Hussein Chalayan has a reputation for coming up with some stellar set pieces to anchor his collections and this season he did not disappoint.
Halfway through his show, a pair of models who had been standing like sentinels in the center of the catwalk, wearing what looked like paper thin white lab coats, were drenched in a downpour of water. As soon as the liquid touched the coats they began to dissolve and fall away to reveal beautiful shimmering gowns underneath.
It was a mic drop moment.
However, as great as that performing art piece was, it wasn't the best thing about this collection. That honor went to the actual clothing in the show – garments that continued to build on the Cuban themed resort collection Chalayan had previously presented.
As conceptual as the designer can get sometimes, this lineup of pleat-fronted dresses with knit backs, military garb garments with cigar place holders built into the chest, and easy ruffled designs that featured a whimsical character called Plonk, all looked like they had real world viability.
This was a well-rounded collection that stayed true to the quirky heart of Chalayan. But it found a way to beat to a rhythm of relevance.
