The Highlights of Paris Men's Fashion Week Fall 2018
There are many things one would expect to see come down the Dior Homme runway, but tribal tattoos? Sacré bleu! Artistic director Kris Van Assche beautifully subverted the once-tacky staple of your friendly neighborhood gym bro, emblazoning the symbol on t-shirts, coats, and more. The show was also a celebration of fashion history — several iconic male models like James Rousseau, Mark Vanderloo, and Arnaud Lemaire sent editors and journalists into a nostalgic '90s frenzy. One word to describe it all? Limitless.
If you didn't already know, handbags for men are here. Gender-nonconformity has been all the rage during Fashion Month (hopefully more than just a trend), where designers have also begun showing their collections for men and women together, rather than separate (enter Kenzo's meta runway show). Inspired by the early '90s lives of Creative Directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, the collection also paid homage to cinema and several archival pieces. But it was their brilliant use of traditional Chinese culture and floral motifs that sent their brightly colored cross-body satchels to the top of our wishlists.
It's no secret that freedom of speech (and media) is under attack here in America, a fact that has surprisingly become a source of inspiration for designers this season. Japanese brand Sacai debuted t-shirts and hoodies inspired by The New York Times' "The Truth is Hard" advertising campaign. Similarly, French label collective Études printed the newspaper's logo on a wide range of accessories that included scarves and socks. The fight continues!
Each season, Rei Kawakubo transforms deceivingly simple runway locales into esoteric experiences for Comme des Garçons — Homme Plus was no exception. Several pieces were paired with giant dinosaur masks (courtesy of Japanese fabric artist Shimoda Masakatsu). Models walked down metal scaffolding wearing blazer jackets, dress pants, and shorts imprinted with superhero comic book strips. Comic book elements also made the rounds at Wales Bonner back in London, much to the excitement of our inner nerd. You might remember that Prada did the same for Spring 2018.
Ugly footwear is showing no signs of defeat. Take Glenn Martens's rendition of the notorious UGG boot: all the way up the thigh. “Putting on Uggs is like putting your foot in a warm pot of butter," Martens wrote in a press release. "I thought why not elevate that and immerse your full legs!” Naturally, the look has successfully divided the internet, simultaneously elevating the UGG from basic high-fashion pariah to the industry's ultimate (and super comfy) It-shoe.
