Looks from Jojo Ross’ The Lobby collection for Autumn/Winter 2018.
Jojo Ross recently released her new collection for Autumn/Winter 2018 called The Lobby and it’s a strong take on 80’s dressing with a modern twist. The designer finds her inspiration in concepts and words rather than visuals or literal ideas, and the starting point for her new collection was a paragraph from a short story by Will Self that captured Ross’ imagination.
“I was renting a space on the 32nd floor of the western building. You had to ride three separate elevators to get down to the lobby; an atrium so big that fountains, ornamental pools and Sunbright arc lamps created strange interior weather systems. Small clouds obscured the terrace restaurants on the second level.”
She imagined this space as having an 80’s look with a surreal and slightly unnerving feel that gave rise to her heroine for the season. The elevators serve as the vehicle from boring mundane office life to a parallel universe and Ross’ muse is strong, sassy and powerful. An undercover agent in a digital Ghost in the Shell like world, although the designer notes the original anime as a particular source of inspiration.
This lends itself to a collection of pieces that could feel like 80’s power dressing in a modern world. Strong shoulders, cinched waists and mid-length skirts make for appealing looks in hues of lipstick red, black, white and grey. The designer has applied her technical knowledge to create garments that are cleverly structured and architectural. They’re complemented by softer pieces that stretch and move with the body in charming knits.
Among Ross’ favourite pieces are the Enigma Hoodie, with its versatile headscarf hood and the Power Puffer which has sculpted sleeves with a neatly belted waist. The designer’s fans certainly have a lot to be delighted by this season as The Lobby is cohesive and confident.]
Images supplied.