RUNWAY: Hood by Air FW15

Shayne Oliver's unique vision has caught the eye of many a celebrity for its look-at-me designs, as well as teens looking for an alternative to the bland offerings they see at the mall. That being said, Hood by Air, with its superfluous HBA moniker plastered on nearly ever piece of clothing, may need to grow up eventually. It is still in its infancy, though, so the irrelevance and outlandishness of the designs and styling, seen here with slashed top coats, strait jacket-like bonding, and hose covered faces, is entertaining and maybe even endearing. However, the true test for the label, and for Oliver himself, comes when the collections start to blend and bleed into one another and how it moves forward. Though this collection may signal a shift away from all that look-at-me-ness towards sharp tailoring, like a paneled topcoat or a leather trench.