You can smell a Thom Browne show before you even see a thing. The staircase and corridors at Milk Studios were scented but that could not prepare you for the visual sensory overload of his set. A pretty manicured garden with models as statues – or was it topiary? Two were on stilts, their heads transformed into big flowers, another’s head was adorned with a badminton shuttlecock, there was a racket and ball suspended mid air. All creations of Stephen Jones, of course. And then a gentleman mower walked out, mowed the lawn and the show started. Of course.
And so began the story of six sisters and their sartorial week, as narrated by Diane Keaton. Of course. As the models walked on the grass, around the set, it quickly became apparent (if you could just snap yourself out of the trance Diane’s voice put you in) that the simple lives and loves of the sisters were anything but. This is a Thom Browne collection, after all. 'On Monday the sisters started the week in tailoring', Diane said. Out walked an impeccable grey trouser suit and overcoat and another in Prince of Wales check ('The sisters love Prince of Wales checks!') with matching little suit hats, of course. Tuesday was all about a simple dress and cardi.
As the week progressed, the looks became more and more intricate and fanciful. A dress had feathers that sprouted outwards, a clear vinyl top and skirt seemed to have flowers pressed inside them, like mementos from a particularly good foraging trip the sisters took. A patent white coat had a trompe l'oeil belt on it. And so we came to the weekend when the sisters did what they loved most, hang out at 'home, their most favourite place with their most favourite people', each other. 'Such confidence and conviction and fun', Diane said. 'I think we should follow, don't you?' Just pass me the adoption papers.