Paris Fashion Week S/S 2012: Menswear

Thom Browne

They may have been described as aprons, robes or 'elongated' shirts but essentially, Paris has been full of gender-bending garments this season. Leave it to Thom Browne the absolute showman to take things just about as far as possible for the penultimate show. Necklaces of pearls, bugle-beaded fringing, black sequinned floor-length gowns, bridal veils and lampshade head gear (yes lampshades) were just some of the more outlandish pieces Browne combined with more traditional men's garb like suiting, capes, parkas, pork pie hats and garters. In a clever twist, models walked amongst the tables at Maxim's to a cabaret soundtrack and gazed (and in some cases glared) at guests, creating a show format role reversal that subverted the idea of who the real spectator was. Of course, the whole thing looked totally bonkers at first glance, but strip back the styling and you'll some great products. Testament to that were the numerous buyers, press and staffers wearing his shrunken grey suits - their red, white and blue ribbon loops (a kind of logo) visible beneath every other collar

Photography: Jason Lloyd-Evans

fashion 24 Jun 2011