7 Top Designer Styles For 2006[Men's Fashion]
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With a new year come new fashion collections from the world's top designers. Rakesh Singh breaks it down and explains what it all means for you.  Ever since the age of five, I have been patiently awaiting the day when humanity would traverse the stars and we would all wear matching jumpsuits with different colors and insignias. Remember when Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation, started wearing those grey blazers? Every subtle change in the wardrobe would be big news and I wouldn’t have to complete the ultra-masculine task of discussing fashion minutia such as muted floral prints and embroidery.It sure would make my writing job easier since I wouldn’t need to make predictions about the upcoming year in men’s fashion. Instead, I’d merely list the color shades of the upcoming season. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case and America isn’t planning to send anyone to the moon until 2018, so I’m stuck with trying to foresee the fuzzy future of fashion like Yoda in Empire Strikes Back. Fashion in 2006 If someone were to ask me to describe in one word, the fashion trends of 2006 based on the recent spring collections debuted in New York and overseas, that word would be: ‘iPod’. Now, I know you might be scratching your head – how does Apple’s music epiphany and cash-generating baby describe the current trend in fashion? The iPod sits at the crossroads between slim elegance and casual functionality. This is where fashion is heading in the new year – clean cuts and slim fits. A stirring mix between the professional and the casual. To see a visual representation of the trend, check out Jason Statham’s spot-on style in The Transporter and its sequel. It’s that kind of functionality and professional-casual wear that the industry seems to heading towards. All the rock ‘n roll anarchy and graphic embellishments that dominated the fashion world in previous years are being toned down. Much of the designs for 2006 still feature influences from British rocker Pete Doherty of The Libertines and 1960s and 1970s rock, but on the whole designers are trying to make us look more like corporate killers than rock ‘n roll nouveau artistes. 7 Top Designers Dolce and Gabbana is sticking to its successful formula. The company’s line features a mean and lean business attitude that highlights the male silhouette with suppressed jacket waists and low cut denim. The line also features a completely snow white selection of formal wear. Reminiscent of the iPod? I think so. The Armani line features classic beige, grey and navy colors with the addition of pale lilac, mulberry, and sage. Shorter, high-waisted jackets are the trend in this line of clothing. The collection features clothes that hug the male physique. The Harmon collection is influenced by John and Yoko and epitomizes the trend towards “dressy casual.” Much of the clothing in this collection has an eveningwear feel and utilizes fabrics like canvas, linen, and gabardine. The clothes are given formal flourishes such as satin piping for jackets and cuffs on trousers and jeans. The Paul Smith collection strays away from rock ‘n roll and features pastel-toned and white suit jackets with pocket squares, ties, and cuffed trousers. The collection emphasizes crisp white cotton shirts with muted floral and nature prints, along with classy embroidery. The Dior Homme collection by Hedi Silmane features influences from English pop groups and Mod rockers through a focus on a rail thin male silhouette with sharp angles over a monochrome palette. Like the Dolce and Gabbana collection, jackets and trousers are extremely attenuated. Alexandre Plokhov’s Cloak collection features an eclectic mix of lean mean rock ‘n roll with formality. Formal touches and close tailoring on the trousers, jackets, and shirts give the collection the sleek flare of the gothic. The Ozwald Boateng collection harkens to the Caribbean Islands with colors such as sky blues, creams, and pink to deep blues and purple. It features summer cottons, linens, wools, and yarn mixes in the label’s signature ultra sleek style. |
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