Men’s Fashion Goes Far Out

While the 1960s have, until recently, been having a heyday in fashion – helped along by fictional ad man Don Draper’s nattily suited style – menswear is soon set to shift its focus to the fringed suede and heady floral prints of the 1970s.

Back with a psychedelic vengeance, seventies influences are making their presence felt in spring/summer 2015 collections, from high street brands to leading luxury players.

On The Runways

Although we might like to think that past trends and looks were neatly condensed into the space of ten years, the truth is the 1970s was a real melting pot of style references – from hippie counterculture and the last legs of the swinging 1960s, to the new sounds of disco and roar of punk rock. This season, designers were wise to that fact, making references to all of these cultural touchstones within their SS15 lines.

Topman Design was at the forefront of the seventies movement from the outset, showing flared corduroy trousers, wide-collared shirts and a kaleidoscope of floral and psychedelic prints. The notion of ‘tight on top, flared on bottom’ that dominated 1970s fashion was extremely prevalent, with fitted, open neck shirts and waistcoats teamed with generously flared legwear.

Even the tailored pieces were distinctively seventies, with the brand teaming double- and single-breasted suits featuring longer length jackets and bell-bottom trousers with vividly printed, wide collar shirts for a vintage, dressed-down feel.

Colours and patterns carried the theme, with mustard, orange, earthy browns and floral sunflower prints applied to shirts, jackets and trousers, while accessories included a velvet trunk case and Perspex, oversized geeky glasses worn by models with tousled John Lennon-style locks:

Katie Eary

Katie Eary’s upbeat line took a more colourful step into the era with ombré shades of pink, purple and orange in patterns that weren’t unlike optical illusions.