Shoe-shine
At LANVIN today, menswear has arrived at a pinnacle of hybridity – where the structures and lines of classical tailoring collide with the finesse of hi-tech fabrications and a conceptual reconstruction of garments. Designers Alber Elbaz and Lucas Ossendrijver blur the lines between decades to constantly deliver a fresh and debonair aesthetic for the 21st century. Never nostalgic, their translation of heritage garments is conducted with a calculated risk – placing unexpected fabrics and finishes together for radical effects that question the nature of mens fashion and our ideas of beauty.
For Fall Winter 2011, Lanvin’s man paraded a fedora and a faux turtleneck under zipped, buttoned and belted jackets which spoke of a crisp, couture-finish to edited, classic shapes. Complementing this techno-tailoring, footwear fell in two distinct categories. A mountain-cum-moon boot was strapped with elastic, tooled in machine studs and finished in luxe grained leathers or wool, and a snub-toed loafer came tasseled and shining in burgundy croc, turquoise patent or a powdery blue suede. It sounds like a mouthful, but these shoes truly captivated – some balancing a thin line of awkward bulk, others toeing a kitsch vibe – but each emerging with a new, masculine elegance.
