New inspiration
> Five key trends from London Fashion Week Men's AW18
WITH the 11th season of London Fashion Week Men's over and done with, menswear obsessives are already taking stock of what to wear come autumn 2018, reports The Independent.
Wild Style For autumn-winter 2018, ranch dressing stomped all over the catwalk with multiple brands going west for inspiration. Inspired by the Buffalo movement of the 1980s, Astrid Andersen introduced plaid checks and cowboy hats combined with technical sportswear, while John Lawrence Sullivan brought back the cowboy boot with heavy-heeled, pointed footwear in python print.
Velvet Underground One of those plush fabrics that rear their heads as soon as the chill sets in, velvet is going to be back in a big way next autumn. Ubiquitous on the catwalks, Oliver Spencer used the lavish textile for turned-up trousers in seasonal shades of brown and mustard yellow. Elsewhere, its presence continued when it came to tailoring – with Blood Brother serving up a berry red suit jacket while Band of Outsiders opted for a forest green two-piece.
Back To Work Utilitarian menswear looks set to take over our wardrobes, with a host of designers looking to workwear for inspiration. At What We Wear Tinie Tempah offered a contemporary take on uniforms, citing the capital's public service workers and manual labourers as the influence behind the collection. Here, slimline tracksuits were intertwined with utility trousers and suits inspired by DLR operators. Similarly, Christopher Raeburn championed clothes worn by sea res- cue crews while Cottweiler adopted harness belt straps, sturdy footwear and boxy cuts.
Get Leathered The humble leather jacket is one of those pieces that never goes out of style, but this time round the classic luxe fabric has levelled up. At John Lawrence Sullivan, the tough textile was worn all-over, with boxy bikers paired with matching trousers, boots and gloves, while another saw cinched floor-length coats a la Neo from The Matrix worn with blue denim.
Layered Up Clever layering is a key element to any well-dressed gentleman's wardrobe. At Blood Brother, there were roll necks layered under boxy jackets, while at Liam Hodges they were worn under everything from shirts to formal suits. For Jordanluca, though, the ubiquitous hoodie was layered with check coats, and T-shirt and bomber jacket combos were cocooned by puffed-out duvet-style scarves.