Studio reflections is a monthly dispatch of observations from the fitting room of barostudio___. It’s a log of my learnings where I resist the optimised pull of algorithms and document my process in long form. I choose this space to unpack the politics of visual communication via relevant texts, theory, imagery and conversation. I consider dialogue to be my social currency with this project so if you find yourself having opinions about what you read here, I urge you to engage in the comments or email. This letter is a deeper dive into the pillars of the clothing line, categorical explanations behind the intention and functionality of (almost) each piece and a map of how to navigate building the baro closet. By now, there are a substantial and valuable number of members to this community, and this is my offering to extend insight beyond the visual (instagram posts+stories). If you own a piece from the line, or are planning on purchasing—here is a memo to help you decide and collect with a deeper look into the process.
There are no rules
This is a preamble I want to begin with. Given the rise and popularity of do’s and dont’s, along with the prescriptive directions of how to work something in your closet as a never-failing formula—this letter is simply A perspective of how key pieces from Baro Studio can be imagined, with a heavy dose of discernment from your side.
The entire line can be roughly filed under visual qualities of:
(silhouette) (texture) (colour)
These categories are by no means mutually exclusive, just because one piece falls under the Texture heading doesn’t mean it cant also in the Silhouette category. The concept is that each piece in the existing collection is leading with either texture, silhouette or colour. How you make sense of that in your own closet is up to you, this is an insight into the design intention.
This dispatch will start with ‘silhouette’.
silhouette items are:
-
Balloon Jumpi
-
Shcez top
-
Balloon pant
These pieces emphasise the visual boundary of form on the body, and dictate how they take up space in the environment surrounding them. Most likely, you will find notions of big and small integral to Silhouette. An important intention for me to deploy these concepts were to tickle at why we assume small to be good and big to be bad. The goal in these pieces was to most definitely be big, but only in contrast to something small. In the case of the BALLOON JUMPI, you will find exaggeration in shape waist down, while the torso is optically impressioned as much smaller in contrast. This juxtaposition, makes it appealing to (nearly) everyone who tries it, no matter what anatomical size they are. The range of scale is key to understanding the pieces that lead with Silhouette.
Here’’s a little mood board for the jumpi development:
The SHCEZ TOP, a short for SHCEZUAN— is borne out of a similar love affair with big and small. Here, you will see that the construction flirts with the scale in a way that is flattering to those who like a strong shoulder, a bold cuff and some skin on the neck.
The kimono sleeve and seamless shoulder allow the fabric to follow shape of the shoulder, dropping to the natural decline of the arm, tracing all the way down towards mid wrist. The sleeve length is exaggeratedly longer than the total length of the shirt, accentuating the form in its own way. The soft corsetting on the waist is in sharp contrast to the boxy shoulder, giving way to a masculine tone with a softer note. The opposites in the SHCEZ are not just limited to scale (big and small) but to more muted notions of structure and fluidity.
Some ways to wear it:
Lastly, the BALLOON PANT, arguably the most fundamental and broad spectrum piece from the line, an essential to building a carefully chosen closet. I always advise to start with the BP as an entry point into the brand, because depending on how you live in it, you can get a fairly good estimate if baro is a brand for you or not. The BP is a spin on the traditional tailored men’s trouser from the 70’s but with a tapered and narrow hem, with mirroring pleats on top and bottom. As rightly pointed out by many of you, it is indeed very reminiscent of the shalwar, which I have always found to be a terribly sexy and intelligent piece of clothing. With a subtle nod to heritage in its silhouette and an understanding of the contemporary with the fabric choice (tropical suiting), the BP is sporty, refined and traditional all at once. The balloon-esque, barrel shape is a defining feature of this number, making it a silhouette heavy garment. The waist is again highlighted at the narrowest point, second to only hem at the ankle—which is intentionally left exposed. The hip is naturally accentuated, which adds to the juxtaposition but in a way that feels human like, polished and easy.
Closing with a playlist, stay tuned for the next in the series: TEXTURE.
P.s: Trying this tiktok thing. If you’re into that, follow the baro product development and candid bts journey here.
Malaeka x