I have to admit, I couldn’t wait for the return of Hedi Slimane’s aesthetic to the fashion world after he was announced as the new creative director of Saint Laurent in 2012. After all this is the man that convinced not only the world that eating was overrated but Karl Lagerfeld to diet and lose 42kg just to fit into one of his Dior Homme suits. Hedi Slimane just knows best.
But while everyone suspected that Hedi Slimane’s legion of emaciated boy models would trickle down through the industry once again now that their master had returned, it seems that not everyone wants to give up food or muscles that easily.
Thanks to Italian brands like Versace, Dsquared2 and Dolce and Gabbana, the muscle man has been able to survive and ultimately find a place once again on the catwalk and in campaigns. And if you needed anymore proof that pecs are in and collarbones are out, then check out the AW14 edition of L’Officiel Hommes Singapore.
Featuring models Matthew Terry, Brian Shimansky, Henrik Fallenius, Alexander Johannson, and Brad Alphonso throughout the magazines all in various stages of nakedness, they all have one thing in common, muscles. So does this mean that the skinny cut is over or do these models actually have to be naked because they simply can’t fit into fashion? Whichever it is, I don’t think anyone is complaining about the view…
Well I certainly did enjoy looking at this post. That aside, Dolce, Dsquared etc have always used muscular models. I think it’s something to do with the current culture that all men seem to be buff at the moment, every street seems to be packed with them! Probably brands are tapping into this as a money maker. Dior, Saint Laurent, and even Fendi still use the skinny models, as it’s all part of their aesthetic. I personally am glad to see a bit more of variety in the editorials and with images like these, I certainly can’t complain.
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I agree, the muscular model has always been around thanks to italian brands but it’s gone to new levels when magazines feature multiple editorials with buff guys… The skinny guy just isn’t the front runner anymore.
Hurray for the return of the beefcake! That hipster heroin chic look was boring within minutes. It’s not that muscular men promote any healthier a body image than all those skinny boys but it’s certainly easier on the eye!