N°21 presents painstakingly ‘imperfect’ menswear collection

By

Dominique Muret

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Jan 15, 2018

The cardigan buttons up lopsidedly, the shirt is crumpled, the sweater is too short: everything looks a little improvised, laid-back even, in the new menswear collection presented by N°21 on Monday 15th January in Milan, a collection that leaves men free to dress as they feel like, according to the occasion.

Yet this apparent nonchalance hides the vast amount of design and research work carried out by the label's founder, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, who this season has gone resolutely in a sportswear direction, riding the market's predominant trend.

For the Autumn/Winter 2018-19, the Italian designer picked a selection of classic men's wardrobe essentials, infusing them with a breath of fresh air and freeing them from their traditional constraints. "I've reworked the proportions to give an airier feel to this wardrobe, offering men a new way of dressing up. This is why the collection includes details that look like imperfections, like the shrunken sweaters or crumpled clothes," the designer told FashionNetwork.com backstage.

The end result is a snug, sophisticated collection with an extra little touch of Italian creativity, making it altogether charming. Men will find all they need within it, from chic formal jackets to shiny nylon sport tops and a slightly retro down jacket, not to mention finely ribbed velvet trousers, washed denim jeans, padded parkas and jacquard gilets. And overcoats, made in an array of fabrics ranging from tartan to thick wool with neoprene lining to leather with generous side-pockets.

From the cotton shirts to the uber-comfy trousers with elasticated waist, everything is practical and easily matchable, and all details are painstakingly curated, from the buttons at the bottom of a pair of trousers to the shirts' yokes. Enough to satisfy the ever-changing whims of today's frenetic young men.