Need some post-modern dandy threads this winter? Read on. Sophistication, sombre colours and impeccable cuts are the key themes of Sydney-based label Beat Poet, who return for their fifth season with a collection entitled, “Fog.” We spoke with the label’s creative director about living fast, and dying like gentlemen.
Please introduce yourself and your label. I'm the current Creative Director of Beat Poet. Beat Poet is moving into its fifth season and is constantly evolving towards a certain ideal of elegant menswear. Our aesthetic emphasises vertical proportions and our approach is about reduction and rigorous consideration of proportion and geometry. We are interested in the tension between both decadence and economy and subculture and luxury.
Tell us about the inspirations behind “Fog.”
Fog is the response to the Desert collection we released in summer. It's a post-apocalyptic vision of the rain after a drought, much inspired by Luc Besson's film Le Dernier Combat. As we draw near to the end of the decade we feel overwhelmed by the mood of imminent doomsday, so this collection is a response to that. There is also a strong German military influence that itself conveys an “end of the world” element.
What kinds of cuts and fabrics are you using this season?
The cuts are all evolutions from past seasons. The coats have gotten longer and more military in their detailing; the shirts have been given more movement but retain their silhouette. As with all our cuts, the goal is to avoid excess. This is why our trousers and shirts are cut so straight and slim – we want to accentuate the male form, not obscure it with unflattering volume. Your label motto is “Live sharp, die a gentleman.”
What does it take to be a gentleman?
From the 19th century dandies to the Italian and British Modernists, there is a long heritage of sophistication and elegance in menswear. We are interested in continuing on with this tradition and introducing a new future-focused aesthetic. We believe that to present yourself in proper attire is an act of reclaiming your life and the first step in directing it in the way you want to go. It's a way of retaining credibility in this world.
www.beatpoet.net