Yves Saint Laurent, Menswear, SS12, Paris.

The images above and below from the Spring-Summer 2012 Menswear show from the team at Yves Saint Laurent, are an elegant example of how to use fastenings as a functional and decorative menswear element. The use of button extensions on collars both enhanced the collar shape to make it more unusual and could also be used to create a high collar by buttoning to the underside of the top collar on the opposite side. The minimal colour palette also allowed space for more complex closures to be created out of a combination of zips, button tabs, loops and D-rings. Perhaps the most surprising element was in the use of the lacing and eyelets which threw a corset reference in amongst the very military / uniform inspired pieces.

Images from Vogue.co.uk»