Ones to watch: J.W. Anderson takes a cue from the boys

There’s no questioning fashion’s love of tomboys. From Diane Keaton’s iconic Annie Hall moment to Paris Vogue editor in chief, Emmanuelle Alt’s pants-only uniform, a little gender bending always has a place among the style set. So what’s next in the way of androgynous dressing? Introducing J.W. Anderson, the Northern Irish designer who graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2007, specializing in menswear. After designing exclusively for the guys, Anderson ventured into womenswear in 2010.

The designer’s experience in menswear was pervasive in his focused Fall 2011 collection, which we were all over during London Fashion Week. The building blocks included relaxed trousers, fitted crewneck pullovers and boxy jackets. Black combat boots grounded all the pieces and were sometimes finished off with whimsical tufts of fluff. The whimsy didn’t end there though as experimentation with texture and print offset the serious tailoring. Playful paisleys made an appearance in the form of silky skirts over pants and fuzzy ankle length sweater dresses looked soft on the skin. Overall, Anderson’s outing felt a bit mod and reminiscent of the Teddy Boys because of the chunky footwear and straight trousers. That being said, the line is not limited to boyish girls only. The pleated skirts would look ladylike paired with the right blouse and a colorful sweater is a classic addition to any wardrobe.

J.W. Anderson is available at ln-cc.com.

View J.W. Anderson’s Fall 2011 collection »

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