By | Renee Ellis
During any of the numerous fashion weeks, creatives, influencers, designers, spectators, and anyone with a love of design flocks to the fashion hubs of the world. We all gawk and stare at the looks that hit the runway every year. The shows are breathtaking. Looking at the works of some of the more influential designers in the game can be captivating. Some other looks leave more to be desired. However, that is the beauty of fashion. There is always going to be room for more creativity, more style, and more artistry. One designer, in particular, has added vision to the runway and has been making a splash out of Los Angeles and on the entire world.
Mike Amiri got started in fashion by creating bespoke creations for musicians. He quickly gained popularity and has been solidified in fashion history as being a heavy influence on the evolution of men’s fashion. He is known for his “rock n’ roll” take on men’s clothing while also mixing edgy design with streetwear (Jordan). Through his vision in fashion, he has been tied to Virgil Abol and the driving cultures behind streetwear. In an article written by Samuel Hine, and published by Whitewall he writes,
I pile into a black Escalade with Mike, his wife, Shirin, and the actor and musician Lakeith Stanfield, who is Amiri’s other date to the CFDA Awards. Stanfield, riding shotgun, says he discovered Amiri through hip-hop: “A lot of artists that I was listening to were wearing it.”
Amiri’s relationship with celebrity, and his understanding of how to harness it, reminds me a bit of his friend Virgil Abloh. With Abloh, a fellow American fashion unicorn, there was little distinction between client and ambassador and homie. At Amiri, I get the sense that he tends to his community with the same care that he gives his collections. And it seems like the rappers and hoopers who wear his gear and attend his shows also genuinely love hanging out with Amiri, who is warm and thoughtful, prone to pauses in conversation as he searches for just the right thing to say. He is also an ideal representative of his idea of LA luxury—Amiri looks deeply relaxed at all times, with a wrinkle-free tan and a slicked-back undercut that somehow always looks perfect (Jordan).
Amiri’s take on fashion and his style has allowed him to form his own lane in the industry. Now, fashion fanatics, fans, and creatives alike look for Amiri to drop new creativity on the runway. In his Autumn/Winter 2024, he was able to captivate audiences yet again, and of course, celebrities from every industry came out in support of the new men’s line.
His outfits from the collection gave the audience a look at men’s fashion through a historical lens. Written by Luke Leitch and published in an article by Vogue it has been stated, “Amiri’s wearable encapsulations of the metamorphosis into aspirational maturity mixed ’90s kick pant shapes with revival ’50s motifs including softly boxy lounge suit jacket shapes (OG Brioni) and luxuriously realized out of time textures like fleck. Jacquards depicted Old Hollywood landmarks (Leitch).”
My favorite aspect of this entire collection is the customization of all of his looks. Amiri made constructible looks that in return, can be deconstructed by the viewer. Each outfit was made with a variety of different pieces layered, styled, and worked together. On their own, the individual garments and accessories that make up the looks themselves are stunning but put together so beautifully, they spark inspiration.
There are times when men’s fashion can leave the industry feeling as though there is so much more to be desired. However, with this collection, Amiri gives a plethora of options as to what men’s fashion can look like. Even the celebrities that attended the show, were able to build incredible looks with the individual pieces. Looks that complemented their style while also speaking to the originality of the collection.
Another note to add is the beauty of diversity present on the runway. Amiri truly is a designer for the people, and racial diversity is evidence of it.
Also, he gets his inspiration from the people and cultures around him. In an interview with Whitewall, he stated, “WW: Tell us a bit about how L.A. culture influences you.
MA: L.A. represents a melting pot of diverse subcultures, which have inspired me since I was young—skaters, musicians, rock stars, and artists (Jordan).”
Overall, Amiri has long been establishing himself as a fashion powerhouse, and by the looks of his latest collection, there is much more in store. From the color palettes to the styling, the physical show, and the execution of the show, there is so much to acknowledge and love about his work. Understandably, many people in the fashion world are looking forward to the next Mike Amiri show to see him further elevate the world of fashion for men.
Sources
Jordan, Eliza. “The Evolution of Amiri and Its Luxurious DNA.” Whitewall, 25 Mar. 2021,
Leitch, Luke. “Amiri Fall 2024 Menswear Collection.” Vogue, Vogue, 18 Jan. 2024,
News, CMB. Twitter, twitter.com/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Samuel Hine, Danielle Levitt. “Can Mike Amiri Build the next Global Luxury Fashion House?”
GQ, 18 Jan. 2024, www.gq.com/story/mike-amiri-profile-paris-fashion-week.
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