The London Men's Collection took place over four days, from January 9th to 12th, with each brand showcasing their 2015-16 Autumn/Winter collections. With the show title "Bombay City Rollers" and the checkered invitations, it immediately brings to mind a fusion of '70s pop and psychedelic. In that sense, this season's Topman Design was a straightforward affair. Amidst a colorful mandala-like pattern projected on a screen at the back of the runway, pieces appeared one after another: shearling patchwork coats, thigh-hugging pants that flared below the knee, oriental floral shirts, fringed suede jackets, and denim jumpsuits. Each piece exuded a distinctly '70s vibe. However, none of these pieces were "authentic" '70s pieces. The suede jackets were unnaturally oversized, and the shirt colors were a little too tame for psychedelic. The flared pants are short enough to reveal socks. The original Rollers' signature denim cuffs are unusually wide, and there's no check pattern. This suggests a different take on the '70s, created by a generation not born in the '70s, rediscovering it. Perhaps this is how fashion evolves while drawing inspiration from history (the '70s were already 40 years ago). Cropped flared pants were also a key element in Alex Mullins' collection, but these were high-waisted and wide-legged, with plenty of room around the thighs. The denim and velvet pants (another '70s fabric) were paired with workwear-inspired jackets. The matching fabrics throughout the outfit reinforced the retro vibe. Kit Neal used alphabet letters taken from retro-inspired poster graphics as a print motif. This season, marking the designer's first runway collection, saw a shift from the cartoon-like illustration prints of previous collections to more graphic designs. Alphabet brooches danced across knitwear featuring snake and cow motifs, and fluffy teddy bear fur tops.
Kit Neal AW15 Collection

Christopher Shannon used mass-produced plastic bags, such as those found at street markets or local greengrocers, to decorate hats, corsages, and keychains, pairing them with athletic pants and jackets. Skinny bottoms were paired with oversized casual jackets with zip-up sleeves and oversized square knitwear for a contrasting look. The collection also incorporates a playful, feminine touch, with a wide, almost corset-like elastic belt paired with a down jacket, and a very short, gathered cotton belt worn over a sweatshirt.
Christopher Shannon 2015-2016 Autumn/Winter Collection