Kate King photographed by Ezra Petronio for Self Service no.36. (Sweater Rochas / beanie with veil Jil Sander.)
Jourdan Dunn (black leather jacket with silk sleeves Junya Watanabe / white shirt Comme des Garçons).The scene at the end of the Jil Sander show — Raf Simons’s last for the house — was moving and spontaneous, and certainly not like anything I’ve experienced in 25 years of covering the industry.
At the end of a remarkable collection that quietly evoked the hours in a couple’s domestic life, from a woman’s morning lingerie to gorgeous wool coats and black cocktail dresses, the audience gave Mr. Simons a standing ovation. He acknowledged the gesture with a smile and wave and then disappeared backstage, which was closed to guests because he wanted to avoid a heavy emotional scene and questions about his departure.
After Mr. Simons ducked out of sight, the audience gathered on the low, rectangular stage and moved toward the backstage entrance, applauding the entire time. The German press section was particularly loud. People stood on the runway and kept applauding for about a minute, and then Mr. Simons came out again, his face streaked with tears.
Giuseppe Cacace/Agence France-Presse
Really, what is there to say about the Jil Sander show last Friday? Raf Simons transforms minimalism into the highest form of luxury. Perfection.
I'm sure there will be more on that later from my better half, but for now, here's a good interview with the designer, Raf Simons, by Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune. Along with people like Alber Elbaz, Raf keeps fashion interesting season after season.
This is the Jil Sander store on Howard Street in Soho.
A building houses people, and clothing houses a person. These garments are like personal architecture in both shape and construction—the most luxurious feeling, laser-cut fabric, molded into really amazing, unusual structures, while maintaining essentially the same overall shape and purpose of clothing.
The store itself is also an interesting experience. They use mirrors in unexpected places and ways, as if to say "see things differently." It's every bit as interesting as a good gallery show.
More images and info at jilsander.com
