One would think the Christopher and Nicholas Kunz would have run out of options when it comes to their signature design aesthetic, nomadic chic. Not so!! Every season the design duo finds some interesting twist that we have not seen before that keeps their brand’s DNA relevant with a unique perspective.
For spring 2017, Nicholas and Christopher Kunz looked to the film “Theeb” for inspiration. “Theeb” depicts the life of Bedouin culture in the mystic Wadi Rum. This Bedouin lifestyle centers on endurance and simplicity juxtaposed against the wind-swept, towering plateaus and narrow canyons of that environment, where eeking out a meager existence is an accomplishment in itself; a perfect reference point for the brand’s nomadic chic aesthetic.
Where in other seasons the nomadic chic aesthetic served the brand well, with some garments that had retail value and other garments in the collections having more editorial value than what might appeal to consumers. Perhaps, the brand’s design duo was still working out the translation of its nomadic chic aesthetic into wearable clothes in other outings. However, with this spring 2017 collection those seasons of experimentation seem to be over and is now rendering a collection that is a definite plus for consumers.
Though the floppy hats were somewhat of a distraction for this spring 2017 collection, overall, the collection was very well styled with a strong emphasis on layering, and draping, with some very interesting knotted pieces as well. And unlike other collections that hinged on androgynous fare that did not show off the feminine silhouette well, this collection was sensuous, beguiling with lots of feminine charm.
Images courtesy Umberto Fratini/Indigital.tv/vogue.com
There were also more gowns in the collection this season than in previous collections and the inclusion of variations on alpaca was highly effective. Another addition to take note of was Nicholas K’s shift to sustainable fashion. All the leather belts, wide-brimmed hats and trenches used vegetable dye.
—William S. Gooch
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