Menswear continues to make a strong sartorial stand, as was evidenced at the recent European runway shows. Jude Hathaway takes a look at some of the major players.
The Paris and Milan menswear shows late last month not only played out the trends for the northern hemisphere's summer 2015 season but also highlighted the ongoing strength of men's fashion design and its infinite wearability.
The heartening thing is that New Zealand menswear trends are a reflection of what is seen in Paris and Milan and much of what recently walked the catwalks will also be seen here with, in some cases, a little less of the styling, perhaps.
They were all there, the upstarts and the legends. Some were predictable, others pulled out surprises.
Fashion houses such as Dior, that honour traditional design, also showed edge in the Dior Homme collection .
Sailor-striped jerseys contrasted sharply with elegant classic two-piece suits and were sometimes mixed together.
Tuxedo jackets were given very different silhouettes, from a classic slimline two-button style through to one with a one-toggle fastener.
Denim suits were given an airing.
Gucci's summer range predictably oozed luxury.
Stripes remained big, as did white pants, dark blazers and short pea jackets and a black-and-white theme continued into evening dinner jackets.
As is often the case with this Italian fashion house, military details were included, such as matte brass buttons.
Giorgio Armani's show brought with it a sensual reality, whether in relaxed casual wear, which included pants with pleated fronts teamed with short jackets, denim wear or a series of slimline flat-front suits.
Interesting was the usual formality of the suit being replaced by a more casual take.
Also from Italy, but in direct contrast, was Roberto Cavalli's line, which was, he explained at the show, inspired by the band Aerosmith's 1980s heyday.
There were also strong references to the Miami Vice looks made popular by the 1980s TV series.
Floral printed karate pants and short-sleeved shirts came in alongside gold jacquard blazers.
But whether New Zealand men embrace even nuances of this '80s rush in the near future remains to be seen.
Italy's Berluti, since the major extensions to its fashion ranges, is flying high.
The summer range shown in Paris has been described as ''firstly and most fundamentally wearable''.
The luxury and expense were there, but more obviously in the details.
Also adding leverage were the colours, such as purples and corals, and the assistance of origami in the finely cut trousers.
Denim came through strongly in many summer lines, no more so than in the high-end extension of the Diesel denim-centric brand Diesel Black Gold.
The brand showed its usual cool through craftsmanship and tailoring. Finishings to the denim included wax coating for an extra edge.
Issey Miyake featured prints of fragile marine life found in the ocean's depths as well as separates and suits that target urban youth through to the business faculty.
Youthful tenacity also shone through in the DSquared2 show with its pop art '80s references, which included patent leather applique cats emblazoned on sweatshirts or embroidered into trousers.
But as in many of this season's ranges, shapes were clean and easy, including board shorts and the pants that finished just above the ankles.
Yes. Blokes have a good-looking summer ahead.
