Daily Front Row

2010 April 26

Simon Snow Patrol

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Simon Kneen
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(NEW YORK) Over the last few years, Banana Republic creative director Simon Kneen has confidently stepped into the leadership role for the brand and quietly carved out a Fashion Week all his own. The Fall/Holiday 2010 collection is shown somewhere between the European and the resort seasons, and yet Kneen still merits a heavy advertiser-friendly editor front row, strong model line-up (everyone from Tao Okamoto to Noah Mills), and a formidable regular stylist in Anne Christensen. The Brit told us that he really never stops working on the collection. “I love that we’re working for holiday in the spring,” he said. “I love mixing it up. We’re working on the next spring as we speak. That’s the great thing about having such a big collection. I love to multi-task. It’s heaven!”

As for the looks? Kneen envisioned his show as a two-part showcase that paid homage to both the city and the good life at The Aspen. “There are a lot of neutrals this season, but there’s some pop within all this quiet vegetable dialogue,” continued the designer. “We’ve been really mixing up tones this season. There's lots of Himalayan inspiration within the holiday chunky sweaters and plenty of beautiful silks. We’re also mixing up masculine and feminine, of course, which has been an eternal classic for us.” Kneen also threw in some nice wool military jackets, great cardigans, and few great party options mixed in between. If GAP is not really your thing for next Monday’s Met Ball, something by Banana might satisfy your chic mass retail cravings.
VALENTINE UHOVSKI