Written By Guest Blogger Adrien Book Although best known for his beautifully-printed, colorful, feminine womenswear Jonathan Saunders’ menswear collection for Spring/Summer 2013, which was revealed during the London Collections Mens weekend was acclaimed by the media and the public alike. Rightly nicknamed “the digital tailor”, the Glaswegian used a wide range of micro prints and bright colors to separate his collection from all the other menswear shown during the weekend. He also proved to be a real virtuoso when it comes to using mixing colours and fabric to create a unique feel to every piece of clothing, as all of his David Bowie inspired pieces were full of vitality, which, for those who feel that fashion is alive, translates as a certain eagerness to be worn.
Saunders also took inspiration from the proportions, colours and geometry of the Bauhaus movement.
The shapely and detailed trench coats were a striking focal point of spring’s lineup, proving that the “Saunders man” will be more than prepared for London’s April showers. Meanwhile, sharp narrow trousers were the perfect complement to smart knitwear and a youthful mix of sportswear that included drawstring shorts and cropped jackets.
Thin pinstripes and a circular geometric graphic emblazoned jersey T-shirts and print on print suits, each perfectly crowned by those iconic Bowie sunglasses. The subsequent seventies vibe resulted in a colour palette ranging from rich teal (particularly enticing in a sumptuous cardigan and a pair of velvet loafers) to blocks of primary red slim-tailored trousers and yellow ribbed jumpers. Not to be forgotten were shades of ‘that’ 70’s brown, worn with perforated shorts and shirts, perfectly complimented by a deep green.
Saunders’s inspiration continued right down to the models’ socks which were pulled high on the calf, adding a sense of sprezzatura to the collection, while shirt collars were tucked neatly under round and V-neck jumpers.
When asked about the London collections: Men, Saunders stated “It was phenomenal, I’ve never had so much great feedback. It was really nice to do a presentation – I love doing shows, but when you do a presentation, it feels much more about the clothes. It’s all still in its infancy, but I love wearing it. What I do translates to menswear quite simply. It’s nice to come at what I do in a more subtle way. That what men want – it’s a subtle approach to colour combinations.”
The presentation went so well, in fact, that the designer could soon have a new celebrity client in the form of Johnny Depp, who’s stylist “went crazy” when seeing the collection.