Surface to Air may be the emblematic brand for the globalized, multi-hyphenate generation. A collective nominally based in Paris, with outposts in São Paulo and in New York, it does more than make clothes; among other things, Surface to Air is also a creative services agency and a music video production company. Small wonder, then, that the label is particularly good at capturing the style zeitgeist of the international jet-set hipster.
Per the usual, there s nothing too groundbreaking in the brand s latest womenswear collection, which is a streetwise remix of tribal themes, workwear, and the classic gamine. But that s fine, inasmuch as these are wearable clothes intended for girls who want to look good but who have more on their minds than fashion. This season s fitted overalls and patchworked jeans are going to get a lot of traction; ditto the hand-painted prints, especially the abstract and poem print items made in collaboration with Kim Gordon. There s also a fine sense of color here—washed neutrals trading in and out with pop hits of lemon yellow, electric blue, orange, and pink. The brand can also expect to do a healthy business with its shoes: Surface to Air has introduced a handful of footwear phenoms in seasons past, and this time out its multicolor-soled moc and blocky platform sandals ought to continue the trend.
