Fashion Exhibition: Mad About The Boy

Mainstream society seems to be obsessed with young boys. The pinnacle of masculinity used to be upheld by chest-hair carpeted old school Hollywood stars like Sean Connery and Marlon Brando. They were the definition of sex symbols, the template we upheld for “the ideal man”. 

 


 

Now, it seems, the younger and more hairless you are, the sexier you are. Tom Daley, One Direction and Justin Bieber are some of the biggest stars on the planet, and it’s mostly, arguably COMPLETELY, down to their boyish looks. Even Romeo Beckham is now signing million dollar model contracts and has become the bedroom fantasy of women and gay men everywhere. Which is slightly problematic because he’s only sixteen.

This obsession with youth, like everything in the cultural zeitgeist, has inevitably filtered down into various corners of pop culture, and been reflected in the fashion world. Male models have been getting younger and younger, and skinnier and skinnier. This is the focus of the Mad About The Boy exhibition at Fashion Space Gallery, a display space in London College of Fashion.

Curated by the formidably fashion forward Lou Stoppard and designed by internationally renowned set designer Tony Hornecker, it’s a colourful, engaging and gorgeous little peek into the changing role of boys and men in the fashion industry. And it hints at a more ominous side to this relatively new direction of pop culture.

It’s a mix of art installations (we particularly enjoyed the graffiti-spattered toilet cubicle) and the latest looks in menswear. Some impressively well-respected designers have contributed their wares, including Raf Simons, Nick Knight, Sibling, Christopher Shannon and JW Anderson. And it makes for a great aesthetic too, all white socks, oversized sportswear and urban grime.

Anyway if you’ve got a spare hour, or find yourself at a loose end during your lunch break and fancy a bit of culture, go check it out! It’s free and it’s good. A very rare combination in Central London.

 

• Mad About The Boy is at Fashion Space Gallery (London College of Fashion, 20 John Princes Street, W1G 0BJ) until 2nd April. 

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