Clothes That’ll Suit A Man

The Suit. That is the key phrase over at Milan where the Autumn/Winter 2012 menswear shows are well under way. Designers have kept things classic, but have also delivered some differentiation on the wardrobe staple that is playful, relaxed, and sometimes downright royal.

Here are my highlights from the top designers that have shown so far…

BURBERRY PRORSUM

Suits are right up Burberry’s alley. Christopher Bailey did an excellent job of playing with textures and creating fun details (studded gloves and fox-face knits) while still managing to keep it all looking super smooth. Here are my top three looks.

The show was jam packed with to-DIE-for sweaters, but this one is my favourite because of how classic yet edgy it is.

I love how a more casual item like a quilted jacket gets thrown over a classic suit for warmth and edge.

This suit stands out because of how Bailey played with different colours. (Also note the new way to wear the scarf.)

ZOOM: A closer look at the style that shaped the show.

Jackets are double-breasted, gloves are studded, shirts and ties come from the same fabric, and files are carried in multi-colour leather bags.

Sweaters have loose necks lines and are adorned with fox faces, classic-style shoes are worn in refreshingly bold colours, scarves are striped and tucked into the jacket, and let’s not forget the all-important cap!

JIL SANDER

This season Raf Simons abandoned his signature pops of colour and took us down a slippery slide of black leather. Sweaters with animals and what I’m officially dubbing a ‘back bib’ made the show. Here are my top three.

I love the androgyny of a wet-look leather shirt over a white shirt as shown here. It makes a statement.

A classic rule in fashion: when going monotone, play with textures. This sweater will stay in your closet forever.

If Glee’s Rachel Berry were a man, she’d wear this sweater. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just one of the many reasons why I love this outfit. (Calling all Moby Dick enthusiasts…)

ZOOM

A Jil Sander man carries his lunch in a brown paper bag, sometimes the animals jump off the sweater and onto your shoes, the all new ‘back bib’ is a must, and dinosaurs are once again free to roam.

DOLCE & GABBANA

Dolce and Gabbana’s menswear shows are always a treat, and this season is no exception. With a broken down opera backdrop, the show had a very royal feel. Taking us back to the Sicilian boys of 1910, the suit was kept classic at times, and deconstructed at others. Here are my top three.  

Finally you get and excuse to wear your suit with a pair of jeans.

There is something high fashion and outrageous about wearing a wool-on-wool combo like this that appeals to me.

These beautifully embroidered jackets stole the show.

ZOOM

Shoes are anything but polished and socks are long enough to reach the three-quarter pants, and when it comes to jackets and overcoats, the beauty is in the detail.

Feel like being uber fashionable when you get out of bed for your midnight snack? This collection offers a wide variety of underwear and pyjamas to dress you for the occasion.  

Images: style.com