The big closing event of a successful York Fashion Week was set to take place at 6 pm on 13 October 2024 at the Hooting Owl Distillery, and MUSE immediately grabbed a seat. The event was the ‘Menswear Edit’ showcasing ‘masculine fashion’ from four brands: Master Debonair, Mallin & Son, The View from my Rear and Palenque.
As we entered the Hooting Owl Distillery – the venue for the ‘Menswear Edit’ event – a wave of glamour came over us. Surrounded by dark green velvet and moody low light, we were offered a complimentary drink upon arrival of the distillery’s award-winning gin or prosecco. There was an immediate atmosphere of luxury and sophistication, with guests talking quietly with one another in the bar and sipping from their detailed glasses.
Our student budget almost got swept out of the window when we saw the merch stand, complete with simple hoodies, shirts and tote bags. The cheeky slogan ‘New York Fashion Week’ seemed to be a hit among guests, and the prices seemed to be in the average range for merchandise.
After taking everything in and socialising with the other guests, we were seated for the show, in eclectically mismatched leather armchairs and velvet-lined chairs. The show started at 7.15 pm where we were introduced to the director and co-founder of York Fashion Week, Mark Bewick. Mark introduced the night and informed us of the designers present and the order in which they were running.
The night started with the first collection from Mallin and Son- an Ossett based brand whose mission is to promote sustainability and push the “buy once” ideology. This definitely came across in their clothes, with each piece looking comfortable and representing those staples you just need in your wardrobe. The models sported hoodies, jackets, t-shirts, beanies and sweatshirts, all in cool-toned colours like grey, blue, brown and beige. This ensured the pieces went with everything and really pushed the idea that there’s no need to buy hundreds of different pieces of clothing, just a couple of good quality pieces that can go with everything and that you can wear again and again.
Next up was the collection from The View From My Rear. Based in North Yorkshire, this brand specialises in made-to-order bags inspired by their own photography. Their collection was beautiful, vibrant, fun, colourful and above all, a statement piece which you can tailor to your own personality. Each model was in a full black outfit (accessorised with Palenque jewellery) to accentuate the bags and it definitely did them justice. They were eye-catching and intriguing, and the focal point of each outfit.
Palenque accessorised for all designers throughout the night. Their jewellery is hallmarked in Edinburgh but works closely with artisans in Mexico. Sustainable, durable and authentic, all the jewellery shown was breathtaking and elevated each outfit to reach the highest of their potential. Accessories really do make all the difference.
The last collection of the night was from Master Debonair- a luxury brand based in Newcastle. This collection was the widest of the night, covering casual wear, footwear, and formal wear. It was all comfy and practical, and showed how to style the items to dress them up or down. All items were neutral-coloured and featured everything from suits, ties and bow ties to blazers, sweatshirts, beanies and formal shoes. It all appeared high-end and very good quality. Although the night was labelled as Menswear, a few of the blazers were modelled by women, making some of the range unisex as well.
Once the show had finished, we were given a final closing speech in which the sponsors of the week were credited as follows: NIMA, Cresci, Nutrien, York Bid, Mark and Yorwaste. They were featured focally on a photo backdrop next to the merch stand in order to not be missed when walking in or out.
The Menswear Edit was a grand and magnificent evening in which some of the most beautiful designers were displayed. It was a wonderful show to end the week on.
