I won’t be the first person to say this, but time has taken on a strange quality over the last 12 months. It was only 5 months ago that I tried on H&M’s show-stopping Simone Rocha collaboration (which, unsurprisingly, went on to be a sellout success), but it’s fair to say that it feels like a lifetime ago. So, I couldn’t quite believe it when I found out that the high street brand’s next big designer collab was imminent and, naturally, I had to be the first to get a sneak peek. Oh hello, H&M x Toga Archives.
As per usual H&M has opted for a brand that will, most likely, not be known by the masses, but is sure to get fashion-lovers’ hearts racing and is sure to deliver on insider appeal. Designed by Yasuko Furuta, Toga was first conceived in Tokyo in 1997, but it wasn’t until 2005 that it began presenting its collections in Paris and then London in 2014. Furuta’s deconstructed aesthetic is centred on dramatic silhouettes that are, in part, inspired by Japanese design, but also pay homage to her training in Paris. All of this is packed into her collaboration with H&M, which presents an avant garde twist on traditionally polished pieces.
Blazers are embellished with XXL brooches and finished with waist-cinching tabs, trench coats elevated with panels of high-shine patent, and pretty floral dresses given an edge with colour-contrasting sequins. Most notably, I feel this collection points to the move towards a more unisex approach to design. A fair chunk of my edit is made up of items from the menswear collection, which is packed-full of oversized tailoring that feels undeniably chic when paired with separates and accessories from the womenswear collection. I, for one, am wholeheartedly here for this more free-flowing approach to clothing categories.
I haven’t included every piece from the collection as I only wanted to feature items that I am truly invested in and would happily wear myself. I know the high street gets a lot of flak (and I acknowledge that it has a long way to go), but I have to say that the quality of the these pieces is impressive and I have no doubt that they will stand the test of time. But, as always, make sure you think carefully before you make a purchase, and hopefully my edit can help you to make a more informed decision.
From perfect party dresses to head-turning blazers, scroll down to see my favourite pieces from H&M’s Toga Archive’s collaboration, which drops tomorrow morning. Just remember, these collections don’t stay in stock for long.
