s meets the androgynous modern man.
Made for: Andre 3000, Lady Gaga (the new one, maybe), Kanye West (at times), or those that like to push the barriers of gender specific clothing.
Review: The use of bold floral prints within a men’s collection are a breath of fresh air while also pushing a very metrosexual (haven’t heard that in awhile) envelope. Each piece finely sewn, although a bit feminine, has been created for the stylish, envelope pushing, blogger that the Sartorialist will interrupt while walking to a fashion show this fall. Or, maybe if the metrosexual returns from his 12 years of hibernation and decides clogs and non-Hawaiian florals for men are in, then maybe we will see that change.

Designer: Kay Kwok
Look: Fashion meets the final frontier with humanoids and cool accessories.
Made for: Daft Punk, Comic Con, and Spock
Review: The obviously original prints and designs stand alone. From the first look to the last you can’t stop watching as each model passes by. Where this collection may only be for a certain group of individuals we can all agree that if worn (to a party or the grocer) you will be the center of galactic attention. And, honorable mention goes to the makeup artists; well deserving of a fashion show award for the work they put in. The result was phenomenal. 

Designer: Kit Neale
Look: Rodents and fruit slices meet fashion with a skater edge.
Made for: Hipsters, Chris Brown, One Direction, and Pharrell Williams.
Review: The use of rodents for a print and very bold colors seem to work effortlessly together. While you may think ‘I would never wear anything with a mouse on it’ (no offense Mickey). You will take one look at this collection and slowly begin to fall in love. Mixing of a busy print with a solid is a huge trend and they show us how to do it well…with a rat and trap or two. Where this collection may not work for everyone, fashion lovers in Japan and ironic hipsters will definitely find this collection very appealing.

Designer: Katie Eary
Look: Jacobim Mugatu (Zoolander) meets Fifth Element and decide to go sky diving with Mickey Mouse.
Made for: Daft Punk, Chris Brown, Kanye West and Black Eyed Peas (specifically Taboo)
Review: Looking to have been inspired by a crazy dream that includes a parachute, as a safety precaution, this collection is very punk. Perfectly designed for jumping from a plane (or not) each piece of this collection can stand alone; including the awesome sneakers. If you aren’t into wearing the entire ensemble you can always wear them separately or at least the jackets. I am sure this collection will be a hot commodity come fall.

The London Collections: Men AW14 were amazing and very well done. Cheers to Dylan Jones and the Menswear Committee, the designers, their teams, makeup artists (sculptural in some cases), stylists, models and so on. You were correct Mr. Jones this year is “the best one yet!”

What are your thoughts on the designers and collections above? Would you wear any of them? No, why not? Let me know in the comments section.

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Photography and video courtesy British Fashion Council and Rightster.