Since his start at Calvin Klein, Raf Simons has shaken up the brand with art-speared collections and stores. For Spring/Summer 2019, the CALVINKLEIN 205W39NYC show was no different. Presented at the brand’s global headquarters on 39th Street in New York, the show featured pieces inspired by two American movies: JAWS and The Graduate. Tension between two different existences—like male vs. female, hardship vs. privilege, and youth vs. maturity—also played a role.
“The landscape of America—literal and psychological—inspires CALVIN KLEIN,” said Simons. “A journey through America leads, inevitably, to the edge of the landscape: the beach. At the beach there is this incredible idea of beauty, but also a tension—between land and ocean, a feeling of two worlds meeting, maybe colliding. There’s a sense of the unexpected—and always, a temptation. For me, JAWS perfectly exemplifies these notions.”
The setting for CALVINKLEIN 205W39NYC Spring/Summer 2019.
For the show, guests witness a bold set that pulled on the strings of tension, yet again, with hot and cold tones. At eye level, a blue color wrapped the room’s walls, and down below, a bright red floor glowed. Like the glowing hues in cinema, the set reflected its inspiration in a unique and powerful way.
Varying school uniforms inspired several of the looks, such as graduation robes and schoolboy blazers, while we also made note of high society-inspired dresses recreated by 1950s patterns and textiles. Fabrics were seen constructed in layers and panels, with some bearing images from Andy Warhol and designer Stephen Sprouse.
CALVINKLEIN 205W39NYC Spring/Summer 2019
