Shot by Larry Clark on the beach in Marseille, France, Simply_Complex explores the blurring of lines between high fashion and street style.
Jonathan Anderson’s latest interpretation of iconic Converse sneakers — a collaboration that first appeared on the Pitti Uomo 2017 runway — blurs the lines between high fashion and street style.
Coined Simply_Complex, Anderson calls the project a labor of love and obsession. With an emphatic approach to core Converse silhouettes, including the Thunderbolt and Chuck 70, and an acute focus on materialization, Anderson’s provoking designs dial in on the way a shoe evolves through time and in fashion as it’s worn on the street.
“We approached it as a sneaker first but introduced detailed elements and the suede execution that make it a sort of curious version of Chuck, ultimately constructing the silhouette as a statement shoe,” Anderson says of his latest interpretation of the Chuck 70. “For me, they are perfect with chinos, jeans and a white T-shirt."
Here’s a closer look at how the icons come to life in Simply_Complex.
The Thunderbolt
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The Thunderbolt, a silhouette that captured Anderson’s imagination at the start of his Converse collaboration, returns with an asymmetrical approach in two new iterations.
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The Denim Thunderbolt is constructed with three different executions of raw indigo denim. As it wears on the street (in theory) it will develop a slightly individualized look.
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The asymmetrical Suede Thunderbolt features goat leather lining.
The Chuck 70
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The Chuck 70 and Chuck 70 XX Hi feature suede on the outside and leather on the inside, which creates a comfortable, lived-in feeling.
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The Chuck 70 XX Hi is a slightly individual take on a Converse classic that Anderson wore to bow at the end of his Pitti Uomo 2017 show.
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Inspired by the traditional brown menswear shoe, Jonathan applied formalwear themes to the street icon, including serrated edges on the tongue. The micro-eyelets add a more feminine and vintage vibe.
The Converse x JW Anderson collection will be available March 2 on converse.com, j-w-anderson.com and at JW Anderson stores and select retailers globally.
Read More: Converse Collaborations J.W. Anderson