Kris Atomic

Tata Naka know how to put on a presentation. The previous two seasons’ offerings were highlights of my schedule, but they really pulled out all the stops this time, taking us back to High School in the 80s. The invite was a detention slip, the soundtrack was full on Girls Just Wanna Have Fun amazing and the drink of the day – packaged in a mini milk carton – was a “Ringwald”.

The great thing about Tata Naka is that each collection, no matter how diverse the inspiration, still remains very much them. All the TN classics were present and correct, the brogues and bowling shoes, the sheer paneled skirts and the unmistakable painterly prints. I’m especially crazy about the multicoloured tweed blazer (another TN signature) with the pink skirt and faux socks-with-loafers ankle boots. There were several groups of looks that were rotated throughout the 3 hour presentation so I didn’t catch everything, but having looked at other images online this backpack, letterman jacket and the heart cutout back dress are other major highlights.

What I really like is that somehow the Tata Naka girl is always a modern one, no matter how retro the presentation. Take away the blue eye shadow, the quiffs and the pom poms and you have real clothes not a rehashed costume.

It was fun to watch the set change from bleachers to prom in about 60 seconds (made by the geniuses at Chameleon Visual and Set Square staging).