For a lesson in how to do hybridised dressing, look no further than Neil Barrett’s SS20 collection. The designer took his audience back to university, as the latest offering from his eponymous label was rife with collegiate motifs. 

Designed in conjunction with South African artist Jody Paulson, the runway and walls of Barrett’s show space were decorated with school-notebook-style doodles. A co-ed cast stepped out in pieces that were refined yet relaxed: basketball jerseys were teamed with structured two-tone coats, while psychedelic knitwear was neatly tucked into side-stripe track pants. The traditional jock versus nerd dichotomy was definitely at play – models in clear glasses wore smart, camel-coloured monochrome ensembles, whereas others donned crest-covered tees, chilled bomber jackets and matching basketball shorts. 

The accessories emphasised the ‘back to school’ vibes. Cross-body bags in various sizes were layered together, while bum bags were traditionally worn across the waist. Calf socks were paired with Barrett’s Bolt Sneaker: a style that came in both skater and basketball-inspired iterations. Most notably, the designer debuted the Ghettoblaster backpack made in conjunction with Wizpack – essentially a wearable speaker, this piece was a surefire sign that this collection was ironically too cool for school.