R13 Resort 2020 – New York

(Images from the designer and the public domain. Credited to the photographer/company where applicable.)   

Chris Leba returns with his brand R13 with mix and match styles, invigorating a themed aspect rather than a revoke of post grunge and street looks of the 90's.  The thrift/second hand stylization, that at at time when most consumers didn't have disposable credit cards, it was, portrayed under a fashion style to mix selective items so that could match for two treasons, the first, as mentioned aesthetics and trend orientated looks, the second to sustain or extend the quality pieces one owns, without over-wearing them. 

The whole collection has a post Vietnam war vibe to it, ala The Clash's 'Combat Rock' as a mixing up of camouflage, army and civilian styled looks, via Travis Bickle (The main character of Martin Scorsese's 1976 movie 'Taxi Driver' ) or at least an alternative reality time-line as the female version of a mentally scarred loner and her ensemble.  It does reflect the overall nostalgia of wayward impressions, which is not for all, a broken city with its cheap studio apartments, dilapidated within its despair – as it was the tail end of the hippie era an nothing really changed.  Punk, at the late 70s, offered a possibly of rebellion, yet it too re-consumed itself back into a commercialized templated.  Which is fine, we can see, maybe, from past reflections of possibilities, aspects that may inspire.  Yet, for a collection basing its projection off second hand looks, that maybe a tough call. 

However, there are some distinguishing aspects of R13 Resort collection.  Leba has made use in a very clever way, compression 'sport' shorts whilst adding camouflage to them, setting in tone the military styles within the brand's eclectic styles – which works very well.  Leopardskin, tassels and urban cowboy looks, plaid and leather jackets all fused onto the blazer trend of the last few years.

*Thrift Shop retail managers take note. The fashion houses and runways are eying the multifarious styles of last three decades of street fashion. But, fast fashion could trump (no pun) both.