“The looks are destined to be worn; we can’t show unwearable clothes,” declared Ilan Chétrite, who oversees Sandro’s menswear. With the season’s key pieces styled on mannequins for an informal presentation in the brand’s Marais showroom, he explained how the latest collection focused nautical influences through a vintage 1970s filter. This was easily discernible from the marine insignia fronting a lightweight sweater, in addition to fine-gauge striped and webby knits; short-sleeved pajama chemises in breezy silk; and pants cut wider, shorter, and occasionally flared. A single print waved, in an oceanic sense, to the classic prints of Japanese artist Hokusai. Front pleats and generous hems gave novelty to jeans; the result might confuse some men while enticing others. But a leather blouson in a warm shade of cognac will attract anyone who wants the ready-made lived-in look without the initial effort.
Indeed, Chétrite singled out the development that went into achieving the rusty patina spreading across the season’s statement lug-soled shoes to show how Sandro pursues differentiation, not experimentation. A slim mackintosh, well-tailored double-breasted jackets, and dressier jogging pants (embedded with a new graphic logo at the hip) were proof that the brand pursues crowd-pleasers, too.
