Oliver Spencer A/W 2016

Jacket paired with a classic pinstripe trouser — (Image credit: TBC)

Scene setting: Brewer Street Car Park turned into a live music venue last night with a live band playing tambourines and drums. Considering that Oliver Spencer adopted Afrobeat as an inspiration, and collaborated with the innovative social media platform Vero to instantly make key items from his A/W 2016 collection available online, this whole mix created an atmosphere of excitement and novelty.

Best in show: Having made a name for himself with the interesting layering of both influences and textures, for this autumn a suede earthy brown and navy patchwork jacket paired with a classic pinstripe trouser and a black Astrakhan coat closed the show and perfectly conveyed Spencer’s knack for relaxed, but though-through juxtapositions.

Sound bite: Elaborating on the decision to make items from this runway collection available immediately to purchase, Oliver Spencer said backstage: ‘About 50 percent [of the collection] was different [compared to the January 2016 show], it was altered for retail in some ways and we moved it onwards. It was great to look at the clothes in that way and it was a good time to connect it to the Vero app.’ He continued: ‘I’m going to take a deep breath now, and look at how it does!’

Siska Lyssens has contributed to Wallpaper* since 2014, covering design in all its forms – from interiors to architecture and fashion. Now living in the U.S. after spending almost a decade in London, the Belgian journalist puts her creative branding cap on for various clients when not contributing to Wallpaper* or T Magazine.