Mary Katrantzou S/S 2018

Mood board: With darker headlines dominating the news of late, it’s little surprise that the fashion world would be looking for a light-hearted touch of escapism. For Mary Katrantzou’s S/S 2018 show, the designer took inspiration from an imagined ‘everyman’ childhood, suffused with the colourful tropes of infancy. Focusing on the freedom of childhood creativity, Katrantzou presented a prismatic collection, with campsite-worthy sou’westers in bright plastics, paint by number floral ballon shape dresses, polka dot prints, inflatable and plastic Lego block skirts.

Best in show: A duet of twenties flapper dresses were braided using fabrics inspired by friendship bracelets, and finished at the hem with colourful fringing.

Finishing touches: Nodding to school uniforms, looks were paired with transparent knee high socks, woven with colourful stripes and polka dots. Plastic cross body bags featured inflatable sea animals and evoked the puffy form of children’s armbands. Caged lace heels resembled colourful jelly shoes, and stacked platforms evoked the food dyed layers of colourful cupcakes – ideal accoutrements for a Katrantzou-themed kid’s birthday party.