We’re back from summer break, only to find the freshly printed issue of Fantastic Man on our desks. Oh glory! We’re sure you’ll be pleased with this one, and keep your eyes out for lots of reveals and announcements next week. ■ One of the men celebrated in this issue is the incredible actor BILL SKARSGÅRD, who took our writer DOUGLAS GREENWOOD on a stroll through Stockholm. ■ The photos, by ILYA LIPKIN with styling by HISATO TASAKA, were shot in New York City, which may explain a certain American Dream vibe, from when American dreaming was still a thing…

Last week we enjoyed some of the glitz and glamour that is Amsterdam Fashion Week. You won’t get a full analysis of the week, just because I missed too many events. But my highlight was CAMIEL FORTGENS’ show at Albert Heijn, the supermarket chain that is neither chic nor cheap but was surely nice enough to open its aisles late at night for this fashion happening. Such fun! ■ Already before the models came out, one’s attention was drawn to what CAMIEL’s staff members were wearing: a deconstructed take on the Albert Heijn uniform. Until it turned out they were just wearing regular staff uniforms, but inside out. ■ It says so much about the FORTGENS approach to fashion: great mundane clothes, if not for a special flurry, a wonky seam, a frayed hem, a subtle dye. I loved this presentation even more than FORTGENS’ recent show in Paris. ■ The designer was in last season’s Fantastic Man, back when we also did this jolly video interview with him.

Another good one at Amsterdam Fashion Week: PABLO SALVADOR WILLEMARS with a show inspired by protective rainwear (and some other typically Dutch staples). Great timing – rain’s been lashing down nonstop as of late after our long dry summer. ■ PABLO has also appeared in Fantastic Man before, in Spring & Summer 2021, when he modelled a collection made by his then-boss, DURAN LANTINK. And actually, PABLO’s work gels well with the circular approach that launched LANTINK’s fame. A similar reuse of vintage fashion (did I see a reworked BURBERRY trench?), paired with a great eye for colour, and lots of fun hats. ■ Amsterdam Fashion Week is a local playground, and its director DANIE BLES does a great job. Let’s see what that means for the many new designers (ULKUHAN&BATUHAN, ATELIER RESERVÉ and of course PABLO SALVADOR WILLEMARS) in a fashion future.

Oh, why not! Here’s one of these PAUL KOOIKER pictures of DURAN LANTINK’s SS21 collection, modelled by PABLO, from Fantastic Man 33.

Fashion giant UNIQLO sent tennis giant ROGER FEDERER to Amsterdam to meet design giant KAREL MARTENS. Watch this cute video. You’ll remember MARTENS, or “KM” as he often goes by, from one of our covers for Fantastic Man 41 from one year ago.