Reviewing the Runway - Kris Van Assche Men's Fall/Winter 2012-13

Label: Kris Van Assche

Designer: Kris Van Assche

Fashion Week: Paris, France

Runway Show: Friday, January 20

For the Autumn/Winter 2012-13 collection, Mr. Van Assche focused on the theme of "Work." Staying true to his inspiration wall, the collection was filled with traditional "work uniform" pieces for all ranks of society, from the manual laborer to the corporate executive (mostly leaning towards the latter).

This season, Mr. Van Assche channeled the labor wear of a 1940s Eastern European and injected it with hints of punk and industrial elements (dark colors with only accents of color, buckling details, military boots). The result was a collection perfect for academic professionals or educators. There were, as www.gq.com noted, professorial staples like long cardigans (all images are from Kris Van Assche's website)...,

...and suited looks with blazers.

Although these are pieces that one might often see a faculty member on a university campus wear, Mr. Van Assche ensured to add edge to the looks. The long cardigans were belted with leather, not only to give some shape to the wearer, but to toughen the look. Some of the suited looks were paired, not with sleek black pants, but with wide-legged pants in blue or black to give a very relaxed look.

If I was still working as a teacher, hence making enough money to purchase items, I would add several pieces from this collection to my closet. It is not because they are office-appropriate staples, but it is because several of the pieces have details that add uniqueness to the clothes.

I would buy this striped dress shirt:

Although it might seem like any other dress shirt, the built-in tie bar is a functional twist to the piece.

Another piece I would purchase is this blazer:

It is the kimono wrap detail that makes this suit jacket unlike any other jacket! It is a unique way to add an accent of color and show some personality.

I have always been a fan of belted, cinched-waisted looks. This jacket would be worth the price:

What makes this piece edgier than most is that the traditional double-button closures are replaced with double belts. It is a non-conventional modernization to a classic staple.

Although, the collection was overall strong, there was one misstep that could have been edited out of the collection, as exemplified by this look:

In concurrence with the opinion from Women's Wear Daily, the dungaree was over-the-top. Although it is an item common in the blue collar work sphere, it is impractical in the retail world. Considering the prices that Mr. Van Assche's clothing retail for, it is almost unrealistic to sell the dungaree because not only might the price be steep, but it could easily be ruined if used for some form of contracting, construction, or carpentry job. For making a stylish statement in public, I would wear the piece, if it were fitted and tailored. However, in the context of the collection, it stands out.

My general sentiments for the entire collection can be summarized by the following: If the price is relatively right, my closet might have some Kris Van Assche pieces in July when this collection becomes available for purchase. Translation: It is a solid collection with several pieces worth buying!