In the rag trade, ideas are brought to life about a year before you would see a first glimpse at it in store. Confused? Don’t blame you. So it gives me great pleasure to share with you just what goes on behind the scenes with the W’menswear design process. Because really it’s about rad people like yourself.
To visualise the outer shell, the idea if you like, of next year’s Autumn Winter collection, I like to use vintage pieces (the things that inspire me the most) to curate the future winter wardrobe. These are only but mere ideas at the moment, so we have a great big ball of potential to deconstruct, re-construct, and shape into something that speaks to the kind of gal who is ready to roll her sleeves up to dive into life. There are so many details on these technical military and workwear pieces that we can develop further, and in turn make our own.
Let me take you through some highlight shapes that have really inspired me to design a fun and functional collection that tells the story of a strong, do-it-herself, female spirit.
The US Air Force Pilot.
These great pieces are pulled from the US, a Helicopter Pilot’s jacket probably from the Vietnam war, as well as a pair of USAF cotton sateen trousers with very interesting snap button sides for a waist adjustment. They make a badass sage green suit which would be brilliant for winter with some heavier fabrics and down in the jacket. Here I have paired them with some Pro-Keds high tops and Persol glasses.
Below I have found a modified US military pull over with a long zipper and peaked cap on the hood. A great rain piece that would be super cute on a gal. I have paired this look with our friends’ JJJJound X Fair Ends cap.
The Worker’s Suit is exactly that:
The full workwear look pulled from all corners of the earth. The coveralls, a vintage Australian workwear piece by King Gee, sports the perfect leg and arm length to show some of that shirt cuff and your wildest socks underneath. The jacket, a war era Imperial Japanese linen and hemp blazer is smart enough and practical enough for work or travel. I love the super wide lapel which really makes this shape truly special.
The turn-of-the-century French farm dress.
The sweetest, yet most cleverly pieced together dress drapes in the most orderly manner thanks to super smart pattern making here. The gingham belt is worn upside-down to show the contrasting check pattern which has lifted this already modern looking dress into the future.
