HLA x AEX SS20 Backstage!
by Samuel Jacobson
For SS20 HLA x AEX partnered withJD.com, China’s leading retail platform, to present ‘Made in China.’ At first blush, the procession of slim cut suits and classed up backpacks presents nothing ostentatious, no confrontation against those items that might already reside in a closet. As subtleties shine through, they bring into focus the functionality and sophistication that is infused into pedestrian versatility. Searing hot details refine the garments, elevating them to the remarkable. In a time when venture capitalists scoff at a tie-bar and we wear sneakers with our suits, HLA x AEX articulates this movement, refracting the classical vision of masculine business-wear through tech-fabrics, original embellishment, and the language of now.
Black dominates the first several looks, each suit layered with a different mesh rendition of a jacket archetype: the mac, the smoking jacket, the mandarin coat. Gradually fading to a restrained palette of blues, grays, and tans, chunky sneakers follow chelsea boots and patent brogues. A windbreaker hoodie layered under a blazer. No shirt with two jackets? A sleek waterproof roll-top backpack cinches across the chest or a coated silver crushed cardboard tote/clutch pairing. A crossover jacket in tan with a back shoulder vent calls to mind a fishing shirt. Indeed, the connection with sportswear is so potent that you half expect them to break into a run.
Bright coin insignias pop out of ties, scarves, belts, and shirt collars. HLA x AEX were inspired by ancient Chinese copper coins – round with a square interior, signifying affluence. A clear dialogue between east and west emerges and the collection exudes a worldly class as the models saunter down the catwalk like crypto-millionaires.
Big black aviators recall a wall street broker of the late 20th century, while orange narrow lenses and rose-colored circular frames anchor us in the present. In fact, we might view the HLA x AEX suit paradigm as today’s answer to the 80’s power suit. Ergonomic details, antibacterial technology, and all weathering potential indulge our current priorities – comfort in fabric, versatility in setting, and functionality over formality, without sacrificing those parts of tradition we may choose to keep.
Backstage photographed by Elliott Morgan in exclusive for Fucking Young!
SUITED MAN
E. Tautz SS20 Backstage!
Temple of Love marks Palais Galliera’s first exhibition in Paris devoted to the work of avant-garde fashion designer and cult figure Rick Owens.
NBA star Jaylen Brown’s brand, 7uice, has teamed up with NAMESAKE for a new capsule collection called INTELLECTUAL CLUB.
A confirmation that many of us have been waiting for.
Dominic Albano started with luxury underwear—simple, sexy, and well-made. Now, he’s bringing that same vibe to swimwear.
Balenciaga unveiled its new High Summer campaign, shot by Roe Ethridge.
Prada’s Days of Summer campaign feels like a pause, a deep breath of salt air.
In the haze of golden hour and the soft chaos that is Coachella’s opening weekend, GUESS JEANS made its triumphant return to the desert — and let’s just say, it didn’t come quietly. For the fourth year… »
The Limit Does Not Exist was a collision of clothes, music, and performance, all vibrating at the same frequency.
For the first time, Converse and Kenzo are joining forces, mixing classic American cool with Kenzo’s vibrant energy.
This season marks a shift toward sharper structure and technical precision, but without losing the experimental edge that defines the label.
Lick the Star is a film, a feeling, a love letter to the way pop culture lingers—half memory, half dream. And like Room 79 itself, it lingers long after you’ve left.
Indelicato revisits shapes and styles that matter to him, turning them into something almost ritualistic.
Paris has long been the backdrop for romance, and now two brands are bringing that intimacy from the city’s streets straight to the bedroom.
Designed by Johnny Lu and printed on Munken paper, the book is a deep dive into what makes Aries stand out.
Dutch designer Duran Lantink becomes the new Creative Director of French fashion house Jean Paul Gaultier.
MM6 Maison Margiela and Salomon are back with another collaboration, this time for SS25.
Unlike traditional grants or one-off prizes, this is a comprehensive two-year accelerator that provides runway production, mentorship, retail access, and a high-profile collaboration to set designers up for long-term success.
Dominik Dorner captured by the lens of Santiago Neyra, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
With a year full of surprises, the renowned French streetwear brand Bensimon is celebrating its 45th Anniversary.
In an era of disposable fashion, JAK sneakers offer something different: understated quality that lasts.
Cities change, and so do the people who live in them. wetheknot’s new seasonal capsule, Goodbye Lisbon, is built on that tension—between the city we know and the one we hope to see.
Real magic happens with Primavera a la Ciutat, the week-long spillover of concerts taking over the city’s best venues—and the schedule just dropped.
Lejs Ibrahimovic styled himself for this exclusive Fucking Young! story captured by the lens of Julian Freyberg.
Summer isn’t just a season—it’s a feeling. That’s the idea behind LOEWE’s Paula’s Ibiza 2025 collection.
Curated by F. Delétrain, the project blurred the line between joke and critique.
“UNDERSEX” is a photo project of the non-existent association “FAUX”. It is dedicated to artists in emigration from different countries and is designed to resemble a provincial Siberian newspaper, contrasting with erotic visuals, as this theme is still taboo in Russia and Eastern countries.
British fashion house Burberry, creatively directed by Daniel Lee, presents its Summer 2025 campaign called “Wish you were here”.
Using materials like Harris Tweed, denim, faux fur, and printed patterns, the collection combines whimsical refinement with an industrial edge.
Illustrator Nicasio Torres and Makeo.Top, a secondhand clothing project led by Eme Rock, began a collaboration that turns discarded clothes into wearable art.
Corentin Marchandet photographed by Martina Bertacchi and styled by Rebecca Sclavo, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
