OC x NYFW: Hood by Air FW13

Yesterday, Shayne Oliver presented his Fall/Winter 2013 Hood by Air collection with an amazing runway show, the word show not to be taken lightly. Models wearing LED mouthpieces emerged from the fog-filled top of the runway, streaked with barcode-like rays from purple laser light as they made their way to the end. Every few looks, the totally captivating San Francisco performance artist Boychild (whom the collection was named after) would pound down the runway, swaggering and shooting stares at the crowd from behind white contact lenses, like a hot-blooded alien reptile creature on the prowl. Golum-like in her posture, she'd pause to jerk her head and body for the cameras, in a way that would give you and me serious whiplash.

Shayne has been known to be inspired by the artist's masculine self-confidence and simultaneous ability to be emotionally open. (Boychild also starred in last year's HBA presentation). And what better muse for a collection of daring streetwear featuring full, armor-like silhouettes and deconstructed looks, layered and reassembled with zippers––all styled to a T by Akeem Smith? The collaborative hats by Supo Cupo, jewelry by Nasir Mazhar, and accessories by James Garland, plus a flawless pounding soundtrack by Arca and Tim Dewit, were the cherry on top. See what went down before and during the show, closed by none other than A$AP Rocky.

Shop all Hood by Air here.

Photos by Matthew Kelly | E-mail SISI@OPENINGCEREMONY.US to be notified when the FW13 collection arrives at OC!