Babyghost is the fledgling bi-continental brand from Chinese Qiaoran Huang and American Josh Hupper, both of whom interned at Diane von Furstenberg; Hupper then went on to design at Thakoon. In 2010 they formed Babyghost, a playful, streetwear-leaning range with a particular eye to the tension of the girlish and the hard-edged. In the brand's Spring offering, polka dots and multi-hued lace played alongside graphics inspired by chopper culture and tattoo artist Troy Denning. There were sweet dresses—like a kicky number in denim and a wide-neck body-con—and elsewhere slick black jerseys printed with skulls that harked back to another Babyghost Spring touchstone: True Detective.
Some of the simplest propositions here were the most successful: an oversize white button-down edged in polka-dot trim, and a plaid bomber that, on closer inspection, was dappled with leopard spots. They were at once charming and sinister—not unlike doll-faced Xiao Wen Ju in the brand's Spring video, toting a gun and taking aim at cherished cartoon characters. Xiao is a walking endorsement for Babyghost, as she is often spotted in street-style shots wearing the label. Fellow countrywoman Liu Wen has also been seen in the brand's clothes. While the bulk of Babyghost's business is in China at this point, the designers are making a strong bid for the American market, and it's currently stocked at VFiles' Mercer Street brick-and-mortar outpost. With friends like these, only good things are on the horizon for Babyghost.
