ZAMBESI WINTER 2011

Zambesi’s winter 2011 collection is influenced by the geometry of the beautiful game, the innocence of the playground and the urgent energy of youth - from sporty college freshmen to fur-clad libertines.

Zambesi Woman

Childhood memories are evoked with tiered and cap-sleeved dresses, college gym frocks, rompers and culottes. The racerback is reinterpreted with oversized proportions in painted gold lace, herringbone sequins and delicate layered mesh.

A navy wool cap sleeve jacket with the artificial proportion of doll’s clothes, comes in a short and long version, both exhibiting a disconcerting elegance. Boxy boleros and oversized cocoon coats come in dramatic shaggy flokati in louche shades of dirty white and smoke grey.

Trousers maintain a resolutely narrow silhouette, with sheer mesh leggings that can be layered, matt-and-sheen geometric contrast-detailed jodhpurs and twisted low-slung silk jacquard pants. Dark navy and black combine as focal colours used in everything from basic crew neck long-sleeved jersey knits to sculptural wool suiting.

This winter’s key archival references include a double-breasted cape/coat from the late eighties and sculptural shawl collared coats and stiffened and boned lace boleros.

Zambesi Man

This season the aesthetics of the campus are a key inspiration. The influence is notably evident in the freshman jackets, a refined take on the iconic athletic standard, in combinations of moleskin, felt and hi-sheen painted cotton.

Inside-out brushed cotton sweat-shirting staples are offered in track pants and an elongated crew-neck. Ribbing details appear as an accent on trouser hems and shirt collars. Vertical contrasting panels in short and long-sleeved t-shirts echo team motifs.

Winter coats include the Seaboard peacoat in navy felt with raglan sleeves and a rib collar. A single breasted coat with an airtex lining has white contrast-stitch buttonholing. Other details include the dominance of the spread-collar shirt and further renditions of the hexagon theme. A Signalman print hints at a Zambesi fraternity.

Suiting jackets are two-button in both cropped and elongated variations and the double-breasted jacket comes with a sartorially detailed narrow lapel that is dramatically peaked and pick-stitched. Suiting trousers are pleat-fronted, lean and cuffed or in the traditional flat-front.

Fabrics

Muted peacock jacquards, woollen lace and stretch velveteens have a tactile luxury. Knitwear in alternating stripes of cashmere and merino. Sportswear-inspired stretch nylon-lycra interacts with wool jersey. Hi-sheen painted cotton and digitally printed silk georgettes create modern context while the Zambesi classics – cotton marle, wool jersey, and wool suiting – are the backbone of the collection.

Accessories

Hexagon-patched bags, a shopper and a hold-all, are available in fabric options including grey and black wool felt. Detachable collars come in wool suiting or the lightweight ‘sorority’ square-studded collar. Cashmere adds luxe to fingerless gloves, yak scarves and beanies are knitted in textured black. Black baudelaire lace-up shoe boots with a bump toe for women. There are two key styles of belt – either punch-hole loeather or elastic in wide-waisted or skinny versions with double-buckles – all in black and/or white.

VIEW THE COLLECTION HERE

VIEW THE RUNWAY SHOW VIDEO HERE