The Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Spring-Summer 2016 Collection in Review

The Comme des Garçons collections are always known for their true originality. With an aesthetic that is almost always outside the box, the label always keeps the fashion world on their toes to see their latest collection.

Designer Rei Kawakubo’s collection for Comme des Garçons Homme Plus for the spring-summer 2016 season delivered a breath of fresh air in the world of creativity expressed through clothes.

The main idea behind the collection was to deconstruct classic clothes in order to show their real worth. Kawabuko said in a statement that “I wanted to break down the art of tailoring to show how much value it has”. And so, the “Broken Tailoring” collection was born.

The designs consisted of broken items, paired in crazy, unexpected ways that provoked the mind, therefore establishing the collection as something beyond the ordinary. Just like conceptual art, the collection involved the viewer very much, as the deconstructed aesthetic left every spectator compose and re-compose the collection after their own sensibility, taste and interests, and forced them to see it out according to their own world view and vision about clothes.

The artfully deconstructed garments were paired with polka dot brogues. These gave cohesiveness to the collection, which was composed of so many different elements and which gave so many visual cues. The models wore fluorescent yellow wigs, created by Julien d’Ys, which we did not like, as the clothes themselves were powerful enough.

The collection incorporated many items such as a double-breasted coat in a tapestry fabric depicting English hunting scenes, which was worn with a tartan shirt. Pants that were slashed from the knee down, well-crafted jackets, and interesting tunics were also part of the collection. Even though there were many impeccable evening jackets shows, there was nothing formal about the way in which they were worn. Many jackets were in fact layered over tunics and paired with baggy, Bermuda-length shorts, which gave the show a nonchalance and a very cool edge. If there is such a thing as dressing down dressy jackets, this is it.

Kawakubo mixed not only different deconstructive cuts, but also colors and patterns: from paisley to a thick black squiggle pattern, establishing this way a meeting space between a gentleman and a punk, everything was on the table. Or, better said, on the runway.

An array of interesting details such as snap buttons, which were used as embellishments, completed the garments.

It is interesting how something can be at the same time broken and complete.

In Japan, it considered that something that is broken is mended and obtains a new beauty, which is the thought that served as a starting point for this intellectually and emotionally complex collection.

This mixing and matching of styles, prints, colors and especially of cuts was a great lesson in style for all. With her spring-summer 2016 collection for Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, Kawakubo showed that being casual and relaxed does not have to mean being sloppy or dull.

In the gallery below, take a look at our favorite looks from the collection and why we love them: