James Long - London Collections: Men AW 13

 

James Long's Autumn Winter 2013 collection took the established preconception of casual sportswear and turned it on its head. From the elasticated trouser legs that accompanied every look to the embellished hoodies and rubberised plaid macs, there was a sense of playfulness that created a contemporary and wearable silhouette. Long's signature knits were also prominent, the way he cleverly created incredibly detailed 'visual terrains' in his knitwear was deeply satisfying. Long's new spin on the classic bomber jacket featured geometric padding and quilting fused with knitted sleeves.

Then there were the nods to John Waters, pink flamingos and one of his most iconic characters, Divine. There was a real sense of excitement when those all-too-familiar arched eyebrows were seen emblazoned on raglan sleeved jumpers and sweatshirts. These glamorous motifs were a stark contrast to the dark, mood colour palette they were rendered in.

His attention to detail and vast experiments with fabric and technique again proved why James Long is a force to be reckoned with in the fashion industry. Seeing him at the end of the show in one of the rubberised macs from the collection was a nice touch, a great sign that he believes in the work he showcased.


Images via: HommeModel

YMC - London Collections: Men AW13

There was a palpable sense of nostalgia in the Autumn Winter 2013 collection from YMC. Designer Fraser Moss took inspiration from the brand's post-punk, 90s roots. The youthful exuberance and frustration that defined the era was represented by the beret, a clear statement piece for the season. The combination of relaxed knitwear and fine tailoring gave the collection an understated cool factor that really embodies the YMC look. Zip detailing and exaggerated pockets on boiler suits and chinos were functional, almost uniform-like.

Moss' palette for Autumn/Winter was predominantly black and grey but it was the rich jade tones and brief flashes of pink and red that really brought the collection to life. One of my favourite highlights was a jade green cardigan over a checkerboard print shirt and slate coloured chinos topped with a beret and shades. It just screamed effortless sophistication.
 

There's something really charming about YMC's 'no frills' approach to design, nothing seems just thrown on to distract or shock. The result is a collection that is timeless but contemporary at the same time.

Images via: HommeModel

LONDON COLLECTIONS: Men - Day 2

By now you'll know that London Collections: Men is in full swing, after Monday's brilliant turnout it'll be great to see what Day 2 brings. It all kicks off this morning with a special presentation from Burberry. Margaret Howell will be the first runway show of the day at 10.30am. Today's highlights will include collections from emerging talents SIBLING and Christopher Shannon and favourites like Jonathan Saunders and Oliver Spencer. We'll also see a return of the menswear collections from Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood to the London Fashion Week calendar. So there's no doubt that there will be something for everyone today.

BLEU06 will be in the thick of it on Day 2! I managed to nab tickets for YMC, James Long London and Oliver Spencer so look out for live updates and pictures on Twitter @BLEU06ike and Instagram: @BLEU06 

Catch the live stream here and stay tuned for the latest reviews and images from each day.


Here's the full schedule for today:

Image Credits:
Menswear Photography: Sam Hofman 

LIVESTREAM - LONDON COLLECTIONS: MEN

The second edition of London Collections: Men kicks off today. All eyes will be fixed on London's best and brightest designers over the next 3 days. From fashion stalwarts like Hackett and TOPMAN DESIGN to some of our favourite emerging talents like Agi & Sam and SIBLING to name just a few. Lou Dalton, a personal favourite of mine will kick things off at 10 am, live from The Hospital Club in the heart of London. Catch the live stream here and stay tuned for the latest reviews and images from each day.

Watch out for live updates on twitter: @BLEU06ike



Here's the full schedule for today:

Image Credits:
Menswear Photography: Sam Hofman 

New Year, New Bleu

So here we are guys, Happy New Year! 2012 was an amazing year, it brought us everything from the fantastic summer of sport that was London 2012, to the first London Collections: Men and everything in between. As thrilling as it was it's great to think that from this moment on anything can happen. Here's hoping 2013 is bigger and brighter for all of us!

So I've obviously got my own New Year's Resolutions for 2013 and one of them is, yeah you guessed it — to blog more! Not just more posts, I want to make better content and imagery and get to know you, my (hopefully) captive audience a lot better. So with that in mind you'll be seeing a lot more of me on your favourite social media. So thanks for your comments and support thus far, I hope you come along for the ride in 2013.

BLEU06 on Twitter: @Bleu06ike

BLEU06 on Facebook: BLEU06

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BLEU06 on Instagram: @Bleu06 

'Tis The Season To... Party - Top 5 Blazers

Whether you're looking to make a big entrance at your end-of-year shindig at work or a fancy family dinner, a statement blazer can really uplift any dreary outfit. Rich velvet and jacquard are some of the go-to fabrics for this time of the year. In terms of colour, the festive season is the best time to experiment with deep, full-body colours like navy and oxblood, subtle metallics will add an extra bit of sparkle but nothing says class more than black.

The great thing about a statement blazer is that you don't need to bother too much with fussy accessories, paired with a sleek shirt, tailored trousers and a great pair of brogues you're guaranteed to achieve the debonair look a la Daniel Craig. Here are my top 5 show-stopping blazers:

Reiss 'Goodwood B' Velvet Blazer - Reiss
TOPMAN Black on Black Metallic Jacquard Blazer - TOPMAN
Paul Smith Navy Floral Print Blazer - Paul Smith
Balmain Satin Trimmed Velvet Blazer - Mr Porter
TOPMAN Red Skinny Tux Suit Jacket - TOPMAN

SurgeryPR SS13 Press Day

Yesterday I went over to Surgery PR's brand new showroom for their SS13 Press Day. I really love the range of designers and brands they represent, from sportswear brands like Freddy and Superga to my personal favourite, Oliver Spencer. From what I saw we're in for a treat next season. Of course I took photos of some of my favourite pieces, check them out below.

Jack French London
I fell in love with this Jack French man bag in black luxury leather. It's the perfect size for everyday use and the fine cross-hatched texture makes it durable and waterproof too. Jack French is known for his gorgeous women's bags and accessories but it was a pleasant surprise to see him branching out and doing something for the lads.

Oliver Spencer
Oliver Spencer's SS13 collection was one of my favourite shows during London Collections so seeing the clothes close-up was a real treat. One thing I love about Oli is that he really understands what men want when it comes to clothing. The textures and attention to detail  in this collection is so refreshing. Stand-out pieces for me were the geometric reverse print shirt (with matching trousers!), the white textured Granddad shirt and those charming suede Monk Strap shoes. See my review of the SS13 show here and head to OliverSpencer.co.uk to shop the AW12 collection.

Superga x Oliver Spencer

Oliver Spencer takes on the classic Superga Men's 2750 in a selection of bold block colours and striped seersucker. I think they will be a great addition for Spring Summer 2013, I've got my eyes on the blue and white seersucker pair personally.

Superga x Giles

Although these are from the womens' line I couldn't imagine not showing you these babies. Superga have joined forces with renowned British designer, Giles Deacon for SS13. On the left we've got printed pony skin creepers and on the right, embellished printed snakeskin sneakers and hi-tops. They will be available early next year at Dover Street Market, with prices starting from £120. If you're gonna start next year on a good footing it better be in one of these sneakers!