SET on a forest-inspired catwalk, Off-White debuted their AW19 collection. Entitled Public Television, the collection was a culmination of formal-wear meets street-style, sportswear meets business-wear, and post-punk meets contemporary, honing in on the different dualities fashion can encompass. Even the cat-walk reflects this, using both a forest-like setting and green screen flooring to bring together the best of nature and technology.
It can be said that Abloh was trying to pay homage to the fashion house’s mixed American and Italian heritage through the collection, particularly with the mismatch of structured tailored pieces with an American football style helmet. Cowboy boots also made an unexpected appearance. In fact, the element of the unexpected seems to be a theme throughout, with formal-wear and casual-wear brought together through the unlikely combination of baggy denim with tailored pieces, or the pairing of an oversized hoodie with a structured suit jacket.
Without a doubt, the piece that stole the show was the silver streamer boots. Almost futuristic-inspired, they stood out as the least-wearable piece, but the most eye-grabbingly extravagant and glamorous. Styled with a neon orange satin shirt-dress and ‘80s inspired sunglasses, this had to be one of the most exciting looks on the catwalk.
The pieces themselves incorporate the idea of duality, with layering of different textures and colours, and through the conjoining of clashing prints together. Transitioning from a monochrome colour palette to a display of neon green, red, orange, Off-White proved winter fashion can definitely do both.
by Emma Hart