After two impressive tenures at Jil Sander and Christian Dior, both European-based fashion houses, Raf Simons’ latest design role as creative director of Calvin Klein has finally brought the quasi-minimalist to New York City. Simons’ premier runway show for the iconic New York-based brand was a visual exercise in iconography, both in the archetypical Americana sense as well as in respect to the house’s storied history. Within the extensive 64-look, largely unisex collection, were a spattering of riffs on American culture, manifested by way of colorful band uniforms, varsity sweatshirts – reminiscent of deconstructed versions seen on the fall/winter 2016 runway for Raf’s namesake menswear label – clear PVC coverings for overcoats and feminine cocktail dresses, American quilts, metal-tipped cowboy boots, power suits, leather biker jackets and even a fringed American Flag number. Simons resurrected Brooke Shield’s famous 1981 “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins” Calvin Klein Jeans campaign by imprinting her iconic silhouette on leather labels attached to the waistbands of the collection’s denim looks. Like many of the so-easily-recognizable themes and cultural symbols interwoven within Raf’s first collection for Calvin Klein, it seems the Belgian fashion designer is quickly developing his own epochal design vernacular at the American fashion house.
![Ck fw 2017 muse board](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7oGvcArnwcIGy6OuQw6yE/7f169594067d1ba26483f331efeadf8b/CK_FW_2017_Muse_Board.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
References
- 1
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Frank Lloyd Wright
Peacock Chair, 1921
![Peacock chair by frank lloyd wright](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2UjMdstofmsI2wC2g6ogog/96d9165886fd17772646ab1814a3c2ff/Peacock-Chair-by-Frank-Lloyd-Wright.jpg)
Judy Linn
Robert Gets Dressed at the Chelsea, early 1970s
![Judy linn robert gets dressed at the chelsea 4 early 1970s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4dxi6F62p2G6A4IMoWIQCw/f1add71f0d421eb73c78de8d8d057154/JUDY_LINN_Robert_gets_dressed_at_the_Chelsea__4__early_1970s_.jpg)
Charles and Ray Eames
The Eames House, 1949
![The eames house 1949](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6PrwOQ6enmyA08kswg040K/130575b084676054ed6d1fa0a58cf313/The_Eames_House__1949.jpg)
Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand
Library Table with Built-in Light Fixture for the Maison de l’Etudiant, Paris, 1951
![Charlotte perriand 1903 1999 and jean prouve 1901 1984 ck fw 2017](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4IjT4fYKnYMSKoE2keOwWO/5c45f06c18878c0fa5db8da3a4c85445/CHARLOTTE_PERRIAND__1903-1999__AND_JEAN_PROUVE__1901-1984___CK_FW_2017.jpg)
Juergen Teller, "Go-Sees"
Adriana Lima, April 1999
![Adriana lima photographed by juergen teller april 1999](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6Q6OSvFMc0wCAEiMmsyg6e/73c0a39acb705641fb37b7e23d4f493c/Adriana_Lima_photographed_by_Juergen_Teller__April_1999.jpg)
Gunta Stölzl
Bauhaus Carpet Design, 1923
![Gunta sto lzl bauhaus master design for a carpet ca.1923](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/CIuJXNX5jUIuCgQSu0AmA/c5f370b3dacc7df5f75966fbbc40d088/Gunta_Sto__lzl__Bauhaus_Master__Design_for_a_carpet_ca.1923.jpg)
David Hammons
African-American Flag, 1990
Andre Sornay
Cabinet, 1950s
![1950s cabinet by andre sornay](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3ucSxqeiJWKqa8iiM826YS/2df6bca2ffa20d9729368e792e1f6974/1950s_Cabinet_by_Andre_Sornay.jpg)
Alexander McQueen
Spring/Summer 1996
Image by Thomas Ruff
Herzog & de Meuron, Antipodes Student Housing, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France, 1992
![Thomas ruff](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3T9PkB4qUU2yq8CAw6KUoO/60a8fc6b02d57af658baf51abcfef559/Thomas_Ruff.jpg)
Gunta Stölzl
Bauhaus Design Rug
Jean-Michel Frank
Iron and Leather Settee, 1920s
![Jean michel frank iron and leather settee circa 9020s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/bmUFqPZvocEUcy4AKCOsO/a7954b37637718245047b673430c2523/Jean_Michel_Frank_Iron_and_Leather_Settee_Circa_9020s.jpg)
Jean Prouvé
Pair of Visiteur Armchairs, 1950
![Jean prouve a pair of visiteur armchairs circa 1950 d5839575g](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/Wveu8X1y0eWyWuEQu2owG/dfe56f05fdf7be04609e1b04b9895e95/jean_prouve_a_pair_of_visiteur_armchairs_circa_1950_d5839575g.jpg)
Marcel Duchamp
In Advance of the Broken Arm, 1915 (1964)
![Marcel duchamp in advance of the broken arm 1915 1964](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7jvBCXPeusG8m8waYQQaOw/1fb693012638f563c1cd7a730b141220/Marcel_Duchamp__In_Advance_of_the_Broken_Arm__1915__1964_.jpg)
Maison Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 1990
Image by Bill Cunningham for Details Magazine; March, 1990
Jasper Johns
Painted Bronze (Ale Cans), 1960
![Painted bronze ale cans 1960 jasper johns](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4YldVmlrCUyYmqSMYIaqcS/a2ddf9c1668d455c812a2c619105d7e5/Painted_Bronze__Ale_Cans___1960_Jasper_Johns.jpg)
Richard Avedon
Audrey Hepburn in Yves Saint Laurent, 1960
![Richard avedon audrey hepburn in yves saint laurent](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/34AB363pOMIsegkuyqmIww/8c5af6b3da9ca82202b940147e545c7c/richard-avedon-audrey-hepburn-in-yves-saint-laurent.jpg)
Robert Rauschenberg
The Bed, 1955
![Robert rauschenberg the bed 1955](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6amCRxHODuuiYS46eUUouc/bea1dd70e744d23e6d648f29205bca94/Robert_Rauschenberg__The_Bed__1955.jpg)
References
![Peacock chair by frank lloyd wright](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/2UjMdstofmsI2wC2g6ogog/96d9165886fd17772646ab1814a3c2ff/Peacock-Chair-by-Frank-Lloyd-Wright.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Frank Lloyd Wright
Peacock Chair, 1921
1 of 18
![Judy linn robert gets dressed at the chelsea 4 early 1970s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4dxi6F62p2G6A4IMoWIQCw/f1add71f0d421eb73c78de8d8d057154/JUDY_LINN_Robert_gets_dressed_at_the_Chelsea__4__early_1970s_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Judy Linn
Robert Gets Dressed at the Chelsea, early 1970s
2 of 18
![The eames house 1949](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6PrwOQ6enmyA08kswg040K/130575b084676054ed6d1fa0a58cf313/The_Eames_House__1949.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Charles and Ray Eames
The Eames House, 1949
3 of 18
![Charlotte perriand 1903 1999 and jean prouve 1901 1984 ck fw 2017](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4IjT4fYKnYMSKoE2keOwWO/5c45f06c18878c0fa5db8da3a4c85445/CHARLOTTE_PERRIAND__1903-1999__AND_JEAN_PROUVE__1901-1984___CK_FW_2017.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand
Library Table with Built-in Light Fixture for the Maison de l’Etudiant, Paris, 1951
4 of 18
![Adriana lima photographed by juergen teller april 1999](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6Q6OSvFMc0wCAEiMmsyg6e/73c0a39acb705641fb37b7e23d4f493c/Adriana_Lima_photographed_by_Juergen_Teller__April_1999.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Juergen Teller, "Go-Sees"
Adriana Lima, April 1999
5 of 18
![Gunta sto lzl bauhaus master design for a carpet ca.1923](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/CIuJXNX5jUIuCgQSu0AmA/c5f370b3dacc7df5f75966fbbc40d088/Gunta_Sto__lzl__Bauhaus_Master__Design_for_a_carpet_ca.1923.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Gunta Stölzl
Bauhaus Carpet Design, 1923
6 of 18
David Hammons
African-American Flag, 1990
7 of 18
![1950s cabinet by andre sornay](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3ucSxqeiJWKqa8iiM826YS/2df6bca2ffa20d9729368e792e1f6974/1950s_Cabinet_by_Andre_Sornay.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Andre Sornay
Cabinet, 1950s
8 of 18
Alexander McQueen
Spring/Summer 1996
9 of 18
![Thomas ruff](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/3T9PkB4qUU2yq8CAw6KUoO/60a8fc6b02d57af658baf51abcfef559/Thomas_Ruff.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Image by Thomas Ruff
Herzog & de Meuron, Antipodes Student Housing, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France, 1992
10 of 18
Gunta Stölzl
Bauhaus Design Rug
11 of 18
![Jean michel frank iron and leather settee circa 9020s](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/bmUFqPZvocEUcy4AKCOsO/a7954b37637718245047b673430c2523/Jean_Michel_Frank_Iron_and_Leather_Settee_Circa_9020s.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean-Michel Frank
Iron and Leather Settee, 1920s
12 of 18
![Jean prouve a pair of visiteur armchairs circa 1950 d5839575g](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/Wveu8X1y0eWyWuEQu2owG/dfe56f05fdf7be04609e1b04b9895e95/jean_prouve_a_pair_of_visiteur_armchairs_circa_1950_d5839575g.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jean Prouvé
Pair of Visiteur Armchairs, 1950
13 of 18
![Marcel duchamp in advance of the broken arm 1915 1964](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/7jvBCXPeusG8m8waYQQaOw/1fb693012638f563c1cd7a730b141220/Marcel_Duchamp__In_Advance_of_the_Broken_Arm__1915__1964_.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Marcel Duchamp
In Advance of the Broken Arm, 1915 (1964)
14 of 18
Maison Martin Margiela Spring/Summer 1990
Image by Bill Cunningham for Details Magazine; March, 1990
15 of 18
![Painted bronze ale cans 1960 jasper johns](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/4YldVmlrCUyYmqSMYIaqcS/a2ddf9c1668d455c812a2c619105d7e5/Painted_Bronze__Ale_Cans___1960_Jasper_Johns.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Jasper Johns
Painted Bronze (Ale Cans), 1960
16 of 18
![Richard avedon audrey hepburn in yves saint laurent](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/34AB363pOMIsegkuyqmIww/8c5af6b3da9ca82202b940147e545c7c/richard-avedon-audrey-hepburn-in-yves-saint-laurent.jpg?w=1000&q=70)
Richard Avedon
Audrey Hepburn in Yves Saint Laurent, 1960
17 of 18
![Robert rauschenberg the bed 1955](http://images.ctfassets.net/nonm77rtn1g8/6amCRxHODuuiYS46eUUouc/bea1dd70e744d23e6d648f29205bca94/Robert_Rauschenberg__The_Bed__1955.jpg?w=1000&q=70)