Kenzo, a brand admired for its forward-thinking and disruptive style, recently found a home in Manila at The Shoppes, Solaire Resort & Casino. Don’t mistake this flagship store just as a place to shop; it’s basically where the most fashion-savvy converge to let you know what’s hot.
Donny Pangilinan, Maureen Wroblewitz, Rei Germar, and Daniel Miranda all took a trip to Kenzo to pick out the pieces from Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first Kenzo collection and the brand’s collaboration with Kansai Yamamoto. Let’s take a look at what they got so we can get inspired to create our ensembles.
Donny Pangilinan
Thanks to his active lifestyle, Donny Pangilinan likes the printed long-sleeved Kenzo x Kansai Yamamoto oversize T-shirt in lavender. At the back, just below the neckline, is an embroidered Tiger Crest logo. The 22-year-old actor and musician pairs this with jogging trousers featuring contrasting Tiger Crest embroidery on the front. Sweet kicks complete the picture with lace-up Kenzo x Kansai Yamamoto low-top calfskin trainers. Along with the 3D K printed on the side, they are decorated with the Kenzo collection’s signature colors in a subtle evocation of nature. A nice little detail comes by way of the two-tone rubber outsole.
Maureen Wroblewitz
Known for winning the fifth season of Asia’s Next Top Model, 22-year-old Maureen Wroblewitz stands out in a soft and lightweight mohair jumper featuring an original ‘Kenzo Horses’ print taken from the archives and ribbed at the collar, cuffs, and hem. Over this, she went for a loose fit jacket in cotton blend canvas with an embroidered patch of the iconic “Tiger head” on the chest. Easy to wear, the jacket has a drawstring hem, raglan sleeves, enameled snap buttons, and a raised collar. The military trend inspires Maureen’s easy-to-wear cargo shorts and, instead of a traditional belt, feature a foldable insert that affords the piece originality. Completing the sporty-feminine ensemble is the Onda glacé leather bucket bag, which offers an elegant, minimalist design and plenty of space for your everyday essentials. Practical as it is pretty, the bag is embossed with the Kenzo logo while the strap is removable.
Rei Germar
Serial entrepreneur, vlogger, and content creator Rei Germar wears classic cut T-shirt with an all-eyes-on-you midi skirt. The embroidered Tiger Crest on her tee’s chest serves as a nice contrast while the all-over ‘Aquarelle’ floral motif of the skirt. The best part? The skirt has side pockets! Completing the look is the mini Onda glacé leather crossbody phone holder with a knotted strap adorned with a metallic logo and the Kourt ‘K Logo’ leather sneakers with a 3-cm two-tone rubber sole.
Daniel Miranda
Daniel goes for an ivory long-sleeved sweatshirt featuring the Kenzo tiger rendered in a two-tone illustration by the neo-realist painter Júlio Pomar, and decorative topstitching on the hem and sleeve cuffs. The 23-year-old influencer also chose slightly flared cotton jersey trousers. For his bag, Daniel copped the Kenzo x Kansai Yamamoto pouch with Kansai’s roaring cheetah embroidered front and center, surrounded by the iconic calligraphy the designer is known for. He finishes it off the look with mountain ankle boots in black.
Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s first collection as Kenzo’s creative director is true to the Kenzo DNA. The fall/winter collection 2020 represents a nomadic spirit that’s all about not following the rules.
For the Kenzo x Kansai Yamamoto drop, Oliveira Baptista chose to shine a light on the illustrious Japanese designer and another pioneer in the fusion of western and eastern cultures. Kansai Yamamoto, who moved to London shortly after Kenzo Takada settled in Paris, was celebrated for his takes on calligraphy motifs and animals’ representation in Japanese art.
Takada and Yamamoto (tragically, they both passed away recently—rendering the collection the ultimate tribute to them) were obsessed with animal prints. Yamamoto gave his subjects a pop/manga treatment at Kansai, while at Kenzo, it was more about their celebration and interaction with nature. Motifs and artworks from Kansai’s archives were reworked and mixed with archival prints from Kenzo. Both Kenzo and Kansai believed in comfort “easy to move in” clothes. Both believed that fashion should speak to everyone.
For more, follow the hashtags #KENZOxKANSAIYAMAMOTO and #KenzoFW20 on social media.