Since his start at Calvin Klein, Raf Simons has shaken up the brand with art-speared collections and stores. For Spring/Summer 2019, the CALVINKLEIN 205W39NYC show was no different. Presented at the brand’s global headquarters on 39th Street in New York, the show featured pieces inspired by two American movies: JAWS and The Graduate. Tension between two different existences—like male vs. female, hardship vs. privilege, and youth vs. maturity—also played a role.

“The landscape of America—literal and psychological—inspires CALVIN KLEIN,” said Simons. “A journey through America leads, inevitably, to the edge of the landscape: the beach. At the beach there is this incredible idea of beauty, but also a tension—between land and ocean, a feeling of two worlds meeting, maybe colliding. There’s a sense of the unexpected—and always, a temptation. For me, JAWS perfectly exemplifies these notions.”

For the show, guests witness a bold set that pulled on the strings of tension, yet again, with hot and cold tones. At eye level, a blue color wrapped the room’s walls, and down below, a bright red floor glowed. Like the glowing hues in cinema, the set reflected its inspiration in a unique and powerful way.

Varying school uniforms inspired several of the looks, such as graduation robes and schoolboy blazers, while we also made note of high society-inspired dresses recreated by 1950s patterns and textiles. Fabrics were seen constructed in layers and panels, with some bearing images from Andy Warhol and designer Stephen Sprouse.

the graduate

Calvin Klein SS19 Brings Tension and Cinema to Life