Modern angels: SOS reimagines The Ascension for SS19

Art history is always at the heart of Steve O Smith’s collections. His past muses? Empress Matilda aka ‘Lady of the English’ (with a Eurotrash twist) and neo-pagans. The SOS woman is always noble, wise and a rebel to the core. For SS19, the London-born designer drew upon his fascination with the supernatural.

FashionFashion Week

September 17, 2018

“I was in Paris, I’d spend hours in the Louvre and I was just looking at angels everywhere,” Steve O Smith tells us backstage, during his first on-schedule presentation at London Fashion Week. “So I knew I wanted to do an ascension really early on – the first stage the looks are monochromatic, the next stage is between the clouds and then they’re in heaven.”

Forget flowy white summer dresses and wings, the SOS angels are at peace in twisted ruffles, pink snakeskin, cloud tees (featuring artwork by Kye Christensen-Knowles) and full colour Harris Tweed suits. Enjoying the champagne on tap, of course.

“From snakeskin to feathers, SOS is looking to escapism at a time when it’s more important than ever,” he says. “If you were ever going to ascend to heaven and avoid earth – wouldn’t now be the right moment?”