Jonathan Meades used his first column of the year to bemoan the passing of the “traditional” architect – the flamboyantly bow-tied, floppy-haired chap in deafening tweeds and yellow socks who mostly lived in the 19th holes of golf courses on a diet of gin and tonic, occasionally venturing forth to appear in a PG Woodhouse novel. The modern architects, he said, dressed like a civil engineer in “the drab suits of high street tailoring”.
To get an expert’s opinion on whether Meades was right, Building enlisted the expertise of its very own fashion expert and retail designer to cast her expert eye over the profession. So here are the candid thoughts of freelance fashion design consultant Amy Slater, who has had several years of experience in the industry, most recently working on Tesco’s new clothing brand Cherokee. Take it away, Amy
“It’s very Ralph Lauren from the 1980s. The trousers don’t fit well with the shirt and the shoes look a bit like Cornish pasties.”
“He’s out there, isn’t he? I love the shape of his tie and his shoes. The rolled-up sleeves of his shirt show he’s ready to work. All of the cut of the clothes are very contemporary – the trousers are tapered nicely. The stuff he’s wearing would cost a lot. His hair is definitely in – it’s very Hoxton (super-trendy area of east London). All in all, it’s a very good look. The colour of the clothes? I would worry a bit about his buildings.”
“He looks a bit like a bouncer. It’s a very French look. The fabrics he’s got are harder – maybe he designs tough buildings? Leather is in the catwalks this season.”
“Very designer-like. What do you say about someone who wears black? It’s so you can’t read them, I suppose. It’s a blank canvas, isn’t it? The black contrasts nicely with the red seats, though.”
“The glasses are obviously his signature look. I don’t think they suit his face though. I’m sure if he went to Specsavers he wouldn’t come out with a pair like that.”
“It’s very retro look what with the pinstrip suit and the bow tie. ‘City retro’ is how I’d describe it.”
“They must be wearing Issey Miyake (ultra-hip Japanese designer). A lot of artists wear that stuff. The clothes are for women who don’t dress to please men. It’s the thinking women’s fashion – very contemporary. A lot of art teachers wear it.”
“I think he’s trying to scare people. The shirt? Was he a fan of the late 80s rave scene? The glasses are very arty and cool, though.”
“It looks really bad fabric. The shirt collar doesn’t look ironed. He’s stuck in a timewarp. Waistcoats are coming back, but I’m not sure he would be aware of that.”
“It’s very Gap, very minimalist. It’s a classic look with clean lines, a lot of thought put in. They’re the Posh and Becks of architecture.
No comments yet