Oliver Spencer is using his SS16 collection as an excuse to get all of his friends together, and we can’t think of a better reason (at least not one that involves sobriety). For this season, god-like photographer Rankin is teaming up with the contemporary menswear brand for a lookbook that’s as much about the models as it is the clothes. But your friends probably aren’t exactly like Oli’s – no offence to Jerry in accounting. Because when he wants to shoot a lookbook, he’s able to speed dial the likes of Dan Crowe, model and tattoo artist; actor and Spandau Ballet songwriter Gary Kemp; Wolfgang Buttress, the artist and architect whose work includes the UK Pavilion at EXPO, alongside his son Ethan; and Toby Bateman, Mr Porter’s managing director. For the shoot, Spencer asked his mates to sit in the iconic Bird Chair, a work of art from the 1950s by Harry Bertoia. The chair represents freedom of expression and interpretation, coincidentally the precise approach Spencer wants his customers – and friends – to bring to his clothes. “The project felt very natural and working with Rankin is a complete joy,” he says. “We started from one, simple concept: a close-knit group of friends with diverse personalities, an iconic chair and Rankin’s masterful eye. The result exceeded my expectations: my clothes come alive and become a tool for individuals to articulate their identity with.” Each piece featured in the lookbook has a distinct personality while still melding with the collection as a whole, just like the best groups of friends do. Your mates might not be as choice as this one, but with the SS16 Oliver Spencer collection, at least you can fake it ’til you make it.
