As autumn arrives, Paul Smith gets playful in Notting Hill

Paul Smith is one of Britain’s much-loved fashion designers. With a career spanning five decades, beginning with his first small shop in Nottingham in 1970, he has become known for his overtly British sensibility when it comes to design. His T-shirts feature little quirks such as zebra motifs, while his signature multicoloured stripe finds itself on scarves, knits and the pockets of jeans. His design motto is, as he once told Gentleman’s Journal, is to “find inspiration in everything.” And that he does, whether it’s the photo albums collected by his late father, which inspired his latest collection, the bike sheds of Nottingham, or even cork screws - Forge de Laguiole being his favourite.

For his Autumn/Winter ‘25 collection, Notting Hill, the home of a bohemian attitude, music and eccentricity, became a source of intrigue, and the designer took to the streets to stage a photoshoot that embodied that aforementioned British eccentricity. The designer’s home for much of his life, Notting Hill has been an integral part of his creative process and inspiration. The opening of the Westbourne House shop in 1998 marked the beginning of Paul Smith’s presence in the vibrant and eclectic neighbourhood, and it felt appropriate for Smith to stage his campaign for the autumn collection there.

The campaign, shot by British photographer Samuel Bradley and styled by Ben Schofield, sees a Paul Smith-clad cast carry, juggle, and stack an eclectic mix of curious objects, from a double bass to a giant carrot, while there is even a cameo from the original 1998 Paul Smith x Mini Cooper.

The Autumn/Winter ‘25 collection itself is a reflection on the rebellious nature of people in the 1960s. “It was the era of the second generation after the horror of war, and people were able to do things differently,” Smith told Gentleman’s Journal earlier this year, citing the carefree photographers of the time as inspiration. “[David] Bailey was like why do we always have to work in a studio? Cecil Beaton and those before were very fixed in their ways, and at the same time casual clothing came to the fore. Before that every male human being wore a suit.”

Traditional tailoring fabrics such as herringbone are tumbled to give them a lived-in effect, while contrasting fabrics are positioned side by side, and Houndstooth and Prince of Wales patterns are eye-catching and blown up. The signature Paul Smith stripe is woven into the collection, adding a playful touch, while the ‘Field Flower’ print, which is realised as a vivid photo-print on shirts and ties, alludes to more of the Paul Smith spirit.

Shop the collection at paulsmith.com

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