Play Comme des Garcons

‘Comme’ Play

Regardless of how serious a person you might be most of the year, the lazy days of summer are the perfect time to let go, have fun, and tap into your playful side. And if you, like many others, prefer that their tried and true summer basics reflect this mood, look no further than Play Comme des Garcons.

This youthful, streetwise, fun and accessible incarnation of Comme des Garcons, is the end product of a collaboration between legendary Japanese fashion designer, Rei Kawakubo, and renowned New York graphic and textile designer Filip Pagowski. It is is filled with wardrobe basics that are destined to become collector’s items and are anything but dull and ordinary. What would you expect from a designer known for her penchant for turning something strange into something beautiful and sought after? (This is what earned her the 2012 CFDA International Award).

The line primarily consists of cotton t-shirts (both long and short sleeved) and wool sweaters, played out in graphic, eye catching combinations of black, blue, white, and red, with the occasional gray or hint of gold, while others sport classic stripes. They all feature Pagowski’s playful, eccentric, and endearing bug eyed heart logo (which in some cases are teeny tiny, and in others, practically cover the whole surface).

http://www.jcrew.com/  was selling a navy and white striped long sleeved cotton t-shirt ($136), though it is pretty much sold out now, except for size medium and they continue to offer toddler sizes 2,4,6 ($112); http://www.saksfiftavenue.com/  is selling a green/white or blue/white striped cotton long sleeved t-shirt ($165), a cotton jersey emblem tee and polo ($98 and $185), as well as a navy/natural striped wool boyfriend sweater, ($377); standouts on the Canadian based website http://www.ssense.com/  (with perhaps the best selection of all): the Red Eye t-shirt ($120), the Black and White Printed t-shirt, ($140), the White and Green Heart t-shirt ($145), the Black and White Heart t-shirt ($120), the long sleeved striped t-shirt in navy/white, blue/white, red/white($150), and the red emblem long sleeved wool striped sweater in blue and natural stripes ($375).

– Marilyn Kirschner