If there is a way to define the looks of summer 2024, it’s that men and women are backing different teams when it comes to florals. As female fashion insiders disengage from the ditsy and daisy motifs that defined the past few summers, men are going wild for them.
Yes, in menswear, florals are emerging as a growing concern, with the best dressed of the boys at the recent round of shows displaying everything from gerbera-print kilts to carnation motifs. Celebs getting in on the act include Dan Levy, Harry Styles and Stormzy. Looking to have a go at a floral shirt yourself, sir? Liberty, of course, does a good version — and you could also get one from Paul Smith or Dries Van Noten.
Anarchy on the front row!
Loafers, check; man bag, check; hairsprayed punk spikes … check? Milan Fashion Week Men’s always throws up a few surprises, but the return of “liberty spikes” (did you know they were called that? No, neither did we) is definitely up there in the “trends we did not see returning” box. Perhaps we shoudn’t be that surprised — politically, things are rather reminiscent of the deep, dark days of the late 1970s (unemployment and political turmoil, anyone?) and the Sex Pistols are re-forming to play the entirety of their Never Mind the Bollocks album next month as fundraiser for Bush Hall in London, swapping out John Lydon for Frank Carter. The punk spirit is also very much alive in the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed Frankenstein retelling,The Bride, heading our way next year; early pictures show Jessie Buckley with backcombed hair and Vivienne Westwood-style ripped dresses. We’re saying two thumbs-up (or should that be two fingers?), but please don’t bring back the gobbing, thanks very much.
Everyone’s talking about… N5 Kitchen
Fashion foodies listen up, because the style set’s favourite caterer has opened its own eatery. The all-female team behind N5 Kitchen has long been whipping up the goods for the sartorial snacker, creating spreads for catwalk shows and shoots for the likes of Jimmy Choo and Mulberry. Now it has taken up residency in north London, in what was formerly the UK’s only independent Sylvanian Family shop (the eagle-eyed will spot a set of the cult toys on display above the coffee machine). Food includes chocolate or rhubarb and brown sugar doughnuts, taleggio squash tarts and lunch bowls such as crispy pork with dan dan noodles. Snag a front-row seat (aka by the window) because the team’s client roster includes Naomi Campbell and Florence Pugh, so, who knows, you might spot a celeb or two.
All rise for the new ugly shoe
There is nothing a fortysomething dad with a longing for the sartorial prowess of his youth likes more than an ugly American shoe that has fallen into favour with the cool crowd (see: Crocs, Teva). How else to explain the fact that the Portland-based hiking brand Keen, and in particular its Uneek (they do word play and shoes) sandals, is currently more coveted than Carhartt? The shoes, which retail for about £110, found favour with edgy teens and streetwear designers last summer and have become this year’s must-have ugly shoe. So much so that at Glastonbury, Uneek-spotting was a sport in itself — we lost count during the set of the trendy dad favourites the National. They’ve already sold out twice at Schuh; you’ll have to be quick to get a pair.
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Additional words: Hannah Connolly, Karen Dacre, Phoebe McDowell
Image credits: Getty Images, ImaxTree, @swfarriers, BBC, Lewis & Co
