BACKSTAGE AT LFWM WITH TONI & GUY | AD | SAM GRAY | @samgraystyle

I swear each season comes around faster than the previous one, but this weekend saw London's most stylish gents getting together to look at the offerings for AW19. London Fashion Week Men's is always such a great few days, getting to preview what the designers have in store, meeting up with friends of yours, and getting to celebrate everything style related. I was lucky enough to be invited back by the Toni & Guy and label.m team to takeover their instagram stories across the few days, and to head backstage getting an exclusive preview of how the teams get the models runway ready for each show.

I'm always amazed at how many people it takes to put the shows together an how much prep work got into making sure they happen as smoothly as possible. As one of the main sponsors of both LFW and LFWM, Toni & Guy often work in partnership with the designers to create the hair for the shows, working with the brands concept for the collection to help translate the story they want to tell, into finished looks. On this occasion I was also lucky enough to speak to the designers about their collections, as well as the people responsible for designing the hair for each of the shows, from within the international Toni & Guy team.

The first show I headed backstage for was E.Tautz (possibly my favourite from the few days). This was headed up by International Artistic Director and Head of Team Charlie Cullen, who took inspiration from 80s punk, creating a more relaxed style that complimented each of the models individual look. This collection also showcase my favourite trend from LFWM - oversized trench coats and scarves (both things that I currently have an obsession with). Below I’ve included a step by step process on how to achieve one of the looks from the show, as well as a few images from the runway.

The highlight of the second day had to be the Private Policy show, presented by GQ China. With 22 models, all in a variety of looks and styles, the team really had their work cut out for them. The models were split into four different characters; bankers, workers, police officers and the robbers - each playing an integral part of the money system. The collection showcased a downtown streetwear aesthetic with structured pieces, blending the different stories. Highlights included oversized tailored wool coats and outerwear pieces, referencing bankers; clear quilted vests and harnesses that pay homage to police officers and robbers; and denim utility workwear representing the working class. This team was led by Daniele De Angelis who was able to put his own interpretation into the final looks.

Another highlight from day two was the Velsvoir Presentation, drawing inspiration from romatiscism and a utilitarian approach to tailoring. Using a sharp and slim silhouette, the collection showcased numerous tailor pieces in dark shades, contrasting with the softer hair and makeup design. The the, took inspiration from the late 70's and early 80's for the hair, with a nod to classic rock and mod hairstyles, using bold shapes and curls, fitting in with the idea of masculine romance.