You’ve probably heard a thing or two about KENZO x H&M‘s uber-hyped collection that’s scheduled to hit stores on November 3rd. Carol Lim and Humberto Leon have reproduced Kenzo’s iconic pieces from the 70s, 80s and 90s, and connected them to their contemporary street aesthetic.
Having previewed the entire collection, I can say now that the heavy print pieces are not for everyone. The good news is, you can always take smaller elements of the collection and work them into your existing wardrobes. My favourite pieces are the black sweatshirt with ruffle detail on the collar, the flutter sleeve top, t-shirt with logo and the classic black and white tote. They caught my attention for its ability to make something casual and comfy seems chic.
Photo by Thomas Concordia/Getty Images for H&M
“We wanted every piece to matter and for everyone to feel like they’ve got something special from H&M x Kenzo,” said Humberto Leon. Carol Lim, Leon’s co-creative director at Kenzo and Opening Ceremony, and Ann-Sofie Johansson, head of design at H&M, both highlighted the ribbon dress as the most collectable item from the collection. It’s a silhouette pulled directly from the brand’s archives.
Photo by Thomas Concordia/Getty Images for H&M
H&M knows how to throw a party and they proved that point once again in New York City at the launch party. Jean Paul Goude, the legendary photographer behind Kim Kardashian’s Paper Magazine cover, directed the fashion show. Through a unique choreography created by KENZO collaborator, Ryan Heffington the show cast presented the collection to an audience who experienced an inferno of playfulness, bold prints and vivid colours. Moving in sync to “Express Yourself” remix, the whole ensemble of beat boxers, dancers models and marching band players felt like fun and joy.
Stars such as Lupita N’yongo, Chloë Sevigny, Iman, Elizabeth Olsen, Rosario Dawson and Sienna Miller were among the style set who stepped out to support H&M’s collaboration with french design house. After the runway, the catwalk morphed into a dance party with the audience standing up and joining the models. The party was capped off with a performance by Ice Cube.
“Tonight was a celebration of everything we love about KENZO x H&M – it was a fun, vibrant and unexpected celebratory mix of different worlds coming together. It was a show we will never forget,” said Lim and Leon.
The KENZO x H&M collection will be available in over 250 H&M stores worldwide, as well as online, from November 3rd.
