Culottes
Culottes have come a long way from their 400 year old beginnings as part of the European nobility’s outerwear. They have become part of the modern woman’s staple, favoured for the versatility and ability to flatter many body types. In 2015 women’s fashion, culottes become popular once again.
But the really good news is that this new iteration of culottes is unisex, and men have whole heartedly embraced the trend. Go bold like Kenneth Ize’s SS16 collection with a stripped patchwork piece or stay sleek and understated like Orange Culture’s SSS16 Culottes.
Capri Dress Pants
Traditionally women’s fashion, capri-length dress pants have become popular for the business casual man who lives in climates where wearing full length snugly fit pants is a gamble. It especially works for tropical climates like ours where dust and other undesirables could ruin full length pants. Capri length dress pants were dressed up with a suit and rolled up hems at Emmanuel Weje’s SS16 collection.
Skrousers/Skorts
Skrousers have been around for a while, primarily as part of military attire before its reinvention during the Victorian era by nobility. For the edgier man unafraid of drawing attention with more obvious design quirks, the skrousers on offer at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2015 ranged from subtle and sharp at Kelechi Odu to a near full skort at Orange Culture
Louche wear
Pushing on the trend of wide leg easy wear pants that have become status quo in women’s fashion in the last three years (think palazzo pants in 2013 and culottes this year) louche wear is making a comeback as well in menswear, favouring jersey fabrics and the deliberate avoidance of structure. Capitalizing on this silhouette, Sisiano championed the trend with updated one-size-fits-all sweatpants and more structured jean wrap harem pants at Nkwo.
A dash of daring
Some designers decided to borrow not just the styles from women’s wear but instead the ethos of trying out new and unexpected trends. Maxivive took on the sheer trend with black piped transparent PVC pants that turned out unexpectedly beautiful. The simplicity of the look, the length and the contrast piping helping to delineate the pants were genius.
T.I Nathan, in his exploration of love and heartbreak finally put paid to an idea that should have had its day on the runway a long time ago, dress pants lined with flowers. The flowers are just the right size and texture that they complement the trousers instead of overwhelming them. Orange Culture and Kenneth Ize both tackled bell bottom pants and high slits and each designer managed to make these details work.
As menswear continues to invade spaces formerly exclusive to women, adapting them for the modern man, we hope to see Nigerian fashion embrace this growth and encourage innovation in what is normal for menswear.