From sun-soaked escapades to moonlit raves, this is dressing for revelry and festivals all night long—no daisy chain headband allowed.
Clockwise from right: Ultra-bright neon tops make the perfect cover-ups for apres-swim basking in the sun, with 3D details providing depth. Balloon bag in water lily print, $3,900; seashell mini pouch, $850, Loewe Paula's Ibiza. Breezy cotton dresses and pale denim capture the carefree vibe of endless summers
From the moment you walk past the entry checkpoint and onto the Wonderfruit festival grounds, you aren’t just crossing a physical threshold—it’s a whole other state of mind. The golden late-afternoon light and lazy tropical heat of Pattaya lulls you into a dreamy daze, heightened by the meditative chants coming from the wellness huts dotted around the entrance. Wander deeper, and the steady thrum of throbbing bass, techno beats and guitar riffs emanating from the various music stages jolts you with a heady dissonance. The Fields at Siam Country Club has been transformed with an eclectic assortment of sets—some hulking structures, others more like primordial shacks; all energised with ultra-modern light play and interjections of artful installations. Bikes and buggies in the shape of giant animals zip around, lending a surrealist spin to the reverie.
It is in these environs that the latest Loewe Paula’s Ibiza capsule comes to vivid life. Now in its fourth iteration, the collaboration with legendary Ibiza boutique Paula’s is a full-fledged collection of summer essentials. Inspired by the languorous days and hedonistic nights of life in the Balearic Islands, it is an ode to dressing up for downtime, filled with breezy, bohemian pieces and playful prints galore—elevated beyond your standard resort and festival fare thanks to Jonathan Anderson’s directional approach to building a wardrobe and his signature eye-catching twists. Micro denim shorts, for instance, are transformed into a full-on fashion statement with an unusual half-and-half tie-dye treatment. Cropped lightweight knits come attached with flowing kimono sleeves in contrast florals. A cool cotton tee ends in a fluttering, asymmetrical hem—its fantastical prints of underwater life bopping in the flashing lights. T-shirts and sweaters sprout pom-poms and fringe that dance along as you move to the beat.
As the sun sets, the temperature drops and the neon lights power up to their fullest, throw on a jean jacket panelled with fabric swatches or a flowing robe in a patchwork of pastels and paisleys. When the clock strikes midnight and you follow the thump of EDM into a woods strobe-lit by pulsating LED lights, it’s time to bring out the showstoppers—say, fluorescent knits covered in soft little spikes or a shirt with prints collaged from old rave fliers.
From lounging in the shade to sundown drinks to dancing till dawn, the collection has a corresponding proposition for every pleasure—all rendered in an electric palette that ranges from sunset reds and oranges to earthy sand and olive hues, with acid neons and candy pastels in between.
As always with the Loewe Paula’s Ibiza collections, prints are a highlight—drawn from the exuberant archives of Paula’s founders Armin Heinemann and Stuart Rudnick. This time around, there are mermaids frolicking amidst coral, and water lilies with goldfish darting around them. These are rounded out with staple leisurewear motifs such as tie-dye, shirting stripes, madras checks, and 1970s-style graphic logos.
The House complements the expansive ready-to-wear with an equally hefty range of accessories. Whether you’re heading out with just the bare essentials—sunscreen and shades—or trying to fit in books and a beach towel, options abound: straw bags, drawstring pouches, oversize totes, bucket bags, nifty zip clutches and hands-free cross-body carriers.
As to be expected from a brand that has turned elephant and bunny bags into fashion heavy-hitters, there is a fair share of whimsical conversation-starter pieces. In keeping with the aquatic theme, the Loewe Paula’s Ibiza ones come in the form of seashells, dolphins, blowfish, whales and octopuses. Earrings and charms take the shape of seahorses, starfish and other underwater critters, while irreverent extras such as a foldable fan in tasselled, perforated calfskin up both the playfulness quotient and the luxe factor.
The House’s virtuosity with craft comes through the strongest in the complex construction of its popular Puzzle, Hammock and Balloon bags, given a fresh summer spin as Anderson reimagines them in Paula’s prints. Evidence of the hand can also be seen in the basket bags—one of spring/summer 2020’s biggest trends—which are made from palm fronds and wild reeds that have been dyed, spun and woven.
This emphasis on the artisanal is what sets Loewe apart and serves as a through line in all its disparate projects. As Anderson pushes his runway collections in an increasingly polished, grown-up direction, he is also fleshing out the other strands of the Loewe universe—each speaking to a different audience, but rooted in the same language of reverence for craft and heritage, and all updated in a truly modern lingo.
There is Eye/Loewe/Nature, an athleisure-inspired line that skews sportier and younger. The annual Holiday collections celebrating the works of Arts and Crafts masters such as William de Morgan and Charles Rennie Mackintosh appeal to more esoteric and maximalist tastes, while the Loewe Paula’s Ibiza collections open that universe up to pleasure seekers and sun worshippers. And in these times of chaos and contagion, who wouldn’t want to let a little sunshine in?
Clockwise from top left: Playful all-over patterns add punch to easy-towear silhouettes. Sea Angel charm, $450; denim jacket with patches, $1,550; elephant iPhone cover, $790, Loewe Paula's Ibiza. Whimsical prints of mermaids and water lilies lend directional flair to summertime staples such as denim jackets and oversize shirts
