Take Me Away Professor.E
Spring/Summer 2021
The brand bio for Professor.E states that the eponymous hero is a hypothetical character born in a World War Two laboratory, genetically sampled from Guy Fawkes’ DNA. And that is all I needed to read. I’m in. I would read the book, play the video game, and watch the film.
Thankfully however the clothes deliver, with a dark and romantic avant-garde aesthetic that immediately draws me in and has me thinking about which pieces would fit into my wardrobe. A testament to the powers of styling are those incredible headpieces, which give me Jun Takahashi and Takahiro Miyashita vibes, and elevate the looks into an imagined world that I wish I could visit. I think the lookbook is incredibly strong visually, however what I love most is actually the portrait shots that spearhead the campaign. They remind me of old painted portraits or photographic portraits in some steampunk alternate reality, giving you a detailed look at the headpieces, while also allowing a close up view of the jacquard detailing of the outerwear garments. I always love clothes that reward you when you look closer, especially nowadays where a number of clothes (high fashion and high street) seem designed to look good in social media photographs but seem lacklustre in design up close. I think it shows a respect for detail and for the wearer, because while we are fated to only ever see our full outfit in the mirror or captured by a lens, it is nice to look down and see something visually intricate and appealing.
I am always a fan of a creative backstory and character-driven design, provided it does not veer too far into the realm of costume (although there is obviously a space to appreciate that style of design too). It is one of the reasons I love the work of Umit Benan so much, because each collection has such a strong story and conceptual background, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the designer’s vision, and yet the clothes are all still wearable and easy to pair in your wardrobe. This Professor.E collection is surprisingly wearable and I definitely appreciate that. The outerwear constitutes the majority of the statement pieces, which are always a fun addition to a wardrobe. But the rest of the clothes, and the shoes which are a new addition for the brand this season, are versatile in terms of styling, while still benefiting from a clear and strong design direction. I think that there is always a balance to be struck, and they seem to have found that balance quite naturally. It allows a wearer more choice in how they style the pieces themselves, taking a more creative direction or going for something a little more low key.
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