Casely-Hayford AW11: Day One

Since the house's inception, Casely-Hayford have forged a new handwriting of modern English style that have left this blogger sartorially excited. The father and son design duo have created a signature style of relaxed masculine proportions and exquisite tailoring, all the while fused with an injection of the raw energy of London's dynamic culture that constantly inspires them. With each season, the design duo begin with the desire to capture, play and experiment with the duality of English Sartorialism and British Anarchy. It is an ever intriguing house that encourages change whilst being grounded in tradition. For its AW11 collection collection, the father and son design duo bring together the essence of each of its past five seasons to mark something of a new beginning. Now, I had the good fortune of examining the collection up close back in February thanks to The Showroom Next Door and even though most events that occurred that far back have been long forgotten, memories of this collection have stayed with me. Last week, I caught up with Charlie Casely-Hayford for an exclusive interview and first look at the images for Dazed Digital. Now, I'd like to pore over the beautiful images and snippets of the text once more with you.

"When my father and I began working together we knew that it would take time and experience to form a synergy between the two of us, and create a balance between the creative influences that work for the brand. We used the first five collections to explore individually the areas which we knew would come to define the Casely-Hayford DNA. Season one - London street culture, season two - sartorialism, season three - transculturalism, season four - military, heritage and anarchic cultural signifiers and season five relaxed, masculine proportions. AW11 shows how we intend to move forward and progress our vision of the Casely-Hayford man through a culmination of these key elements."

Charlie Casely-Hayford on how the collection evolved

(The full interview can be read over on Dazed Digital)

Entitled Day One, the collection is an eloquent summation of the previous five collections and signifies a real statement of intent. The pair have used the previous seasons to individually explore key strands of the house DNA, from the luxury sportswear of SS09 to the Afropunk of SS10 and military detailing of AW10. Now each component has been placed and finely tuned, Casely-Hayford take this opportunity to carve out a new, exciting future.

Here, Casely-Hayford analyse the different social and sporting uniforms worn on country house estates and inner city housing estates to create a collection which reflects the struggle of the current Coalition culture divided by a government without a singular ideal. Their mood board featured images of sporting attire from country estates to sportswear from council estates. Although the link may not be obvious in the final collection, it was a starting point which allowed us to develop new concepts and interesting hybrids such as the patchwork Puffa, which brings these two elements together. By deconstructing and fusing elements from hunting, shooting and fishing with the more casual urban sporting style of skate boarding, free running and motocross, Day One embodies the signature Casely-Hayford house style.

The beautifully shot look book continues this social play. Shot by Katinka Herbert in the stunning home of the Earl and Countess of Pembroke, Wilton House, the house takes this opportunity to fully explore the Casely-Hayford man. Before I share a few of my favourites, I'll let Charlie introduce the new direction... 

"The look book is the first time that we have visibly pushed the image of the Casely-Hayford man. We were in no rush to promote a setting and environment that didn't feel exactly right. It is most certainly about aspiration and carries a level of gravitas that comes with becoming a man, but the images also show someone who is slightly flawed. To us, these flaws define a man's identity. We project a man who is at peace with himself. There is a richness in the setting, but we hope that we have also been able to convey an understatement in his demeanour."

Charlie Casely-Hayford on the new direction for the look book

Look book credits:

Photography: Katinka Herbert, Photographic assistant: Christopher Kennedy, Art direction: Casely-Hayford & Son, Model: Hervé Laforest, Location: Wilton House

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If you want to read my interview with Charlie in its entirety please do head over to Dazed Digital. As for me, I'm going to dream about living in Wilton House and owning such a wardrobe.