New York saw a week of fashion shows in June that highlighted men’s wear. What becomes obvious right away is that designers are returning to their core values and producing designs that once again reflect their uniqueness and creativity. Drawing upon the original aesthetics of the labels, the men’s clothing was looser and more in tune with an economy that is working under new rules that are not hard and fast as people try to survive its devastating effects.The recession has had a very recognizable influence on the clothing industry. Clothing has become more practical and many labels are producing lower priced versions of their haute couture. But make no mistake about it – many of the most famous designers are still producing high priced designs and expressing the influence of the recession in the designs and not the prices.
What is interesting though it is the fact that many of the designer lines still include t-shirts. So you don’t have to invest in expensive clothing to create the same outfits. You can pair cheap t-shirts with shorts and flowing men’s long sleeved shirts and find yourself looking as if Bottega Veneta was the personal designer.
The purpose of the New York shows was to showcase the 2010 men’s spring wear lines. The designers included Prada, Ermenegildo Zegna, Calvin Klein, and Gucci. The casual influence inspired by the recession includes built-in wrinkles, cropped trousers, and sandals. There were the expected exotic designs, but it was the more traditional Armani and Zegna designs that proved to be most popular. In difficult economic times it seems even the high fashion industry is more sedate and more practical. With a return to their style roots, the classics including polo shirts and various blazers were the hit of the show. Being stylish does not mean you have to spend a fortune on your clothes. It’s back to basics and easy styling thanks to the impact of the recession.
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