As a designer mainly based in Los Angeles, Jonathan Simkhai can’t help but be influenced by the California coast: It’s in his fashion DNA. But if you think that means board shorts and flip-flops, think again. His pre-fall menswear fuses a free-spirited West Coast sensibility with a little more refinement—alternating between structure and ease. “We started with our great wardrobe heroes, and really played with color and fit,” he said.
Simkhai has been steadily building his menswear business these past few seasons, and his new assortment continued its focus on easy sportswear. Classic red polo sweaters were given sailor collars, and paired with his sleek pleated “Elvis” trousers. His blue-and-white striped polos were updated in cashmere-cotton blends that were soft to the touch. More technical windbreakers, a trending piece, were offered in subtle black and white or punchy red—the perfect thing to wear if you own a sailboat, and want to spend a day at sea. (One can dream.)
If things started to feel too coastal, Simkhai roughed them up with a bit of edge. The standout outerwear was a black funnel-neck leather jacket, boxy and with a sheen finish. Simkhai also offered luxurious suede button-up shirts that are great for those not-too-hot, not-too-cold days. His take on a classic denim jacket, meanwhile, was cropped and given a more nipped waistline.
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