Tim Hamilton

The verdict is in (on my part) on the New York Spring 2008 Fashion Week results. Men’s Collections: 6, Women’s Collections: 2.

Diddy seemed to enjoy putting touches of European classicism into his Sean John collection. Many designers, especially Robert Geller and Rag & Bone, had fun shrinking and layering existing casual gear. Tim Hamilton, once again, demonstrates how he’s someone to watch on a regular basis. Clayton Kirking, our chief, thinks I should have titled this post as “Skinny Boys and Dandies: No Cod Pieces at Bryant Park.” Hmm, I’ll have to think about it, especially after Guy Trebay’s rant in the Times…

All in all, I’d take the insouciance of the Spring 2008 men’s wear lines anytime over the ambiguities and mixed metaphors of the women’s wear designs. Isn’t it interesting that, while women still get the lion’s share of runway time, the men’s collections usually come off seeming so much more put together? Men just still seem to do better when things fashion-related occur, or at least they know how to make the fashion stakes more agreeable.

Regency spinster Jane Austen understood the advantages the opposite sex has dealing with popular culture issues. In Persuasion, she writes: “If there is anything disagreeable going on men are always sure to get out of it.”