Men’s Fall 2017 Collection: 3.1 Phillip Lim

American fashion designer of Chinese and Cambodian descent Phillip Lim decided to go for a reportage approach this season, asking a model friend to self-style the line.

To showcase his Men’s Fall 2017 collection, the designer opted for a reportage approach instead of a runway show in Paris. Lim tapped his model friend, Paolo Roldan, as he self-style the collection.

According to WWD, “In a walk-through at his New York showroom, Lim said the idea was to “romance reality” this season with a wearable collection of wardrobe basics that could be dressed up or dressed down, depending on the occasion. That shone through in the images of Roldan, who mixed and matched his favorites from the line for the photos that the company will use in place of a show.”

“I wanted to bring the clothes closer to the man, so I asked Paolo to just go for it — free rein. He has such an instinctual spontaneity in the way he connects to clothes, a unique perspective that brings out a fresh, sophisticated street elegance,” Lim said.

He described the line as “not a show collection, but a closet,” he said.

Standout pieces include a parka in camel with a drawstring waist, soft blazer with no shoulder construction, long shirt that could double as a sport coat, high-waisted trousers and joggers, toggle ranch coat with a shearling collar, bowler jacket with a spirit animal print on the reverse, souvenir jackets and lounge pants, velour joggers, tee-shirts and sweatshirts.

“I just want to reach out and reset what a man is,” Lim said.