If last year’s debut tie-up between Loewe and the trailblazing Ibizan cultural hotspot and multi-label store Paula’s was all about celebrating the latter’s romantic eclecticism and heritage, then the second outing is more of a hipper and millennial act.
Launching in the brand’s Paragon store (for its ready-to-wear) and at its other boutiques (for accessories and bags) on May 10, the collection of womenswear, menswear and accessories boasts a more youthful and playful spirit compared to its predecessor — all captured in a series of images lensed by Gray Sorrenti, the 18-year-old daughter of the famous photographer Mario.
And as a nod to Loewe’s creative director’s trademark design style and the direction of fashion today, the designs come with a strong androgynous quality.
In fact, during our press preview in Phuket earlier this year, we were told that Anderson went with the unisex look in a big way this time round to encourage customers to shake up their wardrobe and explore a more experimental streak. What has not changed: The laidback hippie and summery quality of the designs.
The more youthful and whimsical aesthetic of the collection’s resort vibe is evident in the use of the retro-tinged beach prints, both resurrected from Paula’s own archives and reimagined original designs by the Loewe team. These include motifs of mermaids, prints, circus and birds. The eclectic aspect of the collection, meanwhile, pops up in the mix of whimsical details like polka dots and cartoon hummingbirds.
While the silhouettes of the clothes tap on a quintessentially folkloric look – think tiered sun dresses, kaftans and peasant shirts, patchwork signature bags like the Puzzle tote – there are more fun Insta-worthy designs too such as terry towel ponchos, metallic sequins, fringed flatform sandals and resin necklaces shaped in the form of underwater creatures like seahorses and corals.
And like any worthy collaboration, the collectables here come in the form of novelty items. These include the wooden ping-pong bats (perfect for a game of beer pong, perhaps?) and woven raffia totes and pouches which pay homage to the men’s S’S ’18 collection. Here, we showcase some of our top picks from the collection ($250-$4,750) to check out.
