The great escape

The idea of escapism rippled throughout many of the spring/summer ‘19 shows – from Jacquemus’ Italian Riviera collection (complete with giant straw bags big enough to carry at least two weeks’ worth of clothes), to Alexa Chung’s travel-inspired offering (aptly titled ‘Arrivals & Departures’), designed to reflect the melange of outfits you might spot while waiting at the check-in desk. The message was clear: we need to get away from it all.

Indeed, almost as a riposte to the political doom-mongering, this season there was a notable glimmer of optimism from the shows, a little ray of light peeking through the curtains. At Prada, Miuccia Prada served up a colour-clashing line-up of playful baby-doll dresses, hypnotising prints and tie-dye, telling British 'Vogue': “I wanted to break the rules…to discuss a wish of freedom and liberation”; Jonathan Anderson gave us a dressing-up box mish-mash at Loewe, complete with Broderie Anglais maxis and neon satin. All of which offered us a day-dreamy respite from the doom and gloom, a bright Post-it Note reminder to let some light in and have some fun this summer.

Whatever the subliminal messaging may have been, there’s no denying that bright, unabashed colour makes us all instantly happier. With bold apple greens, piping-hot pinks and a good dose of floral metallics thrown in to the mix, we’re turning up the brightness (and our happiness levels in the process, obviously).

And we’re nothing if not consistent – our current campaign ‘A Technicolour Odyssey directed by PAT McGRATH LABS’ is all about the sheer, unadulterated joy of colour. (Read more about that here.)

Shop colour

But for those without a trip to paradise on the horizon, bringing a bit of the getaway vibe to the everyday is an easy little mood booster. Your summery little tote may well be carrying your al-desko lunch and a buzzing work phone rather than sun cream and a beach towel, but it still feels nice to hold onto something (anything!) to evoke that getaway feeling.

Whether your summer break is just around the corner or not, the mood remains: taking time to fantasise about a sunny escape from the 9-5, Gucci swimsuit in tow, is the best medicine to braving the humdrum. So, if you need us, we’ll be over by the window, daydreaming about that pink feathered Huishan Zhang dress…