TEXT & CREATIVE | ZTEPHEN LEE
PHOTOGRAPHY | KIMIO NG
ENGLISH TRANSLATION | JOYCE TSANG
SPECIAL THANKS | I.T / UNDERCOVER HKG
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON BLACKBIRD AUTOMOTIVE JOURNAL
Shirts are without a doubt an essential item for our daily look. Whether for important occasions, at work in the office, or even on a date, those who wear a shirt gives off a respectful and important impression, reflecting on their self- cultivation and temperament, which is why the shirt has long been a significant product in our wardrobe. Other than that, a shirt is highly versatile. Not only can it be worn with denims and sneakers to create a casual vibe, but it can also be matched with a full suit and finished off with a pair of leather shoes to create a formal and classy look. This time, Blackbird has selected five different white shirts by different designers, and amongst them they display the art of using different materials, patterns and embellishments to further make the apparel suitable for any occasions of the day.
J.W. ANDERSON
Renowned for His Androgynous Aesthetics
Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, who now runs his eponymous label and reigns as creative director of Spanish luxury brand Loewe, has been under the spotlight in recent years. The 30-year-old is renowned for his androgynous aesthetics, and how he infuses a female softness into menswear design while indicates womenswear with a touch of manliness. Although this shirt from the Spring/Summer collection of his eponymous label does not adopt the elements of androgynous, but it features British textile designer John Allen’s work “Birling Gap” at the centre, which adds an artsy vibes to the design.
COMME des GARÇONS SHIRT
Reinterprets the Basic Wardrobe Item with a Touch of Avant-garde
COMME des GARÇONS SHIRT, the men’s diffusion label of COMME des GARÇONS, is a shirt-dominated collection that fuses with deconstructed and distressed designs by Rei Kawakubo. The modern COMME des GARÇONS brand reinterprets the basic wardrobe item with the touch of avant-garde, patchwork and bold color scheme. The shirt shown here can be considered as one of the most approachable styles from the seasonal offerings of the brand. It features two side pockets at the front for both functional and aesthetics purposes. Suitable for those who like to take a simple and practical style stance.
PORTER CLASSIC
For Functionality and Style
Like most Japanese brands that place strong emphasis on quality, Porter Classic also adhere to the production of high quality clothing items. Founded by Katsuyuki Yoshida and his son Leo Yoshida in 2007, the brand is known for its overworked denim, indigo and vintage-inspired clothing. The shirt shown here is the only style that comes with a short length silhouette among these five shirts and features two chest pockets with flaps for added functionality and style.
McQ BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Captivating Optical Illusion
Headed by creative director Sarah Burton, Alexander McQueen’s offshoot line McQ retains the emotional power and rebellious spirit of the Lee Alexander McQueen, the founder of the British luxury fashion house. Although the great Alexander McQueen is no longer with us, the fashion footprints that he left behind are still clear and the label still runs as if he were alive. On this cotton poplin shirt, it features a tonal and beige coated abstract print motif at centre front, giving a captivating optical illusion that would trigger one’s imagination.
COMME des GARÇONS HOMME PLUS
Redefines the Very Basis of Traditional Menswear
Besides COMME des GARCONS SHIRT, Rei Kawakubo also introduced another men’s diffusion line named COMME des GARCONS Homme Plus in 1984. With simple silhouettes combined with a military sensibility and contemporary tailoring, Rei Kawakubo not only committed to redefine the very basis of traditional menswear, she also strived to push forward the existing boundaries of design while celebrating fine craftsmanship. This striped panel shirt is just a perfect example of how Rei Kawakubo puts a creative and deconstructed spin on the wardrobe essentials.
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