For the first time ever, Off-White’s Chief Designer and founder, Virgil Abloh, has designed a pre-fall collection for its men’s line. Check out the lookbook below.
With the Off-White label going from strength to strength, you might be wondering why Virgil Abloh waited until now to design a menswear line. “The Year Is Too Long [in fashion],” he told Vogue. But is there a more significant motive for his latest move in 2018?
Off-White is known for its athleisure aesthetic and of course, it’s been marketed in that way. However, Virgil seems to be trying to do what all designers in the modern era need to with this latest ‘House Hunting’ business-casual collection i.e. predict the future and in-turn, move Off-White in that direction. Speaking to Vogue, the designer said: “Teens are basically giving thumbs-up or thumbs-down to a new brand every other week…This is how I combat that. Pre-collections allow me to tell what men’s direction I want to go in for the future.”
The lookbook which you can browse through below was photographed, by Viktor Vauthier, at what may be a familiar location for some eyes. The Philip Johnson Glass House is the third architectural landmark that Abloh has shot at, hence the ‘House Hunting’ title. It’s otherwise well-known for its National Historic Landmark presence since 1997. Philip Johnson, the building’s architect, died in 2005 but the building remains open for public tours.
Aside from releasing this new range, it’s been quite the week for Virgil Abloh. While he was in Australia on business, the designer was awarded the GQ Magazine International Designer of the Year in Sydney. The recognition will sure serve Virgil and Off-White well when the brand’s two new Australian stores open in December/February.
One thing is becoming evidently clear, Off-White is not just here to temporarily flourish…it’s here to remain.
‘House Hunting’ Lookbook
Lookbook photographed by Viktor Vauthier.
What do you think of Off-White’s Pre-Fall ’18 Collection? Do you like the aesthetic of, “clothes for a 17-year-old turned 37-year-old,” for menswear?