Raf Simons Calvinism
“It is one that finds merit in folk and function, food court and courtroom, from the humdrum to sci-fi...it is a romantic and filmic outsiders’ eye view of the uniqueness of America.”
Raf Simons, newly appointed creative director of Calvin Klein, has altered the aesthetics of the label reinterpreting it as American minimalism at its best. The 205W39NYC Calvin Klein ready to wear collection, formerly known as the Calvin Klein Collection has undergone a transformation. Based on American pragmatism and playfulness, Raf Simons mixes classic with casual, crafted in a minimalistic form with sophisticated techniques and a subdued variety of colour. Raf Simons said about his new venture of the label that “It reflects the environment. "All of these different people with different styles and dress codes. It’s the future, the past, Art Deco, the city, the American West…all of these things and none of these things. Not one era, not one thing, not one look. It is the coming together of different characters and different individuals, just like America itself. It is the unique beauty and emotion of America.”
Marching band uniforms, handcrafted quilting, wide silhouettes of tracksuits with long jackets in textured fabrics have added a cool, edgy look to the previous Calvin Klein look. A cross culture of clothing represents the new more modern aesthetic by Calvin Klein, celebrating the diversity that makes America unique, Raf Simons mixture of more rural sophisticated looks with urban, city practically in the 205W39NYC brand. The Fall 2017 collection entitled 'Parade' takes from Andy Warhol, dystopian fantasy while absorbing our own society's dysfunctional reality.
Cohabitation of style in technique and materials, even in the same silhouette is theme of the collection. Describing it as 'not the old, not the new, but the necessary.' Calvin Klein is shifting the fashion landscape of America into the future.