Paul Smith – Autumn/Winter ’18

Looking to a bright future, Paul Smith’s autumn/winter ’18 collection escapes to a peaceful and positive place with dreamlike colours, fantastical embroidery and a softening of traditional sartorial codes

With tailoring forever at the heart of Paul Smith, the collection celebrates the suit and reasserts its relevance. Confident statement suits are presented for both men and women. On single pieces, houndstooth is panelled alongside Prince of Wales check and leather contrasted with hardy British tailoring cloths. The added length in jackets is a nod to Paul’s own past when in the Eighties he led a movement to relax the suit.

Muted colour builds to a crescendo of bright red. Illustrator Edmund Dulac inspires a romantic palette of midnight blues, deep purples and other jewel-tones. Painterly prints bring a much-needed sense of optimism and respite from world woes and are delivered in psychedelic colours depicting otherworldly moonlit landscapes. Of particular prominence in the collection is the Dreamer print, seen most vividly in the intricacy of woven lambswool and mohair knitwear.

For women, tailoring is similarly relaxed but always has form. Suit jackets are deconstructed but follow the female form; hugging at the waist to give a naturally confident shape. Satin dresses have an effortless elegance and appliquéd ribbon bows give detail and are inspired by Paul’s own drawings of flowers.

In outerwear, length is again accentuated. The perfect, timeless Epsom coat in a traditional English fabric is given an unexpected burst of vibrancy in turquoise and heavy leather coats appear in the Dulac-inspired jewel colours.

Leather engineering boots and tool bags further contrast the softened, relaxed tailoring. Friendship bracelets and charms on necklaces and earrings bring to life the theme of escapism and a sense of individuality and self-expression.

Paul Smith
16, The Royal Arcade
W1S 4SR
Tel: 0203 205 1135
www.paulsmith.com