Alexander Rogov SS18 quirky leisurewear

Last season, the well-known Russian stylist Alexander Rogov presented his first collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia. This season he returns to express his individuality with a more finely tuned and wearable sensibility in a quirky mix of leisurewear separates (sweatshirts, tracksuit-inspired trousers), and feminine styles (mini skirts with ruffles, silk dresses and one shoulder designs). Rogov fearlessly confronts the sporting style and impressions he has learned from his travels. He borrows rubber bands from boxer shorts, tennis skirts and other classic sport units mixing it with shades that are not the most traditional for sports aesthetics, like bright pink, teal, gold and shiny purple.

Alexander Rogov draws special attention to details: voluminous flounces, original collars, neat ruffles. Even the Basque, which has already started to lose popularity, was presented in the most original way in the collection. Must have items from the collection are the sweatshirts and T-shirt emblazoned with the words “HATE” in glitter, and the matching denim jacket and trousers stitched with sequins – supper cool – and destined to be sold out items.

The designer clearly had fun with the styling adding stretchy logo-ed bands to waists, hems and heads. At times the show felt a little unoriginal (we saw these bands before in Dior, the ruffles in Saint Laurent), but Rogov did add his own touch mixing knitwear with brocade, silk and vintage fabrics with print, brilliant colour combinations and some heavy duty layering.