DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK

No matter where he’s ended up, expectations have always been high for Raf Simons; everything and anything the Belgian designer attaches his name to becomes a global sensation. Under his supervision as Calvin Klein’s chief creative officer, there’s been an unveiling of a new logo, the introduction of Calvin Klein By Appointment—and of course, the debut ready-to-wear collection. Along with his long-time design partner Pieter Mulier, Simons paid tribute all things Americana. Instead of focusing on a particular era in American history, he and Mulier mined a myriad of references: “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.” The collection included 64 looks, featuring womenswear and menswear, with a wide range of sharp suiting, plastic overlays (perhaps a nod to vinyl sofa covers of days gone by), premium denim uniforms, and some major free-thenipple cocktail dress contenders. All things considered, we’re not calling this a comeback, as Simons’ impact on the fashion world has never faded and only become stronger.