Why Fashion

Raf Simmons debut collection for Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall 2013

This collection was everything I could hope for from a super important debut. It's amazing the amount of pressure put of Raf Simmons for this collection. He left Jil Sander for it, he's got to put a brand back on track after scandal, it's Dior, it's Raf.

But he did it, which blows my mind. He had so many possibilities and things to say and he had to fit his future into one collection. It's like those questions when people ask you, "If you had a microphone and could speak to the whole world for one minute, what would you say?"

He got the 50's-60's Dior in there with gowns and bar jackets, the Galliano with embroidery and beading and all the bra cups and drama, and then had himself with contemporary silhouettes of voluminous tops and slim trousers. The shoes, jewelry, and bags are to die for. 

The pieces work for any age, body, lifestyle, or style. They can be taken apart and styled with other garments to work in completely different ways. It's dreamy like couture, but at the end of the day wearable and sellable. A collection can be super out-there, but when it's no longer functional it ceases to be fashion, and should perhaps be in a contemporary art museum. The genius of fashion is creating garments that touch people, are artful and beautiful, but are at the end of the day clothing that can be sold and worn, without selling out.

It feels really now (as opposed to all those collections that are literally just vintage reproductions in disguise, or those hokey "futuristic" ones). It's a direction I want fashion to continue in. I can't believe a collection like this is actually happening in my lifetime because it is so perfect. If Raf Simmons and Hedi Slimane can really head up a new era of fashion, I can't wait for what's next. And also, Jil Sander back at Jil Sander. I haven't truly been excited about fashion as whole in a while, maybe this is the start of something awesome? Please?

Here's the whole thing