Margaret Howell’s customers are known to return to her store and request the same garment from previous seasons, proving a dedication to the designer’s low-key aesthetic. This season Howell presented her menswear show in the familiar setting of her Central London store and the collection adhered to the designer’s discrete taste levels and refined take on men’s style.
Well-made, quality products are the fundamentals behind Howell’s design philosophy and for next spring Howell’s men will be suitable attired in relaxed crisp shirts, rolled up trousers, fisherman's jackets and knitted ties which will be tucked into striped shirts. The whole collection exemplified ease – sleeves were rolled up and all garments illustrated a light and airy take on menswear. Breton stripes were bought back and clarified Howell’s pure and honest approach to reinterpreting classic garments.
Continually inspired by the method by which something is made Howell has always found men’s clothing more interesting than women’s for their structure, feel and functionality, so it was no wonder the collection was an exercise in effortless style and was characteristically Howell's own hand writing. Good design has to work and Howell’s clothes have to work for effectively for her loyal customers and with this philosophy Howell presented styles with slightly altered details and cuts – after all - if something works why change it radically.
