Earlier this week, the British Fashion Council showcased a selection of fashion films at the London Edition in collaboration with River Island. The films each served as a visual representation of the presentations and shows to come, some long and cinematic, others punchy and pacy. Alex Mullins' short film, entitled Smells, was a comical take on a perfume advert. Both lady and gentleman spiralled into vision, their images spinning and smearing until they came to a static and sat well greased in white Y-fronts with a bunch of flowers atop knee.
This distorted, melting effect was a repeated theme throughout Mullins' S/S 18 show - many of the looks dripped and draped as if warped in computer edit. Khaki and denim jackets appeared traditional from the right but from the left an asymmetric growth enveloped hands entirely. One jumper in a vibrant canary yellow, a colour that reoccurred throughout the collection, was warped to such great effect the arm looked like a stretched drumstick sweet. Distorted faces, much like a Face-Swap gone awry, appeared on silk scarves, styled as if eerie masks and tied at the nape of the neck - a nod to 'black mirror' cited as reference.
Challenging the traditional silhouette, items appeared to swerve and dip to a comical rhythm, see those raised and waved jean belt buckles and jean legs in squiggled form. The latter were so dynamic, it looked like one indigo 'S' following another as the model walked.
For those that find the image manipulation and engorging of shape a little difficult, Mullins offered a joyous and attractive oversized daisy print which appeared on long-line jacket, denim trouser and Bermuda shirt. Other, slightly more minimal Mullins classics, included a beige, deeply pocketed and double breasted linen suit and white straight-leg jean. All of which set a summery spirit across the collection.
Mullins’ show was a surreal house of mirrors; shoulders warped into elbow, jeans were given curves, form was challenged and images mutated; lady and gentleman - the duo from Mullins’ perfume advert/fashion film - featured on multiple silk looks, each time distending and distorting further until they engulfed models entirely.
