M&S staging first ever men's fashion show today featuring check, tweed, velvet and plenty of 'British swagger'

• This is M&S's first ever designer menswear range
• And after years of declining sales, a lot rides on its foray into menswear
• The Best of British collection celebrates British craftsmanship
• The design head drew inspiration from Sir David Frost and Sir Roger Moore

by Dr STYLEZ



Marks & Spencer join Burberry, Tom Ford and Alexander McQueen today as they present their first designer menswear range on the catwalk at London Collections: Men.
Their Best of British AW14 collection preview show, held at the Hospital Club in London, marks a shift for the High Street retailer, who are hoping to rival Savile Row with their sophisticated range.
After a Christmas slump, M&S have suffered nine straight quarters of declining sales in clothing and homeware, so much rides on their foray into luxury menswear.

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British swagger: 'These are classic pieces mixed in a more contemporary way'

Inspired by M&S's rich heritage, the Best of British range celebrates the best in British design and manufacture.
Tony O'Connor, head of menswear design, said he has drawn inspiration from stylish British icons such as the late Sir David Frost and former 007 Sir Roger Moore.
He has updated their 1970s looks for the modern M&S gent.

 

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'These are classic pieces mixed in a more contemporary way,' he tells the Sunday Times.
He says his Best of British catwalk collection is full of 'that British-style swagger and suaveness. I wouldn't say it's a dandification, because dandy implies someone trying too hard.
'It's that underlying confidence in dressing well which has come back.'

The designer says men's tastes are influenced by stylish modern men like Gary Barlow, who wore an M&S Best of British suit on The X Factor, and Sir Bradley Wiggins, who 'has swagger'.
He says Best of British model Oliver Cheshire is 'the boy'.
'He captures that London elegance.'
For AW14, the firm say their design team has referenced archive collections for inspiration, creating timeless pieces which reference classic sartorial periods - but with today's gentleman at the forefront.

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Best of British: Stylish modern men like Gary Barlow and Sir Bradley Wiggins have an underlying confidence that O'Connor attempted to evoke with his collection

posted by Dr stylez