Tropicana Magazine Mar-Apr 2018 #117: Edge Of Excitement

HOT OFF THE RUNWAY | THE LOOK
FOUND AT SEA
As ever with Paul Smith tailoring, linings are
given special attention and feature a range of
seasonal prints and surprises for the wearer.
The Ocean print of Paul Smith’s Spring/
Summer ’18 collection is a bright and cheerful
take on a classic Hawaiian shirt motif that
evokes a 1950s surfer spirit. Included in the
print are elegant floral formations, undersea
corals and Japanese koi carp. Similar links to
Japanese culture have been central to Paul
Smith designs since Paul made his first trips to
the country in the 1980s.
As with previous seasons, this key print
acts as a focal point for the collection and
features in every product group including
clothes, shoes and accessories for men and
women. The Ocean motif is also presented in
many different scales and applications: from
all- over prints on T-shirts and shirts to subtle
placement graphics and embroidery.
Key Ocean print products for men include
a Ripstop field jacket that features in the
advertising campaign and colourful shortsleeved
Hawaiians shirts. For women, notable
Ocean print products include a full-length
Ripstop mac and repeating Ocean print tops
and long dresses, presented on either a black,
yellow or blue base.
PS I LOVE YOU, JAPAN
As a regular visitor to Japan since the 1980s, Smith
has made many visits to Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji
Fish Market. The discovery of vintage food
packaging on one visit inspired two graphic fish
prints that feature throughout the new men and
women’s collection. These Aquatic prints blend
Japanese landscape scenes, graphic text
and two types of fish: a tuna on a red and blue
design, and mackerel on a mainly yellow base.
Although a major theme in the Spring/
Summer ’18 line, the most eye-catching and
unexpected use of the Aquatic print appears in
accessories; for men, on ties, belts and leather
accessories; for women, on the box bag; and in on
Smith’s signature Basso trainers and espadrilles.
These perfectly compliment the single graphics
from the Ocean print that have been isolated as
solo applications on key shoes, bags and leather
accessories, notably the koi carp wallets for men
and floral leather bags for women.
Get ready to dive in. The Paul Smith Spring/
Summer ‘18 Women’s and Men’s Tailoring
collection is available online and in stores now.
75 MARCH/APRIL 2018 | TM