They said/We said: The British Fashion Council has announced that a new menswear fashion week is coming to London
Good news for gentlemen everywhere—the British Fashion Council has announced the creation of a new menswear fashion week. Dubbed London’s “fashion long week(end),” the new shows will run for three days starting June 15 and also precede Milan and Paris men’s fashion weeks every January and June.
The planning committee, run by GQ editor Dylan Jones, has been under pressure to re-establish British menswear—the fashion long weekend’s previous incarnation as a one-day event lost buyers and press because it overlapped with the first day of Milan womenswear collections. This year there may still be some timing conflicts: the debut shows are expected to be a big to-do, as they’ll fall smack dab in the middle of the London 2012 Olympics hullabaloo.
Over a dozen British designers are already confirmed to show, including Aquascutum, Gieves & Hawkes, Oliver Spencer, and TOPMAN, and it’s anticipated that others, like Paul Smith, will make the move to London sometime soon. The BFC has said that the collections will be a mix of traditional runway shows, presentations, and cultural events.
No word on exactly what cultural events means, though some are positing hoping that sartorially over-the-top Elton John may make an appearance (especially considering his hubby, David Furnish, is on the planning committee).
We say it’s about time for British menswear to gain some notoriety. After all, brands like Anderson & Sheppard and Burberry have been a cornerstone of men’s style for generations. And hey, any excuse to see some handsome chaps in well-made clothing is more than fine by us.
THEY SAID:
Fashionista: “A festival of men? We’re booking our tickets in advance.” [Fashionista]
Telegraph: “This new LONDON COLLECTIONS: MEN will come immediately before this June’s European collections, so should be well attended—especially if there’s an Elton concert.” [Telegraph]
WE SAID:
David Livingstone, editor-in-chief Men’s FASHION: “I think the BFC announcement of this new addition to the menswear calendar is the latest evidence that there is a new reality to men’s fashion. It’s not just another peacock revolution. It’s a great time to be covering the subject. Goodbye Cinderfella; hello to the guy who knows—and cares about—what he‘s got on his back.”
The post They said/We said: The British Fashion Council has announced that a new menswear fashion week is coming to London appeared first on FASHION Magazine.