• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Design Hunting
  • New York Weddings
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • Motherhood
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Science of Us
  • Horoscopes
  • Ask Polly
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
January 23, 2012

The Most Ridiculous Looks of the Fall 2012 Men’s Show Season

By Amy Odell

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: Carlo Scarpato

Men wearing womenswear-inspired outfits shouldn’t look quite as absurd as they do, especially when women have been making a big fuss out of wearing menswear-inspired clothes the past few seasons. But our society has certain ideas about masculinity, preserving it and so forth, blah blah, and so men’s fashion just looks ridiculous so much more easily than women’s fashion. (Though, to be fair, if you put a tail on girls’ clothes that would very easily look extremely silly, too.) With the fall 2012 men’s shows finished in Europe, a wealth of material existed for yet another roundup of some of the most ridiculous looks from those runways. Ahead, enjoy some of our favorite printed, metallic, tailed, velvet, lace, and leather looks.

Related: The (Inexact) Science of a Great Male-Model Runway Walk

View
1 / 19 Photos
Walter Van Beirendonck As one straight guy said to me, "Is that a propeller face?" You know, I was thinking whiskers but maybe it moves... Walter Van Beirendonck As one straight guy said to me, "Is that a propeller face?" You know, I was thinking whiskers but maybe it moves? Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo Scarpato 2011
Jean Paul Gaultier Aside from how this model looks like he's just been kicked out of a magician's alliance and is making a rapid Zoro-like exit, ... Jean Paul Gaultier Aside from how this model looks like he's just been kicked out of a magician's alliance and is making a rapid Zoro-like exit, the thick band of leather over his nipples is riveting. It appears to have a pocket, in which case it would function like a fanny pack, and yet it's over the nipples, like a chest pack. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni/Alessandro Lucioni
Vivienne Westwood Apparently Westwood was thinking about how the early polar explorers dressed, and how cold they were, when she came up with thi... Vivienne Westwood Apparently Westwood was thinking about how the early polar explorers dressed, and how cold they were, when she came up with this show. Even so, it's hard to say whether the crusts on the beards and hair of her models were meant to resemble snot or snow or a mixture of the two. Though the hair and makeup was so dramatic it seemed to render the clothes beside the point, Style.com proclaimed, "This was Westwood at her most restrained."
Frankie Morello Waxed, made of wax -- it's all the same these days. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni/Alessandro Lucioni
Boris Bidjan Saberi The asymmetrical janitor. Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo Scarpato 2011
Thom Browne And yet again Browne displays his signature knack for stuffing a hot, buff man into a skirt everyone feel even more uncomfortable abo... Thom Browne And yet again Browne displays his signature knack for stuffing a hot, buff man into a skirt everyone feel even more uncomfortable about it than they already are. 
Henrik Vibskov The dress/jacket/robe (?) is like a walking bag of cocaine. Not because it looks like a mixture of razor blades and drugs but oh, ... Henrik Vibskov The dress/jacket/robe (?) is like a walking bag of cocaine. Not because it looks like a mixture of razor blades and drugs but oh, the smuggling possibilities afforded by those pockets. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni/Alessandro Lucioni
Dries Van Noten There are actual flames on the suit. Actual flames. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni/Alessandro Lucioni
Damir Doma Rachel Zoe's son sure grew up fast. Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo Scarpato 2011
Givenchy I'm pretty sure I saw a few women wearing this to the ballet in Texas in December. 
Rynshu Hopefully this is a jumpsuit, instead of separates. Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo Scarpato 2011
Versace You know how some skiing people just seem to like to ski so that they can brag about it? Like people in yoga who try to show off? Well th... Versace You know how some skiing people just seem to like to ski so that they can brag about it? Like people in yoga who try to show off? Well this is the ski suit for the person who likes to brag about skiing, but gets to the slopes and, rather than ski, sits in the chalet, trying to show off. 
Christian Lacroix Also in the pretentious skiwear category. Photo: Alessandro Lucioni
agnes b. Of course this look is mostly notable for the theatrics of the model, who smartly fancies himself a bat. Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo S... agnes b. Of course this look is mostly notable for the theatrics of the model, who smartly fancies himself a bat. Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo Scarpato 2011
Alexis Mabille Choosing one look from this show was tough, but it's that tiny, almost imperceptible bow at the waist that clinched it. Photo: C... Alexis Mabille Choosing one look from this show was tough, but it's that tiny, almost imperceptible bow at the waist that clinched it. Photo: Carlo Scarpato/Carlo Scarpato 2011
John Galliano Though much more toned down than the runway shows Galliano himself produced, Bill Gaytten managed to make his models look sinisterl... John Galliano Though much more toned down than the runway shows Galliano himself produced, Bill Gaytten managed to make his models look sinisterly flamboyant without all the eyeliner. Photo: Carlo Scarpato 2011
Etro Alex Rees's reaction to this look: "Oh, I've ALWAYS wanted one."
Bernhard Willhelm [This box is being left purposefully blank.]
Dolce & Gabbana This is great. Dolce puts chicks on the runways in panties all the time so the men ought to have to walk in varying degrees o... Dolce & Gabbana This is great. Dolce puts chicks on the runways in panties all the time so the men ought to have to walk in varying degrees of nakedness, too. When the show ended, these guys were dying to talk about their juice fasts, but no reporters were around to ask them about it.
1 / 19

Tags:

  • daily male
  • milan men's fashion week fall 2012
  • paris men's fashion week fall 2012
  • slideshow

More Galleries

in memoriam Dec. 30, 2020
30 Incredible Fashion Moments From Pierre Cardin  Remembering a creative visionary. 
By Andrew Nguyen
rest in power Dec. 23, 2020
A Photo Memorial for an Iconic Model  She passed away suddenly at the age of 50 this week. 
campaign trail Nov. 18, 2020
‘Tis the Season for New Fashion Ads  See the best ones from Gucci, Prada, Versace, and more. 
By Emily Burns
nyfw spring 2021 Oct. 26, 2020
How a Great Collection Comes Alive  Christopher John Rogers launched its first-ever online shop, along with a new campaign. 
By Andrew Nguyen
campaign trail Sept. 24, 2020
See the Fashion Campaigns for Fall 2020  From Prada, Michael Kors, Celine, Louis Vuitton, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
nyfw spring 2021 Sept. 22, 2020
See the Coach Spring 2021 Collection  Worn by Megan Thee Stallion, Kate Moss, Cole Sprouse, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
fashion Sept. 16, 2020
The Stunning Awkwardness of Face Masks on the Red Carpet  Celebrities tried to make the best of a strange situation at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. 
one word one shot Sept. 15, 2020
72 Designers on Their Spring/Summer Inspirations  Just in time for Fashion Week. 
By the Cut
red carpet Sept. 8, 2020
This Red Carpet Was Totally Surreal  But also amazing. See all the looks at the Venice Film Festival. 
By Emilia Petrarca and Andrew Nguyen
in memoriam Aug. 31, 2020
Remembering Chadwick Boseman on the Red Carpet  His style was bold, risk-taking, and always impeccable. 
the wedding files Aug. 21, 2020
The Design-Minded Couple Who Didn’t Want to Try Too Hard  The bride got a wonderful surprise the morning of her wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 14, 2020
A Costa Rica Wedding During the Rainy Season  Thunder roared during the toasts. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 7, 2020
A San Francisco Wedding at a Big, Empty Pier  The bride changed into crushed-velvet pants for the disco-infused reception. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 31, 2020
An Elopement Among the Lupines in Iceland  The late afternoon was spent snapping photos near waterfalls and black beaches. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 24, 2020
A Pennsylvania Potluck for 280 People  “I looked at her for the first time and had this feeling like, You. I know you.” 
By Kaitlin Menza
milan fashion week July 22, 2020
Behind the Scenes at Gucci’s Virtual Show  Instead of models, members of the design team sported the eccentric collection. 
By Andrew Nguyen
the wedding files July 17, 2020
A Dance Party Under Puerto Rican Palm Trees  Bad Bunny blasted and pitorro flowed. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 10, 2020
A Zoom Wedding Only Two Digital Creatives Could Produce  The couple coordinated multiple video segments, breakout rooms, and a dance party. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 3, 2020
The Anti-Spectacle Wedding That Turned Into a Spectacle  Brooklyn Bridge Park was the site of their first date, proposal, and wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files June 26, 2020
A Night at the Philadelphia Museum of Art  The flowers were specially treated to protect the masterpieces. 
By Kaitlin Menza
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.