As far as introductions go, James Long could have done worse. Just prior to his show Dylan Jones, chair of the Fashion 2012 Menswear Committee, announced the date for London’s first Men’s Fashion Week, set to begin June 14th. You could do a lot worse for an opening act.
Often pairing leather with knitwear, James Long has built a sturdy reputation for being one of the London’s major styling presences with his bold and forward-thinking designs. Previous offerings have included leaf-print shirts and pink tweed overcoats, biker jackets and leather accessories, all managing to maintain a commercial edge while still pushing the boundaries of contemporary design.
A firm favourite among fashion press as well as consumers, Long takes a primary inspiration from 1970’s New York and interweaves this with modern trends and art, he stands as an exciting and relevant point of interest in the ever-widening scope of UK menswear designers. In colours mainly comprising of grey, brown and black, the collection included blended mohair jumpers, wool bomber jackets, sleek, shiny trousers and oversized peacoats. The velvet coats and tops as well as the gold sequins along the collar of classic white shirts were highlights and may raise the odd eyebrow, but you can’t help but admire the clear attention paid to what is current and how closely it’s attached to Long’s personal innovations.
Words by Ryan Child
Images via catwalking.com
No comments