Julius men’s Spring Summer 2018 – Paris Fashion Week

 (Images from http://theimpression.com.  All Rights.  Photos used in promotion of JULIUS)

We want tough guys, antiheroes, rogues, rakes and rebels.  Not ‘safe places’ and hashtag diplomacy.  The world, is at times, a dangerous place and you gotta know how to adapt to its magnitude of contradictions.  Governing systems don’t always serve in our best interest.  As the great warrior Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵) once said “Do not sleep under a roof. Carry no money or food. Go alone to places frightening to the common brand of men. Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate yourself by your own wisdom.“  

Julius Men’s Spring/Summer 2018 Paris accentuates that feeling of the strong willed survivalist. Creative designer Tatsuro Horikawa has ensured that his unique take on the Avant-garde is intact as seen in an determined masculine feel.   

There is a raw, unforgiving impression cast with this SS2018 collection.  Set in an underground, sweltering Parisian car park, as undoubtedly art reflects the social dynamics of our times. Western cities living under the spectra of terrorism, a new cold war and the associated ‘proxy wars’ between countries in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Russia.  With us, caught in the crossfire, before the boarders of  war are clearly defined.  Why wouldn’t contemporary aesthetics reflect this pressure-cooker?  Tatsuro Horikawa has brought in the harder aspects of street style fashion under the Avant-garde banner.  His talent as a seasoned designer has shone through with this Spring/Summer collection.  Black vests, combat styled boots, leather and what looks like polyamide shorts, also seen as a material on bomber jackets and coats. 

Military inspired pants and colors, mixed in with a street punk look.  Risky in someways, but delivered well by Horikawa.   One of the standout pieces was the Reseda green tracksuit, styled as a take on the High Altitude Suits of fighter pilots, once again Julius has found influence within the militaristic aesthetics with his SS2018 collection.   Other colors noted are orange and burgundy/purple which sit well against the neutral achromatic  

Julius Men’s Spring/Summer 2018 Paris, as similar to previous seasons, maintains it’s dystopic vision.    A perspective that is culturally evolving under the Julius banner.  Art is not about being pretty, it is, and always will be about the portrayal of the bold statement.