Entitled ‘Tee’ Kris Van Assche focused his collection on the basic T-shirt as the main motif for his spring collection. Challenging the preconceptions of formal menswear Van Assche used the T-shirt to dress down formal attire and from this concept came hybrids created by mixing city references and sports shapes.
With a palette of white, cream, black, beige, sky blue, indigo and red, suit jackets had T-shirt sleeves incorporated over their regular sleeves, while T-shirt bodies had elongated, crisp shirtsleeves. A collar of a white poplin shirt was blended with the back and sleeves of a jersey cotton T-shirt to great effect. Combinations of trousers and shorts were embellished with ultra smart flat pleats, drawstrings or elasticised waists.
Further fusing formal and casual, raw denim jeans came, a collaboration with Lee, came with pleated fronts. Trousers were fitted with zips at the ankle while jackets billowed out at the back. Sweatshirts sleeves could be removed instantly and jogging bottoms are formed in woollen materials while Parkas and windbreakers are cut from a crisp fabric. Flannel is used in bags with another successful collaboration with Eastpak.
While the collection will not revolutionize menswear, the offering was a confident fusion of urban and sports for Van Assche – an entirely commercial collection that was precise, simple and successful – and it is true everyone needs a white T-shirt.
