Whilst the southern half of the country has enjoyed unseasonal temperatures throughout most of May, spare a thought for us in The Grim North™ where the weather has been decidedly schizophrenic. At times it has felt that Summer might never actually arrive, the entire region falling through a wormhole and arriving at a bleak midwinter.
The inclement weather has led me to glance through the Autumn/Winter look books again and, once again, my interest is piqued by Baartmans and Siegel’s proposition for next season. I cannot contain my admiration for this burgeoning British luxury menswear label, and it appears that Harrods and I are in agreement.
The collection takes its initial inspiration from Deckard, Harrison Ford’s character in ‘Blade Runner’,and extracts the 1982 film’s mood of a dystopian near-future, using it to influence the designers’ chosen palette and use of detail.
When I was in my twenties I discovered, and fell in love with, Jigsaw Menswear, the long-departed high street brand which changed the way men my age shopped for clothes. Up until that point clubwear, such as Destroy or Nick Coleman, had dominated my wardrobe. Shopping at Jigsaw Menswear felt like my first grown-up retail experience. The pieces were trend-led yet the execution was refined and impeccable, adult dressing with a small “a” for those of us who still loved fashion but were old enough to know better. Attributes shared with Wouter Baartmans and Amber Siegel’s work.
When I spoke to the lovely Amber Siegel during the menswear installations, she agreed with my thoughts on the brand’s transitional quality, and it’s hard to deny the commerciality of a label with such an ageless aesthetic.
The collection is also unashamedly high-end. Whilst London’s catwalks (controversially) seemed to be awash with real fur, Baartmans and Siegel stood out in the menswear showcase for their use of fox, mink, and Persian lamb trimming outerwear. Calf leather, cashmere, and silk also feature heavily.
In a season full of collections which seem to want to either feminise or infantilise men, Baartmans and Siegel’s decidedly masculine and mature offering feels like a breath of fresh air, and one to covet once the rainy days and dark nights of Winter finally arrive.
The collection will be available from Harrods as well as www.baartmansandsiegel.com
Article researched and written by Lee Clatworthy (@TeamChutzpah)
Please let us know if you like having menswear featured in Katie Chutzpah blog and/or what you think of Baartmans and Siegel.
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