As a lyrical twist to the visionary “ideal Brit seaside leisure”, Patrick Grant has taken E. Tautz to its full British transformation. Grant wanted to celebrate the welcoming of the annual scorching season through a contemporary reinterpretation of A Day Off, by photographer Tony Ray-Jones, honoring the Brits and their leisure alter egos. Grant sees that there is an art to how the Brits, despite of the awful weather, appreciate the bittersweet sensation of the seaside, once their trousers are rolled up and off they paddle away with the waves. “The Brits are just terribly adaptable to the hideousness of it all,” Grant describes, which explains the rainproof “beachwear” that is the lineup.
Coastal leisure à la Brits were conveyed through the interestingly bold and oversized silhouettes in traditional tailoring, with navy pinstriped tops and outerwear both regular and heavy in sizes ran and those knitted fishermen sweaters throughout the collection. A touch of Mods and Rockers was incorporated through the appearance of zips and snaps, on high-waisted pieces and wide-legged trousers and jeans, heavy in selvedge cotton twill shape. Grant held strong to the navy and bronze color palette, to beautifully portray the showerproof silk and nylon parkas and bomber jackets. The use of denim was to portray that chic Saville Row working classmen with forward tailoring, those aristocratic underdogs. The most unforgettable surprise was the twist of those Louboutin high-tops dissected into sandals, creating that metaphorical adaptability of the Brits.
Compare to last season, Patrick Grant has raised the bar even higher for Saville Row tailoring, reinventing traditions and historical fashion to inspire such an alluring tale through the eyes of the Brits. It comes across as a macho flamboyance that only those who are able to understand Grant’s vision are the ones that are able to enjoy the beauty of the leisure. Standing ovation to yet another reinvention of fashion! (Text Nadilla Sari Ratman)