Second time that Paul Smith’s boys and girls shared the catwalk, this season delivering up what we will call a fishy feast. Perhaps you could even say they were serving fish on the runway (har har). Those fish appeared across the collection – mackerel, tuna, crabs etc. – graphic illustrations like those found on old tin cans and here apparently inspired by a Tokyo fish market. Imagining, with our small knowledge of the country of Japan, that a Tokyo fish market would probably be a rather colourful affair. And this was colourful. Very colourful, as also suggested by the rainbow-coloured perspex set.
On the clothes – zig-zags of red and electric blues, emerald greens and cerise, punchy Hawaiian print shirts. That seaside-y, Hawaiian thing ran through the collection – the same print running across lightweight parkas, bags and belts, or for the lady Smith, across frocks that wrapped around the body or clashing-print blouses and skirts. Lots of good tailoring here – that is, after all, Paul’s signature – here cut slim on the leg but open at the blazer to reveal the model’s chests beneath. Some trousers were cut wider, ballooning out from the waist, tapering slightly towards the ankle. It all felt very easy. Which is what Paul Smith should feel. What more can we say? We’d wear it.
