Kiko deserves all the respect and publicity. He is such a unique hardworking designer. He is unpredictable in a sense that makes him such a innovator. His Asics collabs are the most interesting shoes imo. He has namesake womenswear line so early in his career that operated by someone else, nobody done this in this scale before as far I'm aware. He is releasing his own coffee table books. Collaborated from Stussy to Mackintosh and has upcoming Hysteric Glamour collab. Never know what will he do in the future.
You’re point on the idea of femininity in mens wear was an articulated point I’ve been trying to make for a while. Woman’s range and the way it now embraces mens design traits has opened up such range for them, but as a straight male who loves fashion and progression the idea of becoming inverted with skin being revealed was something I didn’t like for me to be a straight male. You handled the topic well man.
I agree man. As a straight man who also happens to design clothes, I feel like we deserve a more groundbreaking discovery aesthetically than to simply integrate feminine aspects in menswear since they're seemingly the only adventurous comparison available. It takes a lot of feeling around in the dark to come up with something that strikes a new chord with masculinity and Kiko and only a few others are shining the light in that direction.
Im from Bulgaria and im surprised I learned from you about this designer, he became one of my favorites and I think he is one of the best designers right now. It's so shameful that my small country doesn't talk about him or promote him in any way, I hope that this changes in the future as he progresses in his career. Thank you for introducing me to him
I agree with you. Menwears needs more design ideas in the practical sense. There are many designers with provoking ideas but takes a huge personality to wear them . Which is good to stir up the mix but when men try to dress for their own style or find there style there is nothing out there. When you look there are only two looks if you are a feminine man or very classic and slightly boring one . So we need designers like this one to lead the way .In my opinion as someone whom used to designed menswear.Thank you for your videos you give an honest well informed opinion.
We need more content online about Kiko like this. Would love to see your analysis on each season and the progress/development of Kiko's design language.
Everything you say in the beginnign of the video goes so well with the new Simone Rocha menswear line, definitely more feminine, but also pushes mens so much in a positive way without being too removed from the masculinity that you speciffically want to see in menswear For me, the part of Kiko I love is the pattern making. They always produce such interesting cuts that make me want to physically go into store and see how its done, specifically with this show, Im absolutely going to need to see those jackets with the keyhole for the button placket, just incredible and looks like it would've taken forever to perfect. Also the asics shoes are FIRE, such peak
I bought the kiko kayano 28s in the pink and green color way (bc kiko = cool) and it's rly the first pink clothing I've owned. At first I dident know how to style them but after wearing them a lot I've come to really appreciate kiko for pushing me into appreciating different colors and color combos he really is the best designer for men as of now. Love the video keep up the good work!
I feel like Kiko and Raf have some similar tales. Although there’s a difference in age they both seem to push men’s fashion in the same way. I’m excited to see where kiko goes :)
as someone who is nonbinary (born male) kiko's clothes are amazing because, like you said, he offers choices. a number of pieces are male oriented but the fact they can become androgynous at your whim is the magic. and the world building in his collections is beautiful
Love the topics and designers you talk about and how you express you thought! It’s interesting and entertaining at the same time, love your honour as well😌 bet this community will grow like crazy in the next few months
Very nice analysis bro it’s very nice to hear this depth of fashion analysis from a male RU-vidr. I agree and relate to a lot of what you talk about in this video. Menswear is very limited in terms of creative expression but it makes sense given the commercial aspect you mentioned. It would be nice to have more options to trend towards a more masculine or feminine silhouette in creative ways that push the boundaries while still respecting the zeitgeist of the times we are living in. Appreciate the discussion and respect the research! Subbed!
I agree with you, menswear that is 'masculine'. Kiko is a designer that is widening the circle as Bliss said, you might agree or disagree but Kiko and Craig Green are like on that level, both innovators, really knows what they are doing and good at it
Kiko Kostadinov also a Creative Director of brand Mackintosh 0001 KIKO KOSTADINOV brand has womenswear Creative Directors Deanna & Laura Fanning and while menswear still is Kiko Kiko Kostadinov is one of the few designers having and being Creative Director of two brands Kiko Kostadinov - KIKO KOSTADINOV & MACKINTOSH 0001 Jonathan Anderson - JW ANDERSON & LOEWE Gabriela Hearst - GABRIELA HEARST & CHLOÉ Ludovic Saint De Sernin - LUDOVIC SAINT DE SERNIN & ANN DEMEULEMEESTER Harris Reed - HARRIS REED & NINA RICCI Glenn Martens - Y/PROJECT & DIESEL
Big thing for me is wanting more options for outerwear a step below coats that have synched waists. Definitely need more jackets with integrated belts like they had in the 70's in menswear.
For me I still get a feeling kiko makes pseudo tech wear, but that's because of fabrics though.... When he does a denim, wool, Number (n)ine aw09 type collection, then I can say with my chest he's that guy. And yes he does use those textiles but in a clean techwear way.
First of all, you’re easily my fav Fashion RU-vidr out. Hopefully very soon you’ll cover my projects as well. But you’ve said truth & some more about Kiko. Keep up the good work!
This just goes to show that anyone can create anything and it will find it's audience that thinks it's great. It may not be for everyone, it just has to be great to those who think it's great.
bro the introduction to this video was so good, you literally spoke FAX, mans is unleashed 🤣 men's fashion is incredibly uninspired and way too streetwear focused at the moment
It's very bland. Personally, it carries no flavor. I always thought about how nice it would be to see menswear expand. Much of the clothing out there is one dimensional.
Love these designs and I really resonate with what you are looking for in menswear. Oof his silhouettes and details inspire desire on a gut level. Personally I'm willing to go more androgynous/femme but it attracts so much attention so often I'd rather wear designs like his.
This right here is a good video, very insightful as for Ive known of his name with the asics works (shout out throwing fits). Now I am a fan, and on the hunt yo buy Kiko
i didn’t know who Kiko Kostadinov was until i watched your videos about him, but now im truly a fan of his work. he’s underrated and deserves more attention. btw i love your vids, they’re funny yet informative so thank you and keep up the great work🙏 i am a fashionluver as well and you’re inspiring !!!!!
What I like about kiko is he keeps it very minimalistic but still offers more of that high luxury fashion of course his most popular work is his collabs with other brands such as ASICS but his work wear garments are what I enjoy the most🥷
Dunno if it's available to you, but Oak + Fort has a 'unisex' philosophy and generally don't organize their stores by gender. That said, women have shown to be their biggest buyers, and so it feels more like a ladies store now, but I've seen a lot of good pieces there that had a great mix cuts/techniques/styles that women are afforded but are often skipped on men (boxy fits, batwing sleeves, cropped hems, etc).
Thanks for your videos. I am enjoying them. Confession, I just don't 'get' less conventional designers. Like Kostadinov... Big fan of McQueen (saw the MET show in 2011), Daniel Roseberry (love), Pierpaolo Piccioli, Maria Grazia Chiuri (mostly), recent Versace... I have tried to understand Martin Margiela but it goes right over my head. Don't get Vivienne Westwood but understand she was a huge talent... I try to find articles by Suzy Menkes, or Carolyn (?) Horne etc... Bliss Foster is cool. So anyway, now you are a part of my self education plan. Ramble over...! usa
With all due respect, fashion is an art form and a runway show is not to showcase what you should wear and how to wear it, it's an experience as with a museum or a movie. It's not supposed to reflect reality as it is right now, hence the art form is going more abstract. Look at Picasso, he painted portraits but they didn't represent the individual true to their appearance. A fashion show isn't supposed to show you what to wear, it's supposed to inspire and challenge you on your ideals and your outward appearance, how to you want to represent yourself to the world. Kiko is one of the few "true male clothing brands", but that said he uses the abstract shaped and colorblocking to highlight features not normally considered to be very masculine, but it seems you like that just because it isn't showing more skin. He highlights everything on the body, but blocks it away behind the pieces of garments. The only real "true mens clothing brands" left are the 15 yo kids starting their own printed hoodie stores or basic brands like Wood Wood or Calvin Klein. To go into the world of fashion, in an artsy sense, I feel there is a need to let go of the male and female ideas of cuts and clothing pieces, and more into an idea of mixing and matching everything to make it a you idea, to show your identity beyond basic labels and conformities. Men's and women's fashion was ditched in the 90s and 2000s, where females brought the mens fashion into their own closets and transformed hoodies and cargo pants into a statement of practicality or comfort rather than a men's article of clothing. What designers are dong today is trying to build on this and bring the idea of showing human shapes and features forward from a "feminine trait" and into a general way of showing off YOUR body rather than your gender identity. I love Kiko, he does amazing work. He is one of the forerunners in this field, making pieces that can help thin, thich, tall, short, wide, and everything in between, people to find and share their identity through the art pieces they choose to wear, how they choose to shape their image and outward identity. Issey is another great example, taking a more technical and less colorful and abstract approach. Rick has pioneered this, he is beyond gender identity with everything he does, he no longer "paints to reflect the world", but kow he rather "paints to reflect your/his/our world"
Well said, and I agree for the most part. However I like to apply these ideas of fashion to the world outside of high fashion to normal people. Maybe that is my own naivety but I think it's important to not look at fashion solely through this art lens that is only accessible to people that understand it. I appreciate brands that highlight the various ways forward to present the body but an aspect about fashion that makes it unique as an art is it's practicality in the world and I think some designers need to stay attached to that in some sense and I think that Kiko does. I also want to introduce people to these broader ideas in fashion by making it familiar to them so maybe my channel and videos just aren't for someone like you who knows what they like. Thanks for your comment!
Just thought it might make an interesting video but diving into the fashion of skateboarding would be very interesting with brands like stunt melodi redrum dogpound and maybe even asspizza as a side rant ect. Would love to hear your thoughts.
kiko's construction & patternmaking is jokes i used to go to over to go look at his stuff and get stressed the fuck out because I'm never going to put myself through that. bro be like oh yeah side panel goes into dart in the back of the knee that also goes into a separate panel that turns into part of the leg's shape. nuts
Started wearing all black protective wear because the tan lines were fucked. Only thing I didn’t do was a balaclava and my neck suffered. Wore racing gloves for 8 hours tho
The Gel-Kiril 2 entirely changed the way I view shoes, and has probably helped shaped my fashion sense as a whole. I immediately understood the appeal behind em, and it really helped me open my eyes to view fashion from a more open perspective (and now I want to wear skirts but I can’t bc I’m tall and I don’t think most womenswear will fit me… thanks Kiko 😂)
I think you should really look into Affxwrks more. A lot of cool products coming from them. Not sure how much Kiko is still involved but the brand is not just logo heavy anymore. Yeah the brand is more “streetwear” compared to his main label but it’s more technical than your average streetwear. I feel like the brand is a mix of a water downed acronym mix with workwear/streetwear. Idk I’m really liking there product recently and I think it has a lot of potential 🤷🏽♂️
They've improved since they kinda rebranded but I wouldn't say much from them as a brand interests me. There are some interesting ideas but the brand just seems undeveloped in its concept. I would prefer acronym or a-cold-wall as they seem to have more fleshed out ideas. Just my opinion though!
