RUNWAY: Raf Simons SS19

What has been percolating in the underbelly of the menswear industry was thrown in front and center at Raf Simons: a rebuke of sporty, athletic and an embrace of elegant tailoring. Though the proliferation of casual sportswear has yet to peak within the general public; high fashion, or at least its most influential voice, is saying "enough". Simons also returns to Paris Fashion Week, a late decision that caused him to not be on the official schedule, and with this return sees him coming back to his roots as well: New Wave, with a series of printed photographs from a concert in Stockholm with none other than The Clash. These are actual photographs from that concert in 1977 and they added a nice juxtaposition to the beautifully crafted, boxy jackets and coats, nearly all made in Duchess satin, a fabric so high end that it almost never appears in menswear and is mostly only seen in haute couture collections because of the level of craftsmanship to cut and form is so high. And so, that's what men's most influential designer proffered for SS19: tailored clothes with a hint of rebellion via fond memories.