“Fashion can be boring, and Hood By Air isn’t” – Tea Hacic-Vlahovic dissects HBA’s innovative, oversized and avant-garde collection for AW15.

There’s nothing strange about Hood By Air having their show on Wall Street. Criminals inspired the collection, after all! Pimp suits, prison uniforms, pantyhose masks and straight jackets were all a vital part of the brand’s “Daddy” collection. And how vital it is for Fall 2015!

Hood By Air came out of thin air. Shayne Oliver knew the fashion world had a niche missing and he went and filled it. Since 2006, his hoodies and shirts slowly crept into high fashion shops like Opening Ceremony and Collette. Then, with the help of fans like A$ap Rocky and Rihanna, the brand’s hype skyrocketed. What once served as underground club gear turned into one of the most anticipated shows in New York Fashion Week. HBA’s latest runway was packed with highly relevant editors, artists and “taste makers.” I’m not sure what that last job entitles but if it has anything to do with sampling sweets, count me in!

The Very Important Guests seemed pleased with the sharp silhouettes and hideous models. No offence to the models! They were made to look ugly, with the help of pantyhose, embellished dentures and makeup, which distorted their features. I don’t understand the trend of turning gorgeous models into trolls. Wouldn’t it be easier to just hire models who were born ugly? You know, people like you and me?

Maybe that’s the point! We can all relate, can’t we? We could all be a glamorous ex-convict escaping an asylum in a guard’s fur coat which ripped down the back on the chain link fence on our way to a jazz concert! Collected insanity is the new black. Fashion can be boring, and Hood By Air isn’t. For that, I am grateful. As for the rest, I’ll let the Taste Takers and Wall Street Lunatics decide.