So much of IB Kamara’s styling is rooted in the mythologising of culture. Throughout his work, painted faces, headpieces, and high fashion are brought together as traditional dress, forging a global vision set somewhere far away from earth. Here, under the eye of photographer Justin French, the AW21 collection of Marc O’Polo has been reimagined as part of a time-hopping contingent of warriors. Graphic streaks of purple, gold, and alabaster have been swept across models’ eyes like indigenous markings, while Roald Dahl-like shoes have been tacked onto their feet, like The Twits in mid-flight.
As they tussle over a thick, vine-like rope, its twill seems to extend from the grooves of Marc O’Polo’s ribbed, creamy knits. Hooded ponchos, elongated vests, and polo necks are styled with the label’s taolin joggers, ruched to resemble Shakespearian jodhpurs. Bouclé scarves have been woven around hips like Grecian skirts, or otherwise wrapped onto heads like fabled Cossack soldiers. It marks a new chapter for the Stockholm brand, which has built a name on finessing the basics. In the pages of Dazed’s autumn issue, it surrenders itself to an alien creativity and the allegorical power of fashion photography.
Flick through the spread in the gallery above.