Cool, smooth and sultry, Paul Smith’s Autumn/Winter ‘21 show is a retrospective journey of British icons, a celebration of the subcultures construing the brand with bold remixes and nods to a new generation.

The show is sleek and modern, a playful catalogue of the vibrant prints and palettes of the collection against an all-white backdrop. With funky, blithe beats playing in the background, we see Paul Smith’s latest collection as an introspective inversion of tradition—following the landmark 50th anniversary of the brand in 2020, the new collection exhibits a reset of possibilities, composed of contemporary takes on five decades worth of design and movement.

A pillar in British fashion, Paul Smith recalls eras gone in new ways, using print, pattern, color and shape to echo the past. Tinted, boxy shades and pieces with tartan tailoring evoke the ska of the 70s and Terry Hall, while garments composed of sheepskins and wool coats reinvigorate the donkey jacket of the 1980s, breathing new life into romanticism.

An ode to all the various fabrics in the stitching of the Brit fashion landscape, the collection plays with fabrics and textures. Punk meets prep with mohair knits, while silky pajamas recall 70s psychedelia in a modern stay-at-home landscape fit for 2021. 

Perhaps the greatest strength of Paul Smith, stripes are the underlying motif of the collection, wrapping the classics in a contemporary package. Rich hues of green, purple and brown are ornamented with various plaids and stripes, while soft floral prints 3D printed onto leather and fabric effortlessly juxtapose them, contrasted with sharply tailored military jackets and utilitarian boots.

Truly a cross-section of generations, subcultures and identities, the Paul Smith Autumn/Winter ‘21 collection is a triumph of recollection, a nostalgic feat paying homage to half a century of design. View the full collection at PaulSmith.com.