Fashion: NYFW Men's Spring/Summer 2018
I went to NYFW Men's for the first time this season. See my photos and takeaways from the shows of: Death to Tennis, Patrik Ervell, Matiere, Sanchez Kane & C2H4. I also noticed some consistent trends.
Going to New York Fashion Week was a dream come true. As a male fashion blogger, it was exciting to attend the Men's shows and get a fresh perspective on men's styles - from streetwear to swimwear to the avant garde.
Twice a year, the CFDA puts on the NYFW Men's shows - where menswear designers from around the world display their seasonal collections. Separate from the core NYFW shows, the Men's shows are largely up-and-coming fashion brands.
Below, see the photos I took at the runway and presentation shows throughout fashion week. I also included some takeaways and light analysis of the shows.
C2H4
This was one of my favorite shows. The show revolved around space travel, heavy 90s influence (including a partnership with Kappa), and loose silhouettes. The show began with audio of a space landing, and models entered the runway from a spaceship structure. I see much of the collection is already sold out online!
With the C2H4 collection, I saw trends that repeated in a number of shows - mismatched sleeves, baggy/oversized clothing, hi-tech materials, and a mixture of greys and blue tones.
I could see myself wearing a number of these items, especially the longline sweatshirts, shoes, and jackets.
Sanchez Kane
Sanchez Kane was another fantastic show. The production was an engaging combination of political statements and artistic expression. Models interacted at the center of the runway with a photocopier setup, and made live photocopies of their bodyparts.
Sanchez Kane is a rising brand, featured in the New York Times and WWD.
The runway looks evoked punk style, rocker/biker elements, and touches of avant garde artistry.
Again, for trends I saw oversized silhouettes, greys and blues, asymmetry, and overtly 90s vibes.
Matiere
The Matiere team outfitted me for their show, which was exciting. They specialize in material-driven design, which means lots of hi-tech fabrics and a lean towards athleisure. The clothes are attractive, functional, and a few items would fit in most people's wardrobes.
Following with the season's trends, I saw a lot of black and grey, new materials, and loose fits.
Bright lighting didn't result in the best photos on my iPhone, so I included some press photography below.
Matiere also had some amazing models. And featured a performance by Alonzo King Lines ballet from San Francisco - a treat to see open and close the show.
Death To Tennis
This collection presentation struck me as pretty original – the designs combined streetwear and prep style, and it worked.
The pieces included nods to athleisure, dapper prints, and rocker denim. I would say this collection was one of the most wearable collections I saw at NYFW, and several of the items are ones that I could see lots of guys liking – even outside the fashionisto crowd.
The models cleverly acted out self-absorbed poses and interacted with one another. They stood on platforms taking selfies and looking at themselves in the mirror.
The hair in this show as actually one of the most striking features. The hairstyles included references to greaser and some elaborate braiding. Whoever was the hairstylist should get some major credit!
To echo the consistent trends: blues, greys, blacks and oversized pieces like jackets and pants.
Patrik Ervell
The Patrik Ervell runway show was one of the first shows I attended. I enjoyed the heavy nods to 90s schoolkid styles. And I think my favorite pieces were actually the grunge and platform shoes.
I don't see myself wearing any of the items from this collection, but I think it has a mainstream appeal that could do well with some retailers.
In summary, I really enjoyed attending NYFW Men's shows. It was refreshing to see all menswear collections, since the pieces all had the potential to end up in my closet. Many of the designers' collections are at the mid-range price-point, far below the several thousand dollar price point of elite fashion houses – making the brands themselves more approachable.
The brands that show at NYFW Men's tend to be smaller scale – but still internationally recognized, which makes the shows feel new and exciting. I enjoyed witnessing the artistry, the models, the production value, and of course all the fashion kids in the audience. I'm looking forward to going again in the future.
What I Wore...
I had fun choosing outfits for the NYFW Men's shows. I dressed myself one night and was outfitted for 3 other shows.
My first look: Park Lake backpack, Syngman Cucala black shirt/dress, COS white longline shirt, Alexander McQueen shoes.
Second look: Matiere shirt and shorts.
Third look: Mr. Turk gold suit.
Fourth look: Mr. Turk onesie.
Rei Kawakubo at The Met
Lastly, I wanted to include some photos I took at The Met's Rei Kawakubo exhibit, celebrating the decades of design from Comme des Garçons. The designs were striking, unusual, and playful. What gorgeous work.
