ABOUT ME
Patrick Michael Hughes
Patrick Michael Hughes is a fashion and decorative arts historian. He writes about fashion culture past and present making connections to New York, London and Copenhagen's fashion weeks with an eye toward men's fashion. He joined IRK Magazine as a fashion men's editor during winter of 2017.
He is often cited as a historical source for numerous pieces appearing in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, LVMH, Conde Nast, Highsnobiety and others. His fashion career includes years as a fashion reporter/producer of branded content for the New York local news in the hyper digital sector. Patrick's love of travel and terrain enabled him to becoming an experienced cross-country equestrian intensively riding in a number of locations in South America Scandinavia,The United Kingdom and Germany. However, he is not currently riding, but rather speaking internationally to designers, product development teams, marketing teams and ascending designers in the US, Europe and China.
Following his BA in the History of Art from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York he later completed graduate studios in exhibition design in New York. it was with the nudge and a conversation in regard to a design assignment interviewing Richard Martin curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art he was encouraged to consider shifting his focus to the decorative arts with a concentration in fashion history and curation.
Patrick completed graduate studies 17th and 18th century French Royal interiors and decoration and 18th century French fashion culture at Musée Les Arts Decoratifs-Musée de Louvre in Paris. Upon his return to New York along with other classes and independent studies in American fashion he earned his MA in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from the Parsons/Cooper Hewitt Design Museum program in New York. His final specialist focus was in 19th century English fashion and interiors with distinction in 20th century American fashion history and design.
Currently, he is an Associate Teaching Professor at Parsons School of Design leading fashion history lecture-studios within the School of Art and Design History and Theory,
Let’s work together!
Sugar Coated, Candy ‘OVERDOSE’
Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2022 digital presentations has once again bought to light new and ascending brands. The Swedish/German brand LAZOSCHMIDL founded by Josef Lazo and Andreas Schmidl is an anticipated Paris Fashion Week fascination….
Highlighting a Sensual Greek Harvest
Patrick Michael Hughes Senior Fashion Editor Photographs by Joey Leo Celebrating the first week of Summer 2021 IRK re-visits some compelling and timeless images form the exhibition Harvest held at the Eleni Marneii Galerie in…
JORDANLUCA’s Hopeful Reckoning
The June presentation of London Fashion Week has just come to an end and the variations of filmed collections ranged from performance art, filmed concepts, choreographic sequences and oh yes! some clothing. There were also…
Scripting Summer Sex at LAZOSCHMIDL
Playful sex or plays on sexuality are not new in fashion, its eras and moments have long reaching historical and cultural connections of convergence. Most of the instances happen during periods of re-definition, revolution and…
REIMAGINE-Katharine Hamnett and Patrick McDowell
Katharine Hamnett and Patrick McDowell photographed by Lorenzo Berni MAY 14, 2021 – Sustainable fashion designers Katharine Hamnett and Patrick McDowell launch Reimagine collection in support of British businesses and fight back against the negative…
The Civic Duty of Red Lipstick
Mask wearing, social distancing, lock downs and re-setting awareness leading to transformed private and public engagement are all factors, for all contributing citizens. Who are experiencing the current cultural tectonics, shift and fatigue of flux….
Storytelling & Sustainability at STAN
STAN Los Angeles prides itself on a unique approach to fashion construction. Using detail oriented historical techniques of handcraft, mending, and quilting. Launched by surfer and fashion model Tristan Detwiler, STAN is based on sustainability…
The Comfort and Safety of AKNVAS F/W21
The AKNVAS collection is created from a lens, which is looking at a world, in which we are all seeking comfort and safety. Creative Director Christian Juul Nielsen’s inspiration journey took him to revisit his…
KA WA KEY A/W21’THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS’
Through The Looking Glass, KA WA KEY AW 21 collection observes the duality of the imagination and reality inspired by larger than life characters and their dual personalities. Characters like Willy Wonka, Moira Rose, Peter…