PITTI, Jun 15, 2010 / — Unveiling its Spring / Summer 2011 collection for men, Henry Cotton’s proposes 4 distinct selections: Persuader, Chatwin in Patagonia, Malt Cruise and HCU
PERSUADER: ELEGANCE AND EVERGREEN
The inspiration here is the famous “Persuaders”, in which the two icons, Roger Moore and Tony Curtis, embody the spirit of the brand to perfection.
The former, an English noble with genteel, aristocratic manners, revisits the classic British wardrobe, ranging from nylon trenches to practical blue cotton blazers lined with the finest shirt fabrics. The classic blazer is re-invented with technical fabric enhanced by a special “memory” effect that gives the garment a “used-chic” look.
The knitwear, alongside the cashmere-cotton tricot items and the stretch piquet, provides a good alternative to the classic shirt. The trousers have slim lines and come in a choice of soft and comfortable fabrics.
The American Tony Curtis, on the other hand, prefers an easier, chic style, characterized by the practicality typical of his homeland. Fabrics are comfortable, washed and garment-dyed to produce a lived-in look, then ironed to achieve the elegance that no real dandy can forego.
Classic blues and browns are spiced up with hints of aquamarine and pink. Relaxed style is the name of this game.
CHATWIN IN PATAGONIA
Bruce Chatwin has always been a modern traveller icon: his wardrobe fits in his backpack but doesn’t sacrifice any of his taste for fine dressing.
To travel well it’s important to feel comfortable and dry, so the military wardrobe is revisited with modern, lightweight materials such as nylon and waxed cotton. Parkas keep the rain off the destructured and washed blazers, in a perfect mix of sartorial style and sportswear.
The cargo pants have been given a new look by a new pocket construction, being assembled from the inside to reduce bulk without losing any room needed for keeping essential objects.
The shirts (rigorously check) have a pale raw cotton base that plays down and blends into a delicate amalgam even the most vibrant colours, which come into their own, on the other hand, in the piquet polo shirts, where they light up the neutral military greens and beiges.
The tricot knitwear comes into line with some “used” effect washes. The colour palette goes from military green to indigo, fading down to tones of lilac. An outdoor flavour becomes a lifestyle even for the metropolitan dandy.
MALT CRUISE
A sailing cruise into the wild horizons of the North Sea off Scotland’s coasts – this is the inspiration behind a marine-chic look that tastes very much of the good life.
Jackets made of cotton canvas and Japanese chambray, fabrics woven on original early 20th century looms, give these outfits an extremely relaxed style. The blazers, shirts, trousers and ties revive a special denim that was once used in sailors’ work clothes.
The polo shirt shares the honours with the T-shirts, whose prints tell a story of intrepid explorations. The finishes too, in ecrù coloured raw cotton, give the garments a special “natural touch”. The theme’s colours are indigo blue and milk white, enlivened here and there with tones of red.
HCU
Khaki is the key word in this part of the collection, in which the chinos and the cotton field jacket are must-haves. The colours are sober, while the graphics and construction details evoke tropical kit in Hawaii.
All the garments are treated by hand to produce original effects – “sun fade”, “dust oil”, “stone wash” and “destroyed” – that make each product a one-off piece.
The theme colours – milk white, light grey, khaki and melange grey – seem chosen to blend into a background of sandy Hawaiian beaches, the only exception being a marine-camouflage in tones of blue and peach.
For lovers of mix & match, there’s a fine selection of archive garments from Harvard and Oxford, reproduced by Henry Cotton’s under exclusive license
