Clemens en August hits Tokyo ♥

I'm posting this baby too in English since I want ALL the fans of Munich-based cult brand Clemens en August that might be in Tokyo to know about this weekend's big fashion thrill.

Clemens en August is the brainchild of Dutch sartorial wizz Alexander Brenninkmeijer. The brand concept is to twice a year tour the world with a couple of air-freight containers filled to the rim with the brand's signature minimalist, sharp-cut clothing.
For 3-4 days the Clemens en August team set up a temporary pop-up shop in the coolest art galleries or theatres the globe has to offer, whether it's Tokyo, Milan, Berlin or London.Their followers keep themselves posted on the dates and locations through word-of-mouth or the newsletter (sign up HERE).

This month, the team is travelling the continents with the spring collections for both ladies and gents.
From this Thursday through Sunday, us tokyoites can browse the collections at the Eye of Gyre gallery in Omotesando (in the GYRE building, the black box containing Chanel, Martin Margiela and Bulgari).
And all I can say is DO IT!! Go go go!


Today, I met founder/owner Alexander in the Tokyo showroom for an interview and a sneak-peek. The styles are sleek, understated and simple yet boast an immaculate attention to detail. Often compared to Helmut Lang, Clemens en August put emphasis on wearable, well-crafted designs for urban fashionistas. No surprise that the clientele mainly consists of intellectuals, artists, designers and media-types.

So, highlights bitte!
Us girls will fall head over heels for this season's puffy mini-shorts, available in black or cream, or the sexy boyfriend suit with low-slung costume pants and a well-tailored jacket, available in the most beautiful pink/coral hue known to the human eye. The collection also features a classic yet edgy wrap dress, lush cream-coloured blouses, simple silk tanks and ultra-flattering jersey tops with quirky sleeves.
Our boys will be handsome as h.e.l.l in tailored pants teamed with casual tops or the brutally oversized pyjama-ish costume trousers.

I can't pin down what the most major attraction is; maybe the celeb following including Lily Cole, Claudia Schiffer, James McEnvoy and Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand (Alex never enters the stage without his black Clemens en August pants)? Or maybe the seductive items themselves, sprinkled in effortless chique? Or is it the fact that's there is not a store in the world selling the collections, so we have to hunt down our darlings when they are making their exclusive touch-down in our cities, making the shopping experience feel like an exclusive members-only club we are proud to join?
And on top of all, thanks to saving on renting store space, the prices are super-modest. A men's shirt retails for around 115 GBP, just to hand you an example. The pricetag is about a third of what you expect to pay for clothing of this caliber.

What's not to love?

If you happen to be in Tokyo, don't miss the temporary shop in the Eye of Gyre for the world.

To listen to my interview with Alexander Brenninkmeijer, tune into the TOKYO METPOD already tonight. On Sunday or Monday, the Metpod will air a 15-minute interview where the lovely Alexander talks about his impressions of Tokyo as a fashion city ("the fashion capital of the world"), his life as a fashion globetrotter, boys in skirts and much much more.

Clemens en August pop-up store Tokyo
EYE OF GYRE Omotesando Thursday April 16th - Sunday April 19th
www.clemensenaugust.com

PS.
Next week, the collections are travelling to Berlin, to showcase at the highly prestigous art gallery Sprûth Magers (april 23rd-25th).