Men's Spring 2009: More Runway Surprises

Jun 27, 2008 @ 9:34am

yohji yamamoto spring 2009 model.jpg There's something strange happening on the runway at the men's Spring 2009 shows, and we're kind of liking it:

First, Vivienne Westwood sent out a rather burly man to model little sandals and an enormous gold chain (he was actually an actor/bodyguard). Then, Dean and Dan Caten cast almost all black models for their line-up, which will supposedly be the case in next week's Lanvin show as well.

And just yesterday, Yohji Yamamoto pulled his own model stunt, sending out ten (much) older models down the runway to balance out the baby softness of the usual model boys, one of whom was especially regular life-sized.

We don't know where this is going to go with the other designers, but we're extremely curious to see if any of this will be attempted during the women's shows (we're not counting Gaultier's Spring 07) and how it'll translate if it is.

But so far, we're tickled. Especially after we read Yohji's message about the models - "Let's be happy."

posted by andremichael

Jun 27, 2008 9:41AM

yay! now ELDERLY is the new BLACK. loves it.

posted by ModestoT

Jun 27, 2008 9:48AM

maybe "originality" is the new thing for the spring runways of '09.

posted by GQDetails8604

Jun 27, 2008 9:50AM

Yea...I must say that this season men shows were quite entertaining....I'm very inspired by Dean & Dan's thigh high 80's shorts...I tried on a pair of chino shorts and have rolled them up thigh high and they really look cool and modern and not in a fem way either...I'M GEEKED UP for the rest of the shows.

posted by mckeb753

Jun 27, 2008 10:02AM

that "especially regular life-sized" model is british artist steve mcqueen...

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 10:05AM

I think less "pretty" male models make a great juxtaposition (finally getting some use out of SAT prep classes!) to the women's-wear inspired looks that have been on a lot of menswear runways, like cinched waists and wedges.

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 10:10AM

considering how creepily emaciated, thin, babyish, and totally not masculine many male models are, this is awesome!

i'd rather look at a real man who's older than a young man who looks like a girl :)

posted by Jac

Jun 27, 2008 10:11AM

now what will happen is men's runways will be representative of all walks of life, shapes, colors and women's will remain mostly unchanged. Hopefully I am wrong, but I feel like this will become another double standard between men and women.

posted by anonymoose

Jun 27, 2008 10:27AM

sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm genuinely curious - why does mens spring '09 show so early? is this only in europe?
for NY fashion week - menswear shows are at the same time as womenswear in September, right?

posted by coffeeshoplove

Jun 27, 2008 10:51AM

Haha this will never translate to the women's runways. Male models/shows have never been as big of a deal as the female models/shows, so they can do what they want and we all go "oh isn't that nice", but when the female models roll in, it will be the same old same old.

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 11:07AM

I like the idea of elder models, especially since I think they have better style on the streets and in general in everyday life than 20-something, "I want to be really fashionable" baby-faced "inspired by hippy chic" boys. In my humble opinion, to see MEN on the runway is way better than boys looking like teenage girls.

posted by zapatosnuevos

Jun 27, 2008 11:25AM

I think etro did that too. only like five older guys.

In great shape. I think it was etro anyway.

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 11:34AM

Simply put older men are often hotter then the boys.

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 11:37AM

I LOVE it.. the men look way better than those little boys, I think they make the clothes look way better.

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 11:42AM

Sorry guest at 10:05 but juxtaposition is NOT an SAT word...now that the morning's cattiness is out--

I am pretty sure this is all a marketing ploy....armani, vuitton, and dries all showed black models, and at least in the case of LV and DVN they were the only ones. Black (or asian, hispanic, older, etc.) should not be the token roles to be filled...diversity should not be for posterity but because that's how we actually are....shocking, but black people do wear Balenciaga.

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 12:28PM

@ anonymoose:

it's a combination of factors...the longer lead times needed to produce tailored menswear, as well as the necessity to get both mens and womens collections fabrics ordered before the summer holidays in europe when all of the mills and factpries close down.

although some designers do show menswear in nyc, all of the best designers show in either milan or paris.

posted by anonymoose

Jun 27, 2008 1:16PM

thanks, guest at 12:28. makes sense now.

posted by hipstersdontlie

Jun 27, 2008 4:27PM

lovin it!

black dont crack!

posted by guest

Jun 27, 2008 8:44PM

It's interesting that a lot of commentators are saying they prefer MEN to little boys on the runway, because the men are hotter and more stylish - but isn't the same true of women?

How many of the 15 year old girls would anyone consider hot? Even the 18 year olds haven't yet grown into their curves. pretty and enviable, perhaps? But 'hot' is often reserved for the girls/women in their 20s.

Just an observation. :o)

posted by Komakino

Jul 26, 2008 11:28AM

I think you forgot to mention Ann Dem's use of models as well, she most certainly sent out some much older men down the runway rather than casting an entire roster of her usual sunken cheek boy. It seems interesting but not a pattern I'd like to see repeating too often, though it is very pleasent to mix things up!