Staged in Karl Lagerfeld’s previous residence, L’hôtel de Maisons on Rue de L’Université Thom Browne staged an alien invasion inside the 18th century Parisian Landmark. Two men dressed in grey suits, painted silver sat completely still like wax works at the centre of the courtyard upon arrival, hinting at the otherworldly happenings taking place inside. Eerie, space-like sounds began to trickle into the show space with guests heads abruptly turning around to check they weren’t dreaming. The alien murmurings soon transformed into a brief rendition of the Dr Who soundtrack fused with an orchestral score, and when the first model hit the runway, all became clear.

The opening look saw the model sport a lager-than-life encrusted alien head paired with a look which otherwise appeared to be quintessentially Thom Browne. Exploring “the edge between the ordinary and the outer limits,” the American designer’s traditional tailoring arrived deconstructed, spliced or twisted and built in extreme proportions. Coats were transformed into cocooning silhouettes, trousers boasted duplicate pairs attached front and back, while skirts were situated low on the waist and heavily pleated. A bright pastel colour palette intersperses the brand’s classic grey, red and blue in a nod to preppy collegiate Americana, continued in the development of shoulder padded outerwear and shirting reminiscent of a linebackers padding on the field. In the show notes, Browne summarised the message at the core of his collection, offering us “a proposition of universal clarity – a uniform for every being; both alien and human.”