THE NEW REASON TO HEAD TO ZARA

( as if you needed one)

ATTENTION! THIS WEEK Zara unveils a new capsule collection, set to rival its mainline and excellent TRF ranges for dominance in your wardrobe this winter.

As the name suggests – give or take a couple of vowels – ZARA SRPLS draws on the codes of our favourite off-duty goto: surplus-style clothing. (Side note: could the future of the high street be to move away from faster-than-lightning trends and towards something with more longevity? SRPLS would suggest that shift might already be happening.)

So what to expect? Large utility pockets, technical fabrics, plenty of khaki and a dash of camo. The outerwear is particularly strong; seek out bomber jackets, parkas and long-line cargo jackets in satisfyingly thick fabrics that look much more expensive than they really are.

Of course, there’s an undeniable authenticity to something happened upon in vintage or army surplus stores, but the SRPLS collection spins these types of lucky finds into something new, remixing familiar codes with exaggerated proportions, unstructured cuts and unexpected details. Cotton T-shirts, sweaters and knitwear will be part of a unisex offering, while menswear trousers are reimagined in the same design ( but, crucially, a slightly different cut to ensure a flattering fit) for women.

SRPLS is a clever move. Launching the collection as a separate offering to the mainline is indicative of the unstoppable might of streetwear. Furthermore, in a galvanised political era, the activist associations of surplus clothing have taken on a whole new potency. And, of course, it’s just exactly what we want to be wearing on weekends right now.