RUNWAY: Calvin Klein FW18

In just one year, Raf Simons has transformed Calvin Klein to a mirror that shines upon and reflects back American culture. For FW18, the stage was set at the American Stock Exchange with iconography from two of America's most well-known artists: Andy Warhol and Sterling Ruby. There was also a decrepit barn and an innumerable amount of popcorn on the floor. That was the stage. The collection gave the dystopic backdrop context with its focus on safety nets. The floors had some cushion should one fall but landing on popcorn doesn't give many people a peace of mind, neither does the crumbling infrastructure, evidenced by the barns, or the fact that citizens are being shot and killed, referenced in the apparent necessity of a pull-away vest that looked like a bullet-proof vest. There were also layers over layers: oversized jumpers over suits or a great coat that was as wide as it was long. In all, the narrative here and the excellent clothes that came along with it were top notch and proves that PVH, the corporate owners of Calvin Klein, made the wise choice in giving Simons full reign over the Calvin Klein empire.