Size IT 40: Best for any size between a Women's UK 10/US 6 and a UK 6/US 2.

Helmut Lang long-sleeve top with logo print from A/W 2002-2003. In excellent used condition. Made in Italy.

The A/W 2002 collection epitomises the high sophistication of Lang's 'luxury' period in the early 2000's, and I consider it as one of his very best seasons. The sobriety of evening wear and classic tailored shapes was subverted by the use of deconstructed cut-outs and intricately layered jersey skeletons, while lustrous patent leather and exotic skins such as perch and stingray lent unconventional textures to the luxurious designs. Hallmark Helmut Lang materials such as heavy moleskin cotton, raw denim and rubber elastic tape highlighted the collection's self-referential character, which drew elements from Lang's classic collections from the 1990s. The overall result was an eclectic celebration that brought together disparate influences to create a sophisticated and thoroughly avant-garde wardrobe. 

Part of the collection's basics range, this long-sleeve top features the Helmut Lang logo, followed by 'collection autumn/hiver 2002/03 established 1986* PARIS · NEW YORK'. In Lang's typical style, the print is applied on the upper back rather than the front which remains unembellished. This somewhat unusual logo placement was introduced by the designer in the early 1990s and has been imitated extensively since then. The decoration has been screen printed using thick glossy black ink which gives it an elegant shine.

The piece is exquisitely crafted and exhibits a high level of attention to detail that can rarely be seen in basic tops. Unlike most Helmut Lang T-shirts which are made from medium-weight fabrics, the fabric used here is a fantastic heavyweight cotton jersey that is compact and stretchy. The substantial material has a deep black colour with a mercerised finish that gives it a pronounced pearlescent shine. Furthermore, its very high thread count makes it luxuriously smooth and pleasant against the skin despite its thickness. The T-shirt's silhouette is slim with narrow shoulders, skinny sleeves and a crew neckline which has been finished with self-fabric binding. 

Executed to an exceptional standard, this piece demonstrates the hallmarks that have made Helmut Lang T-shirts so coveted years after the label's demise: printed decorations are used in moderation while the shapes are precisely tailored and realised in excellent quality fabrics. This not-so-basic approach to basics was crucial to Lang's commercial success and remains as relevant as ever.