Lou Dalton - London Collections Men SS13

"The SS13 designs are based around obsession and collecting”

Citing independent American films were her point of reference, Lou Dalton’s SS13 collection was inspired by the obsessive/compulsive behavior that humans often succumb to in the desire for perfection, and the oscillation between contentment and depression that comes with it. A juxtaposition that was perfectly manifested in a dramatic music change, where beats became faster and models marched down the catwalk to a soundtrack provided by Jim Stanton and Horse Meat Disco.

With the change, streamlined clean-cuts and symmetry took a change for the surreal and asymmetrical, whilst mixed palettes created a playfulness that has so far come to define Dalton’s modern tailored style.

Like many other collections, tailoring was amalgamated with a sports-lux aesthetic; breathe-easy suits with mesh covered torsos and backs were paired with inky black trainers, whilst shirts and jackets were paired with boxy shoulders that provided outerwear with an American varsity aesthetic. Neon detailing on footwear and t-shirts again added a playful element to the collection, whilst deep navies, stone grays and sand beiges were paneled on torsos in a mixture of mohair and metallic fabrics.

The perfect opening for the three-day event, and one that set the bar high for other designers.