Raf Simons has a lot of things: A Parisian apartment, for example, that includes Picasso ceramics that a new profile in T Magazine describes as "good." The Belgian designer's home also features a painting by George Condo, the man behind Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album cover and Kim Kardashian's Birkin (and, you know, a bunch of other paintings on canvases in galleries all over the world). But, aside from a priceless art collection and enviable real estate, Simons also has the title of, as T puts it, "the most important men’s wear designer in the world." Especially when weighed against their description of Picasso's work earlier, that's pretty big praise. It's also hard to dispute that mantle, given the cult icon status Raf enjoys and the adoration fashion insiders feel toward his work.
Still, there is something else that Simons wants, that might be a little bit harder for him to acquire: He wants men to dress a little bit more like women. And he doesn't expect guys to do that on their own, without a little prodding from other menswear designers.
"Men, it is different," he told T. "I find it a pity. It was always an investigation from my side: My brand has never stood for a classic wardrobe, which is what most men’s brands represent. Then they give it a twist, with styling. We are so far evolved. . .And men’s fashion is still. . .I wish it was where women’s fashion is."
For a designer with experimental leanings, like Simons, it's got to be kind of a bummer when your creativity outpaces what many other men's designers are sending down the runway. But, Simons says he's taking it all in stride by keeping his eponymous label small and focused, so he won't have to face pressure to be more commercially successful with mainstream-friendly collections. That does mean, though, that he might have to take on a second job, like the one he had designing for Dior until October. The T article suggests he might head to Calvin Klein—or maybe start his own women's collection.
"I just wonder why more men’s fashion can’t push, and can’t try to take the responsibility," he said, "that men could manifest themselves the way that women manifest themselves.’’
Raf, we'd like to introduce you to a few young men who are on your side.
