Every week a different FADER staff member will pick a clothing item or accessory that he or she has lately been spending a lot of time with—or would like to—and write a little love letter to it. We would’ve done a column on who we’re dating but that seemed a little bit much. This week Mobolaji Dawodu talks about Agnes B’s Veste Kimono.
Agnes B is a French designer and a real lover, patron and collector of art—I think that her appreciation for fine art really gives her an eye, and her collections always incorporate classic pieces, clothes that would look good twenty years ago. look good now and are going to look good in another twenty. That's not to say she's not current—she's always up to date—but she's got a longevity that not every designer possesses.
I fell in love with the Veste Kimono because it's timeless, and it really stands out for its workmanship. It's just made well. It reminds me of Asia. I've traveled there a few times, did a fashion story in India for FADER #44. There's something ancient about it, like something you can almost imagine someone wearing hundreds of years ago. But it's a testament to Agnes B that that doesn't for a second make it feel like a period costume. I couldn't figure out exactly what to call it at first. Is it a kimono? A shawl? A cardigan? A robe? Who cares, though, really. It just makes me feel wise is all—what more could you want from a sweater?