Boys in Striped Pyjamas

Xander Zhou’s show notes focus on buzz words: Sex, Arousal, Restless, Rebellion. With such a punchy accompaniment, you’d expect the looks to be just as bold, but surprisingly, and pleasingly, everything was a touch softer. Shirts billowed like gowns in thin stripes, with bandana neckerchief bibs and halter style corsets wrapped around. Sleeves drooped far below fingertips and every shape was loose, this is rebellion done subtly, just a hint of an attitude or an idea, a taste of apathy for the norm, rather than a protest.

Venus In Chains

Here’s where we hark back to the punks, one of Zhou’s tribes. The only way to accessorise for SS17 is with superfluous chains it seems. We’re certainly not complaining as we’ve got a good stash somewhere in the office. Xander Zhou took the links around the waist, sitting on the hips, pinned from shoulder to belt-loop, safety-pin style connectors and even keys dangled on as charms (key chains, get it?). Accessories elsewhere came in the form of jangly metal earrings and chokers with metal beaded messages of “FREEDOM”.

Texturise

With the central thread of the collection being Zhou’s stripes, he had room to play with amped up textures elsewhere. Magenta sparkling lurex got a look in as well as inky black PVC. Camo came in two tones and jersey was frayed and distressed. A wearable, comfortable but still varied collection