Francisco Hernandez and his collection
Walking up to the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s large metalwork doors, umbrella in tow to keep the downpour of rain at bay, I spotted through the open door a glimpse of what the night had to behold. The grand room, lit with gold, held a bevy of stylish people. Laughing and mingling, sparkles caught the light and leather looked especially sultry. The occasion was the Built For Man Fashion Show, which is designed locally by Francisco Hernandez. The menswear line features “designs made for the outlaw in you.”
Guests in the lobby
Along with the brand’s signature knits, the collection was filled with leather. Jackets, pants and even bodysuits all fit to perfection. This tough-chic look was a big trend at the Fall RTW shows just a few weeks ago. 3.1 Phillip Lim, Belstaff and other labels showed leather menswear looks. A Built for Man leather vest paired with a thick scarf, or a sleek sweater with leather pants are extremely wearable combinations. Even in the spring, one of the leather jackets could be worn with a light shirt underneath and a cool pair of jeans. Furthermore, the collection was nearly all black, which adds to the ease of matching the pieces with each other and other garments. For the already casual man, a piece from this collection could complement his wardrobe, rather than seem out of place. A woman could even wear some of the slimmer sweaters and leather pieces, adding a cool juxtaposition with feminine silhouettes. Built for Man is both well-conceived and highly crafted.
A Built for Man look
Guests pre-show
Built for Man can be found online at www.builtforman.com
or at David Lawrence, 700 110th Ave NE
#275, Bellevue
