As far as upscale guys’ leisurewear goes, Simon Miller’s Daniel Corrigan and Chelsea Hansford are the current best in class. The pair have a naturally symbiotic eye—he’s the core customer, she’s the tastemaker—and it totally gels in their men’s collection, which today was the most rounded out the duo has yet shown.
Often, Simon Miller’s lineups are propelled by color. Fall’s is a “winter lake—foggy and off,” said Hansford. The palette, combined with a “little bit of a ’70s influence,” resulted in weekend-ready clothes that retained a palpable discernment and sophistication. See: covetable wide-gauge trousers that had almost a pajama-like break about them, easy looped terry sweaters, three-quarter zip shirts (fresh!), and suit pants that were cuffed at the ankle to add a hint of athleticism. Re: that lattermost example—Corrigan mentioned that he had wanted to do a full tracksuit with the material, but that the fabric couldn’t be sourced in time. Consider the lack of availability a blessing in disguise; we’ve seen a lot of tracksuits of late, and, separated from a matching jacket, this trouser seemed a quieter and more refined proposal.
Hansford noted additional points of interest: “We’ve found that the market for fashion shirting is stronger,” she said, calling out a move away from standard button-down variations into pieces with a bit more design (wider collars, a full-zip corduroy oxford). The duo is also, given the success of their women’s handbag introduction, prepping men’s accessories. All in all, a real treat to open New York Fashion Week: Men’s—for the category, they’re going to be tough to beat.
