Lush and Plush - The FADER

Lush and Plush: Astrid Andersen Softens Up the Man in Topman

The menswear designer brings her flair for fancy to the mass market.

Photographer Kathy Lo
June 11, 2014


The menswear designer brings her flair for fancy to the mass market


From the magazine: ISSUE 92, June/July 2014

Ahead of the in-store debut of her first-ever Topman collaboration tomorrow, and her Spring/Summer 2015 runway collection at London's Mens' Fashion Week, Astrid Andersen shares how she brought her signature femme-leaning designs to the international retailer.

Topman has been nurturing and supporting Swedish-based menswear designer Astrid Andersen for years through their emerging designer program, MAN, but if the gender-bending hot-pink Chantilly lace jumpers and ab-bearing tracksuits she’s sent down the runway are a little too flagrant for you, she’s teamed up this summer for a more crowd-friendly official capsule collection that lets the masses in on her infamous androgynous thug swag. “What I love about this collection is that it’s for another kind of customer, but they all belong to the same tribe,” says Andersen. “For me to create something that these kids can buy, that’s a really great opportunity.” Plush pullovers are done in soft, stylish shades of magenta, black basketball shorts boast a lining of sheer fabric and full-on tracksuits come in easy, angelic white. Despite her attraction to femme-friendly fabrics like lacey florals and mesh, she’s happy to make her mark on the men’s side of the high-street aisle. “For me, it's very important that it’s a menswear label—cause that’s just what I’m into,” says Andersen. “If we started to shoot all my lace looks on girls, then maybe it's just not that interesting anymore.” Consider this capsule a safe, small step into Andersen’s world of brave, baby-blue boys.

Styling Mobolaji Dawodu. Styling Assistance Dennine Dyer. Model Matt Davidson. Photo Assistance Jonathan Hokklo, Ershi Sebok.


Lush and Plush: Astrid Andersen Softens Up the Man in Topman