“I want the clothes really to be protective and give you comfort, especially in these tough and uncertain times,” Christian Wijnants said.
So he upped the cocooning quotient in his elegant, versatile lineup, chockablock with soft, plush fabrics – even for shoes and clutches – rounded silhouettes and draping.
The collection was made up of wardrobe essentials, which can be mixed and matched, often with pieces that may be wrapped around the body or left floating. Many looks integrated scarves that wafted gently. They also came worn like a cape or poncho.
Mixed in were some tailored pieces with sharp, padded shoulders for a stronger silhouette. Even knitwear came with power shoulders.
“It gives this attitude,” said Wijnants, who cherrypicked finely textured fabrics, such as silk wool, hand-stitched spun silk, twill silk, a linen-wool blend, and hand washed and creased organza.
The color palette was soft for fall, including silver, light mint, oatmeal and raspberry. The designer always creates the prints for his textiles.
“This time, I want them to be abstract and more like spatters and stains,” said Wijnants, who experimented by spraying on bleach to get a natural, organic effect.
One dusky rose-colored dress was spangled with long rolled organza fringes to help create movement. An olive-green woolen bib underlay a matching scarf-cape and roomy trousers.
“In general, I wanted it very pure, minimal, cuddly, soft,” he said, of the collection. Mission accomplished.
