Photo provided by TOM*
It's no secret we're obsessed with Rhowan James, from the beginning of his time at TOM* we've seen his collection grow and become bigger than life itself and this past Sunday was no exception.
Last year, Rhowan showcased his SS18 collection at TOM* and ended up winning the Toronto Mens Emerging Designer Award. Since then he's been making headlines and working away on his latest collection which, in the words of Rhowan included "a lot more pieces and a lot more looks".
This season was definitely one for the books. When we entered the runway room we were transported to another location - there was a very grande yet romantic backdrop of what looked like european architecture with mysterious yet alluring music gradually playing as the show began. In our interview Rhowan we asked him his inspiration behind this theme and he stated, "I wanted something different, mysterious, sexy. I wanted the backdrop to be a little older, rugged, encapsulating the feel of the collection ".
His collection showcased this year for FW18 was larger than his previous and was an extension of his SS18 collection. In our interview he said "I wanted the same story line, I wanted to have a continuing story from the Spring and Summer collections, I wanted it so that it flows as one continuous story and then next Spring and Summer we'll come out with something totally different".
Our favourite look from the night was the finale piece - a giant black cape - that had the audience in awe. "Chinna the model, I chose to have him wear the closing piece." Rhowan stated " He was such a big part of the last show so I wanted him to be that face for the closing piece."
With Rhowan's collections he always focuses on having that sophisticated and elegant look, and last Sunday he amplified that. Clean and classic we were in love with his entire collection. With that, from his array of timeless pieces we've managed to pick up some of the trends.
Here are the biggest trends of Rhowan James FW18 collection:
Military Vibes
Bringing back the military vibes from his Spring/Summer 2018 collection, Rhowan James took a spin on the classic look by adding furs and golden detailing. In our interview with him he explained that his inspiration was from the military when a soldier "was training, or serving", he went on to state "I love the military look, it's definitely the go-to for men because it's sophisticated yet rugged."
Photo provided by TOM*
Black on Black
Rhowan James is infamous for his black on black outfits. However this season Rhowan put a spin on the classic all black attire by adding in different textures such as leather and fur. I mean we may be a bit biased because our closets ONLY consist of shades of grey and black, but we loved it.
Photo provided by TOM*
Gold Accents
Gold, a color for the most prestige. Last year we were introduced to gold in Rhowan's collections, and this year he returned with it. Accenting the majority of his pieces with gold he brought dimension and flare. We loved the matching gold on gold suit that neared the end of the show.
Photo provided by TOM*
Athleisure Mix
This was a new element that we noticed in the FW18 collection. In the show we saw mixes of athleisure and suiting, a unique and wearable combination. Rhowan definitely elevated the traditional concept of athleisure.
Photo provided by TOM*
Our time with Rhowan and seeing his collection was amazing and you could see the excitement and passion he has to be a part of such a great event. As we were closing the interview he stated "It's an honour to be back for TOM* I feel privileged to be a part of it again, it's great that we have this platform for menswear in Toronto."
For more on Rhowan James you can follow him on Instagram here, or visit his website here. To see our favourite looks, you can start the slide show below.
Photo provided by TOM*