What do Aladdin, David Bowie, and Peter the Great all have in common? While they are all interesting figures in history, they also all play muse for designers this fall in Paris, New York, and Milan. Here are eight trends in Autumn/Winter 2008 menswear that are inspired by these three great men who know how to dress to impress.
1.) Harem Pants. The runway: Kris Van Assche, the designer of Dior Homme, is subtly trying to revolutionize the menswear silhouette from the straight and slim Stockholm boy to the loose and voluminous Moroccan vendor. Last season, we saw the drop waist pants à la MC Hammer from Dior Homme. This time around, he increased the volume and created a Disney-inspired look for us to emulate. The hallway: Realistically, very few of us would dress like Aladdin on a daily basis, but maybe we could crank out the Harem pants and pay a tribute to Aladdin and his lamp for Halloween?
2.) Unexpected Colour. The runway: Look at that vivid violet vest Aladdin is sporting! Nowadays, men rarely wear colour outside of the dark neutral shades of black, brown and blue. When worn together, this looks more like a fashion bruise. Men do not have to be afraid of appearing flamboyant when wearing brights; subtlety is the key. Look for dark items that have a bit of bright colour in their stitching or lining (as in the inside of a blazer). It adds contrast to the dark background colour of the piece. The hallway: Look for colourful accessories, such as yellow socks or a purple tie to update your look.
3.) Suit Jackets. The runway: It's all about the nonchalance of wearing a suit. For a look that is impressed by the original Thin White Duke, the white suit is back! To avoid looking like a waiter, look for a white suit jacket with black hem details, and avoid wearing an all-white ensemble. The hallway: Fashion recycles. Look for a vintage eighties jacket in thrift stores and save yourself from debt.
4.) Skinny ties. The runway: Skinny ties are the younger generation's solution to formal dressing. After all, no one wants to look like their father! Skinny ties are slimming as the straight vertical lines draw attention downward. The hallway: To integrate this piece into your daily wardrobe, wear it loosely with a short sleeve shirt buttoned up.
2008 Woodie Awards
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