British fashion designer Oliver Spencer unveiled his Spring/Summer 2014 menswear collection during London Collections: Men on 17 June 2013. As in his previous collections, Spencer found inspiration for his garments and silhouettes in art, architecture and urban subcultures, in particular the concept of dichotomies observed in the work of American neo-expressionist painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.
To suggest the influence of Basquiat’s early graffiti art, Spencer opted for fabrics that underwent over and under-dying and bleaching techniques to reach a muted colour palette of faded red, burnt orange and light blue before being used in trousers, shirts and blazers. Other similarly light and playful patterns, such as large madras checks (used in shorts and shirts), discreet florals and horizontal stripes (in shirts and T-shirts) contrasted with starker navy and cobalt hues. Key pieces included unstructured pinstripe blazers, bomber jackets, trench coats, tailored suits and relaxed blazers with corozo buttons, whereas an exclusive range of sunglasses designed by Eye Respect added stylish and colourful touches to the collection.
