Editor’s Pick: Shushu Tong Fall/Winter 2018 Collection: Embracing utilitarian quirkiness inspired by female writers and school students.
The independent Shanghai-based womenswear label Shushu Tong is part of the project collaborated between London College of Fashion MA graduates Liushu Lei and Yutong Jiang. Translating rebellion yet delicate silhouettes into garments, the brand has recently unveiled their Fall/Winter 2018-2019 collection playing around themes of the quirky and intelligent girl next door.
According to a formal statement, the brand looks into the quirky girls who aspire to write as they are very much interested in their bravery, their wit and their mighty minds alongside their might pen. Drawing inspirations from figures such as Peggy Olson in TV series Mad Man, Margot Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, the collection plays on quirks of old school uniform as highlighted through the silhouettes and color palette. Through these icons aforementioned, the duo also looks into the Chinese school uniforms from the 1940s and public school uniforms in the United Kingdom for inspiration.
Shushu Tong Fall 2018 lookbook. Image courtesy of Shushu Tong
Look-wise, the pieces appear a little utilitarian combined with streaks of grey, white, blue, and red undertones. But the cuts, forms, and shapes definitely add a touch of rebellious and unique character to each piece of the collection. An added appeal was made palpable through meticulous accessories and tailoring.
Coats make up a big part of this Fall Winter collection with an emphasis on broad and exaggerated shoulders, elongated forms and contours. Iconic bowknots were also seen in some of the blouses and skirts, scaling it up in the front like a giant flower or even decorating the back part, offering a darker twist to each piece. Metal clips were also used to highlight a quirky contrast to the thick and massive pieces.
Other notable parts of the collection are the backpack inspired shoulder strap, complete with the accessory of a pack of Chunghwa cigarette. Loose trousers of plain black and checkered patterns, as well as high-waist skirts with multi-pockets, become a great addition to the collection. The marriage between these characters was what really emboldens the quirk and aspiring writer that it has become. Imagine yourself donned in clothes like these, taking inspiration here and there with a cigarette in hand. Or maybe, probably, the writer’s bloc may have impeded your writing process every now and then. Whatever it is, let’s take some time to applaud all these badass writers for being perfect and peculiarly them.
All images are courtesy of Shushu Tong.