Unconventional Summer Materials

Although snakeskin and leather are not the first fabrics that spring to mind for the warmer months of the year, it seems SS14 may be the season where menswear turns normal expectations on their head.

The volume of leather and snakeskin on the designer catwalks during the spring/summer 2014 previews was surprisingly high, while the variety of garments given the leather/snakeskin treatment was also vast.

So, forget all redneck cowboy and Jimmy Nail associations and read on to find out how these edgy materials have been given a warm-weather update…

On The Runways

Without a doubt, the biggest proponent of the snakeskin and leather trend was Trussardi. This probably comes as no surprise given that the brand has been a stalwart of accessories and leather goods for well over a century.

In February, Gaia Trussardi (daughter of founder Dante) was appointed Creative Director of the label’s mainline and her spring collection was fabricated almost entirely from skin, making use of thin, supple leather along with snakeskin prints and patterns.

The Trussardi collection included a gunmetal grey leather vest, white leather round neck t-shirt with matching leather shorts, and leather trousers in a dark silvery-grey.

In fact, leather trousers featured prominently throughout – coming in blue, grey and tan tones – with the brand opting for wide-legged and relaxed cuts rather than more traditional, slim-fitting styles. Yet perhaps the boldest garment showcased by Trussardi was a terracotta leather boiler suit, paired with a matching blazer. Although a bit too much cow hide for our taste, it was certainly a striking look:

Trussardi were also one of the biggest supporters of the controversial snakeskin trend. A burnt orange snakeskin short suit made a real statement, while a slightly more understated pair of snakeskin trousers in grey-brown were combined with a tan leather shirt and snakeskin-effect sandals.