Luka Sabbat, model and actress
Raf Simons has been able to capture the essence of youth, as well as many different niche subcultures, without oversaturating or Showing them off without making them cool, but actually getting more people to pay attention to them and sparking interest in things that they probably wouldn’t have discovered had it not been for him. Combine graphic designers and artists who wouldn’t normally do clothing design, like Peter Saville or Peter De Potter. At the same time, it incorporates very American ideas, such as university culture and American consumerism. Hence the choice of Summa Cum Laude (Spring 13) and Nebraska (Fall 2003 )).
Raf Simons, Fall 2004 Men’s
Joseph Quartana, Founder Seven New York
I’m happy to nominate a favorite Raf look as the one who fearlessly sells some of his most conceptual work 13 Years in New York Seven. Besides selling Raf correctly from ’03 we also did His fashion show at the Marquee nightclub that hasn’t opened yet…anyway, it’s a tough time, but I have to say my favorite Raf look (and collection) is for fall03, Look12/12, his Peter Seville collection features the iconic Bauhaus logo on a cleverly manipulated leather bomber jacket, paired with a matching woven Bauhaus sweater, and a fitted Trousers and fancy sandals (he’s the only one who can, in a revolutionary, non-tacky, non-Eurotrash way). I’m seriously wearing this right now and think it’s worth the money. The series sold at 7 so well 2004 that I didn’t take many pieces from the series , I regret it now. In fact, I actually sold every single one of the infamous “Unknown Pleasures” woven sweaters before I got one, and to this day I’ve been searching eBay for the piece to no avail. For me, this look/collection really embodies Raf and his aesthetic: teenage angst, a regal icon of new wave and post-punk, rethought outerwear, a formality that’s not at all rigid, and of course Model Robbie Snelders, an Antwerp icon in his 03 years.
