Hedi Slimane’s love of American youth culture has been a benchmark for his menswear creations over the years, and his latest spring 2023 menswear collection — infused with rock ‘n’ roll — was no exception. .
American flag prints on blazers, expertly tailored faded jeans, oversized leather outerwear embellished with studs, fringes and sequins, with some retro tuxedos worthy of Elvis were among the coolest examples of that American rocker style, with a touch of grunge like Slimane. is known for.
For Dsquared2’s collection, the Americana trend was inspired by surfing. “There is enough bull in the world, enough hatred. We want to be as positive as possible, relaxed and relatable,” said Dsquared2 codifier Dan Caten about his menswear collection backstage after their show. That laid-back, cool attitude was on display in a colorful collection that centered around American surf culture, featuring inventive layering, floral-print clashes, some retro 70s references and an overall laid-back mood.
Junya Watanabe also went for Americana: “An adept serial collaborator with a passion for American workwear brands like Levi’s, Brooks Brothers and Carhartt, Junya Watanabe expanded his list of dance partners even further for Spring 2023 to the cream of the crop Americans of Pop,” he wrote. International editor Miles Socha in his review of the Junya Watanabe spring collection. Roy Lichtenstein’s wretched comic women, Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe, Keith Haring’s drawings and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s wreaths and skull motifs were some of the decorative details used throughout the collection. Consumer goods logos from Netflix, Coca-Cola and Honda were also present to reinforce the Americana mood of the offering.
Mike Amiri, one of the many American designers who descended on Paris Fashion Week, also brought the Americana trend to the forefront of his spring collection. “Amiri draws a lot of inspiration from the archive of American classics he maintains,” wrote Samantha Conti in her review of Amiri’s spring collection.
The line-up featured great pieces of American sportswear, such as feather suits, all paired with sneakers, silk basketball shorts and fitted baseball shirts. An array of artisan patchwork varsity jackets, perforated leather tops resembling athletic mesh and tie-dye sweaters gave the offering a sophisticated spin while taking the Americana trend to new heights.
Reese Cooper’s collaboration with Levi’s, designer Kenzo Nigo’s take on American college dress codes, and Rhuigi Villaseñor’s subversive take on Rhude to add depth to the Americana trend.
