Two days into the Fall 2017 season, and it seems America—and all its chaos—is the number one thing on designers’ minds. At Raf Simons’s Calvin Klein debut, he and womenswear creative director Pieter Mulier reinterpreted Americana as sheer varsity sweaters and plastic couch cover dresses, while Jeremy Scott capped off the day with a come-one-come-all mélange of celebrity-obsessed ravers. In between were a series of young designer presentations and an elegant catwalk from one of Mrs. Obama’s favorites. Tonight, we rage until daybreak at the Calvin Klein party—check back tomorrow for by-the-minute updates.
Oh, Say Can You CK?The fashion world was waiting with bated breath for Raf Simons’s official runway debut at Calvin Klein. His show this morning celebrated American fashion touchstones from CK Jeans to sheriff’s jackets to the plastic couch covers every suburban kid remembers from grandma’s house. His cast and front row were just as diverse as his collection, too, with models of all ethnicities on the runway and celebs from A$AP Rocky to Brooke Shields in the seats.
A Menswear Upstart Crosses OverLinder, the artful line by Sam Linder and Kirk Millar, has been bubbling under the surface of the menswear scene for a couple seasons. The duo finally garnered the attention they deserve with a brilliant men’s and women’s show. There were comically odd moments—the female model with a mock erection among them—but the brand’s leather pieces and outerwear had the elegant seriousness that could make them retail hits.
Life in Plastic, It’s Fantastic!Who knew that plastic coated Prince of Wales checks would be the It look of the day? Calvin Klein and Linder willed it so. Take a minute tonight and pick up some Perspex on the way home for your street style look tomorrow.
We ll All Float OnBuoyancy was the name of the game at Becca McCharen-Tran’s Chromat show today. The literal takes on the theme appeared as flotation devices and blown-up fascinators, while life vest–like jackets turned survival gear into a sporty fashion statement. As always, McCharen-Tran’s show was one of the most diverse of the week, kicking off with a performance by UNIIQU3.
Mrs. O’s Go-To Guy Raises the MoodNo designer was as beloved by Michelle Obama as Jason Wu. Well, she might not be the First Lady anymore, but Mrs. O will still be reaching for her Wu dresses. He showed a collection of golden velvets and bitsy florals that aimed to wardrobe the modern woman.
Praying at the Altar of Celebrity WorshipJeremy Scott was thinking about celebrities, from Elvis to Jesus, for his Fall 2017 collection. The inspiration wasn’t without political motivation. In a Facebook Live interview with Vogue Runway’s Maya Singer, he cited our “entertainer-in-chief” as one of his motivations. If that sounds pretty bleak, Scott turned his malaise upside down with a slew of bright numbers that poked fun at our pop cultural obsessions.
Snow, Meet Street StyleWinter storm Niko was no match for the street style set, who arrived at shows this week in their waterproof—or sometimes not—finery. Vogue.com’s man on the street, Phil Oh, was there to capture all the action.
Backstage Drama Begins AgainKevin Tachman will be backstage all season long, capturing models in their pre-show habitat. See his snaps from the start of NYFW here.