Men's 2008 Fall Runway Surprise

[Rex_Tremende]

OK, so I know that this topic is a bore to a lot of you, and it's almost but not quite kilt related, so I decided the off-topic forum was the best place for these observations.

In another fit of insomnia this morning, I decided to thumb through all 2800 images in the men's 2008 fall collections at mens.style.com. Now before you jump in and say "I hate it (and all runway fashion)," keep in mind that what you see on the runway hardly ever makes it to the street intact. It's as much about trends, ideas, influence, techniques, textures, textiles, color, cut, and craftsmanship as is promotion and branding. It is theater - I get to imagine what I could squeeze into if I were tall and slender and had chiseled good looks - but it is not catalog shopping.

So, remembering that little is new in fashion and ideas are constantly being recycled and reworked, this look by Yohji Yamamoto caught me by surprise:

Do I think anyone is going to go run out and wear a felidh mohr under his suit next fall? No. But I could see someone wearing one as a wrap instead of a coat. But frankly, I think it's about the shirts the boys are wearing.

I looked at the collection a little more closely and noticed this, then:

Kilt-like pleating in your overcoat with a bit of tartan flashing as you go by. How clever - looks like PKs or BKs to me.

In the more traditional vein, here are a few more things that caught my eye from Dolce & Gabbana:

Just some ideas; YMMV,
Rex.

[McClef]

The models wearing these garments don't look very happy, I think that's comment enough.

[DTrain]

I usually HATE runway fashion and don't bother to keep up with it. I have to admit, though, the tartan formal wear jacket is a nice look. The brown tartan (Thompson?) looks better, not so loud. Gets me to thinking what would a similar jacket look like in Nightstalker tartan or maybe a mourning tartan?

[BoldHighlander]

Interesting... I don't usually follow this either, though my sister probably does (she studied fashion designing in LA).

Anyhow Rex, the pic's of the formal wear reminded me of a picture I have of a lad I mentored a few years ago in my high school church youth group:

[Mael Coluim]

Wow, Terry, that lad is making a fashion statement!

Tartan is powerful and looks good in many types of clothing items.

[creativeaccents]

With the great looking kilts in the Celtic Thunder show on PBS and on tour as well as those of other Celtic tours over the next year, KILTS ARE IN and should draw the attention of many.

[Hachiman]

Hi folks!

Rex, an interesting post. For what it's worth, I'm pleased to see the fashion industry re-examining the use of tartans. Not that I think the whole "Great kilt + suit" is going to make it to Wall St.

But, if tartan per se becomes more fashionable, then our kilts will enjoy greater recognition....and perhaps, more men may become interested in wearing them? Or, for that matter, maybe more women will become willing to entertain the idea of their men wearing kilts?

Although I am aware that many women already adore men in kilts- it's just not a universal adoration.

cheers

Hachiman

[Amoskeag]

None for me, thanks! I'm all set. Just not my cup of tea.
I have no fashion sense and I really don't understand it at all. I agree that the models don't look very happy. It's just me but the whole runway thing creeps me out. I don't know why, but I'm OK with that.
Bob

[zeroack]

Love the long coats. That's one I'd like to see trickle down in to the stores. As for the others...how many yards of fabric is in those first ones?

Zero

[Mr. MacDougall]

I think I might even wear a tartan blazer, if it were in a predominately blue or black tartan....