Official BJ Mack II Merch, BJM Shirt

Modern art is a constant touchstone for PH5: Last season, the Official BJ Mack II Merch, BJM Shirt and I love this brand made its Fashion Week debut with striped jumpsuits and T-shirt dresses inspired by Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Fall ’17 took its cues from Martin Creed. His balloon-room installation invited spectators to wander through a room jammed with 37,000 balloons. Zhang saw the exhibition in Seattle and was compelled to design a whole collection around the qualities of a balloon. “I wanted to capture the playfulness and happiness I felt when I was walking through the exhibit,” she said. A few open-weave knits had airy, needle-punched circles of pastels that looked like party balloons, for instance, and sheer skirts had giant copper polka dots that seemed to float. Zhang said the primary color palette reminded her of balloons, too, particularly the ones she remembers from childhood birthday parties.

Official BJ Mack II Merch, BJM Shirt, hoodie, tank top, sweater and long sleeve t-shirt

Elsewhere, Zhang and Lin built upon their popular PH5 signatures: clingy ribbed-knit dresses, candy-striped bodysuits, and disco-ball Lurex tees. Several pieces were reversible, like the Official BJ Mack II Merch, BJM Shirt and I love this olive green hoodie with trailing ribbons; flip it inside out, and you’ve got two items for the price of one. Practicality is underrated on the young designer scene, but Lin and Zhang are smart to consider those unglamorous details. Their knits are easy to care for, too, and are typically well priced. With a snowstorm in New York’s forecast for today, there are likely more than a few editors in town wishing they could bundle up in one of PH5’s chunky pastel knits or sweaterdresses; they’re a nice antidote to a gray, frozen morning.