Topman LENS AW10: A High-street/High-end Triumph.

While it’s no secret that high-street has always constituted the majority of my wardrobe, it’s often I lament the fact that I can’t purchase even a fraction of the brands under the control of some of my favourite menswear luminaries. I mean, yes, I could save, but aside from forgoing food and gaining some virtuous level of patience, it’s just not feasible right now.

But does it matter? Well, yeah, but with so many accessible price-point labels and stores collaborating with some high calibre designers, it’s never been easier to get in on the action without having to go without. ASOS has just launched the highly anticipated ASOS Black collection which fuses the appeal of good tailoring with fashion-forward (*cringe* someone please invent a less clichéd, but still appropriate adjective…) design, and just today another edition of LENS has gone live on Topman for AW10.

Following its inception several seasons ago, LENS has grown from a collaboration with then little-known designers to an astounding curation of some of London’s foremost menswear designers’ product. This season features London menswear fixtures Carolyn Massey, and JW Anderson, as well as the Aussie (with English and Danish roots) regular, Mjolk, long-time collaborator, Dexter Wong, and Finnish knits-heavy label from Marjut Uotila, Dusty. Tempting as it was to overload this post with a shot of every salivation-inducing piece, I’ve managed to narrow it down to what I’ll be adding to my own wishlist…

^ Carolyn Massey Cord Pocket Shirt (£50) and Carolyn Massey Morning Coat (£120)