Topman opens London Collections Men with showcase hailing Britain's deprived seaside towns as style capitals
The regeneration of Britain's deprived seaside towns reached a peak today when Topman flew a flag for them on the catwalk.
Opening the London Collections Men showcase with a show which included sweatshirts, towelling robes and bombers emblazoned with the names of some of the country's best loved resort towns, Topman hailed Margate, Torquay, Southend and Blackpool as its style capitals.
Riffing on emblems associated with seaside town subcultures such as teddy boys, Nineties football casuals and pearly kings, the retailer's design team presented a collection that was unmistakably British - red roses served as emblems on boxy jackets, while ice cream cones and cheeky seaside slogans featured on blouson silk blouses.
Skinny suiting, which took its lead from the teddy boys who once ran amuck on Southend pier, was among the collection's more low key details.
For the more understated British gent Topman's offering for next season may not suffice, although one loosely fitted linen overcoat in deep teal may succeed in tempting them out of the shadows.
A series of stone wash denim pieces - notably high-waisted jeans with paper bag waists - may also appeal to shy and retiring types.
Topman, which shows its playful Design collection as part of the LCM festivities, avoids taking itself too seriously when it comes to its catwalk collection.
Today this manifested through a leading male who appeared to take styling tips from Del Boy. Blouson silk blouses printed with dragon motifs ala Derek Trotter's nightclubbing outfits were among the campest additions to this showcase while Hawaiian shirts worn teamed with thigh high shorts culminated in a series of outfits that were reminiscent of the Trotters' infamous Jolly Boys Outing to Margate.
Keen to raise a smile at the expense of the ever inconsistent British weather, the retailer also included oversized puffer jackets and added red make-up to the faces of the models to give the effect of sunburn.
Sun's out, guns out.
ArticleTopman opens LCM with showcase dedicated to the British seasideLondon Collections: MenTopmanTopman SS17 at London Collections Men
Topman SS17 at London Collections Men
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Dougie Poynter, Raleigh Ritchie, Oliver Cheshire, David Gandy and Paul Sculfor
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George Barnett, Nick Grimshaw and Jack Guinness
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Lulu Kennedy
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Joe Ottaway and Jim Chapman
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Models walk the SS17 runway
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Topman avoids taking itself too seriously when it comes to its catwalk collection