Paul Smith Remembers the Self-Expression of the ’60s

Photos Credit: Paul Smith Sir Paul Smith has never been one to do thing subtlety, and this was especially true at this weekend’s Spring 2017 Menswear show , held at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris. With a runway composed of a rainbow-striped carpet and a Bob Marley track, the lineup was a hippie blend of Caribbean soul and the psychedelic age of London, which Smith first experienced as a teenager in the ‘60s. “They were always full of an eclectic mix of people," the designer said of the nightclubs of the age, like Whiskey-a-Go-Go and Flamingo Club. "Self-expression was the thing.” This season, Smith elevated those ‘60s and ‘70s looks with modern cuts and a contemporary color palette that brought both the tropics and swinging London together beautifully. It was warm and happy, a theme brought to life through a number of models that couldn’t help but grin when walking down the candy-colored runway. A few basics, like jeans and t-shirts were emblazoned with the word peace, driving home Smith’s idea of a global community of love and prosperity. A sentiment perhaps, even closer to the British designer’s heart with the current climate in England. While the collection was a cry for peace, it was also a lesson in British style—a presentation full of Smith’s iconic “classics with a twist.” Suits and jackets were well-tailored and trim, and used breathable Italian wool and fabrics rather than the cheap polyester of yesteryear. Color was heavy in the collection, but he used it with a practiced hand: polo collars were given bright strips, shirts were done in punchy plaids and suits were given subtle patterns. He was reserved when he needed to be, tossing a muted jacket over a neon button up or pairing loud pants with a neutral belt or accessory.