With all of these brands, with all of these voices, with all of these choices, are we at an impasse?
Let there always be an alternate view, a non-conformist to guide a few of us through, an auteur of the avant-garde to stand apart from the en masse class.
Grey's Anatomy: The art and science of menswear by Philippe Dubuc.A Wordsworth poem, visualized?In the current blur that is fashion, certain designers still stand apart.Dubuc is never fuzzy - just fussy - on the details.How I wish he'd done those pants pour moi - I miss his original women's line.Robin Hood - in Sherwood Forest, perhaps?"I hear your footsteps in the street...""...it won't be long before we meet."Might be oblivious to some, but this, to me, is very Roddy Frame."Lost in a forest - all alone. The girl was never there. It's always the same. Again and again."Dubuc is a master of layering - his clothes layer like thoughts, to form a page in an ongoing story.Always true to his original vision - he manages to find a new interpretation, each season.He waxes poetic on life's dark sides and manages to soften them, but never sugar coats them.
He remains a favourite, all these years later. I cherish the women’s pieces I do have.
Images by Martin Rondeau, courtesy of Philippe Dubuc. Fashion film shot by Jason Last. Quoted lyrics by Aztec Camera’s Oblivious and The Cure’s A Forest, respectively.