Charles Jeffrey LOVEBOY Enters An Industrial Dystopia
The brand’s A/W 23 campaign dubbed ‘The Engine Room’ was inspired by the surreal works and personal style of Scottish playwright John Byrne.
The brand’s A/W 23 campaign dubbed ‘The Engine Room’ was inspired by the surreal works and personal style of Scottish playwright John Byrne.
The theatrical world of Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY presents a dystopia for their A/W 23 campaign dubbed ‘The Engine Room’. Taking inspiration from Scottish playwright and artist John Byrne, whose work The Slab Boys Trilogy explores the nuances of working-class life in Scotland, the twisted tale presented in three parts introduces a distinct cast of characters painting a picture of a less than ideal society (not dissimilar to our own).
The campaign begins with 'The Workers', whose affinity for protective gear is evident in the styling of layered knitwear and magpie-like embellishments. The second group are dubbed 'The Posers', who are marked by the brand’s sleek tailoring and signature claw-footed loafers and boots. The final group are introduced as 'The Snakes' who are described as the city’s class responsible for disseminating news. Their uniform is appropriately made up of newspaper print garments paired with tailored tweeds. Shot in subterranean conclaves of Somerset house, the enigmatic campaign is a stark departure from the vibrant and abstract world we're used to seeing from the LOVERBOY universe.
The campaign was also inspired by Byrne’s personal style with no shortage of fair isle jumpers, tweed tailoring and artful accents that wouldn’t look out of place in his surreal literary world. With the support of Byrne’s archive, the collection includes a series of the artist’s prints on an overcoat that was previously worn by Tilda Swinton at last year’s Fashion Awards in London.
