Fashion stylist Barnaby Ash gives his verdict on the final day of the Milan collections and style director Adrian Clark offers his advice on how to get Gucci's catwalk look
The fourth and final day of the Milan collections opened with Dsquared2 (pictured centre left). Set against a backdrop of a grimy nightclub, reminiscent of the legendary Berghain club in Berlin, the fashion house showed a line of dark leathers with ruptured denims and monochromatic tailoring. As opposed to the usual thrill of a Dsquared2 show, this season we found ourselves a little underwhelmed.
Giorgio Armani proffered a softly tailored collection with sporty notes in a colour palette of cream and tan through to icy blues. A very elegant offering as per usual but when you look at his work from the past it’s hard to get so excited by his recent collections.
Taking pointers from the late eighties and early nineties Steampunk culture, Diesel Black Gold’s fabrications were one of their nicest collections to date (pictured far left), serving up masculine tailoring embellished with embroidery and infused with military and mechanical references.
Other high points included Ports 1961’s tailored deliverance of bright colour and print (pictured centre right) and Marc Jacobs delectable cocktail of 1940s Riviera, Jamaican beach culture, punk rock and sport luxe; a little confusing on paper but we assure you it certainly wasn’t in person. Finally, Tom Ford showed a collection of new and slimmer sixties-inspired silhouettes in line with the new Bond film, which, in case you didn’t know, he’s providing the clothing for.
Grooming tip:
Giorgio Armani (pictured far right) epitomised the easy mood of Milan on the final day of the Italian fashion capital’s menswear presentations for spring 2013, with a retro ‘undone’ look that was a nod to the poster boys of the late 1980s. A hairstyle that had definition and a wet look lustre was loosely swept over to one side, and left to fall casually over the brow. To achieve this look you need a product that is malleable and can be reworked throughout the day without solidifying is essential. We recommend using L’Oreal Paris Studio Line’s Flick N Sweep Defining Gel Cream; £3.56 for 200ml, which has been specifically formulated for longer hair. Apply this creamy gel textured (non greasy) styling aid to towel dried hair to hold your look in place while retaining flexibility and definition with extreme hold. To compliment this, Armani opted for clean-shaven, moisturised skin that had a slight lustre. To calm the skin after shaving and to combat dryness we recommend using L’Oreal Paris Men Expert’s 24HR Hydrating Post Shave Balm: £6.12 for 100ml, which when applied after shaving will leave skin smooth, balanced and hydrated for 24 hours and boasts an ultra-fresh, non-greasy texture that will aid in the reduction of redness.
