Men's fashion week kicked off in Paris on Tuesday (Jan 21), with a number of top labels bedding in new designers or looking for fresh inspiration in an increasingly tough luxury market. "This season feels a bit different from usual due to the shuffle of artistic directors in recent months," said Adrien Communier, fashion editor at GQ France . Lanvin is set to return after a two-year hiatus, presenting Peter Copping’s debut collection as the artistic director of France’s oldest couture house.
After completing his first show in September, Valentino’s new artistic director, Alessandro Michele, will return for haute couture week, which follows immediately after the men’s fashion week in Paris (Jan 21-26). One of the most anticipated shows will be on Sunday (Jan 26) by in-vogue French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus, whose Jacquemus brand is making its return to the official calendar after a five-year absence. Notable absences include Givenchy, whose new chief designer Sarah Burton has reserved her first collection for the women’s fashion week in March, as well as Loewe, whose artistic director Jonathan Anderson is rumoured to be on the way out.
Read more: Milan's menswear fashion week puts on a brave face amid crisis in luxury Hedi Slimane left his role as artistic director at Celine in October, John Galliano quit Maison Margiela in December, and Chanel unveiled their new creative director, Matthieu Blazy, only a month ago. The schedule this week is set to be slightly li.