Me and My Calvins

Fashion-folk remember with fondness the Raf Simons Calvin Klein years. He brought his European stamp of subcultural style to the illustrious American brand and for three seasons, presenting collections that infused the hallowed House with imagery and symbolism. He collaged shots of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws shark onto T-shirts and sweaters, and morphed classic stars-and-stripes, Western cowboy tailoring into men’s and womenswear.

His Autumn 2018 collection, shown at the Stock Exchange Building in New York, which was decorated inside with Sterling Ruby sculptures and peeling Andy Warhol photographs, felt plain-spoken and was punctuated with protective pieces, like firemen jackets and trousers striped with reflective tape. It was the collection Billie chose to wear when she sat front row the following September at Raf’s final CK show, alongside Khalid and Mia Goth.

this page: A model walks the runway for Calvin Klein Collection Ready to Wear A/W 2018-2019 during NY Fashion Week, 2018. opposite: Ready for the Calvin Klein Collection front row, New York Fashion Week, 2018.