Prince of Darkness

Goth has made its way to the runway many times over the last few years, from the black leather and lace at Alexander McQueen F/W '15 to Marc Jacobs F/W '16, to the hot topic mall goth vibes at Vetements last season. But with any subculture that's so heavily focused on being an outsider, and even more so, on authenticity, by the time it makes it to the catwalk, it can often look dishonest—better fit for a poser than any true goth, or punk, or rebel.

Kawakubo never has that problem, though. No matter what she channels—whether its her own identity as a woman, like at Comme des Garçons S/S '19, or goth, like this season at Comme des Garçons Homme Plus—it's always radically honest and unapologetic in its references. The CDG take on goth, however, is more than just black, and studs, and creepers—Kawakubo captures the romanticism in the movement; her version is far more Edgar Allen Poe and Dracula than The Cure and fishnets.

But the collection wasn't without it's modern moments. Kawakubo debuted a brand new Comme des Garçons x Air Jordan 1 collaboration, a sleek high-top with a BDSM collar around the top in both black and white. Her mix of fabrics was also innovative, showing velvet, mesh, knit, silk and jacquard trenches, blazers, dresses and skirts together, or underneath giant harnesses.

Overall, it was a more subtle collection for a designer who leans more towards the avant-garde than the wearable. But we like dark Comme des Garçons Homme Plus. In darkness, there's beauty.

View some of our favorite looks, below.

Photos courtesy of the brand.

Fashion

Escaping the Glass Cage

November 19, 2024

For years, she stood still, watching life rush past her, a quiet observer behind the glass. Now, the glass is broken, and she steps out into the unknown. She walks through the city, caught between two worlds—part of it, yet apart from it.

Her journey is quiet but bold, searching for something she’s never understood, something just out of reach. On church steps and under glowing city lights, she questions everything: the rules, the past, and where she truly belongs. Each step feels both freeing and uncertain.

A curious soul in a borrowed life, she keeps moving forward, leaving behind only whispers of her escape, like a fleeting shadow in the night.

Photography by Robbie Augspurger
Talent Jennae Quisenberry
Styling by Emily Drake
Hair by Jerome Cultrera
Makeup by Charlotte Willer
Production by Robbie Augspurger
Photo Assisting by Ross Morrell
Text by Enzo Holdt

JENNAE wears COAT by MARNI.

LEFT: JENNAE wears TOP, SKIRT, BAG and SHOES by N21 BY ALESSANDRO DELL’ACQUA

RIGHT: JENNAE wears COAT, MINI SKIRT by DAVID KOMA, SHOES are STYLIST’S OWN.

LEFT: JENNAE wears TOP, SKIRT, BAG and SHOES by N21 BY ALESSANDRO DELL’ACQUA

RIGHT: JENNAE wears COAT, MINI SKIRT by DAVID KOMA, SHOES are STYLIST’S OWN.

LEFT: JENNAE wears JACKET, SHOES by MCQUEEN BY SEÁN MCGIRR.

RIGHT: JENNAE wears GOWN, SHOES by EMMA JOAN FOLEY.

LEFT: JENNAE wears JACKET, SKIRT by YOHJI YAMAMOTO, SHOES are STYLIST’S OWN.

RIGHT: JENNAE wears DRESS by GENNY, SHOES by CASADEI.

Fashion

The North Face Unveils Snowsports Collection for Fall 2024

Fashion

Total Recall

Born in the Moroccan town of Tétouan and educated in Paris, Khattabi’s upbringing required him to make sense of how the different influences surrounding him could align. In turn, his designs explore the embedded codes and history of his bicultural background. Total Recall addresses this phenomon by including garments meant to reflect adaptation and transformation. Skirts made of tire covers and motorcyle tarpaulins refashioned into dresses are scattered across the collection, conveying notions of displacement. Blending these elements adds an industrial touch to the pieces while still keeping a sense of movement.

From sweatpants infused with polka dots to nostaglic slogans and banner display, the ensembles symbolize hidden identities and memories. Giving us a glimpse into his own memories, Khattabi's work evokes affection for the past. It's a nod to the interconnectedness of culture and how we interact with its complexitites creatively. View the collection below.