The Paris shows are right around the corner, and in a clever move Christian Wijnants has decided to cut through the clutter and embed his Pre-Fall collection with Fall offerings. “It seemed more logical to me, because the two collections sit side-by-side in the store so there needed to be harmony and flow,” Wijnants explained during a visit to his showroom. “The truth is, it’s actually one big season, and Pre-Fall sells so well, it would have been a pity not to show it on the runway.” Which also explains why comparatively few photos accompany this review.
It’s a very smart move. What you’ll be seeing more of in a month or so includes the designer’s signature tubular and nubby knits in alpaca. As with his menswear, Persian inspirations headline the story, with traditional paisley and florals filtered through a contemporary hippie lens. Silk separates with blue, purple, fuchsia, or forest green prints are designed for layering. Denim options include a soft, washed-out jacket sporting a zip-pocket detail, and wide, cropped trousers with an asymmetrical fastening. On the outerwear front, there's a jacket in tightly packed bands of hand-frayed silk, an interesting and responsible stand-in for fur, and a paisley-printed puffer to keep the cold at bay.
