Exclusive: London belongs to Paris...for now

As our collective eyes shift from the colourful happenings of Milan to the runways and showrooms of Paris, a significant number of London designers are making their way over to the fashion capital to join the lineup. Among them is the ever fabulous b Store. This season sees b Store collaborate with filmmaker Ivana Bobic and architect Tom Finch on a video and set installation to showcase the new SS11 collection. Inspired by Derek Jarman’s music videos for The Smiths, and London’s iconic architecture, their work reinterprets this season’s key influences to create an environment perfectly tailored to the garments displayed within it. We might be missing out on the debut screening and subsequent party this Saturday but we are pleased to share the first look at the new collection...

London Belongs To Me...a look from b Store SS11

Easy to understand and wear, we are told b Store's SS 2011 menswear collection is a return to the simple principles behind the brand. Loose fits, transparent layers, and saturated over-dyed checks and florals reference early 90s post-club London during its transition from the unrefined feel of baggy, to a smarter casual aesthetic. Relaxed silhouettes are combined with washed poplin, linen, and denim to emphasise this subtly sophisticated approach. Fabric mixing updates shirting, with sheers layered over prints and spliced pattern blocking softening the look. Waffle knit Breton cut pullovers have a slouchy appeal, complimented by a range of sharp graphic tees with panels of monochrome print or polka dots. With a worn and lived-in appeal making the pieces more accessible and versatile than ever, the sharp wardrobe essentials and clever basics reflect a softer, less strict mood that is ideal for the warmer months...

London Belongs To Me...a look from b Store SS11

I don't know about you but these two images have certainly whet my appetite for the rest of the collection. We might be missing out on the showcase itself but b Store will be anything but lonely in Paris. The LONDON ShowROOMS has been successfully running for four seasons now but SS11 sees it extend to include some of the best emerging menswear talent in the UK. The scheme, a joint collaboration by the British Fashion Council, Fashion East and The Centre for Fashion Enterprise is taking fourteen designers to show in Paris include Bernstock Speirs, Blaak, BOYOstudio, Carolyn Massey, Christopher Kane Men's, Christopher Raeburn, Miharayasuhiro + husam el odeh eyewear, James Long, Katie Eary, KTZ, Lou Dalton, Omar Kashoura and Tim Soar. Similarly, Esquire and Colin McDowell present a catwalk film of seven British menswear designers currently not showing but who should be seen. The magnificent seven includes Richard James, Domingo Rodriguez, E. Tautz, Oliver Spencer, Gieves & Hawkes, Baartmans & Siegel and Hart Savile Row. There are so many Style Salvage favourites included in these two lineups. I am confident that these menswear initiatives will give our innovative menswear designers the means to further their global profile and businesses. These are exciting times for London menswear as it will soon reign supreme over Paris.