Breaking through the noise to deliver the full scoop on the latest fashion adventures with the must know fashion news for May 2021.
Pictured Above: Psychedelic Spirit
How else can fashion be enjoyed in a fun and unpretentious manner? New York-based visual artist Sarah Coleman — the returning collaborator for Fendi’s Summer ’21 collection — might just have the right sensibilities to answer that question. Known for her ironic and disruptive styles, the artist worked alongside menswear artistic director Silvia Venturini Fendi on the 1970s-referenced capsule of ready-to-wear, bags and accessories. Instantly, one will notice that the Fendi FF monogram pattern has been twisted, warped and reinterpreted as a psychedelic print aptly named the FF Vertigo. The fish-eyed swirls were treated on staples such as the Peekaboo X-Tote and the Baguette 1997, with the accompanying ready-to-wear pieces echoing the same energetic psychedelic spirit.
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Maximal Romanticism
After eight years, Pierpaolo Piccioli has successfully updated the romantic language of Valentino by responding to contemporary culture through the old world techniques of couture. The same romanticism continues as part of their Spring/Summer ’21 collection where legendary Macramé technique of crocheting — used traditionally for couture gowns — has been applied to familiar house accessories. For the first time, the timeless and genderless Garavani sneakers are now meticulously hand-crafted. Braided, woven collars across tubular fabric laces exude a new sense of luxury that blends well between day and night. At any given point, this new inspiration for shoemaking is a coming of more compelling treatments to menswear soon.
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Summer Embodiments
Louis Vuitton by Virgil Abloh has honed a versatility in creating different spectrums of what menswear could be — even within a single collection. The Louis Vuitton Men’s Summer ’21 capsule sees no less of this, where radiant reinterpretations of the monogram as pastel paintings signals a continuation of Abloh’s desire to create clothes for men that dispel former notions of what one should or should not wear — without being too explicit. The dream-like collection sees lightweight suits, Japanese denim and monogrammed cotton dyed in pops of watercolour hues as a retelling of different times of the day. Yet, the capsule still looks towards the contemporary, with American rapper 21 Savage emulating the causal energy of rap culture. As such, this versatility translates as adaptable pieces for one’s summer wardrobe with a simple message — everyone looks good in Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton.
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Fashionable Art
What stood out splendidly aside from Honey Dijon’s playfully electric soundtrack at the Dior Men Fall collection were Kenny Scharf’s motifs on acid-hued embroidered accessories of bags and shoes. The sci-fi, space opera-inspired motifs reimagine the classic Saddle of the Dior Men universe to create a new sense of savoir-faire by incorporating most of each accessory with subtle seed-stitch embroideries. The print illuminates with detail and craftsmanship like surrealist works of art that are deserving of being placed on a pedestal at the Louvre. Collecting bags as works of art has never been dealt with more importance until now.
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Whimsical Rainbows
The term “Psychedelic Art” was first coined in the 1960s to describe a trend in high culture that defined the rise of highly distorted and bright-coloured disobedient art styles. As a consistent devotee of counter-culture, it comes as no surprise that Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele chose to release a new collection of similar vibrant colour clashes as part of the brand’s post-pandemic-spirited “Overture” series. Dubbed GG Multicolour, the collection features a healthy balance of nonconformist yet approachable styles of ultra-colourful ready-to-wear pieces and accessories that rethink what is considered “edgy” with more intellectuality. Vivid monogrammed prints are plastered all over House bestsellers — such as Princetown slippers and Marmont shoulder bags — with canvas hats and duffle bags emulating the perfect summer pairing.
This story of the must know May fashions news first appeared in the May 2021 issue of Men’s Folio Singapore. Purchase a copy of the issue here!
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