Casablanca‘s Spring 2025 menswear collection, unveiled at Paris Fashion Week, offered a vibrant tribute to Los Angeles subcultures. Designer Charaf Tajer drew inspiration from his youthful fascination with Mexican-American style, translating it into a diverse array of looks that captured the essence of West Coast fashion.
The show opened with an eye-catching display of lowrider cars, setting the stage for a collection that fused luxury with a street-inspired aesthetic. Tajer’s designs showcased a range of influences, from pinstripe blazer dresses to leather-trimmed mesh ensembles reminiscent of high-end fashion houses.
Notably, the collection featured several nods to Chicano style, including crystal-embellished hair nets, open satin work shirts, and bandanas tucked into waistbands. These elements were paired with more polished pieces, creating a unique fusion of urban and upscale fashion.
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Psychedelic prints inspired by California artists adorned many garments, adding a bold, graphic element to the collection. Multicolored gradient effects on crystal-trimmed shirts evoked the glare of headlights on windshields, a clever nod to LA’s car culture.
The show also included a section influenced by the surf culture of Venice Beach, featuring oversized denim pieces with rainbow frayed edges. These pieces were particularly strong, fusing casual beachwear with high fashion sensibilities.
While some looks teetered on the edge of cultural appropriation, Tajer’s genuine appreciation for the styles he referenced was evident throughout the collection. The designer’s ability to fuse diverse influences into a cohesive presentation demonstrated Casablanca’s growing sophistication in fashion.
