May the force be with you!

Call it the George Lucas effect, for some reason designers have picked F/W14 to latch onto Star Wars mythology and so far the best and least kitschy interpretation of the sci-fi epic has come from Preen. Designers Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi merged their signature digital prints with oversized images of Darth Vader and an array of kaleidoscopes to a showing that flirted with trippy, futuristic imagery, while remaining rooted in the now. Even those without a rudimentary knowledge of Star Wars lore can appreciate the appeal of mini-dresses, chubby black & white furs and a wealth of citrusy separates that demand attention.

It’s a testament to Thornton and Bregazzi’s talent as designers that the pop-culture references don’t overwhelm the rest of the collection. The real pleasures came through in the subtly spacey pieces like the lace blouses accented with neon orange, the cube patterned anoraks and dresses that provided a welcome break from the typical.