Dress sense - an insight into the first British Menswear Showcase

When people discover what I do in my spare time they think it sounds impossibly glamorous - and it certainly has its moments. A few years ago my friend Katie Chutzpah asked me to help her with her beauty, fashion, and lifestyle blog (katiechutzpah.blogspot.com) and I jumped at the chance. Katie had worked in fashion PR for years, starting out in the early 80’s at the Lynne Franks agency, the agency ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ was based on, and her blog had attracted the attention of the Sunday Times Style supplement, Vogue, and the British Fashion Council. I’m living every gay boy’s dream.

As I write this I’m travelling down to London for the first ever British menswear showcase. Traditionally menswear has always been shown on the final day of London Fashion Week, which also happens to be the first day of Milan. This means all the important people, like magazine editors, broadsheet journalists, and triple A-list actors have already decamped for Gucci. Let’s shatter some illusions about fashion week. Firstly, you have to queue. For hours. Then, every show runs late so you’re always dashing between venues. Most importantly, there is no free swag. Yes, the slebs and editors on the frow (that’s fashion speak for “front row”) are given goody bags, but us bloggers in the cheap seats are lucky to get a bottle of water. After-parties are mandatory, but you’re lucky if you have the energy to talk, let alone dance. By the end of the week you’re craving your own bed, green vegetables, and the company of people who don’t dress like an explosion in Lady Gaga’s wardrobe.

London Collections: Men runs for three days, and launches with a champagne reception at St. James Palace hosted by the Prince of Wales. With the showcase focusing on Savile Row, the epicentre of British tailoring, who better to open proceedings than a man with a checked cloth named after him? The schedule is packed with established and up-and-coming names. I’ll give you a brief rundown of who I’m looking forward to seeing:

Matthew Miller – One of most exciting menswear designers working in London today, and tickets for his London Collections: Men show are like gold dust.

James Long – Known for his distressed leather jackets and heavy knitwear. Stocked in Harvey Nichols’ Knightsbridge store but not Manchester. Oi Harvey Nichols! Sort it out!

E. Tautz – Owned by Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons, and the nearest Britain has to Patron Saint of The Gays Tom Ford’s eponymous clothing line.

Meadham Kirchhoff – Partners Edward Meadham and Benjamin Kirchoff have chosen London Collections: Men to relaunch their menswear range.

And that’s just a snapshot of the talent on show over the weekend. I hope to bring you daily reports of what us boys should expect to be wearing for our Manchester Pride celebrations NEXT Summer! Lee AKA TeamChutzpah (Twitter: @TEAMCHUTZPAH) FOR FULL FASHION, FRAGRANCE, AND EVENT REVIEWS PLEASE VISIT KATIECHUTZPAH.BLOGSPOT.COM