Richardson's Latest Drop Isn't Risqué But It Is Warm
Brand: Richardson
Season: Fall/Winter 2021
Buy: Online at Richardson's website
Editor's Notes: Richardson, the New York City streetwear brand built on provocation, is releasing a winter collection that's less about sex than it is about staying warm.
Dropping on October 14, the range includes logo staples including hoodies and sweatpants, as well as some outstanding outerwear.
Down-filled parkas feature two roomy front pockets, one on the left branded with Richardson's logo and one the right boasting its slogan — Play Hard, Play Nice, Communicate — in acronym form: P.H.P.N.C. The winterized jackets arrive in several colorways including red tartan, navy blue, and faded khaki green.
In separates, the brand riffs on graphics central to Narcotics Anonymous and its 12-step program, such as the "NA" emblem — retooled with "RH," for Richardson Hardware — and the four-sided pyramid.
The collection is tamer than Richardson's past outings but stylish all the same, emphasizing the brand's focus on appreciably stylish apparel.
Some of its riskier releases include a range of bondage-inspired workwear, a collaboration with Shades Night Club in Jamaica (an institution in the world of adult entertainment), and one of founder Andrew Richardson's favorite projects: a phallus-shaped incense burner.
The brand's eponymous magazine pushes the envelope even farther, compiling erotic art, writing, and photography.
In 2018, a topless Kim Kardashian starred on the cover of the ninth issue, photographed by Steven Klein, accompanied by a semi-nude spread.
Despite its relative tameness, Richardson's FW21 collection still sneaks in a bit of edginess: pill bottles in the shape of large screws are affixed to logo carabiners, a mash-up of hardware and pharmaceuticals.
