Designer Hannah Weiland created her own glitter-bombed galaxy for Shrimps’ fall 2015 presentation, transforming a subterranean corner of Somerset House into a dark, sparkly world, complete with giant boulders and a pumping seventies-inspired soundtrack from DJ Hanna Hanra.
“I’ve been looking at Ryan McGinley’s cave photographs,” she said of the glitter-clad decor that dictated the scene’s Studio 54 meets sci-fi feel. “They were a starting point for creating ‘Planet Shrimps,’ a place that’s one part Star Trek and one part Emerald City.” The models inhabiting this high-shine world wore glossy satsuma-hued lips, perma-waves, and shaggy collars that could’ve been shorn straight off a seventies living room floor.
Though her focal point was still the big fluffy faux furs that have become ubiquitous over recent seasons, Weiland kept it fresh by making moves into the brave new world of ready-to-wear. Foremost was a series of lightweight knits with embroidered badges featuring a cast of quirky characters—including Grease’s bubblegum-haired princess Frenchy—of the kind that Weiland has been doodling her whole life.
Shrimps’ greatest strength is still injecting comfort with irresistible cool. Even when the designer applied the down of the classic Steiff teddy bear faux fur to floor-length coats, the results were somehow still sleek enough to justify their “eveningwear” label. But it’s her metallic kilts in both silver and gold that will be catnip for party-loving It girls everywhere. Teamed here with slouchy sweaters and Shrimps scarves, they’re the perfect expression of the kind of lazy-luxe we all need right now.