The Raf Simons Effect

The Belgian designer’s collections for Calvin Klein’s diffusion lines are everything you want from its main line – at a better price.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

The Belgian designer’s collections for Calvin Klein’s diffusion lines are everything you want from its main line – at a better price.

"From far left: Denim dress, $389, and calf leather boots (price unavailable), CK Jeans. Cotton shirt, $390, and cotton twill pants, $430, CK Calvin Klein. Calf leather boots (price unavailable), CK Jeans."

The problem with having different designers for different lines at one house: the lack of a unified vision. Which was what happened at Calvin Klein the brand, when the US designer retired and sold his company. Until now.

After more than a year of harmonising the brand’s message across its many product categories, the house cleaning is fi nally sorted.

What does all this unity mean to us? We get easier-to-wear runway looks (now called 205W39NYC, not Calvin Klein Collection) – like patchwork denim, full skirts, and cowboy shirts and boots, at diffusion-line prices that definitely speak to us. - RT

PHOTOGRAPHY ELVINA FARKAS/ ANUE MANAGEMENT STYLING BRYAN GOH HAIR ZEEVY TEE, USING KEVIN.MURPHY MAKEUP RINA SIM, USING LANCOME MODELS JEAN/ NOW MODELS & NAMETHA/ LOOQUE