Instead of doing a regular show review, I decided to start a new series where I record a discussion between myself and someone less knowledgeable about fashion or less interested in it or someone who isn't part of the target audience. Basically people with fresh, less biased opinions.
Today, I begin with me and my little brother discussing Marc Jacobs AW15-16 Mens.
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Me: So, I'll show you through the looks and see what you make of it...what about the first look?
Le Bro: It looks like a woman from the 1920s.
The 1920s? Do you not think the hair and styling is more nineties?
Wait...is that a woman or a man?
A man.
Oh, it looks like a woman cross-dressing in the 1920s.
So...you're saying the clothes are like something from the 20s but the hair is throwing you off?
Yeah...heh...
Okay...what about this one?
He just looks like he doesn't give a shit.
(Scrolls)
Okay, so, it's a bit of a jump there. Throwing in an animal print.
Oh, that's interesting.
Would you wear animal print?
No. And it looks like he does't want to wear it either. He looks pretty disgusted with it, to be honest.
....
Okay, the styling is a bit funny because...y'know...fashion. But look at the entirety of the look.
I don't approve of the hat. Even if he was wearing it right. It's just an ugly, ugly hat.
Oh-ho-ho-kay. There you go, Mr Jacobs!
Em...so that's a bit more normal.
What about the hem-length? That's where they're changing it up a bit.
Is that the shirt? (Points to end of shirt at the back, peeking out from under the jumper)
Yeah.
Oh. I don't like that the back is longer than the front.
'cause that's something that's been a thing in women's clothes for quite some time now.
It looks very rigid. It looks like he's wearing cardboard. And the shoes are very clunky looking.
Em, I think everything's just been pressed to look very sharp and stylised.
...
He looks like a Death Eater or something. His handbag is certainly interesting. His coat's nice though. I'd probably wear that. Again, I wouldn't wear the hat...that one's not ugly, I just don't like that sort of hat. The other one was just plain ugly. I don't know what he was thinking with a white hat...Fucking manky...
(Muffled laughter) White hat... (Laughs again)
Oh, I'd wear that. Not with that shirt but...
Just no. It looks like a mix between a bathrobe and an Aran jumper.
Well, I think it is going for an Aran jumper and I think the whole collection - what I'm getting from it - is trying...
Is it Irish?
Maybe not Irish but kind of fifties, sixities, classic pieces. So, this is like the way men used to dress. But the styling is a bit more nineties.
...they seem to all be kind of a similar theme...
Well, yeah, that's what they do with collections. They try to make them cohesive as if they've all been inspired by the same things. So, this is the print you liked before in the suit.
I like that coat.
Yeah, it's a good classic trench with a twist.
What about it?
Anything. I don't like the mix. I don't like the colours. I don't like how it all looks together. I don't like the leather jacket.
Yeah, I'm not sure about it either.
I'm very picky when it comes to leather jackets.
I just don't think the cut of it is very nice. It's kinda cheap-looking.
That pocket looks stupid. Actually, it makes him look fat too.
I think that might be the stance.
Okay, now he's just trying to be a pimp.
(Laughing)
Em...no. It'd be too warm. I know there'd be an awful smell. The boots are kind of nice.
Well, I'm assuming it's probably faux.
Yeah, well, even if it's faux you're just asking for smell-collecting in that.
(Laughs) He looks like a bird.
Again, this is something that's been around in women's clothes...that kind of fuzzy fabric.
Oh...it's kind of like...what was I watching? Charlie Haughey's (Former Irish Prime Minister) mistress used to wear a coat kind of like that. I can see a French woman wearing that, to be honest.
A French woman...I see.
Oh good lord! It's like a massive scarf.
...yeah, that's what it is.
Looks like he's a thumb.
He looks like a thumb?!
(Both laugh)
Huge scarves are coming in next AW - why can't capes come in? - They were already in for women this AW. Capes? Capes are kind of always in when they're done right.
No, I mean cloaks that go around here (points to neck and shoulders) and is a big wintery one (stands and gestures wildly) that goes down to here (points to floor).
Em. Well, that's a hard look to pull off, I have to say.
That's kinda cool.
Yeah, I like that.
That looks like something Joey Ramone would have worn.
Who?
Joey Ramone.
Oh. Eh, maybe too much colour for him though.
Ehhh...not a fan of any of that really. The scarf's okay but the rest looks like he went into a vintage shop and picked out the least fashionable stuff possible...No, not least fashionable but looks like he picked out the smelliest stuff possible.
Smelliest? (Laughs)
Poorly styled lecturer.
(Laughs)
That's slightly better. I still don't like it though.
That's a funky coat. He seems to be wearing the same trousers in everything.
(Leans forward and squints) What kind of cardigan is that?...I think there's too much going on there, to be honest. It looks like he's wearing a zoot suit with a cardigan from the sixties.
He looks like something from an anime. I like that.
It's very streamlined.
I don't like double-breasted jackets though.
I don't normally either. I'm not sure about the colour as well but I like the whole look.
Now he looks like a PHD student who's trying to be a lecturer but knows he shouldn't dress exactly like him but he's failing in every respect.
Wow.
That's probably the worst thing I've seen so far. White jacket? I'm sorry but that's just not something anyone can pull off.
I have a white jacket.
Sorry but no.
Ooookayyy.
I like that. I like the blazer.
That just looks like it doesn't fit right to me.
The whole thing looks like - you know those little boys that would be forced to dress up for dinner in the early 20th century?
Only with shorts.
Yeah. It looks really uncomfortable and like "Ohhh, bring me hooome."
It's just...it's open too high.
You shouldn't be able to see his shirt.
Yeah, the button should be lower.
He looks like he hates it.
So, overall, what are you taking away from Marc Jacobs AW15?
Em, is this high fashion?
It's Ready-to-Wear. Couture isn't really a thing for men.
Well, I was thinking if it was high fashion, it was really low-key. It doesn't seem too bold except for that weird scarf thing.
So pretty safe?
Everything seems like a re-hash of things that have been going around for 300 years.
Well, that's kind of fashion. It's just whether you can put the right new spin on it.
None of it's new.
Well, few of us have truly original ideas.
Still, I was expecting a dress or a half-dress or a silk handkerchief or something.
So, what you expect from a fashion show is that they put a man in a dress? To innovate?
No, just something new
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Quite a harsh review of Marc Jacobs AW15-16 from Le Little Bro but entertaining and interesting to get the opinions of someone outside of fashion at length. I might not agree with much of what he said but I think it's good to be pulled back from the unquestioning enthusiasm show reivews can sometimes lull me into. It's good to be aware, to think more deeply, examine our reactions.
What did you think?
(Images via vogue.co,uk)
