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We’re all for the latest business- casual look 80
In recent years, design trends have been moving towards loosening that top button in favour of versatile pieces that can be worn on both formal and informal occasions. Take this boardroom-on-the top, beach-vibe-on-the-bottom trend, for example, a look Fendi has come to call the “Skype Suit” in reference to meetings held online during which only the upper half is visible above the desk, allowing participants to wear shorts below as if in anticipation of the weekend. Dior Homme has happily hopped on this bandwagon with its signature monochromatic slim-cut suit jackets paired with barely visible shorts. Meanwhile, Versace and Thom Browne have opted for a more athletic rendition, still keeping things office-appropriate from the waist up—a sports blazer styled with matching shorts, socks and sneakers.
Li Gong is on the fast track to becoming another illustrious alumnus of London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins, which has turned out a string of notable names in fashion. After graduating with an MA in Menswear Fashion Design, the Shanghai-based designer earned his stripes as a pattern cutter under Xiao Li and Asa Zandition before establishing his own label, 8on8. A creative interpretation of his name, the brand has become known for crisp tailoring and the use of jersey fabrics to make pieces that exude smartness and ease—something Li calls the “tailorporting style.” His first collection took inspiration from the Tweed Run, a mass bicycle ride in London whose participants wear vintage clothing, including ’70s suits. This became the embodiment of Li’s aesthetic—the crosssection between traditional suiting and outdoor fabrics. Li won the LVMH Grand Prix for Design and the 2017 Young Talent Award from Lane Crawford, which enabled him to show at Shanghai Fashion Week for the first time in October 2017. His collection included plaid trousers with panels resembling biker spandex on the inner thighs, fitted joggers and jackets with structured shoulders and zipper details.