The designer behind S2 by Charles Smith II creates a buzz
Seriously cool, high fashion sportswear was the take away from the S2 Spring/summer 2017 presentation by designer Charles Smith II at the Dallas Modern Contemporary Museum. The designer, a former athlete and designer for the brand S2 walks a fine line between street wear and high fashion. His carefully curated collection is all about the perfect white T-shirt dress and truly functional highly stylized modern sportswear. All designed to take you from day into night. “It’s for the modern woman/man who is spontaneous and leads a very busy life” said Smith .
The presentation was an artistic affair executed against the backdrop of a stunning Bruce Weber retrospective. The runway format involved a viewing of the collection through a maze of galleries with a front row seat vantage for everyone. “My collection and body of work is not necessarily gender specific, it’s for anyone who deems them special enough to buy them and wear them,” he says. For his part, Smith is helping to create a new vocabulary for his brand of contemporary sportswear to erase the gray area between streetwear and high fashion; women’s and menswear.
This season, Smith also added a political graphic element to encapsulate the “vibe” of his collection. For spring that message is “Do Not Touch.” A message that hints at the African American struggle for civil rights within American society. The same issue at the heart of the “Black Lives Matter ”movement. A campaign against violence and systemic racism toward black people that resonates.
Get your hands on the pieces here.
