Patterns Emerge, Part 2

Continued from Part 1. Japanese fashion is always a couple of years ahead of the trends and despite having better and richer print options, this Fall lots of menswear lines from other areas were in on the game as well. While Americans may be a bit slower to adopt the trends, retailers and designers as disparate as Givenchy (leopard, both in Fall and Spring), Trussardi 1911 (Fair Isle mix and match) and Opening Ceremony (Pendleton and all of the above) were certainly eager to push patterns to the forefront. But for the most part, while Japanese men were sporting layer upon layer of patters in their wildly inventive outfits (well, at least prior to the solemnity that followed the earthquake), men in the US, particularly New York, didn't really explore the look. Sure there were a few souls like myself succumbing to the wiles of Pendleton and the omnipresent plaids, but few on the street level were using a pattern as more than an accent. And frankly, what fun is there in that?

Prouenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2011

Cut to the women's Fall Winter 2011 shows. Fall is always a great time for rich combinations, but this particular season, a lot of elements stood out even moreso. Starting with the beautiful mix of patterns at Prouenza Schouler's Pre-Fall collection to their equally high-clash Fall Winter runway show, to the luxe baroque combinations in Mary Katrantzou's continuing infatuation with digital prints, there's a vibrant case for prints and patterns that Fashion hasn't really seen this strong in the past few decades.

Mary Katranzou Fall 2011

Erdem Fall 2011

Prouenza Schouler Fall 2011

And since I began this discourse about patterns in menswear, what, might you ask, do these women's trends have to do with male sartoria? Basically that whatever trends occur in women's clothing eventually find their way in menswear ins some shape or form, sometimes at the same time, although usually a season or two after. While women's clothing is much more adventurous to begin with, fashion designers and stylists often work with both genders, and trends can filter through. While easier patterns like plaids and fair isle prints have already shown up in men's runways, designers in search of fresher textures have already incorporated ikats and florals in seasons as early as Spring 2011. And if the FW 2011 menswear show attendees were any indication, fashion industry sorts the world over were embracing pattern and color. to be continued...