Collection Highlights: Issey Miyake

For about 40 years now, Issey Miyake has been a stalwart name in the world of fashion. And, although Miyake himself now oversees designers that make his lines (as of ~1997), this has only increased his eponymous label's stronghold–the studio-style model allows it's collections to be consistently on par or downright amazing. My enthusiasm for the 'downright amazing' part comes particularly from the past two men's spring collections, designed by Yusuke Takahashi:

Left: Issey Miyake Men's Spring 2017 (Yusuke Takahashi), image courtesy Vogue

Right: Issey Miyake Men's Spring 2017 (Yusuke Takahashi), image courtesy Vogue

Woof. This may seem like hyperbole, but it honestly isn't, I think those are top two outfits I've seen this year (give or take like, I don't know, three months–anyways it's a long time). They vex me, they're somehow simultaneously structured and fluid, I love them. I love the washed-out color palette, the pleating, yes. They look like if angels got into streetwear. In the second look, I'm reminded of a coat by the women's designer, Yoshiyuki Miyame:

Issey Miyake Women's Pre-Fall 2017 (Yoshiyuki Miyame), image courtesy of Vogue (it's honestly worth it to just look through Vogue's photoshoots of Issey, they have great documentation)

In fact, this was actually the coat that first brought my attention to the label. It was after seeing both this and the 2017/2018 Men's Spring outfits that I realized that I had to bump them to people. Also, a sidenote worth sharing: Miyake designed Steve Job's signature turtleneck (L.A. Times).

Feature image via