The men’s fall 2013 collections are currently showing in London, and as a woman, I find myself thinking, “I would wear that.” I’ve always been a fan of menswear looks for women so I’m not surprised with my interpretation; however, I have a feeling more women than usual will share my sentiments.
On the other hand, most men will find quite a few of the collections don’t appeal to them as such a sharp turn, no matter how inspirational and forward-thinking, is just too risky.
Discussing how certain pieces will appeal to both men and women can lead to labeling the conversation as one about the fashion industry’s new obsession with androgyny. I’m choosing not to label it, and just let it be. So, what is it?
It’s an innovative group of designers who see a fine line between man and woman as they design – although some may find it uncomfortable, sometimes it’s not too out of the ordinary. For example, consider the two looks below from the Alexander McQueen show. The skirt- or tunic-over-pant look is part of everyday dress for males in some countries.
For a more extreme example, I’m choosing to highlight Jonathan Anderson whose background in womenswear came through at the JW Anderson show. He dressed his models in bandeau tops, sleeveless mini dresses, and frill-top riding boots. Sounds like the contents of a woman’s closet – and it could very well be! Anderson clearly went ultra-fem to open the show, but he did offer a few pieces that reminded us every now and then that we were viewing a collection for men, not women. However, it takes more than an overcoat, a trench and heavy fabrics to keep the scale tipping more towards menswear than womenswear.
Rest assured, every collection wasn’t a gender-bender – there were plenty of options for the most masculine of men. Visit wwd.com to view the collections in their entirety.
