Alexander McQueen Men’s SS22 is for the romantic in you
Sarah Burton looked to Romantic artist and poet William Blake for her Alexander McQueen SS22 Men’s collection, drawing on the spirit of freedom and – more specifically – imagination.
While creative director Sarah Burton drew from the strength and resilience of anemones for her SS22 womenswear collection, for men, it’s all about liberation and lightness, air and water, when art becomes fashion.
William Blake-fluences are striking throughout, taking various paintings and scribbles of the Romantic artist and poet’s work and printing them onto evening jackets. And with a focus on traditional materials, the collection utilises wool, jersey and leather, namely on peg trousers, printed poplin shirts and heavy knitted jumpers, with seriously impeccable tailoring.
The sweet spot is where the collection looks to Blake a little less literally, though, like on a structured dress painted like a delicate watercolour, with ruffles superimposed on one another, and an arm-exposing single-breasted tuxedo jacket with exploded ruffles in black wool. The effect is freeing and thoughtfully constructed.
In terms of details, suit jackets are slashed at the arms and shoulders using spiral silver zips, and run down the sides of slim trousers with tonal satin stripes. High-neck vests feature an illustration in the style of Blake’s, with Alexander McQueen boldly printed in the middle, in squiggly handwriting. Accessories take Blake’s symbolism, too, with detailed charm bracelets, rings set in antique silver metal and a heavy orb-like pendant.
The vacant stares of McQueen’s boys might not have you believe this, but this season, it’s all about the romance in you. Go swoon.
