Finding fashionable men’s clothing isn’t hard, but sometimes finding something that really pushes the sartorial envelope, without going overboard, can be a little more difficult to track down. Which is why we like the designs at N-p-Elliott—the NYC-based brand takes us to the edge with unexpected shapes, funky details and a bold aesthetic that we could imagine Pharrell rocking any day of the week. Even the film introducing their new Spring/Summer 2016 collection is just this side of “normal,” which, frankly, is what we love about it.
The film, a three minute short directed by Stephen Bell, is a strange venture into the unknown. Models sulking around the parking lot of a strip mall and walking aimlessly in the deserted woods make the piece seem less like a fashion preview and more like a horror film. Set to a hauntingly solemn operatic aria, it comes across as eerie and unsettling. While it’s unclear what’s happening in the video, it drew us in. We waited with baited breath to see something horrific come out of the shadows or catch a glimpse of N-p-Elliott’s latest designs. Thankfully it was the latter.
While each piece of the upcoming collection may be hard to spot in the dark film, it’s clearly laid out in their latest lookbook. Voluminously-cut shorts, shirts and outerwear gives the line abstract shape, shying away from more traditional and masculine forms. Inspired by science fiction and animation (perhaps this is why the models in the film seem so alien-like), the new season creates a statement with androgynous silhouettes and muted colors. Even the fabric and patterns feel neither masculine nor feminine as metallic brocade, silk faille and cotton mesh covers everything from shawl jackets to raincoats. It’s not intended for the fashion novice, but rather for the trendsetter who’s willing to add a few statement-making pieces to his rotation.
