The Hautelist #3: Menswear

Yesterday (Thursday) was PlanetNotion’s Editor’s birthday, so I thought it only right to dedicate this week’s Hautelist to him, or more specifically men’s fashion.  With the men’s shows currently taking place (Milan last week, Paris right now), there’s no shortage of material, and so I’ve spent the last couple of days holed up in my room selflessly poring over pictures of young, fresh-faced, toned-thighed male models for your reading pleasure.

Darling Seb, if I had the money and generous spirit, this is what I would and wouldn’t be pre-ordering you for your birthday this year…

Would swap his mother for…

Viktor & Rolf grey sweatsuit (left)

Nothing says ‘take me now, take me hard’ more than a grey tracksuit – it just doesn’t, and one person who I know shares this filthy fetish with me is our very own Editor.  Therefore there was only one possible look from the men’s shows which I knew I could persuade him to swap his very own darling mother for, and that is Viktor & Rolf’s perfectly simple opening look – the grey sweat suit.  This designer incarnation of the ASBO-owner’s favourite uniform is evenly toned, tight fitting and perfectly proportioned.  If you’re going to go trashy, do it in style I say.  Uber-haute.

Would gift him if gifted…

Dries Van Noten fur collared coat (middle)

How luxurious, stylish, and gangster seedy chic!  Everyone deserves a bit of comfort in the cold winter months, and this coat is the most elegant form I’ve seen yet.  Whether you go for the real thing or faux-it-up, fur has once again been a massive A/W trend for women, but why should we have all the soft, fluffy, cosy fun?  Dries Van Noten struck a perfect balance in this Bowie-inspired collection, with fur used to highlight beautifully-tailored coats and jackets, rather than as full-on Mongolian theatrical numbers.  Proper wearable manly coats with a soft touch – perfection.

Would prefer (him) to walk the streets naked…

Men in skirts (right)

I know – I’m sooooooooo closed minded and can’t see beyond the manufactured gender stereotypes that Western society has thrust upon us, but one of the few things I don’t want thrusting upon me (apart from a horny Chihuahua) is a man in a skirt.  Yes I know ladies can wear trousers, and we all wear shorts, but every time I see a man in a skirt I just can’t get my tiny brainwashed suburban head around it.  Man-skirts were ever-present at the shows this season, and flounced onto the catwalks at Mugler, Rick Owens, and (it goes without saying) Jean-Paul Gaultier (pictured), among others.  Thankfully they’re yet to find their way onto the British high street, so for now my tiny little judgemental mind is safe.  Phew.

- Siam Goorwich