Topman Design S/S '13

Never one not to be influenced by throwback fashion, for Spring 2013 Topman Design took a combination of '80's New York flare fused with a laid back California skater/surfer aesthetic, during this months runway in London.

The brand showcases us with energetically brave brights with fresh colour combinations of intensified neons and continues to present us with a variation of silhouettes. Floral motifs on neoprene shorts with slim-fit and tonal jackets, pleated shorts paired with a shirt that offered a gothic-Hawaiian hybrid, oversized tees with graphics echoing the work of artist Raymond Pettibon, erstwhile illustrator of Black Flag fliers, accessorised with skateboards tucked into their backpacks to bring in the essence of the urban sportswear look. The riotous flave was intensified by neoprene bike leggings layered under floral print shorts, adding to the overall grungy peroxide concept presented.

Stand out pieces include the oversized neon knits, hole punched laser cut outwear and state­ment ankle laced brogue boots with cutout pan­els. Overall however the upbeat colours and concept as a whole unfortunately fail to live up to the high expectations we have come to expect from Topman Design, especially the out of place American cropped football tops with matching coloured shorts - reminiscent of utter cheap tat seen in Katie Price's Day 22 range.

Regrettably, the sophistication of Topman's efforts seen in previous collections seemed to have been shelved for S/S '13, which struck a single chord and held it long past its welcome. Hopefully next season they will learn from this error of judgement...we loved the 80's but it is perhaps a decade we are not quite ready to revive from the past.