New year, new clothes. The AW13 collections are earlier than ever this season, as the second London Collections: Men begins on Monday ahead of Pitti, Milan and Paris, following the success of the capital's AW12 standalone schedule. As designers put the finishing touches to their collections; carry out castings, fittings and hair tests, we go on a series of studio visits to get a feel of what to expect...
Dazed Digital: What was the biggest challenge in putting the collection together? Kit Neale: Christmas. It's very inconvenient.
DD: Favourite advice you've had from someone? Kit Neale: 'Be the king of the world, not the king of Shoreditch'.
DD: Any tips for staying calm during fashion week? Kit Neale: Drink lots of gin, neat.
DD: ...Or staying awake when there's so much work to do? Kit Neale: Take lots of ginseng.
DD: What were the first pieces in the collection you designed? Kit Neale: We always start with the prints. We do some sketches of designs, but they're often dropped. When we get the fabrics back and we start from scratch.
DD: What are you most proud of? Kit Neale:Getting it done.
DD: What about the soundtrack? Kit Neale:It's a clash between The Fall and Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring'.
DD: What other shows are you looking forward to seeing? Kit Neale: MAN, a very biased choice as I'm in the Fashion East bosom but it's always a highlight! Sadly, it clashes with my presentation so I won't make it. I can't wait to see what Craig Green presents, I love his work.
DD: What's your favourite look on a man? Kit Neale: His own look, not one dictated for him.
DD: Who embodies the spirit of your collection? Kit Neale: Michael Clark is this season's muse.
DD: Sum up AW13 in three words… Kit Neale: Greasy, muppets, trippy.
DD: What difference does fashion make? Kit Neale: It makes some people look good and others not so, but as long as they feel good and are happy, we've done our jobs. It contributes a great deal to the economy but apart from that, it's really not that important, is it?
New year, new clothes. The AW13 collections are earlier than ever this season, as the second London Collections: Men begins on Monday ahead of Pitti, Milan and Paris, following the success of the capital's AW12 standalone schedule. As designers put the finishing touches to their collections; carry out castings, fittings and hair tests, we go on a series of studio visits to get a feel of what to expect...
Dazed Digital: What was the biggest challenge in putting the collection together? Lou Dalton: We had such a great response to the SS13 collection that I am constantly looking back over the collection and questioning whether it is as strong as, the challenge to put something out there that is as well received as before is a constant worry...
DD: Favourite advice you've had from someone? Lou Dalton:My father always told me that I could have or achieve whatever I wanted if I kept my head down & worked hard. I pretty much live by this.
DD: Any tips for staying calm during fashion week? Lou Dalton: Just write a to do list & stick with it, having all what you have to in front of you can be a little overwhelming however; to have in an order of sorts mentally keeps you on track of what you need to do.
DD: ...Or staying awake when there's so much work to do? Lou Dalton: Coffee, water and lots of loud upbeat music, preferably a playlist by the fabulousness that is HORSE MEAT DISCO.
DD: What were the first pieces in the collection you designed? Lou Dalton: The knitwear as this takes the longest to develop, I wanted to catch the rawness of the land in terms of terrain.
DD: What are you most proud of? Lou Dalton: It's a little to early to say at the moment, I feel a strong connection to it all. DD: What about the soundtrack? Lou Dalton: I leave the music in the capable hands of of Jim Stanton, one part of Horse Meat Disco, his taste in music is sublime.
DD: What other shows are you looking forward to seeing? Lou Dalton: Chris Shannon, James Long and Craig Green. Love the boys.
DD: What's your favourite look on a man? Lou Dalton: A good shoe / boot, every man should invest in a good shoe, it can help carry the poorest of clothes.In terms of ideal man, I just want who ever where's the clothes to feel special & confident when wearing a bit of Lou Dalton.
DD: Sum up AW13 in three words... Lou Dalton: Autumn Winter Thirteen.
DD: What difference does fashion make? Lou Dalton: Fashion allows you to lose yourself, to be creative, to inspire to be inspired. It makes the world are far more colourful and exciting place to be...
