Concept Korea: Ordinary People Spring 2016

For his men’s spring 2016 inspiration Ordinary People creative director Jang hyeong cheol looked to sporty classics reimagined through the lens of contemporary fashion. This “Active Maestro” sporty reflection on classic men’s suits seeks to combine the two themes of classicism and the sporty lifestyle that the contemporary male consumer now leads.

Jang heyong cheol has taken the typical classic suit and given this silhouette more volume, encompassing more ease of movement and comfort. This new roomier, restrained volume silhouette is often paired with loose tee shirts and cuffed short pants.

Interestingly, many menswear designers this season incorporated lounge wear into their more sportier or active wear themed collections which was expressed in roomier long overcoats and blousy pants made of diaphanous fabrics or long oversized tee shirts in sheer fabrics—seen in the collections of Fingers Crossed and Duckie Brown. This loungewear as active wear trend sometimes was also supported by playful prints and colors—as seen in Ricardo Seco’s collection.

To date Ordinary People is the only menswear collection this season that has gotten the loungewear as active wear correct. Jang hyeong cheol take on this new trend is consumer friendly and looks like an appropriate wearable daywear look. By marrying his loungewear as active wear with sneakers and sport sandals combined with his restrained volume classic suits, Jang hyeong has created a collection that is fresh, fashion forward and is a new projection on where contemporary menswear is heading.

The color palette in this spring 2016 collection ranges from midnight blue, navy blue, smoke blue to white, cold, sage green, red and carmine. Fabrications include summer wool, silk faille, cotton, silk cady, denim, modal, and light tweed.

Standout looks in the collection include Jang heyong cheol's oversized striped tee shirts in navy blue and white with sequined embellished stripes, smoke blue striped bomber jacket with red shorts, and smoke blue pinstriped lounge coat with matching shorts.

—William S. Gooch