WOODHOUSE GETS PLAYFUL FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2018
“LET’S HAVE A FIELD DAY” – A Fashion Response to The Current Political Climate
“The collection is called Field Day. So I decided to have a field day” exclaimed Julian Woodhouse, the designer behind the brand. A New York Men’s Day favorite, Woodhouse was full of fun as he unveiled his ss18 collection at the 8th bi-annual showcase, held this season at Dune Studios.
As soon as I walked into the presentation I noticed the room was flooded with natural lighting. The fixed picture windows ranged floor to ceiling. Many designers choose to draw the shades during their showing, but Woodhouse let the light shine through. The floor was covered in green turf and made took like like a sports field. Models stood staggered across the field and some stood on platforms carrying bats like basemen at a baseball game.
We saw a lot of political fashion statements last season on and off the runway. After all, that has transpired following the latest election many have been left feeling weary with the current social, economic, and political state. Woodhouse, an army vet and no stranger to such tensions himself, admits he too was left feeling heavy and wanted to take a step back from it all. “I decided to take a break from the way I felt after the political and economic shifts this year and last year. Instead of feeling low about it I completely separated from that to just have fun”.
A vivid bold primary color scheme was the foundation of the collection. The designer grew the collection from there, using denim, cargo, and athletic mesh as his main fabric choices. “I started with primary colors and grew from there. We worked with a lot of athletic mesh. I love athletic mesh so much because it has a really cool texture. Also when used as a liner it makes the clothing feel like it has a layer of air underneath.”
Feature pieces were tank tops, denim overalls, vest outerwear & cargo shorts. The designer also incorporated his signature graphic sayings. One splashed alongside a pair of cropped utility styled cargos read: “CAUTION”. The other across a bright red baseball cap read: “Make Menswear Great Again. But Really Tho.” All the garments were versatile and interchangeable, as we’ve come to expect from the Woodhouse line.
Standout looks were tailored striped trousers, paired with a matching shirt and a color-blocked athletic mesh and vinyl parka jacket, which the designer mentions is “quite comfortable”.
Overall the Woodhouse spring/summer 2018 collection reminds us to be bold in our political and social-economical stance yet not be consumed by some of the harsh realities of our current times. This message is imperative to us all, no matter what your viewpoint is. We must take time for ourselves and our sanity to live and enjoy life.
