Yeah, Ringo Starr wears Tween, and so do Brad Pitt and Thierry Henry

If you haven’t noticed it by now, menswear is on the rise. It seems that, more and more, men are discovering their inner sartorialist and realizing the need to reassess their wardrobe. In Europe especially, designers usually known for their womenswear are slowly churning out capsule collections for men, while boutique brands are slowly building up on their menswear collections.

One menswear brand slowly gaining repute in Europe speaks to the fashion-conscious gent who realizes that style adherence doesn’t have to pertain to a certain age, nationality or sexual orientation. The brand Tween is unapologetically progressive and urbane: tailored cuts, pastel-colored details, sleek fits and designs that won’t necessarily fall into the comfort fit category. Since it hit the international market last year, it’s had its share of famed patronage; former Beatle Ringo Starr is said to wear Tween as well as Brad Pitt, Fatboy Slim and football star Thierry Henry. Don’t be surprised, though, when you find out that Tween is a product of Milan or Parisian refinement but is actually a Turkish brand.

Founded in 1995, Tween’s global expansion continues into Asia, sliding into the Manila man’s consciousness slowly and with utmost subtlety. A first look suggests the streamlined hipness of British High Street brands, which is understandable since the brand’s creative director, Günes Güner Isik, draws much inspiration from the energetic, multicultural appeal of London’s streets.

This season, Isik draws the menfolk more into the London vibe, and all the more challenges our concept of masculinity, by channeling the mod aesthetic that made the ‘60s the swinging era that it was. She adds a certain geometry to her patterns and brightens up her color palette, forcing men to reconsider a dress shirt with a stiff mandarin collar or perhaps even a canary yellow weekend coat.

Slim-fit jackets are decidedly mod-inspired but this time with pastel-colored trim. And pants are cuffed up to show some ankle instead of just intentionally short. Dress shirts come with groovy denim cuffs and, yes, the flat-front pants that promoted the skinny London gent in the ‘60s are part of the collection, only perhaps a bit roomier in the waist for more contemporary tastes.

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Tween is available only at Adora Department Store, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City.