After a remarkable year marked by their recognition as LVMH Prize finalists and a rebranding from All-In to August Barron, designers Benjamin Barron and Bror August Vestbø are embarking on a new journey. Their latest collection, “Bedtime Story,” embraces the joy of carefree exploration. Barron described their inspiration: “We had this idea about going through our archive and throwing all the garments in the air and having them fall and kind of explode in slow motion,” reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
The duo delved into a whimsical world of their own creation, ending in a teenage realm filled with wonder, growth, and celebration, all adorned with bows. Unlike the real world, where bombs might fall, this imagined place was showered with fairy dust and confetti. Vestbø captured the essence of the collection as “prom in a gym hall meets princess ’70s.”
The foundation for this collection was the delightful triple ball gown skirts from spring. For the fall lineup, these skirts were combined with slightly oversized polos that were draped to the side and tied with bows. A tulle skirted ball gown featured a tank top, and some dresses were crafted from ribbons, giving the impression they had been lifted straight from a gift box. A zip-front top with puffy Snow-White sleeves was also part of the mix, alongside a Fair Isle sweater with unicorns prancing in cotton candy pink.
Barron explained that he and Vestbø aimed to “take traditionally masculine garments and feminize them,” which is evident in the baby blue tuxedo, almost shrunken in appearance, paired with a polo featuring a built-in, tulle-wrapped bustier. The prom queen’s counterpart was a romantic jock, sporting a football jersey with confetti embroidery, complemented by a gold fabric boutonniere, side-stripe sweatpants, a cummerbund, and heels suited for a Disney princess. The brand’s popular boot is also available for fall in a scrunchy version.
Vintage stuffed animals from online sources were “suspended” from ethereal dresses, perhaps symbolizing the fleeting nature of youth. Vestbø noted that this collection continues the idea of capturing perfect moments in time, with fall’s lineup being “not as wrong, maybe, as usual.” The collection’s slight awkwardness aligns with its teenage theme, which is what makes it resonate. In challenging times, August Barron invites viewers to pause in a magical world, urging them to suspend disbelief and appreciate a delightful escape into imagination.
