FASHION
Time to upgrade
your wardrobe
T
here was a time when high-end sneakers
seemed like a contradiction in terms.
Now, they’re everywhere. And the man
who many credit with starting the trend
is Lanvin’s head of menswear, Lucas
Ossendrijver, who first introduced them
more than a decade ago. His latest move is to join
online boutique Matchesfashion.com for an exclusive
capsule collection. And, yes, there will be sneakers.
sneak peek
Here’s what to expect
from the Lanvin x
Matchesfashion.com
collaboration.
From left:
Sneakers, $525,
Canvas backpack, $1020,
Wool trousers, $738,
Wool ‘New Wave’ jacket, $1595.
78 GQ.COM.AU SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2017
THE BRIEF
BASED ON STEPHEN KING’S 1986 NOVEL, IT STARS BILL SKARSGÅRD AS FREAKY CLOWN, PENNYWISE
- THE REASON YOU WON’T BE GETTING ANY SLEEP AFTER IT HITS CINEMAS ON SEPTEMBER 7.
A S T H E F R E NASTHEFRENCHCH F A S H I OFASHIONN H OHOUSEUS E P R E P A R E S T OPREPARESTO R E L E A S E R
AA NNEWE W C A P S UCAPSULEL E C OCOLLECTION,L L E CT I ON, GGQQ TA L K S T OTA LKSTO D E S I GDES NE R L UC A S
OSSENDRIJVEROS S E ND R I J VE R – T H E M–THEMANA N B E H I NBEHINDD Y OYOURUR S NSNEAKE A K E R S OB S E S S I ON.
GQ: You joined Lanvin back
in 2006. What’s been the
biggest change in fashion
since then?
Lucas Ossendrijver: There
is much more interest in
fashion than there
used to be. The way we live
now means information
about fashion is
immediately available
worldwide, no matter
where you are. Fashion has
become democratic and
everybody has an opinion
about it. It is less elitist
than it used to be.
GQ: Has the role of
a designer changed?
LO: In men’s we started
doing pre-collections,
so instead of two shows
it’s four collections now.
This constant demand for
newness put a lot more
pressure on us designers.
Men started to buy
clothes more like women
do – less about needs, and
more impulsive. You have
to deal with those things
but it also creates new
opportunities for us to
adapt. That’s what I love
about fashion.
GQ: High-end sneakers are
everywhere now. Did you
think the trend would be
as big as it is today?
LO: I am very proud of how
they have developed over
the years. Trainers play
an important part within
the men’s accessory
collection, almost like
handbags for women.
Personally, I wear them
most of the time and every
season I try to renew and
adjust the proportions.
Gradually, they have
become an iconic product.
GQ: How would you
describe your own style?
LO: I have the most boring
wardrobe! When I design,
I project on somebody else
- it is a fantasy about
someone else, otherwise
it’s too personal. I think
about fabrics, shapes,
colours and textures 24
hours a day – so I do not
want to think of how I look
as well. It’s almost
as a uniform: I always wear
jeans, T-shirt and a shirt
and then maybe a tailored
not too wide. A well-made
shirt in light blue or white
– good for all occasions;
it can be dressy or casual
- and the fit is important.
Not too tight! And finally,
a tailored jacket. Again fit
and construction are very
important, so buy less but
buy quality. Nothing
is worse than a badly cut
suit or jacket; in tailoring
it really shows.
Matchesfashion.com
coat. I have a huge
wardrobe full of Lanvin
and sometimes I dig out
older pieces to rediscover
and wear them.
GQ: What are three things
every man should have in
his wardrobe?
LO: A good pair of jeans
- either old vintage or raw
and new – I don’t like new
jeans that look ‘fake’ old.
It also has to have the right
cut – not too tight but also