The debut link-up is one for menswearheads of all calibres. Here’s why.
Suits … on the beach? With Wales Bonner’s debut collaboration with Stüssy, that’s a thing. Earlier this week, the project was announced with a collegiate style photo of Stüssy crew members suited up on the beach, teasing what might be the perfect ideal of a menswear link-up.
Fringed-hem shorts, Oxford shirts, studded denim, and leopard jumpers bring some quintessential Stüssy energy to the table. While Bonner’s vintage-leaning sophistication extends to a bark brown leather blouson. There’s also a surf-tinged vibe to board shorts and a sarong designed with Peter Miles. But a double-breasted blazer crafted from Loro Piana wool is this collection’s show pony, captured in campaign stills with oversized floral brooches.
The link-up runs the whole gamut of the menswear spectrum, from tailoring to swimwear – offering consumers more than just an updated logo and hype. These are genuinely considered clothes that feel true to both brands. The double-breasted jacket is full-cut and sharp, reflective of the classic suiting that punctuates Wales Bonnner’s runway collections. The art-references are there, too, with a silk polo housing an image from Accra-based photographer Nana Yaw Oduro. As are the material subversions that underpin her work seen in a surfy neoprene hoodie.
While in recent years, Stüssy has bolstered its menswear credentials, incorporating tailoring, shirting, and high-quality outerwear and leather goods alongside its core streetwear offering. And it has set a precedent for a ‘dressed-up-but-down’ vibe appreciated internationally. Its Wales Bonner collaboration follows a series of projects with high-end fashion labels, which also includes Martine Rose, Our Legacy Work Shop, and Dior.
We’re getting new collaborations more often than ever (you can blame the social media-fueled hype cycle for that). But Stüssy and Wales Bonner ticks off the menswear pillars nicely. It’s rooted in both brands’ DNA and packed with easy-wearing products guys actually want to wear. Long live good clothes!
