Paul Smith’s spring/summer 13 women’s collection takes inspiration from the work of multi-disciplinary French artist Jean-Paul Goude. The illustrator, photographer, art editor and fashion film director is best known for his avant-garde, almost surrealist style. Goude’s playful and experimental aesthetic influenced the collection’s graphic use of mix-and-match colours and textures.

Masculine styles are given a feminine twist with fluid fabrics such as wool crepe and silk sable, and a mix of crepe-de-chine and georgette create light texture. Delicate lace inserts provide contrast while fluid, matt georgette provides a balance for super-shine leather-look tailoring.

Graphic stripes are a key motif in the collection; soft silhouettes contrast the linear prints. Soft pleats give the graphic styles a feminine touch. Bright colours, including scarlet, sunshine yellow and bottle green are balanced by neutral black, navy and nude. Saturated hues are diluted to a more subdued rust, ochre and nude.

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