Breastplates and Armor Straight Out of Fiery Battles
In a continuation of the military theme last seen at Les Hommes Spring men’s show, designers Tom Notte and Bart Vandebosch explored ancient medieval armor for fall 2018. The collection features thick leather coats pierced and pieced together with metal grommets, layered over modern streetwear staples. The larger than life silhouettes were layered over one another and paired with clever add-ons and accessories inspired directly by pieces of gothic armor. Outerwear stole the show, in the form of elongated peacoats and bomber jackets, to more luxurious fur lined options. Coats were designed with a heavy tactical hand in mind, with zippered panels allowing longer coats layered underneath to peek through. While chains, heavy-duty metal hardware and intricate closures adorned every look, up the ante for the otherwise typical pieces. The styling took things a step further, with large chain necklaces and bold, silver lip rings that extended over the lower lip.
In a direct nod to medieval armor, models wore leather falcon gloves over thick rounded sweatshirts and chunky beaded sweaters. Gloves complete with rows of chunky buckles and straps, lent a bit of edge to the extreme styling. Severely cropped leather “breastplate” shirts served as a clever counterpart to cozy sweaters and hoodies in the collection. Boxy shapes and exaggerated layering built up the models’ stature and conveyed an intimidation factor. Along with these elements, diamond shaped quilting and panels secured with metallic grommets add even more interest and intrigue. Quilted lustrous leggings are pared beneath boxy gym shorts in the same fabrication for a cool way to layer, that avoids reading too obvious. Done in a largely black color scheme, it’s these crucial details that really separate Les Hommes from the rest of the game.
Bottle green and military camouflage-inspired arrow prints contribute to the “alpha male” image, and a three piece suit done entirely in the “camo” print is sure to catch some eyes at your next formal affair. Other show stopping elements surface in the form of intricate beading and embroidery on monochrome garments for subtle flair, as well as rows and rows of tiny grommets laced together with thin strips of leather. The glimmering bead work, sharp metals, and high shine fabrications give the ultra-urban sportswear and edgy, yet sophisticated and refined appeal.
See All the Looks from the Collection
