The Paul Smith Spring-Summer 2018 collection escapes to a more peaceful and positive place with an explosion of colours and motifs.

Shirts are emblazoned with retro classic Hawaiian prints inspired by Paul’s early visits to New York in the Seventies, when he recalls returning to England with trunks of Hawaiian shirts sourced from SoHo.

The Ocean print is a bright and cheerful take on the classic Hawaiian shirt motif that evokes a 1950s surfer spirit. Comprised of elegant floral formations, undersea corals and Japanese koi carps, the similar links to Japanese culture continue to centralise Paul Smith designs since his first trips to the country in the 1980s. Floral and aquatic motifs are embroidered onto the satin lapels of tuxedos while graphic fish prints feature as a major theme throughout the collection.  Appearing in every product group, this element takes inspiration from Paul’s discovery of vintage food packaging on a visit to Tokyo.

While a focus on vibrant block colours such as bright purple and bottle green feature heavily throughout the show, traditional British tailoring cloths and bold tailoring shapes are also a key theme. Demonstrating versatility, this season finds jackets and trousers worn as separate pieces, displaying how the individual elements of a suit can be worn in a more casual way. On the contrary, exaggerated 1970s-style lapels and jacquard are examples for luxurious eveningwear options.

This colourful affair not only feels easy and stylish but radiates positive vibes and optimism. All the more reason to love Paul Smith!

Text: Hira Desai