Loden Dager Spring 2012: Skate and Surf Hits the Streets

Loden Dager showed off one of the week's strongest (and boldest) collections - a melange of prints and hyper-colors - it was like if Zac Morris from Saved By The Bell took a hip hop turn (in the best way).

"We started out looking at early skate and surfboarding," said Paul Marlow, one of the collective's designers, "all the faded out photographs. But it wasn't right. So, we pumped up the colors and made it a little street."

To a thumping rap soundtrack that segued to garage rock, the models came out in brash ensembles from head to toe -- and mostly rocking tennis ball yellow Nike Air Max 90s. Slim electric blue trousers, indigo track pants and hot pink slacks all had one leg rolled above the knee like a bike messenger (couriers are perennial arbiters of style). Short shorts went out the window, Loden Dager's either graced the knee or went well-below. And don't forget about the paisley. There was a lot of friggin' paisley. "We took paisley back," said Marlow. That they did -- with a vengeance.

--WILLIAM VAN METER

All photos courtesy of Sarah Olin