Christian Wijnants has a proper explanation for why he took so long to provide his Pre-Fall images: He didn’t shoot the collection until after his showroom appointments, once buyers had placed their orders. While unconventional, this approach means that the looks will better align with what ends up in stores—including his newly opened Antwerp boutique. Otherwise, “It’s confusing to the end customer,” he believes. Thankfully, for this reviewer, Wijnants had prepared an iPad with outfit possibilities so the visit felt more fleshed out than seeing and feeling his corduroy tops and accordion-pleated skirts on racks. Still, it is interesting to compare the preliminary looks to these final ones, which suggest that buyers gravitated toward the Belgian designer’s quilted jacquard bombers and were sold on layering underpinning-type dresses over top knits—whether visibly striped or finely ribbed with velvet.
For customers coming at the collection with piecemeal needs, the coats that began hairy and were treated with a sealant (Look 17 as well as the black-and-white versions) were compelling, if for no other reason than textural novelty; they could have been matted feathers or even lacquered paper. And his way of layering polos over turtlenecks—homespun yet handled with finesse—could be easily adapted to suit young and more mature women alike. In a moment when headgear isn’t considered an essential category, the bird beak crocheted and knitted caps offered an unpretentious accent. Wijnants, meanwhile, acknowledged his practical versus creative imperatives, saying, “What’s the point hanging clothes in stores and not selling them—yet I still want to create things new and exciting.” While his clothes don’t generate huge impact, his thoughtfulness was worth the wait.
