>> Schlep is the operative word for my general movement right now a week on after the run of my life as a) my thighs still feel a bit wrong and b) I'm travelling around Asia right now (Shanghai now, Tokyo next), which isn't aiding reccuperation. A quick glance at Myrza de Muynck's latest S/S 13 collection and I can't think of anything better to wear for all that "schlepping", a word that conjures up walking around with minimum movement and maximum comfort - like a sloth in a cute outfit. Not that I'm implying there's anything sloth-like about the actual clothes. I've spoken of De Muynck's delicate take on the classic but slightly tainted shell suit (or basically a light tracksuit if you're not from the UK) before and now what with all the talk whirring around about the mind boggling accusations levied against Jimmy Saville, the shell suit has an even more soiled reputation than ever before. Still, de Muynck can hold her head up high. She's done it proud by rendering it in fabrics and colours that you wouldn't expect on this potentially cheesy two-piece, which has become something of a signature for de Muynck. However for S/S 13, she's toned down the naive embroidery and the homespun stitching and instead makes us chuckle with a reference to Regina George's boob circle cut-out shirt in Mean Girls. It's hard to say whether it was intentional or not but if a fictional high school can make boob cut-out tees happen, I'm sure that the reverse - circular boob applique on trackie jackets and sleevless tops could have their own following.
Anything drawing attention to my ironboard chest is usually refused at point blank but here the jackets and tops are almost too innocent in their approach and overall styling that I doubt people would bat an eyelid if you were to "schlep" around the streets in these bow-addled and pastel-infused shellsuits. Speaking of which, the numerous bows placed at the all-important elasticated waistband and that faded check pattern do much to soften the looks, detracting from the more obvious boob pun that onlookers would have a field day with. I especially love the use of grey and baby pink that reminds me of a soft toy elephant that I once had. Nostalgia is fundamental to the appeal of de Muynck's work and even now after the battering that the shell suit is getting, these still look like the perfect clothes to schlep happily around town in.
