MODERN Sixties proved the crux of Peter Som’s optimistic collection for spring/summer 2012 – and while that may sound a little ho-hum given that it’s a repeatedly referenced era with regards to fashion, at the hands of Som, regarded as one of New York’s finest emerging designers, the Mod look enjoyed a newfound vitality.
Pop-rocking colour and bold floral prints anchored the brave vision - in fact with the exception of but a few khaki pieces, the entire collection was conceived in brights, and the New York audience, currently enjoying an Indian summer and donning uncharacteristically bold hues, couldn’t have been more enthusiastic. Even the footwear, predominantly made up of chunky-heeled loafers, was crafted in extreme shades of aqua, fuchsia and tangerine – perfectly in sync with the models’ grunge-meets-Sixties dos featuring a dramatic sweep of fluorescent pink through the hair.
Capitalising on the loyal following he has garnered for his whimsical take on modern American sportswear, Som regularly attracts an impressive array of industry leaders and celebrities to his show. Not one to disappoint, Som this season had none other than king of preppy, youth-driven sportswear, Tommy Hilfiger, in attendance, stirring the crowd as he sauntered in and took his front row seat – turns out his daughter’s show, NAHM, was to follow immediately afterwards. While 2012 doom and gloom speculations are still rife (among those following the Mayan calendar anyway!), Som has chosen to eschew even a hint of melancholy, instead offering unmistakably optimistic colour and flatteringly structured silhouettes. His killer beach-party-ready zebra-print and floral bikini’s topping off the playfully vibrant fare - while overtly referential, they never migrated to the realms of kitsch. Som’s message for spring could not have been clearer – ditch the black and get into colour.
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