So, off we trot to CHALAYAN’s AW17 show, which is very nice as it marks his return to London. We’re happy to have you. Especially since your shop is mere moments from our office and thus means we can come back and have a little lie down post show. As you probably know, Hussein Chalayan is an intellectual. Hence why, in lieu of an obscure reference point frantically Googled in the back of a moving car, we will instead sort of spew out the press release in an attempt to look a bit more informed that we actually are. According to that this was about Greece (brownie points from our very own Grecian Editrix-in-Chief), more specifically, and here’s where you need to pay attention, it was about Ancient Greek values being replaced in the 19th century with a “new value system endorsed by corporate forces.” To which we will reduce to: office meets ancient. Which this sort of was – clean-lined outerwear and suiting met something softer, more draped – like the loose shirting that fell open at the front, trousers that tied around the waist, a dropped shoulder silhouette that ran throughout. Either way, this was a simple, beautiful collection – call it a palette cleanser – clothes we would, quite happily, strip off the models and wear out on to the street. And what better compliment than that?
Photographs by Jason Lloyd-Evans
