Review of Amiri Fall 2023 Men’s Fashion Show
Respecting the OGs
By Obi Anyanwu
On the heels of a CFDA nomination, Mike Amiri debuted his latest offering at Le Carreau du Temple to an audience comprised of a who’s who in hip-hop and R&B, including multi-platinum sensation (and this season’s fashion week favorite), Usher, Puma Creative Director and hip-hop royalty June Ambrose and even rapper Kodak Black who snuck into his seat right before the venue doors closed.
Upon entering, the stark white seating and carpeting were offset by a giant, translucent green platform with a shining centerpiece molded into the brand logo. It wasn’t until legendary producer DJ Premier and the band took the stage to perform a few iconic, old school rap songs from Nas and Gangstarr crate did things start to click.
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and Amiri paid homage to a few of the culture’s pillars.
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and Amiri paid homage to a few of the culture’s pillars. Each model was dressed in Amiri’s modern and luxurious take on the DJs and b-boys of the late 1970s best captured by photography by Jamel Shabazz or even films like Beat Street, Breakin’, and Wild Style that tried to match the energy of the growing NYC subculture in the early 1980’s.
The opening look was paired with a red milk crate, nodding to the DJ’s who would store their vinyl records in milk crates and carry them with their turntables to their gigs. Leather berets with brims paired with varsity jackets, vertical bar stripe button shirts and cardigans, wool pattern sweaters and baggy silk trousers revive the style for the change of the musical guard when disco was declared dead and hip-hop patterns began migrating beyond the Bronx and Harlem. Also, handbags had a vibration pattern that also looked like a vinyl record, as well as a speaker.
The collection had a dose of modernity from multiple pocket cargo pants that went the length of the pants, patterned plush jackets, trippy black and white checker patterns that appeared in the entire collection in numerous styles and colors, graphic wool sweaters that bore a graffiti image and a DJ. Meanwhile, several bedazzled styles spoke to the flash and flair of the glitzy and glamorous 1970’s. Still, hip-hop was the main focus and allowed for baggier trousers and longer layers—both ongoing trends in these past seasons—to show out.
Still, hip-hop was the main focus and allowed for baggier trousers and longer layers—both ongoing trends in these past seasons—to show out.
