London Fashion Week: Boy's Club

At London Fashion Week last Wednesday it was all about the man. Literally, for the first time ever the final day of Fashion Week was devoted entirely to men's wear, with 13 different designers showcasing their wares on the catwalk or via presentations in a melange dubbed 'MAN.' The concept is the brainchild of both Topman and Fashion East, who have joined forces on a smaller scale in the past to grant exposure to emerging designers. As for the fashion... at Sibling, it was all about knits--fashioned in the form of a trench and a biker jacket, as well as a bow sweater in the vein of Yves Saint Laurent.

Topman channeled its collegiate days, sending schoolboy garb circa the 1950s down the catwalk.

J.W. Anderson - a newbie on the London Fashion Week scene - melded masculine with feminine, and infused his metallic-heavy collection with a large dose of romanticism.

Inspired by The Shining and The Silence of the Lambs, designer James Long sent forth a sculptural collection that called to mind armor (protection is a key theme for the designer).

At Christopher Shannon, graphic sportswear was center stage; the designer showcased his recent collaboration with Reebok, as well as looks equally fit for the field as for the F train, which included color-block sweat suits, and t-shirts embellished with text in a palette predominantly pink, orange and gray. Overall the presentations served to solidify the fact that men's wear has officially entered its heyday. Boring, poorly cut clothing and drab design be damned.

-- Alisa Gould-Simon