Is Kenzo high end?

[Kate05]

I was having this discussion for a long time, whether KENZO would be considered a Premier/high end designer or a contemporary one like Coach.

From looking online, all sources say Kenzo is a high end/luxury brand, but what's your opinion?

 

[pursekitten]

I say yes, KENZO is high-end:

• Luxury price points
• Presence at different fashion weeks
• Owned by LVMH
• Street style sightings are rare (very iykyk)

Now I'm eyeing that cream and pink sakura jumper on their site. lol

 

[papertiger]

It's high-fashion in terms of heritage and fashion shows/collections, but the in-store vibe is so casual and street' recently, and the prices are approx 50% of other lux competitors, it's easily mistaken for contemporary wardrobe.

 

[Kate05]

It's high-fashion in terms of heritage and fashion shows/collections, but the in-store vibe is so casual and street' recently, and the prices are approx 50% of other lux competitors, it's easily mistaken for contemporary wardrobe.

That's what I thought too. But kenzo is a streetwear brand now so the casual vibe is just their style. There are many premier designers who do streetwear like palm angels, off white, ambush etc...

I think it's the only premier designer with not so high prices. Although it's still more expensive than coach or mk so idk...

 

[Kate05]

It's high-fashion in terms of heritage and fashion shows/collections, but the in-store vibe is so casual and street' recently, and the prices are approx 50% of other lux competitors, it's easily mistaken for contemporary wardrobe.

I am thinking Sonia Rykiel would fit in the same category, premier designer but with lower prices than their competitors, what do you think?

 

[papertiger]

I am thinking Sonia Rykiel would fit in the same category, premier designer but with lower prices than their competitors, what do you think?

Haven't been to Sonia Rykiel for a long time. It's absolutely fallen off my radar since SR was not at the helm. It used to very special, a lot more fashion-forward than Kenzo has become (we'd have to teleport to late-70s or early '80s to see the real comparison).

I would say SR was French (wearable) high-fashion, feminine and slightly retro. Certainly younger and more fun the very expensive poe-faced Dior or serious Chanel. Like others before, the mainline is basically the diffusion line now and could easily be sold with contemporary wardrobe.

 

[cecchetti]

Kenzo Takada himself was a revolutionary designer, brought colours and pattern to the staid fashion world in the 70’s and was considered high fashion then , and cost Paris fashion prices.

Not my taste so I don’t go in now, although I think popular again-when I went shopping last month with my 23 year old friend she loved Kenzo and I left her looking there whilst I went to Valentino..which Really surprised me.

I think it’s less expensive now as she nearly bought some tops…tbh a lot of the designers she liked surprised me-or I hadn’t heard of..I think I’m in a 1990’s time warp!

 

[cecchetti]

I am thinking Sonia Rykiel would fit in the same category, premier designer but with lower prices than their competitors, what do you think?

Sonia Rykiel wasn’t quite as “high fashion” as Kenzo, although she Did make the international newspapers with her collections.

But, as @papertiger said, her clothes were very French, as was she, and really worn by and suiting French women..

There was a huge shop near where I lived in Paris and her clothes Were very popular there..but I also gave r heard anything about them recently.
They were very Breton knit type.

I’m guessing I could still find them in London, whereas I Know Kenzo still carries on, he was far more revolutionary..

 

[papertiger]

Sonia Rykiel wasn’t quite as “high fashion” as Kenzo, although she Did make the international newspapers with her collections.

But, as @papertiger said, her clothes were very French, as was she, and really worn by and suiting French women..

There was a huge shop near where I lived in Paris and her clothes Were very popular there..but I also gave r heard anything about them recently.
They were very Breton knit type.

I’m guessing I could still find them in London, whereas I Know Kenzo still carries on, he was far more revolutionary..

The Brook St boutique has gone, no idea where the brand's selling now apart from online.

There’s a book that came out on Kenzo 2019 if anyone is interested. It's obviously very uncritical:

Kenzo Takada - ACC Art Books UK

Title: Kenzo Takada, Pages: 464 Pages, Publish Date: 15th Jan 2019, Author: Chihiro Masui, Kazuko Masui, ISBN: 9781788840019. An exclusive look-book of hand-coloured sketches and personal photographs from the archives of Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada.

www.accartbooks.com

More about the book here:

Kenzo Takada — the journey from ‘Jungle Jap’ to Kenzo

A new biography traces the designer’s extraordinary 30-year career at the fore of fashion

www.ft.com

 

[cecchetti]

The Brook St boutique has gone, no idea where the brand's selling now apart from online.

There’s a book that came out on Kenzo 2019 if anyone is interested. It's obviously very uncritical:

Kenzo Takada - ACC Art Books UK

Title: Kenzo Takada, Pages: 464 Pages, Publish Date: 15th Jan 2019, Author: Chihiro Masui, Kazuko Masui, ISBN: 9781788840019. An exclusive look-book of hand-coloured sketches and personal photographs from the archives of Japanese fashion designer Kenzo Takada.

www.accartbooks.com

More about the book here:

Kenzo Takada — the journey from ‘Jungle Jap’ to Kenzo

A new biography traces the designer’s extraordinary 30-year career at the fore of fashion

www.ft.com

I remember the title Jungle Jap-it was All a bit wild for me, which was why I was so surprised that my friend loved it so much!