PARIS, Jul 1, 2007/ FW/ --- The tradition of good tailoring, the refinement in the finishings declined by Masatomo on items of the male wardrobe which ally high elegance with a casual feel, have been the signature of this designer’s brand since it has started, nearly two decades ago.

With this collection for Spring 2008, Masatomo has found an expression of utter chic to interpret this tradition. Sober yet sophisticated, colourful yet with a very selective palette, extremely wearable on many occasions and yet not deprived of a touch of erotic appeal, the collection plays on gleamy inductions on black suits, and on luxurious embroideries of small sequins originally used on the inside of blouson jackets, to underline that what’s inside might even be more appealing.

Resolutely masculine in the shape of jackets and trousers alike, the materials and small components used by Masatomo in the collection all come from womenswear. But the masculine-feminine aspect is investigated here in an unambiguous manner: the feminine elements simply add sheer luxury to the masculine silhouette.

Take the Swarovski zippers, adorned with rhinestones: they are used for instance very cleverly on a wonderfully cut blouson jacket in thin calf black leather, and underline the original construction of the garment. Placed both at the waist and on the sleeve cuffs –on top of the central vertical zipper you find in any blouson- they also allow you to remove these parts completely to create a new trim on the waistline for instance or to give the piece an original casual edge when you are wearing it with all the zippers half opened.

The inspiration of Masatomo for the season is based on the Kingyo, the Japanese goldfish and in fact it also comes very gracefully to adorn an ample shirt of white with prints of the elegant animal in its natural shades of pearly pink, greenish gleams and nuances of black.

Beyond literal in his interpretation of his theme, Masatomo does delicately evoke the Kingyo throughout his collection but above all pervades it with a spirit for the luxurious, the precious, the rare, which are the symbols of high society… just like the Japanese goldfish used to be in ancient times.

Masatomo

Masatomo

Masatomo

Masatomo