June is men’s mental health awareness month in the U.S, & fashion is one of our most effective outlets. As the one and only Alexander McQueen said: “fashion should be a form of escapism.” Hedi Slimane’s Dior Homme Spring/Summer 2002 “Boys Don’t Cry” collection embraced this sentiment in style.
Despite having taken inspiration from many areas, including punk band “Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers,” the direct collection title underlined a very singular message about young men, young love, & the wounds that a society saying “boys don’t cry” leaves behind. Often outlined as one of the prime examples of connecting youth with the fashion world, Slimane’s iconic “Bloodwound Tank Shirt” has become synonymous with the designer’s time at Dior, & for good reason.
Working in tandem with mood-setting rough around the edges & messy-haired models as well as show notes from surrealist French poet Arthur Rimbaud, Slimane’s bloodied Dior pieces physically donned its broken hearts, physicalising a focus on the potent impact that young male heartbreak can have on the youth whilst emphasising a firm stance: vulnerability is strength. Oh yeah, and boys do cry.
