Jil Sander Spring/Summer 2017

Playing within the lines is what Rodolfo Paglialunga continued to do for Jil Sander, this being his second year at the helm. It’s no secret that a designer taking the reigns of an established house and throwing in touches of their own aesthetic has its challenges. While Sander’s school of minimalism was fulfilled throughout via clean and simple silhouettes, Paglialunga introduced a few new motifs for Spring ’17:  ’40s meets ’80s suiting by way of wide pin stripes and exaggerated shoulder pads (which are removable), a few metallic numbers, extra fabric that lent lots of volume, and fine pleats. Though these elements are far from groundbreaking, it’s a sign that Paglialunga is at least entertaining the idea of branching out.