The following text is a recent press release that I received from b Store:The disaffected young American as personified by Dustin Hoffman’s clean-cut, preppy character in The Graduate, tempered with the casual nihilism and twilight lifestyle of Brett Easton Ellis’s blank generation, drives an Ivy League sportswear-inspired collection from b Store for spring/summer 2010.
This reworked collegiate aesthetic is set against a backdrop of cold teenage indifference and disillusionment fuelled by materialism, sex, and drugs. The evidence of hedonistic excess from the night before, hidden under shades for a beach club brunch with the dysfunctional folks. All played out to an off-kilter soundtrack from the golden age of MTV, flitting from British new wave and hair metal to industrial rock and rap.
Classic American sportswear staples form the basis for a silhouette that updates signature b Store shapes with a new focus on athletic influences. The three-button single-breasted blazer, triple-pleated trouser and resort shorts are rethought using crisp cotton pique. Windcheaters and trench coats emerge in high-sheen technical fabrics. Delicate sheer knits inject sex appeal. Baseball jackets, chinos and slim shirting emphasize the importance of chambray, denim, and gingham check in reinventing the preppy uniform. High-summer shades of sky blue, navy, beige, white, and dove grey dominate a cool, functional color palette.
The debut accessories collaboration with Awai this season introduces a modular collection of document cases, belts, and wallets. Tan leather and raw denim components combine separate book bags and sunglasses cases to recreate the ‘it’ beach bag with a sophisticated b Store slant.
Signature footwear directions for spring/summer include a new classic two-tone paneled Oxford in either sky blue and tan or brown and indigo mixes. Alongside, the cutaway shoe/sandal lace-ups, sneakers, and high-tops.
Photos & slideshow spring/summer 2010 collection Copyright b Store.
