To tie dye or not to tie dye?

This is the question that we are all asking ourselves this summer (I am anyway) Forgetting all of its usual connotations and looking at it objectively, I like tie dye. That's right, I'm not ashamed. If Bottega Veneta can do it in sumptuously soft-looking bright purple and egg yolk yellow leather and if Proenza Schouler, Blumarine, and Rodarte can do it in swirling pinks, purples and greens on the S/S 2010 catwalks, I can too.

If the face melting bright colours of 'traditional' tie dye are too much, designers like Shabd along with most high street shops (notably River Island and Topshop) have a few more subtle or inky hued garments to choose from.

1 - Silk button down vest (price on request) Shabd
Dress (worn underneath) £18 Topshop
Chain £22.95, ring £29.95 Palenque

2 - Hoodie £107 Shabd

3 - Bodysuit £84.50 Shbd

4 - T-Shirt £70 Shabd
Trousers £49.95 Urban Outfitters
Casio watch £52.95 Urban Outfitters

5 - Vest top £6 Topshop
Shorts £30 Topshop
Tie dye shorts £50 Shabd
Bangles £110 each, chains £22.95 Palenque

6 - Vest £50 Shabd

7 - Bodysuit £84.50 Shabd

8 - T-Shirt £70 Shabd
Trousers £49.95 Urban Outfitters
Casio watch £52.95 Urban Outfitters

9 - Bodysuit £84.50 Shbd

10 -Hoodie £107 Shabd
Shorts £28 Levi 501 renewal, Urban Outfitters
Shoes £60 Urban Oufitters

11 -Silk button down vest (price on request) Shabd
Dress (worn underneath) £18 Topshop
Chain £22.95, ring £29.95 Palenque

12 - Sam wears Vest £50 Shabd
Abi wears Vest top £6 Topshop
Shorts £30 Topshop
Tie dye shorts £50 Shabd
Bangles £110 each, chains £22.95 Palenque

13 - Vest top £6 Topshop
Trousers £35 Chino renewal, Urban Outfitters

14 - Ben wears T-Shirt £70 Shabd
Ab wears Bodysuit £84.50 Shbd

Shoot Credits:

Styling: 
Olivia Fiddes  / Alexandra Fiddes

Photography: 
Ben Seeley
ben.seeley@yahoo.com
www.cargocollective.com/benjaminseeley

Make up/hair styling: 
Victoria Watson
vrok80@hotmail.com

Models:
Abi from Model Team
Sam from Superior Model Management

Garments:
www.shabdismyname.com
Topshop www.topshop.com
Urban Outfitters www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Jewellery: 
Palenque
www.palenque.co.uk