Spring Fashion Week reveals a wide palette
Colour reigned supreme this year during the men's collections at the annual Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.
Soft pastels, eye-catching prints and bold primary shades of red and blue were sent down the runway from some of the biggest names in Australian menswear.
A snapshot of trends currently available in store, this year's MSFW also saw some extra players take the stage – attendees were treated to a glimpse of Japanese brand Muji's nautical-flavoured casual staples; British label Ted Baker's refined luxury; and the luxe European aesthetic from footwear label Aquila.
Overall, the experience taken from the shows was one of immense diversity, with something on offer to cater for all tastes with the amount of designers taking part this year standing as testament to the growing presence of menswear as a powerful player in the fashion stakes.
To help keep you ahead of the style curve this spring, we've compiled a list of some of the most prominent trends spotted at this year's Melbourne Spring Fashion Week including some of our own favourite pieces.
A colourful affair
One of the biggest trends to hit the catwalks this season was prominence of colour, particularly pastels, with pink the hot favourite across the board.
Despite being traditionally considered a more feminine colour, blazers in rose, salmon, and hot pink were seen amongst the collections of M.J. Bale, Jack London and Godwin Charli.
The palette was rounded out with powder blue, smoke and pistachios suits at Brent Wilson plus a large dollop of aqua that showed up in Calibre in the form of a razor-sharp suit and Jack London's must-have biker jacket.
In contrast, Arthur Galan and Ted Baker stuck to the slightly more traditional yet no less vibrant colours of red and bright blue.
Stand-out: The textured pink blazer from Sydney-based label M.J Bale.
Not for the faint hearted
Several designers brought the drama this year, using everything from sequins to brocade in their collections.
At Et Al, the drama came in the form of bold unstructured draping – perfect for layering during trans-seasonal periods. Enveloping jackets and elongated shirting gave created exaggerated silhouettes and a strict palette of black and white stood out in stark contradiction other much brighter collections.
Jayson Brunsdon's brocade jackets and lace shirting from his debut menswear collection felt like the perfect fit for spring's romantic feel. Much like the presence of pink, the use of traditionally feminine details reworked in masculine ways created an intriguing juxtaposition.
The look of a rock star on tour, Jack London's collection was straight out of '60s Britain, making good use of its signature namesake. Fitted sequin jackets, silver boots and leather pants made an interesting contrast to the continuing domination of traditional tailoring.
Stand-out: The sequined "Bowie" jacket by Jack London.
Flower power
In a more literal interpretation of the season, floral prints were also big on the ground this spring.
From M.J Bale's frangipani blazer, Arthur Galan's graphic palm trees to a tropical-inspired suit (worn as separates) at Brent Wilson, there was no mistaking Encyclopaedia Botanica's influence.
At Ted Baker, the allusion was little more subtle, making its way into the trim of a navy blazer while at Jack London, a Hawaiian–inspired shirts in bright red and navy added some extra flair to the theme.
Stand-out: The white-floral print trousers from Brent Wilson.
Cropped and sockless
Hands-down the biggest trend to hit the catwalk however was a cropped trouser teamed with the sock-free look.
Whether it was suits or chinos, pinrolled or deliberately cut short, hems were high and ankles bared, a clear nod to the influential men of Pitti Uomo where the trend became a phenomenon.
While sneakers were still being teamed with suits, the must-have shoe this spring is clearly the loafer, teamed either with shorts or with suits for a casual luxury.
Stand-out: Suede driving shoes in red and caramel at Calibre.
See our bumper photo gallery above for all the key men's looks from Melbourne Spring Fashion Week
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