Men’s Fashion Week :: Marni, Comme des Garcons, and Lanvin

If there was a fashion AA, I would undoubtedly have to be one of the first to be admitted. However, I've never really explored the other realm of men's fashion. With the exception of a few avant garde designers, I find clothing for men lackluster at best and uninspiring beyond its tailoring. Every season seems to tell the same story, but a few designers really broke the barrier and redefined what it means to be a (trendy) man of the times.

The Art of the Prep: Marni's Spring 2011 Menswear collection.

Marni: It's safe to say that the basis of my dress is made up of a prep foundation. Whenever I explore unlikely color combinations or stick with darker shades, I keep it preppy. Collars, sweaters, crew necks, and backpacks make up a significant portion of my wardrobe and never seem to go out of rotation. So, it was no surprise when my boss remarked, "You have to see the new Marni collection! I picture you in every single one of those looks." Designer Consuelo Castiglioni seems to have listened solely to my San Francisco needs--versatile anoraks, shorts in an inventive Marni print, color-blocking with proportions. Good thing Marni doesn't have its own store in San Francisco. I would've been in big trouble.

A few more looks from Marni.

Skull prints courtesy of Comme des Garcons' Rei Kawakubo.

Comme des Garcons: You can spot a Rei Kawakubo design from a mile away. To anyone with a sense of humor, it's easy to tell that the Comme des Garcons designer doesn't confine herself to the limits of the industry. My ongoing affinity for skulls made the latest men's collection a shoe-in for my wardrobe. Unlike subtle designers, who only show skeletons in modicum, Kawakubo makes a bold (and haunting) print that only the most fearless of designers can get away with. And men, in case you were looking for a kilt in this killer print, you know she's got you covered!

More from Comme des Garcons.

A couple of looks from Lanvin's spring line.

Lanvin: The Lanvin cult-following will not be disappointed. I don't know if it's the dustbowl location of the runway show or the camel shades of the garments, but this collection seemed to be the summer appropriate collection of the menswear season. Alber introduces his fluid draping in a new variety of colors, something that I haven't seen too much from the designer. Every look provided a sophistication in the detail, but flowed seamlessly as a collection. Raw edges roughed up the otherwise drape-y, feminine shapes. This reminds me…. time to save again!

More from Lanvin. All images courtesy of Style.com.

John Kim
Editor-in-Chief