AKNVAS FW23 Experiments With Classic American Design Tropes
The Denmark designer reimagines classic workwear for New York society.
For Fall/Winter 2023, AKNVAS creative director Christian Juul Nielsen dreamt up a fanciful American wardrobe. Galvanized by the majesties and highnesses of his native country, Denmark, the designer envisioned an imperial collection for imagined U.S. royals, with silhouettes elevating Americana across vintage workwear, the grunge aesthetic and New York society.
The collection includes menswear, womenswear and genderless designs, all of which the collection notes state should be pictured “holding court.” The opening look prepared the front row for the coming drama, pairing electric faux fur with shiny black leather on a button-up coat. The patterns that followed were loud — a fluorescent yellow flower motif decorated turtlenecks and form-hugging pants alike, while a saturated animal print in a similar hue commanded dresses and tailored trousers.
Denim arrived distressed on a classic jean jacket, while a skirt emphasized dimension with structured ruffling poking out from under a skin-tight top in blue. Workwear became colorful: in one ensemble, vivid brown and blue color blocking pumped youth into a pocket button-down and pleated trousers. In the same tones, experimental knits looked rich, with diamond cut-outs woven together across an argyle sweater donning accentuated shoulders.
Ruffled dresses and expansive gowns appeared ready for a high-society ball, while collared shirts tucked into colorful, elbow-length gloves offered a campy take on men’s formalwear. Knits proved to be a collection staple. Among the standouts, a textural green sweater was layered under a cardigan in an identical fabric, and long-sleeve turtleneck constructions left the chest exposed. Overall, AKNVAS FW23 took risks while still adhering to a proper dress code.
Peruse AKNVAS’ FW23 collection in the gallery above.
Elsewhere at New York Fashion Week, Coach FW23 has a metropolitan mentality.
