Off-White, street style leader, does Business Casual

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Jan 17, 2018

He’s the reigning king snappy street style, so for his return to Paris after a massive show in Pitti last summer, what did Virgil Abloh do? Well, really radically changed gears.

 
Staged before a packed house – including, front row, famed Japanese artist and one-time Louis Vuitton collaborator Takashi Murakami, inside the Pompidou Center before 700 people, with half as many fans waiting outside, Abloh presented what he termed “Business Casual.” Opening his show with a crisply cut light gray chalk stripe suit cut with plenty of aplomb, and following that with some great flared pants, done with high waists and paired with some wonderful navy blue redingotes with tie-dye sleeves.
 
According to retailers, they cannot get enough of his brand Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh – a meeting of arty fashion and mid-Western street style. However, on bright blue winter Wednesday morning in Paris Abloh advanced his fashion vernacular significantly.

The set was bleacher style seating done all in a bold red; the same hue one saw in the Jordan One sneakers worn by Murakami. Insiders tell FashionNetwork.com that Abloh and Murakami are planning a project together, though when we asked the artist, he rolled his shoulder with a suspicious eye, before responding “Oh, we are just good friends.” We shall see – stay tuned.
 
Though known for bulky down jackets – Abloh can also cut a fine silhouette, finishing his tailoring with punchy graphics. Like his faded black denim suit with white lapels; and a super rock star tobacco leather suit. Half his looks came lathered with lettering like the rap group he admired Beastie Boys, and the Chicago-born designer – of Ghanaian origin – produced plenty of his bread and butter accessory. Jordan One high-tops with lots more lettering and new Business Casual straps. Many bearing hand-written notes for family and friends, signatures that can quadruple the value of sneakers.
 
“I’m a child of the 80s. And the Beastie Boys were outsiders, like me. So, that’s what I do, though with lots of optimism,” explained Virgil Abloh in a packed backstage. Marking a memorable return to the Paris catwalks, and a significant win for the Paris menswear runway season. The latest confirmation of its supremacy in men’s fashion, style and tailoring.