The impact that Daniel Lee had on menswear during his time at Bottega Veneta doesn’t get talked about enough. Even though he was only there for three years from 2018 to 2021, the impact from his Bottega days still lives on today. To be honest, he might be the reason for all of FashionTok’s favourite buzzwords like “cropped and boxy,” “elongated sleeves” and, ofc, “proportions.”
After working under Phoebe Philo at Celine for six years as design director, Bottega Veneta came knocking on Lee’s door and asked him to revive the brand that was typically known for its leather goods. Lee did just that, bringing us the iconic “Bottega Green,” It-bags like the Pouch and Cassette and, most importantly, changing the landscape of modern menswear.
Lee took classic menswear staples like a blouson jacket or blazer and added his signature details like elongated sleeves and a cropped length that, paired with a wider width, gave off a boxy silhouette. He paired these tops with floor-touching, shoe-puddling bottoms that sat on the hip and chunky footwear, creating a flattering shape that makes the legs look longer, and, in turn, making the wearer look taller.
In the landscape of post-hype fashion and Pinterest-inspired e-boy looks from the late 2010s that involved skinny, cropped jeans and long, oversized hoodies, this was a complete switch-up. Lee introduced a new look that was all about minimalism where shapes and intricate details that flatter the body spoke louder than logos.
All these design elements that set Lee’s Bottega apart from everything else at the time still holds true for menswear trends today. Every brand is shortening their tops and widening and lengthening their bottoms rn and we’ve only got Daniel Lee to thank for it. His time at Bottega Veneta really was generational.
Featured images via Bottega Veneta©
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