COOLHUNT - The importance of men in fashion.

The catwalk is dominated by women. I think that this statement will slowly disappear because the importance of men in fashion is getting bigger. Like in my previous coolhunt where the differences between men and women were clearly expressed. But in the contrary the lines between men and women are also fading because the clothing of the men and women are more a like then ever!

WHAT? So the importance of men in fashion is getting more important. But why is men fashion not very popular in the first place? All kind of excuses like men are less interested in fashion etc. But like Miuccia Prada explained at her latest men collection she said that the women collections are responsible for the biggest incomes of the most fashion houses. That's pure financially so they get more attention. But in their men collections most fashion houses are more creative then with women collections because the financial risks are smaller. The last men collection of Miuccia Prada for Autumn/Winter '15 showed how menswear is affected by womenswear and how much her men collections inspire her women collections. 
If we look at the A/W '15 men collection from Walter van Beirendonck he used this collection to make a statement. With phrases like 'Stop terrorizing the world' and 'Demand beauty' he refers to the events in France two weeks ago. Just like Rick Owens in my previous coolhunt he uses his men collection to make an outburst in creativity and to make a statement. 

A/W '15 Prada

A/W '15 Prada

A/W '15 Walter van Beirendonck

WHY? So this is something new in fashion. We've seen a lot of extreme things in the previous fashion weeks and especially in the men collections. Because the men collections are not financially dependent the designers can use more creativity in these collections then in the women collections. So the importance of men fashion is getting bigger. And I think that in the future this importance wil only get more because we already see a lot of influences from men fashion in women fashion and likewise. This coolhunt is about femininity and masculinity but then the similarities and the differences. And maybe there is a need of more men fashion that also has to do with men caring more about their appearance. 

Sources:
http://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/waarom-is-de-mannelijke-fashion-week-niet-net-zon-hype-als-zijn-vrouwelijke-tegenhanger
http://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/miuccia-prada-kaart-het-belang-van-de-mannencollecties-aan-in-milaan
http://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/walter-van-beirendonck-herfstwinter-15

COOLHUNT - Shocking fashion.

Rick Owens is a known fashion designer because of his 'shocking' designs. Last week he did something shocking during the Paris Fashion Week A/W 2015. You can say he is revolutionary in fashion because he also uses social issues in his clothing. His fashion is about statements and he has already shown that in the past. In one fashion show he used models that he picked from the streets and he let them march over the runway. Another time he painted the models white to turn them into ghosts. 

Past fashion shows from Rick Owens

WHAT? Last week Rick Owens did something shocking during the Paris Fashion Week A/W 2015. He sent four men on the runway with cut outs in their clothing and you could see their penises. A really awkward image if you ask me but Rick Owens said it was about time to make a simple primal gesture. He loves simple, little gestures that take care of a little extra energy. And that's sure something he did with this fashion show. People were astonished when they saw the cut out clothing with a little peek here en there. Owen uses something so powerful to bring a message to the people. It's something no one dared to do but he can get away with it. Maybe because we see more signs of showing vulnerability. Like last friday creative director of Avelon Erik Frenken, showed a fashion show for women with see through clothing. You could see the nipples from the models and the #freethenipple was released. 

Rick Owens shocking fashion show

Rick Owens shocking fashion show

Avelon fashionshow

WHY? So these designers did something what is always seen as 'not done'. But why is it different now? Maybe it's because the lines between masculinity and femininity are fading even more. And this is a way of showing that masculinity and femininity again. It's the ultimate way to show through the clothing if it is for men or women. Because nowadays you can't see the difference that easy. So even though that gender equality is becoming more and more excepted like the petition from HeforShe, there's still a need of showing that there is a difference in it's purest form. Now that we've seen these shocking things on the runway I think there will be more fashion houses that will follow this example. Can we still speak of trends in fashion because fashion moves so fast and because of that the designers have to come up with new innovative things. I don't know if I could get used to this image but these designers definitely made a statement. 

Sources:
http://www.lindanieuws.nl/lifestyle/piemels-zichtbaar-tijdens-de-modeshow-van-rick-owens/
http://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/rick-owens-over-zijn-penisparade
http://www.trendpit.nl/?p=1436