Japanese designer Yuichi Kuroda launched his label Lad Musician in 1995 and has been clinging to the glam-rock aesthetics that originally inspired him ever since. His core target is the tall skinny boy who wishes to look like a rock star. The popularity of this Tokyo-based brand has perpetuated a new trend in Japan in regards to body image : men who want to look fashionable crave to be tall and as thin as possible. Inspired by "The portrait of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, Lad Musician presented a very refined and toned-down yet still very Japanese collection for this season. This is the sartorial tale of a dandy plunged into the fear of losing his celebrated beauty to age, his decadent world of sins, luxury and weakness. The collection draws heavily from a somber Edwardian romanticism and luxury of the late 19th century. The designer sent a series of formal double-breasted coats and blazers down the runway with smaller delicate buttons that run all the way up to the collar, instilling a sense of paranoid urgency. Shirts come with loose long swishing bows that inspire an old-world charm. The palette is decidedly soft. Tiny skull-flower motifs run alongside a wild garden of pink, peach and plum shades. Trousers are slim and some are billowy at thigh but tapered at ankle, and a few pieces have been interlaced with reflective golden accents. Gothic / period romanticism aside, Yuichi Kuroda brings back what Lad Musician does best and continues to purvey music references in a few looks, rebuilding the biker jacket in to a short-sleeved topper to be paired with all black everything. Flamboyant flare !
