The AW17 Report

Menswear is undoubtedly a world which thrives on the new. No sooner than the next big thing has been established menswear’s designers are already toiling away at their next sartorial masterpiece. This is not necessarily a bad thing though, creativity fosters new classics, and that can only be a good thing for men’s wardrobes everywhere. It is this marriage of new and old that became the underpinning thread for the autumn and winter collections.

Rather than pursuing originality for its own sake an appreciation of the sartorial wisdom of the men before us offered ripe inspiration. Starting with a foundation of the rich heritage of menswear and enduring style we’ve reinvented timeless pieces for the modern man. The result is an ethos of generational dressing where time-tested favourites take on surprising new guises. Below we dissect the design themes which will be making waves in men’s wardrobes this season.

TAPESTRY PRINT

After minimalism’s stranglehold grip on menswear, print has finally re-entered the fray in the most stylish men’s wardrobes. For the season ahead we’ve taken our inspiration from intricate tapestry prints, updating for a fresh, modern spin. When it comes to styling, less is more so use your print sparingly for maximum impact.

TAILORING SOFTENED

Though the suit may be commonly regarded as a uniform of sorts (for work, weddings and the like) the difference between uninspiring and unignorable tailoring is subtle but mighty. In the AW17 collection you can get lost in the textures, patterns and fabrics we’ve explored, however the true power of a suit ultimately lies in its cut. We’ve softened the shoulders on blazers and streamlined interior lining to decrease the weight of our suits for a less restrictive wear and a less severe silhouette. The days of the suit as a straitjacket are over.

KNITWEAR EXPLORATION

For the style-conscious man, restocking on knitwear is one of the few joys of oncoming cold weather and dark days. There’ll always be a place for knitwear that can be worn anywhere (a grey crew-neck sweater will never date) but this season at Reiss we’ve explored all of the possibilities knitwear holds. Innovative mix and match approach to texture, unconventional colour and proportional play, there’s a lot of new things to love about AW17’s new knitwear.

MADE IN ENGLAND

Sometimes, the classics of menswear are rarely bettered. That’s why we looked to the wealth of heritage that lay at our fingertips to inspire our Made in England mini collection. From a mac made in Manchester to icons of the accessories world which have been manufactured in the UK for centuries, this season discover contemporary takes on the menswear pieces which have stood the test of time.

VELVET REIMAGINED

Party season is one of the few times when velvet can be fully embraced without looking showy. As such, we’d thoroughly encourage you to take your opportunity to wear for party season. Alongside classic colours, in the AW17 collection you’ll find fresh jewel tones which breathe new life into the design. Further changing up how we approach velvet, we’re teaming lurex knits beneath velvet blazers which offers a contemporary way to wear for party season.

MODERN SHEARLING

A shearling jacket is a thing of great beauty and versatility. Though smooth leather and soft shearling make for an undeniably opulent duo, how you wear yours is up to you. Rugged and hardwearing or low-key luxury, a shearling jacket is one of the canniest investments you can make. For this season our shearling stays true to all the things that made the design an icon, but subtle design updates give this outerwear icon a touch of contemporary character.