James Reyes: Grayscale high

MANILA, Philippines - Taking cues from the volatility of the coming rainy season, designer James Reyes presents his take on the monsoon using loose, oversized, draped tops over slim-cut shorts and skirts that mimic the look of drenched clothing. The effect is quite ingenious — sportswear details over a rainy day look with a relaxed daytime feel, and yet none of it is too fussy for the regular bloke. Since the pieces are made of cotton knit, cotton twill, and ribbed crepe, the pieces are easily mixed and matched, especially with the palette of black, gray and white. And perhaps in synch with the progression of the lowered crotch as seen from seasons past, Reyes takes it lower by turning to the skirt, and why not? The skirt is practical in hot weather, and is a breeze to wear before or during a workout session. A lot of his oversized tops also have that skirted effect as these are worn over running tights. Add the hats and the hoodies and you get a very solid interpretation of monsoon fashion.

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Men’s Week is a project under Style Origin, a collaborative effort between Ayala Malls, Philippine STAR and Tiger 22, supported by Visa, Globe and Samsung. On June 2, designers Jojie Lloren, Ivar Aseron, and Michael Cinco will be presenting their collections at Bonifacio High Street, 6 p.m.