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Whether looked upon as clever social commentary or appreciated as quality clothing, Hood By Air’s Shayne Oliver delivered another triumphant for his SS16 collection. The satire on contour make up, HBA’s unique take on unisex and the trompe-l’oeil jumpsuits (that is to say, the surprise of finding yourself staring down a half nude model once they reached the end of the catwalk) brought the most unique aura to the collection overall.
The colour palette of neutral blacks, whites, nudes, denim and tans, was only supplemented by the occasional HBA on a garment or a sparingly placed pattern. Each piece had convoluted design aspects that were truly revealed upon realising that the entire garment was being held up by copious ties across the back.
The accessories accentuated the complexity of this line, from the chunky criss cross platforms and delicately designed clutches to the avant-garde eyewear. With this collection, Shayne Oliver continues to blur the line between high fashion and streetwear.
-TC
Tara Ciccone 