London Collections: Men has proven to be another phenomenal season, full of fine tailoring, blurred gender barriers and more parties and free drinks to get an AA meeting moist.
This season I mingled with some of the finest faces to be seen in the menswear world and what a season it was for myself. Surrounded by an endless supply of male models. I rubbed shoulders with the likes of David Gandy, Oliver Cheshire, Sam Way, Jimmy Q and Harry Curran, enjoying all the front row treats that came with it. Though I did feel rather repugnant perched next to David Gandy, Tinnie Tempah and Dermot O’Leary, being front row did allow me to view the the runway outfits in their full glory without jumping up and down, tiptoeing or holding my iPhone in the air in with the hopes of capturing a low resolution look at the fine details of each item of clothing.
This season was full of diversity making each collection unique and desirable in their own way and my particular favourite shows had to be Katie Eary, James Long, Christopher Shannon and Topman Design. But when it comes to making a splash, the Oliver Spencer show proved to be the big hitter on the social media platforms after one of the water pipes burst, showering one block (with front row guests including David Gandy, Oliver Cheshire, Dermot O’Leary and Tinnie Tempah) in hot water, including myself sitting on second row.
Photo: Walterlan Papetti
Quite frankly I was drenched and at the time I had no idea what was happening, the lights started going down, everyone had found their seats and then I got spray of hot water down my neck, lots of screams started and people started fleeing the area and leaping over benches like a scene from 28 Days Later. In a blind panic, I realised I had left my Vivienne Westwood backpack (which quite frankly I was not leaving behind) so in an act of pure bravery, I ran towards the water, blurring my glasses and fogging my vision, like walking in to a burning building to save my beloved treasure. “I’m not leaving! My bag is in there!” Granted, maybe it was a little overdramatic but it was piss wet through. We all waited back in the entrance, had a quick natter about the surge of hot water and back in we went 15 minutes later, sat back in our (thankfully dried) seats and held tightly onto our personal belongings, just in case. For a second time, the lights dimmed and thankfully the show began, and as to no surprise, Oliver Spencer had indeed put on another incredible show.
After a hard day of networking, watching fashion shows and drinking free champagne like there’s no tomorrow, what better way to unwind than more alcohol at the many after parties going on throughout London Collections, and let me tell you this… There were some bloody good parties this year. First night I started off with the Esquire party at the Rosewood Hotel Piano Bar, very sophisticated and a great DJ set from Boy George. Other greats included the Fred Perry party, River Island’s presentation, YMC x Liberty and KTZ. But my favourite party had to be the Superdry party upstairs in The Old Sorting Office. Free drinks, big open warehouse, Nick Grimshaw DJ’ing but best of all, people were actually dancing! Proper dancing, the sort that would make a stripper proud, not bobbing while handing out business cards to associates. Dirty, legitimate, skanking slutdrops, dutty wine and head banging. It’s the first time i’ve seen people properly let loose at a fashion event and have a good time.
But when all was said and done, we happily returned to the place where everyone knows your name, the #TopmanLCM Pub for a burger, a pint and a mingle with our fellow fashion lovers.
