High Fashion, Higher Education
Graphic by Jessica Chen.
Sometimes, pushing an idea out into the world is a very risky process. If you’re trying to be unique, it can be especially difficult to get an idea of whether the public will like what you have to offer. Even I, though in a not-so-glamorous way, have experienced something like this. I was an advocate for several spirit week theme proposals in high school. In my high school, spirit week was called ICC (Inter-Class-Competition) and it was a very big deal; everyone made sweatshirts and shirts, we painted a large mural, competed in sports, theatre, debate, music and more, and at the end of the week the winning class got their graduation year engraved on a 50-year-old trophy. All of this revolved around one theme each class picked. The most notable of these themes came in junior year and was inspired by Jurassic Park. Logically, then, it was called Juniorassic Park. This proposal, however, was rejected, and so was my next proposal during senior year (Seniorassic Park). Alas, it seems it was only me and a small band of enthusiasts who were truly able to comprehend the brilliance of Seniorassic Park.
Such cases are common for daring fashion designers on their journey to formulate a terrific line of clothing. Designers have an immense pressure to knock it out of the park every single time, and it is an insurmountable task to appease all their critics. Such lines, in the end, are manifested as collaborations with other entities in the social eye. One such collaboration brewed in the mind of Raf Simons, creative director for Calvin Klein, one year ago.
The Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Resort 2019 collection was centered around higher education and included collaborations with the University of California schools and Yale University. The clothes feature a very creative and exclusive twist on regular college branding and sports culture. The quality you would expect from exclusive designer products is certainly present, and the different cuts and styles are adventurous and would definitely stand out on a college campus. However, some pieces are perhaps too similar to things you might find at a campus store. These are mostly sweatshirts and sweaters, which sport the college logo and, at times, a pattern throughout the rest of the piece.
For people who love the brand Calvin Klein or simply do not mind the price, these clothes can be very enticing. This collection presents an opportunity for consumers to get something they’d want anyway, but with exclusive materials and cuts that come at a hefty cost. The pieces are certainly better than those sold at campus stores (though I’m not sure everyone would be able to tell), but are they worth the cost, which can be 25 times greater than that of a regular campus-store sweatshirt? Some would say so, just because the item comes from an exclusive brand that can provide the wearer with a certain pleasure and confidence.
Look 16 of the Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Resort 2019 collection
Look 19 of the Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Resort 2019 collection
The pieces and looks from this collection differ greatly in feel and purpose, some clearly belonging on the runway and some being more muted. One example of a truly high-fashion piece is the Cal varsity jacket (left). The oversized cut and vibrant yellows and blues really make it stand out, and give it a look that will surely make the wearer feel like they are the most stylish person in the room (as long as they have the confidence to pull it off, of course).
Similarly, the handbags and purses (below) have an unmistakable high fashion aura to them. The vibrant Yale blue and Cal yellow really shine through, and their sleek design with the name of the university front and center give the pieces a fierce look that is sure to elevate any outfit.
Look 26 of the Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Resort 2019 collection
A slightly more reserved piece, though still definitely retaining a designer touch, is the Yale shirt (left. What makes it unique is surely its cut, as it has a high collar, a more boxy style and long, wide sleeves. It features the Yale bulldog logo and a little Calvin Klein insignia on the left sleeve. Though I much prefer the Cal varsity jacket, I can understand the appeal of this shirt. It isn’t obnoxious, nor does it call too much attention, but people will certainly notice that you are more adventurous with your style.
Finally, now come the certainly-not-runway-worthy pieces. This doesn’t mean they are bad or that I dislike them, it just means they are understated and that people might not realize they come from a designer brand. The one that’s the most guilty of this is the gray Yale sweater (lower left). It is a simple sweater, totally gray, with the word “YALE” written in blue. I’d definitely wear this piece. It’s nice and classic, and I’m sure the fabrics and materials it is composed of are amazing. However, for costing hundreds of dollars, it looks a little too much like what anyone could buy at a campus store.
A Yale sweater from the Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Resort 2019 collection. Image via FARFETCH
A Yale sweater from the Calvin Klein 205W39NYC Resort 2019 collection. Image via FARFETCH
The clothes that make up the Calvin Klein Resort 2019 collection surely span multiple tastes and degrees of adventurousness. I can see some I definitely like and admire, and some that leave me with a few questions. However, I understand that there are many reasons one might be attracted to expensive and exclusive items. They can bring both external and internal value. These might manifest in the benefits you experience due to how people perceive you for wearing a certain piece of clothing, or in an internal sense of acceptance and excitement that arises within you. That being said, it seems that, like Juniorassic park (and its successor Seniorassic Park), it seems like the more mundane items of the Resort 2019 collection will only seem genius to a select group of people. But maybe that’s alright.