No physical shows? No problem. It’s safe to say that designers have now embraced the ‘new normal’ and have adapted to digital shows with ease. But unlike Paris Haute Couture Week AW20 where dreamy, awe-inspiring films take centre stage, at Paris Men’s Fashion Week SS21, a number of brands on our list opted to integrate audience-less runway shows (albeit in a more casual format) into their films, while some presented their looks in super short videos and let the stills do the talking. As Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2021 is now underway, we take a look back at the highlights from the City of Lights this season.
Below, 8 SS21 short films from the first digital Paris Men’s Fashion Week you shouldn’t miss:
Dior Men
Titled “Portrait of an Artist”, Dior Men’s SS21 collection was artistic director Kim Jones’ partnership—and tribute—to Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo, who’s known for his large-scale painting of Black subjects.
The creative collaboration was born after a chance meeting in December last year, and the pieces—worn by all-black models—were a beautiful mashup of the designer’s modern vision and the painter’s creative energy. Some of the highlights include the Dior Oblique print in crochet form, the Dior Oblique mini tote, and the cummerbunds in colours that pay homage to the flags of African countries.
Behind the scenes
Watch the making of the reinvented Bar jacket this season here:
Hermès
Instead of a film format or a digital runway show, Hermès—which presented its collection earlier of the month—takes on an “unprecedented performance” in collaboration with film director Cyril Teste. In a backstage setting that gives viewers a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes moments, models were dressed in the Maison’s SS21 designs that exude understated elegance like no other.
Isabel Marant
Summer holidays abroad may be out of the question at the moment, but Isabel Marant is making the best out of it by escaping its homeground in Paris to the suburbs in Pantin for its SS21 menswear line. Centering around freedom and flexibility from dancing, the clothes are fluid and injected with sportswear elements, rendered in a mixture of bright and pastel hues that are perfect for the season.
Yohji Yamamoto
Staying true to its signature aesthetic, Yohji Yamamoto’s SS21 collection was presented in a dimly lit setting, with a video made up of a mix of a runway show and still imagery of the details. Clothing-wise, elongated and deconstructed silhouettes continue to reign, amped up with eye-catching details such as Kanji characters, fringed details, and punchy quotes.
Thom Browne
Instead of unveiling the full Men’s SS21 collection digitally, Thom Browne will be showing its co-ed collection during women’s fashion week in October, but the brand went ahead by launching a teaser film for us to get a preview of the line.
Featuring Moses Sumney singing the Olympic Hymn, the black-and-white film sets the tone for the Olympics-inspired collection. The sneak peek of the headphones from the brand’s upcoming collaboration with Beats by Dr. Dre is not to be missed.
Lanvin
Escapism was the main theme of Lanvin’s Men’s SS21 collection, as creative director Bruno Sialelli is enamoured by the Le Palais Idéal, an extraordinary example of naïve art architecture. Keeping the fantastical feel in mind, the line was dreamy and elegant, grounded by the designer’s use of natural materials including cashmere, cotton, leather, silk, and wool.
Dries Van Noten
Dries Van Noten teased its Men’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection with an under one-minute video, and although nothing much was revealed—except for a model air drumming in a relaxed pantsuit with a mesh top worn under—it gives us a prelude of what’s to come.
Lemaire
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Like its collections, Lemaire presented a straightforward runway show in a casual format, and the format was undoubtedly a refreshing way to end the action-packed week. Inspired by day-to-night wear, the silhouettes are relaxed and the pieces are versatile—reflecting the ever-changing ’new normal’ we’re currently in. The brand also announced its plans to present co-ed shows moving forward.
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