The new decade has everyone in an experimental mood. As the rapid-fire state of menswear continues to rival women’s fashion—and the speed with which trends take hold—designers are looking to keep up with their customers’ growing desire for a dynamic wardrobe that isn’t limited to a singular archetype or style. For David Hart’s Fall 2020 outing, this meant taking a trip through his archives and reinterpreting his favorite pieces from all 15 seasons to date. Operating under the alias “R.Mutt,” a reference to Marcel Duchamp (an artist who worked in ready-mades), Hart revisited a number of his brand’s beloved signatures. The end result looked even better the second time around.

“I see this as a snapshot of our time and a representation of how guys are dressing today,” Hart said at his presentation on Monday. Among the tightly-edited lineup of 11 looks, he diversified across styles and decades with items for all kinds of guys – from the groovy dude who dares to wear bell-bottoms and a ’70s-inspired suede bomber for retro good measure to the urban cowboy looking to ride out fashion’s country-Western movement in a piped shirt tied with a silk foulard. And for the fashion-conscious creative type in need of a little more executive realness at the office, there was a super slouchy pinstripe suit that fit the bill minus any of the stuffiness.

Beyond the archival references here, Hart found other ways of presenting the familiar in a new light. His precise tailoring ran alongside more relaxed, easy pieces that will appeal to a customer who wants to look pulled together but not uptight A camp shirt printed with duct-taped bananas was a cheeky nod to Maurizio Cattelan’s notorious $120,000 plantain that took Art Basel (and social media) by storm. Elsewhere, a two-tone cardigan that could have been lifted from Mr. Rogers’ closet was second only to a letterman sweater paired with Christian Louboutin high-top sneakers. Both had the quality of long-term classics that guys can add to their own wardrobe and bring out again and again.

Photos by imaxtree.com