The many persona's of Oxblood Zebra's S/S 26 Collection

Owner/Creative Director Reuben Shaw (shown in black)

First and foremost I want to thank my friend Preppy Pete for allowing me access to New York Men's Day. I am truly appreciative for the opprotunity to write about these collections. Speaking of collections, Oxblood Zebra easily had one of the most impressive showings at New York Men's Day. This collection emphasizes the profound emotions different styles can evoke in the wearer — emotions powerful enough to inspire an entirely new persona.

I love clothes as much as the next guy, but you know what makes clothes more alluring? Vision. If you've read Dozer you know we applaud all layers of artistic output, we can't just focus on the physical side of the finished product. That’s why, when Reuben told me the inspiration for this collection was the personas clothing can draw out of a person, I had to spin back and take another look with that in mind. After looking through with the vision in mind the, already great pieces damn near came to life.

From S/S 26 Collection

The word gravity comes to mind when I look at this collection. The way it has the power to pull you in is a kin to the gravity on Jupiter. The design and artistic direction is fundamentally for the wearer. The theme is consistent throughout, featuring funky 1970s styles that are true to the period. However, each piece projects an entirely different energy than the next. I love when a collection finds a way to establish cohesion while insisting diversity. Especially in this case, where I look at all of these pieces and imagine how I'd feel in all of them. In this particular lineup the burnt orange jacket is calling my name. It's not something I would usually wear, but in the spirit of embracing personas, I'll just say I can see myself sliding sideways through doors instead of walking through them.

From S/S 26 Collection

Listen, I think I dress well; but when I walked up to this particular lineup of the collection I may have gotten a little intimidated. Great suits, formal biker jackets, and flared slacks? It took real strength to stand there while they look dapper as hell in these stances. What I'm seeing is a celebration of tailoring and playful silhouettes. This collection flaunts the ability to demand a room without having the most boisterous outfit. The sleek tailoring and the color choices are striking enough to pack the same punch as a maximalist outfit. The black biker suit is the standout in this lineup. What is fashion without contrast in aesthetic? Reuben elevated a classically rugged look and made it suave. What I love most is the thoughtful detail, retaining the iconic biker patches on the jacket, while transforming the logo itself into a patch. There's a distinct change in energy from section to section that Reuben executed very well. The cohesion is flawless, and each outfit compliments the last.

From S/S 26 Collection

This might be the best of the bunch. I'm bias to preppy clothes but I love Reubens execution here. The sleeveless vest itself takes the cake, but the rest of the fit is amazing as well. This entire collection projects leisure and status, effortlessly sending a message of stylistic self awareness from those who wear it. They did a great job at conveying the essence of the brand, not only in design, but also in stature. Reuben and co-stylist and casting director Denny Balmaceda did an amazing job at capturing the brands identity. As someone who wasn't completely familiar with the brand beforehand, it was very easy to pick up and identify with the message and the execution of this collection.

Clothing has the power not only to instill confidence but also to shape identity. Reuben pushed this further, channeling his own diverse styles — each one reflecting who he chooses to be — and projected that spirit into the collection with flawless execution. He showcased his artistic vision both in concept and execution, successfully making an idea as abstract as emotion and transforming it into a quality clothing collection. I'm looking forward to what he creates next and I'll definitely buy that sleeveless vest when these release.