'M' is for menswear
There’s a major misconception about presenting seasonal collections — that the more piled-on surface drama a piece has, with all the sequins, trims, ribbons, drapes and frou-frou — the more fabulous it’s supposed to be. Ready-to-wear is not a concept Filipinos easily grasp on the runway (too simple, they say) but in fact, it’s one of the key points of a designer’s success. If ready-to-wear is reworked to be invigorating, and covetable on the ramp, then that shows a designer’s acute marketability, and it takes a disciplined restraint not to let his daywear dressing transition too much into the realm of the over-styled.
And that’s exactly what M Barretto showed for his holiday collection. In the business for only seven years, M has concentrated on doing purely menswear. A daring resolve considering menswear really wasn’t that lucrative back then. So it’s not surprising that, when the inevitable time came when guys wanted to be fashion- relevant (thanks to the high street invasion) the buzz started growing about this new designer who churned out slim and close-to-the-body silhouettes — with tailored finishing that charged through sleek streamlines as opposed to traditional boxy, frumpy suits. Even the celebrities have taken notice: His roster of clients includes Piolo Pascual, Jake Cuenca, Zanjoe Marudo, Jon Avila, AJ Dee, and Rafael Rossel.
High Street Accessibility
Channeling Hedi Slimane from his Dior Homme days, the lean brooding rock star is the inspiration for this collection that he calls “The Season of the Unafraid. Where bikers explore the world in style.” Tweaking somber color tones and the occasional punch of brightness, it was a gamut of ultra-wearable pieces that any guy can easily incorporate into his wardrobe. From graphic tees, high shine jackets, cropped double-breasted coats to lean suits that came with skinny contrast lapels, to slim trousers in easy grays and blacks, it’s high street accessibility that isn’t mass manufactured and comes with more attention to detail.
When asked about what he thinks men lack in the style department, M says: “A good tailored suit, light jackets and nice shoes. Men have this innate fear of fashion experimentation. They should be unafraid.”
And with an obvious dearth of shopping choices for men, a new designer is more than a welcome alternative. What with an atelier’s custom-to-your-body service, high street bespoke might as well become the new finish to be seen in.
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To order, e-mail M Barretto at embarretto@yahoo.com.
