From The Straits Times    |

TOKYO – Since British label JW Anderson put guys in strapless frilly miniskirt dresses on the runway for Autumn Winter 2013, guys wearing skirts is no longer as shocking as it once was; Marc Jacobs anyone?

So for Japanese label Dressedundressed to send guys in skirts and dress-like overcoats down the runway I suspect it was more about offering its customers more options rather than trying to make some kind
of statement.

dressedundressed ss14 at japan fashion week DECOR 1Guys as girls and girls as guys for Dressedundressed Spring Summer 2014 at Japan Fashion Week. Images: Wesley Kow

This attitude could, in fact, be read in the pieces themselves; utilitarian leather skirts, tailored trench coats, oversized button-through shirts and simple tunics. The exact same shapes, indeed, that were sent out on the female models.

Sticking to a monochrome palette, the depth came from the use of high-quality leather and traditional menswear fabrics; the addition of large silver zips the only concession to hardware, turned up on leather pencil skirts (for both sexes) and a hybrid jacket-dress (on a guy).  

dressedundressed ss14 at japan fashion week DECOR 2dressedundressed ss14 at japan fashion week DECOR 3

Dressedundressed Spring Summer 2014 at Japan Fashion Week. Images: Wesley Kow

Despite the collection being entitled “Starlings” there seemed little reference to the bird – unless you include a splash of cobalt blue on a few pieces … the sky? – until a print of the creatures in silhouette turned up on
some shirts.

Overall the SS14 collection is very wearable and a continuation of Dressedundressed’s DNA; the signature mix of men’s and women’s wear is developing into a “smart casual” range of separates that will fit into many a wardrobe – male or female.

However there remains a general lack of excitement. These are great clothes, but perhaps not great “fashion”. Still with the global retail industry as it is, making great clothes that sell is not bad.

WATCH OUR VIDEO OF DRESSEDUNDRESSED SS14:

DRESSEDUNDRESSED WINS 5TH DHL DESIGNER AWARD
Directly after the Dressedundressed SS14 show, the designers Takeshi Kitazawa and Emiko Sato, became the fifth winners of the annual DHL Designer Award; given to “young, up-and-coming designers with
international potential”.

The award adds to the brand’s growing international profile; it just became one of the six finalists in the International Woolmark Prize at London Fashion Week in February.

The Dressedundressed Spring Summer 2014 show was held on October 15, 2013, as part of Japan Fashion Week. For more information about the brand, go to dressedundressed.com. For more information about Japan Fashion Week, go to tokyo-mbfashionweek.com; follow it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/japanfashionweek and on Twitter at @jfw_official