Christian Wijnants was inspired by a photographer from Mali named Seydou Keïta for his collection this season. “There is something very beautiful and romantic about his work,” the designer said. “His portraits are very intimate and very honest.”

Keïta, who lived from 1921 to 2001, took shots of people with some dandy looks and in traditional wear, such as tunics. “The men’s tailoring was quite soft, nothing too masculine,” said Wijnants, adding he noted the men Keïta photographed seemed rather boyish, happy-looking and none too serious.

“A lot of the shapes and the ambience of the photography inspired the fabrics, but also the general ease of the collection,” said Wijnants. “I want sophistication, but also something easy and natural.”

He juxtaposed the masculine and feminine, creating androgynous, elongated, fluid looks with easy, soft tailoring, to elegant effect.

A fabric of choice? “I really love organza, because you can do architectural pieces,” said Wijnants, pointing to a shirt in a rounded shape and horizontal lines. He called it “graphic, but not too hard.”

Wijnants fashioned ethereal fabric panels. A pistachio-colored viscose-satin dress had a frontal flap that wafted with a walk. Another dress came in two types of silk overlayed and printed with a flower motif giving a 3D look.

Wijnants’ fashion was showcased at the Fondazione Sozzani, a voluminous industrial building in Paris’ 18th arrondissement, as a drone darted around shooting a fashion video.