After jetting off to luxe destinations for vacation, it’s only natural for designers to return reenergized and filled with fresh ideas. That was the case for 5-Knot’s Ena Kizawa and Taketo Nishino, whose recent trip to Nazaré, Portugal, inspired their latest offerings. “It is kind of a beach town, so we were thinking about gingham, stripes, and bright colors,” shared Nishino post-show. Though elements like gingham check and pastels can skew traditional, Kizawa and Nishino attempted to add something new via high-shine textures like PVC and neon sequins.
Working in lace, deconstructed denim, and floral patterns, Kizawa and Nishino created a melange of elements that was at times overwrought—layers of visual interest, while exciting, can make for looks that lack focus. Still, when their gambit worked it was compelling. A sleeveless pink lace blouse worn with wide-leg gingham pants made for an elegant combination, as did a striking mix of an unstructured cream-colored suit and a glossy acid-yellow crop top. Runway-centric styling quirks like latex socks stuffed into metallic heels were interesting yet impractical; 5-Knot’s strongest pieces were its most straightforward. Candy-striped shirt dresses and flowing jade trench coats require no explanation—they simply looked great.
