In 2011 a food-supply scandal made the information in China when watermelon farmers who had sprayed their crops with a chemical product that promised speedy development had been dismayed to find it served solely to make their melons explode into nugatory pulp. Earlier this month a minority stake in Alexis Mabille was bought to a three,400-outlet Chinese language fast-fashion outfit known as Peacebird, which plans to roll out a community of Mabille shops in China.

Mabille selected the watermelon as his motif for this, his first post-Peacebird ready-to-wear assortment. There was a sequined watermelon on the entrance of a ruche-armed sweatshirt teamed with some jaunty shorts and a sheer half-skirt, watermelon print split-to-the-hip pants, watermelon bracelets, watermelon necklaces—you get the drift. Extra ambiently watermelon-touched have been the doubtful contra-color layered lace slip attire—in watermelon-esque tones—and satin separates. This assortment was at its greatest when sans watermelon but explosive of silhouette: The oversize biker jackets and skirts have been simple and enjoyable. There was additionally a candy ’80s-flavor jumpsuit with volumized arms and a tonal fold on the neck. Plus, Mabille slices a reasonably superb jacket: The only vented (watermelon) crimson instance with an apparently projecting revere was proof of that. There was an emphasis on open-at-the-back shirting—completely high quality—and an insistence on miniature backpack fanny packs—sort of Philipp Plein.

This was very a lot an area’s present, packed to its marble rafters with Parisians breathily just-about tolerating (as solely Parisians can) the abundance of their fellows. The brand new Peacebird side to Mabille’s story lent it an edge, which the garments sadly slightly lacked. It additionally made you actually hanker after a pleasant ripe slice of pretty, juicy watermelon: natural, ideally.