raf simons aw98 coat

details
raf simons’ seismic rise in the early 2000s can be attributed to 2 things - his ability to cull the brewing underground music and street culture and his perfectly fitted clothing that radically redefined the menswear zeitgeist. running on a fuel tank filled with his early musical inspirations, the raf simons aw98 show ‘radioactivity’ was a tribute to the legendary german electronic band Kraftwerk, specifically their 1975 album unsurprisingly titled “radio-activity”. 

the runway presentation remodelled the iconic red shirt-black tie dyad that kraftwerk closely identifies with and incorporated slim tailored silhouettes that were a huge contrast from the hyper-masculine showings that were rampant back then. raf simons took the padding out of tailoring, dressed men in narrow black suits that were congruent with the lanky profiles of the youth. the glossy leather biker coats were juxtaposed with the extensive use of a mohair spider-like knit that saw itself crawling underneath long coats. the spiderweb mesh knits, slim fitted coats and skinny black ties were tools for raf simons to present the chaotic yet fragile nature of the new age. there is no surprise that this radical world of his is well loved by the people, a group of misfits who yearn for a change.

this piece in particular features a coat with an extremely faded brown outer, lined with a silk lining that runs throughout the coat. this coat fits slim and sleek, capturing the attitudes raf simons was showing in the collection.

8.5/10 condition

size & fit
size 46
ptp: 19”
shoulder: 16”
length: 40.5”