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Hair
Jean T
Makeup
Evelyn Ho
Model
Sarah Ye at Supermii Model Management
Styling Assistant
Charles Wong
Photography Assistant
Curtiss Li and Nicholas Tse
credits
ZANA BAYNE

Styling by Jolene Lin / Photography by Tim Wong

Since creating her first piece in 2010, Zana Bayne has fast made a name for herself with her artisanal leather harnesses. She now counts Madonna, Lady Gaga, Cara Delevingne and industry insider Comme des Garçon’s Rei Kawakubo, as fans.

This season, the eponymous label has really come into its own with a Spring Summer collection entitled Moonbathers, inspired by a hot summer’s night at the beach: “It touches upon a surrealist sense of mystery that you get when all you see is the night’s sky, and all you hear is the sound of waves crashing onto the shore,” said Bayne. “I wanted to keep that unexpected lightness in mind, yet at the same time create something elegant, romantic, strong and feminine.”

Here, Bayne shares her favourite ways of wearing the collection with ideas on how to build it into your existing wardrobe.

Leather bustier by Zana Bayne, tricot braid cropped top by Givenchy, white wool trousers by Victoria Beckham and buckle cutout caged leather shoes by Toga Archives.

What began as a small project, inspired by a girl she saw wearing a leather harness over a blouse has, over the past five years, grown into an impressive niche label that is becoming a formidable presence in the world of leather accessories. “I loved how it looked both refined and rebellious at the same time, and that in essence it was a simple piece to make; I wanted to see how else I could work with the design,” Bayne says.

Handcrafted in her New York studio, Bayne has taken the taboo connotations of the harness and reinvented them for everyday life. “I found out quickly that harnesses have this transformative power, that when layered over, or under, clothing can completely alter how you look and hold yourself,” she says.

The versatility of her leather accessories means they can be dressed up or down, from T-shirt to cocktail dress. “They are the perfect thing to wear when you’re looking for that extra something, as the slightest touch of leather can make you feel sexy while you’re still totally dressed, and strong without the option of armour.”


Try wearing a harness open like a vest over a white T-shirt for a relaxed silhouette.

Constellation harness by Zana Bayne, Tuxedo trompe l’oeil hem combo top by 3.1 Phillip Lim and embossed lasercut peplum layer midi skirt by Toga Archives

“The leather bustier is already a classic staple for evening dressing, so for daytime try layering one over a blouse to feel like a super-heroine at work.”

Harness dress by Zana Bayne, Huston crisscross satin pinafore dress by Ellery and leather slip-ons by Alexander Wang.

“A fully linked harness dress might look intimidating on the hanger, but try wearing it over jeans and a tank top for a thoroughly avant-garde take on daily dressing.”

Cat-eye bra by Zana Bayne, double breasted tuxedo jacket with waistcoat by Neil Barrett and Olympia asymmetric pleat crepe flute skirt by Ellery.

“Since leather is far more substantial than lingerie, consider wearing a leather bra with a blazer and pencil skirt to make heads turn.”

2015-03-11 00:09:00.0