ERL, the new California-based menswear brand designed by Eli Russell Linnetz, is making waves on social media. The most recent Fall 2021 collection was Linnetz’s third collection under the brand, but this collection is just another card in the Rolodex for him. He has directed Kayne West’s “Famous” and “Fade” music videos, designed sets for Lady Gaga, worked as a graphic designer, and is even a trained opera singer. Linnetz is most definitely a jack of all trades, but his work in fashion has been his most successful.
ERL’s Fall 21 Collection entitled The Final Frontier draws inspiration from skiwear/sportswear, Americana, and psychedelics, but most importantly, Linnetz draws inspiration from sex. Linnetz’s fashion work has always had a thread of erotica throughout, but what he is doing by pulling the focus to male sexuality is something many other designers tend to not focus on.
The collection opens with a model undressing from a sweatshirt and a cropped t-shirt paired with long johns and athletic shorts with about a 3-inch inseam. The collection continues with the model in different athletic-style clothing. We then see the model in a cropped red tank top holding a baseball bat in white boxer briefs and white socks. In the following image, the baseball bat is in his underwear — a suggestive image, to say the least.
The collection proceeds with fraternity-inspired t-shirts, declaring EAT ME in Greek letters paired with classic denim. Following that, we see the assortment of puffer jackets paired with ski boots and poles, fur coats, and football shoulder pads. Closing out the collection are puffer jackets and ski pants in psychedelic florals and silver metallics.
Linnetz has the potential to bring the sexy guy back or really into fashion. Most menswear designers focus on suiting and tailoring, creating the perfect guy in the perfect black suit for the perfect black-tie event. Don’t get me wrong, I love a man in a suit, but that sexiness is not every day sexy. What ERL does is bring the sexy guy-next-door into the fashion world. The hot guy on the football team. Your neighbor who washes his car shirtless in his driveway. The guy in your history class you just can’t stop staring at. ERL plays off the idea of the sexy jock, who knows nothing about fashion and makes that fashion.
ERL has already done some significant work with the quintessential 2021 “boys-next-door.” In a shoot for Interview Magazine in September, Linnetz shot the five boys of the famous Tik-Tok influencer house, Sway House, in his clothing. It was like the side of a Hollister bag gone wild. Unbuttoned jeans, tank-tops, boxer-briefs galore. I think it was a genius move for ERL to align themselves with these rising stars in the social media world, and it helps the boys portray their “sexy guy” image.
ERL could be the next major brand in American fashion, so I recommend you bring Nostalgia and Sex into your Fall Wardrobe. Who doesn’t love anything NSFW?
Written By Tommy Drennan
Graphic by Emily Tobias