Fashion
Gucci Gift Campaign
Envisioned by the Creative Director Sabato De Sarno’s endlessly creative mind, the House unveils the new Gucci Gift campaign, unfolding across four chapters throughout this holiday season.
The campaign tells an evocative story, centered around the idea that joyful moments shared with our loved ones – whether these are the family we were born into or the one we choose – become meaningful memories that resonate long after the celebrations end. Here, genuine connection becomes a focal point, as gifting is reimagined as an exchange of truly heartfelt gestures shared between those who give and those who receive, forging a sentimental bond that transcends beyond the material. Brought to life by an unparalleled cast of Gucci’s Global Brand Ambassadors and friends of the House, within the distinctive chapters, playing out in a jubilant crescendo, each telling their own unique story, thematically as well as aesthetically, while ever so seamlessly interconnected to the next chapter, bound by the overarching narrative of togetherness and love. Expressive vignettes frame scenes of warmth and joy against diverse backdrops evoking pivotal moments leading up the holidays.
The campaign perfectly captures the essence of festive celebrations, while showcasing ready-to-wear looks from the latest collections alongside emblematic accessories, in this carefully curated selection ideal for gifting, winter getaways and year-end soirées. From the storied grandeur of The Savoy, to serene mountain landscapes, to the warmth of family gatherings, and the magical nights in Florence, each chapter offers an immersive experience that seamlessly blends imagery with product’s discovery, in the theme of meaningful bonds and shared moments.
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Baobab COLLECTION – Maison de Parfums d’Intérieur
This week Baobab COLLECTION celebrated the opening of their new boutique in Amsterdam. Selected guests were warmly invited to discover the marvelous olfactory universe of the Maison de parfums d’intérieur in Amsterdam’s Oud-Zuid neighbourhood, just around the corner of Vondelpark.
Drawing inspiration from the abundance of African lands, the Belgian brand’s mission is the creation of olfactory and aesthetic objects, with their interior perfumes having been established as decorative objects since 2002. As a pioneer in the creation of large multi-wick candles, Baobab COLLECTION continuously expands its range, ever so seeking to create refined objects with sophisticated fragrances, which are aimed to act as skin scents. Each piece is a unique object, created by master glassblowers, containing one of the alluring essences carefully selected by Baobab COLLECTION’s Grasse perfumers, who aim to translate our most romantic stories and travel desires into scents. Particular care is further taken with the quality of raw materials, which mostly stem from Europe. Selecting a scented candle or an interior diffuser from the collection means to live out an aesthetic and olfactory experience, to become part of a tribe whose most deeply rooted desire is to veil their home with a soulful complement. Baobab COLLECTION also proudly presents their workshops, in which they bring together new expertise, such as, engraving and painting on glass or the application of gold and silver silk-screen printing.
Baobab COLLECTION can be visited at 15 Cornelis Schuytstraat, 1071 JC Amsterdam.
eu.baobabcollection.com
Fashion
PRADA ETERNAL GOLD - THE BOW
Prada proudly presents their Eternal Gold pieces. The truly sustainable fine jewelry collection encompasses finely crafted gold jewelry pieces with an intricate design detail – the bow.
Included is a foundation of neo-classics, everlasting pieces: earrings, a headband, a ring, a necklace and bracelets, all crafted from 100% certified recycled gold. Prada collaborated with key actors in the supply chain of precious metals and diamonds, in pursuit of fostering radical transparency and improvement with sustainable practices in the industry of fine jewelry.
Challenging common conventions of modern luxury, the debut of the conscious and responsible collection stands as a testament of Prada’s unwavering and ongoing commitment to sustainability in each and every facet of its business. Their recycled gold is drawn only from eligible material sources, devotedly meeting ‘Chain of Custody’ standards set by the Responsible Jewelry Council. Included in the recycling process are post-consumer precious objects and industrial gold, such as, scraps from jewelry manufacturing and gold recovered from obsolete electronic applications.
Through demonstrating the possibility of creating awe striking, contemporary pieces of fine jewelry that are simultaneously also sustainable, Prada sets an inspiring example in the industry – targeting the reduction of mining of new gold, benefiting both the environment and the protection of human rights.
www.prada.com
Fashion
FENDI Holiday Season 2024: A Whimsical Peek at the Archive
FENDI has revealed its enchanting Holiday Season 2024 collection – a celebration rooted in the brand’s illustrious heritage. Drawing inspiration from a 1984 archive sketch by Karl Lagerfeld, the festive design reimagines Santa Claus as a vintage-inspired silhouette. This whimsical figure takes shape as a festive tree adorned with iconic elements like Peekaboo and Baguette bags, signature FENDI yellow packaging, and delicate glass baubles—balanced in a whimsical precariousness on a playful seesaw.
At the heart of the holiday setup is the FENDI logo, rendered in a striking bubbly glass design. Paying homage to Italian craftsmanship, the logo echoes the artistry of Murano glass and traditional decorations, the FENDI festive logo is colored in antiqued and metallic silver, azure, and dusty pink.
This festive showcase sets the stage for FENDI's upcoming centenary celebration in 2025. By transforming the Maison's codes into graphic and playful ornaments, the collection embodies a blend of elegance, creativity, and nostalgia, inviting fans to embrace the holiday spirit in quintessential FENDI style.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
The Unpredictable Everyday – Dior X Kaws
In 2019, Kim Jones presented his very first show as the Creative Director of Dior Men, embarking the House on a new chapter by reinterpreting its legacy. Passionate about art and collaborating with creative minds from all horizons, Kim Jones is this time working alongside the New Yorker, Kaws. Street artist, painter, illustrator, Kaws became one of the most influential names of the international artistic scene, creating art that questions, that discusses with its environment in an audacious way. For Dior, the creative minds of Kaws and Kim Jones united, designing a joyous capsule collection, bringing together their inspirations, similarities and differences.
Key element in the capsule, the “Dior” logo is revisited with a snake wrapped around its letters, symbolizing the fusion of modernity and legacy that characterizes the collection. This motif is declined on cotton faille bermudas, knitwear and quilted shirts. A line of sports ensembles, jackets and accessories completes the capsule comprising leather goods, the Rider 2.0 bag and the B33 and B35 NXXT sneakers. Under the banner of vibrancy, the Dior and Kaws capsule collection celebrates the art of dressing, brightening the everyday with boldness.
www.dior.com
Fashion
H&M& Berlin – the Pre-Loved-Archive Collection
H&M celebrated two decades full of their much cherished collaborations with iconic designers from all over the world with their Pre-Loved-Archive collection.
H&M aims to offer a new generation the chance to own and reinterpret fashion history – opening up the gates to their iconic fashion library and re-releasing iconic and pre-loved fashion pieces from the most sought-after collaborations with renowned designers of the last two decades. The Pre-Loved-Archive is an inspired fusion of nostalgia and sustainability – extending the life of these beloved designs through their ongoing and creative recombination in styling the aesthetic-minded self.
The grand occasion took place on October the 30th of October in Berlin’s legendary Kraftwerk – featuring live performances of Troye Sivan, Caroline Polachek, Arca and JADA. A revitalizing combination of music, fashion and style. Guests A multitude of guests attended in their favorite archive looks from the twenty year long history of guest designer collections. As part of a global series of events, the celebration showcased H&M's new energy, emphasizing a circular approach to fashion.
Several of the curated pieces from the Pre-Loved-Archive collection made their debut yesterday at the Berliner Mitte Garten Store. Additional pieces are now available on hm.com.
Art
ALL TOMORROWS SONGS at Kühlhaus Berlin
Kühlhaus Berlin proudly declares their hosting of the interdisciplinary group exhibition ALL TOMORROWS SONGS, featuring individual projects by 16 young artists who participated in ‘Making It’ – an international workshop centered around exploring contemporary socio-political issues through a wide range of artistic mediums.The workshop, the project, and the exhibition—was initiated by JAŠA.
ALL TOMORROWS SONGS functions as a public moment of representing the collective and cross-disciplinary effort, where artists from differing backgrounds collaborated side-by-side, to create unified, thematic works. A blending together of different forms and unique perspectives into one cohesive and deeply relevant multifaceted experience. Each project acts as a testament of the artists’ remarkable growth during the workshop, individually but also as a group. The whole process was a chance well embraced, to cultivate their capacity to listen, observe and conceptually intertwine, but most importantly – to connect with each other and their surroundings on a profound level.
The young artists’ projects each offer a distinct and deeply personal response to the current socio-political climate – with questions of positioning, self-expression and voice emergence, along with the perspective of responsibility to be a vehicle for others. Sharp poetic insights into the concept of ‘Nowness’ by these young, meaningful voices, who have recognized it as their sole reality. The overarching aim – a call for unity rather than isolation.
The exhibition will be held at Kühlhaus Berlin on November 8th 2024, from 6PM to 11PM.
www.kuehlhaus-berlin.com
Art
A Technicolor Daydream Between the Birth and Death of the Universe – Double Feature at Fotografiska
Fotografiska Berlin presents Marco Brambilla’s exhibition Double Feature, a dazzling spectacle of the cult of glamor in Hollywood limboing between satire and celebration.
Two maximalist video collages work to recontextualize popular images, considering our obsession with the promises they seem to hold. The title of the exhibition creates a nostalgia for the past of motion pictures: the double feature. Seeing how two works form a unique interplay instead of standing alone without a contrast and taking the time to go see them as a conscious choice instead of being bombarded with more than one could view in a lifetime.
The two works exhibited are part of Brambilla’s Megaplex series and present an especially intriguing interplay, as Heaven’s Gate is the latest of this series created in 2022, and Civilization stands at its beginning in 2008. Heaven’s Gate is a journey through the seven levels of purgatory – each a fantastical looping landscape from Golden Age movies. Civilization offers a psychedelic journey from hell to heaven formed by a collage of iconic moments of cinematic history. A hyper realistic realm that is both eden and a burning abyss as a backdrop for the frenzy of media production and consumption with no end in sight.
Both works craft a targeted visual overload, demonstrating the state of media today as a machine constantly regurgitating what it has been fed, turning art into mere mechanical reproduction. It questions the sheer essence of art today and the future it may or may not have. A specifically fascinating aspect is that both artworks are incredibly timely today and speak to the same fear, frustration and wish for escapism despite more than a decade standing between them. Now looking at Civilization can almost turn into a nostalgic experience, as what was overwhelming in 2008 seems almost quaint in comparison to modern struggles with AI and the seemingly unstoppable speed of information.
What is art in the age of Mechanical Reproduction? A question Walter Benjamin asked close to a century ago and one that we will continue to grapple with until the machine comes to a halt.
Marco Brambilla’s Double Feature, on view at Fotografiska Berlin October 11th, 2024 – March 2nd, 2025.
www.berlin.fotografiska.com
Fashion
Recent Novelty in Vienna with Giorgio Armani
On October 9th, the Armani Group proudly welcomed chosen guests and devoted admirers to the grand opening of its newest addition of boutiques, Giorgio Armani, in Vienna, with cocktails, followed by a night at the Sacher.
As one of the household names standing in for refined luxury and class in the fashion sector, the Armani Group managed to find a location living up to their reputation, within the heart of Vienna, painted through its vibrant cultural history.
The intricate architecture, designed by none other than Giorgio Armani himself with his team of capable architects. Together, with a sensitive hand, they achieved to carve out an intricate design, innovative, while still preserving the characteristic Armani aesthetic, much dear to the group’s devoted followers. The façade, with black frames wrapping around all three sides of the building and the store, stretching over three levels, compellingly connected through a green marble spiral staircase.
Entering the space one will be serenaded by marble floors, aligned with walls parading luminous fine-textured silk wallpaper from the Armani/Casa collection. Emblematic Giorgio Armani logos with platinum-finish frames set on glossy black band above the entrances. The ceiling, captivating with marmorino, in colors and veining which the attentive onlooker can rediscover around the boutique, and the furnishing, in platinum colors and metallic wood. The heart of the store, an ethereal chandelier crafted out of platinum- covered rods. Let us pay tribute.
To an everlasting history of devoted craftsmanship in fashion, a promise upheld through the ongoing effort of the Armani Group.
The boutique inhabiting a wide range of ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes and eyewear for men and women, high jewelry, evening dresses, Armani/Privé fragrances, luxury watches and men’s formal wear and made-to-measure can be visited at Tuchlauben 7A, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
www.armani.com
Fashion
Tommy Hilfiger Fall 2024 Campaign
Over the past 9 years, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger and supermodel Abby Champion have shared a beautiful relationship, soon to become a marriage. To celebrate their love and this milestone, Tommy Hilfiger announces the newly engaged pair as the faces of the Fall 2024 campaign. In a series of portraits shot by Alasdair McLellan, the two prove that they fit the “one of Hollywood’s most fashionable young couples” label.
Set in New York City, the epitome of American fashion, the campaign puts forth two love stories: one between Abby and Patrick, and one between the couple and couture. With sophistication and charisma as key players of the scene, the Fall 2024 collection comes to life in the City That Never Sleeps: a modernized camel wool coat, an oversized puffer in plaids, polished pea coats, and bomber jackets give the collection a warm feel, perfect for protecting us from the cold breeze of fall mornings. Versatile and effortless, the line introduces some layering pieces – soft sweaters, Oxford shirts, and tailored blazers – accompanied by two pairs of shoes, known as fall essentials: Chelsea boots and loafers.
"This campaign felt like an intimate and genuine reflection of our relationship so far," said Patrick Schwarzenegger, the upcoming White Lotus star. Reflecting the timeless energy of Tommy Hilfiger, as well as American tradition and heritage, the couple becomes synonymous with the optimistic spirit of the city and of the brand. The Fall 2024 collection will be available throughout the season in Tommy Hilfiger stores and partner boutiques worldwide.
www.tommyhilfiger.com
Fashion
Christian Louboutin PFW Spring Summer 2025 - A Fashionable Dive
Inspired by the past, envisioned for the future. These are the vibes that the Christian Louboutin Paris Fashion Week show brings to the audience. In a collaboration with artistic director David LaChapelle and choreographer Blanca Li, the designer makes history with the creativity and authenticity he and his team present. Seemingly unusual at first glance, the visitors walked into Paris’ Piscine Molitor, where the French Olympic artistic swimming team was waiting to put on an unforgettable show.
Once a pool, the piscine turned into a catwalk the night of September 27th. Artistic swimmers parading on the sides of it in the new Miss Z pumps, playfully jumping into the bright colored water, and performing dance routines captivated the audience as the famous heels remained perfectly fixed on their feet. In a setting full of projections, lights, and aquatic ballet grace, one element was unmistakable: the red bottoms. After flowing down the giant pair of Christian Louboutin shoes turned into a slide and dancing around the centerpiece of the pool - a fountain meant to guide the performers in their act - the swimmers mysteriously disappear into the deepness of the water, leaving their Miss Z's floating as testimony of the brand's timelessness. Talking about the accumulation of factors that brought the "runway" to life, Christian Louboutin confesses “Something the three of us clearly have in common is our love for dance. Blanca made it her world, David some of his major art works, and me, I also started by designing shoes for dancers".
Dancing to the rhythm of LP's mix of pop, rock, indie and folk, the Olympic team wore metallic pumps that matched the bathing suits designed by Fifi Chachnil. Unapologetically bold and vibrant, the Spring Summer 2025 collection was introduced in this extraordinary moment that breaks the boundaries of fashion shows, celebrating the everlasting creativity of the French luxury brand.
www.christianlouboutin.com
Fashion
Rick Owens PFW Spring Summer 2025 - Hollywood takes Paris
Taking Paris Fashion Week to Palais de Tokyo – one of his preferred locations for a show – Rick Owens transforms the runway into his own playground. Instead of keeping it intimate, like he did for his previous shows, Owens goes all out and puts on an extravagant show that pays tribute to Hollywood, a place of reference for the designer, as it is the place he ran to and met some of the most important people of his artistic journey.
In what he called his “white satin army of love”, the designer introduced his previous menswear collection and asked all fashion schools in Paris to send students and faculty that would walk in the show as a testimony of unity. With his concept, he aims to demonstrate how impactful and important it is to stand by each other. For his most recent show, Owens presented the Women's line named after the boulevard of vice. At first sight, the collection seemed to respect a monochromatic palette of black, as the one back in June did – except with white. However, the creative director added a splash of absinthe-green to some of the looks, as well as some shades of gray, some of which were decorated with shimmering details that added a playful touch. As such, models walked around Palais de Tokyo parading in larger groups, each group wearing similar outfits that turned the venue into a theatrical performance.
Among the pieces in the collection we find flowing capes, transposable zipper jackets and coats, and knit gowns, all made from materials that allow recycling. Using certified organic silk, cupro – a biodegradable and plant based fiber – and recycled polyester, Rick Owens proves that he places sustainability at the frontline of his design process.
The new womenswear collection "Hollywood" stays in opposition to the last menswear line "Porterville", Rick Owens proving his artistic genius to his guests once again in a spectacular catwalk.
www.rickowens.com
Fashion
One Way or Another, London is Calling – Gucci 2025 Cruise Collection
Sabato de Sarno’s new Gucci 2025 Cruise Collection celebrates a captivating exploration of dualities. The House continues its ongoing dialogue between past and future and reimagines Gucci’s legacy for contemporary audiences. The heart-piece of the collection is the Blondie bag, a staple originally introduced in the 1970s, renowned for its round logo featuring the inverted two Gs to pay tribute to Guccio Gucci. The Blondie equally embodies elegance and practicality as the perfect staple for the modern woman. The 2025 Cruise collection is explored in "We Will Always Have London," a campaign shot by Nan Goldin and starring Debbie Harry – cultural icon and frontwoman of Blondie – alongside Kelsey Lu – one of today's most esteemed cellists and composers. The images perfectly encapsulate the elegance and spontaneity of the 2025 collection, due to their captivating sceneries at iconic London locations and Goldin’s documentary-style approach. The campaign tells a narrative that transcends the runway into a world of the free-spirited sophistication the subjects personify. The choice of London is a deliberate reference to Gucci’s origin, as Guccio Gucci’s time working as a bellboy at the Savoy Hotel in London sparked his love for luxury and inspired him in the foundation of his brand. Just like Gucci, London has undergone various transformations through the decades, but the spirit of creativity and a love for the finer things has remained prominent in both. The collection threads the dualities of modern life through an effortless juxtaposition of precision cut outerwear and delicate laces and embellishments.
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Eton - The Phoenix Service
Probably the first and one of a kind, Eton comes out with a new initiative that supports its customers’ love for clothes and for traveling. Ever been in the situation of getting excited to go on holiday, only to find out your luggage was lost or never got to your destination? The Phoenix Service cures the anxiety of parting ways with our most valuable items – whether it’s the vacation outfits we planned in our head, business attire for a work trip, or cherished personal belongings that have sentimental value.
The Phoenix Service is a lifetime travel insurance that makes sure Eton never leaves travelers’ bags. Available exclusively for Eton’s White Signature Twill – a white, versatile shirt that is a staple in anyone’s baggage – the service is accessible to everyone who purchases the item, as the clients receive proof of insurance via email. As CEO David Thörewik would say, the only thing that can replace an Eton shirt is another Eton shirt, which is why, in case of a fashion disaster, all buyers have to do is send airline documentation confirming the loss of their luggage to Eton, and the team will send a new Signature Twill Shirt their way.
Encouraging traveling in style and emphasizing the importance of quality, the creative project is available on the brand’s website, as a limited edition service, from September 16th to November 11th. Just as a Phoenix bird, the iconic shirt can never be gone – it is a symbol of immortality, of endless resilience, always rising from the ashes to embody style and elegance.
www.etonshirts.com
Fashion
Versace MFW Spring Summer 2025 – An Ode to Joy
The Spring Summer 2025 Versace collection at Milan Fashion week is a celebration of pure exuberant joy. Joy as an expression of freedom and spontaneity, as well as an ode to individuality. The collection proposes an antithesis to current trends of minimalist fashion and the classic less-is-more approach. Instead, Versace offers looks that through their dopamine filled combination and construction resulting in a mismatched aesthetic, turn casual pieces of daywear into exuberant and whimsical looks. Rife with spark and joie de vivre Versace is making fashion fun and exciting.
The prints are loud and proud, as can be expected of Versace, and interact with each other in a daring clash of patterns and ideas. The sensory overload this can cause is very intentional and hopefully will invite viewers to feel free and experimental with their fashion choices yet again, and to reconnect with the intrinsic joy amongst the business side of fashion. Floral motifs are explored on exciting materials such as metal mesh and intricate beadings that create a dazzling visual effect while in movement and re-propose the classic florals for spring.
The accessories are another highlight as home objects are transformed into fashion. The stems of Versace wine glasses recreated in metal are now heels on a variety of new designs. Versace crystal perfume bottles as handbag locks and pendants.
The playful spirit is desperately needed right now and while people might scrutinize the over-the-top looks today, come spring this will be recreated and hopefully inspire people to truly embrace the joys fashion can bring as a visual manifestation of positivity and an expression of individuality.
www.versace.com
Fashion
Emporio Armani Spring Summer 2025 MFW - Ties to the Past and Future
The Emporio Armani Spring Summer 2025 Womenswear collection at Milan Fashion Week epitomizes the brand’s commitment to a clear style that is instantly recognizable, ever evolving but equally built on Armani’s heritage.
The collection is an invitation to dress with freedom and a bit of irony, as concepts such as the feminine model in a masculine suit and tie originated to provoke and now has a more playful energy that the collection is leaning into. Ties are featured prominently, paired with oversized muted suits, deconstructed underneath a vest and paired with dark mesh and florals, as well as atop a trench coat embroidered with rainbow florals. The tie is returning for the modern woman to reflect contemporary fluidity of gendered dressing. This is not a provocative rebellion but an individual choice to have fun with ties in creative ways. This sense of play exists throughout the collection, which is fueled by tried-and-true juxtapositions of masculine and feminine, light and dark – with sparks of colorful excitement, long and short, and past and future. A highlight is the use of accessories especially wide-brimmed hats that create a whimsical allure and excitement for springs to come.
The show is entitled “Future Perfect” and forward-looking continuity is embraced throughout in a quintessentially Armanian way.
www.armani.com
Cinema
BAFTA Elevate x dunhill
Marking the fifth edition of BAFTA Elevate, the art’s charity has partnered with British luxury menswear House dunhill to support up to 20 creative talents working in documentary and specialist factual media over the next two years.
This specifically aims to support mid-senior development producers, producers, directors and producer-directors from underrepresented groups. Especially people from minority ethnic, low socioeconomic and disabled groups are encouraged to apply. Additionally, they have pledged that at least 50 percent of the selected cohort will be women, truly highlighting the intersectional nature of underrepresentation in media.
This program is especially important in the documentary genre as the stories told are so heavily impacted by the creative lives and experiences and their resulting understanding of their environment. Documentaries can have tremendous social impact, but to achieve this they have to be made. Over the past 18 months BAFTA held over 40 consultations, roundtables and masterclasses to grasp where the genre is headed and what needs to be done to progress in an inclusive direction. This year’s BAFTA Elevate is the result of it, as it focuses on supporting selected talent over a two-year time frame including networking and career development guidance to give emerging talent a fair shot at a sustainable career in the industry.
Dunhill is a perfect partner for this endeavor as the brand has long been a fixture in the film industry, exuding the glamor of old movies and hosting the annual dunhill Pre-BAFTA dinner and party. Joining forces on Elevate demonstrates dunhill’s love and commitment not only to the film industry of the past and present but also of its future as a place for everyone to create wondrous works.
The program is championed by award-winning filmmaker Asif Kapadia, as well as presenter, actor and director Reggie Yates and the advocacy organization, We Are Doc Women. Applications are open now and run until Friday October 18th, 2024.
www.bafta.org
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Art Silk Squares
Continuing a tradition of almost 40 years, Louis Vuitton announces a new silk square collection that celebrates the work of five international contemporary artists. Adding to the heritage of the French luxury brand, the visionaries encapsulate their understanding of the Louis Vuitton essence by reinterpreting the four-petal flower that accompanies the LV Monogram.
Designed in Como, Italy, the silk carrés – French for ‘squares’ – capture the fine craftsmanship of Italian artisans. Following the transfer of the artists’ artwork on pieces of white silk, the square-shaped textiles are washed and dried, before the professionals add a finishing touch of roulottage: the classic practice of hand-sewing edges for a more refined look. Lastly, the craft masters add lively, bright colors to the soft pieces that pay tribute to Louis Vuitton’s everlasting vulnerability for exceptional savoir-faire.
Blending together different artistic styles, the collection uncovers five designs: Maze of Precious, Malles Monde, Iris Spring, Parfums de Méditerranée, and Urban Flowers. Where Italian illustrator Lorenzo Mattotti brings forward the iconic iris found at the Vuitton family home as the central motif of the carré, Nicolas de Crécy takes us to an olfactory paradise in Provence using the Monogram pattern as inspiration, reflecting the House’s birth place in Grasse. eBoy – German pixel-art collective, Icinori – the design duo that blends traditional with modern, and Swiss artist Thomas Ott also exhibit their unique perspectives on the initially blank canvases that celebrate Maison’s emblematic codes.
Making their debut in 1987, all the silk squares collections can be found in LV Dream, the exhibition at Maison’s headquarters in Paris.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
"Tales & Tellers" Art Basel Paris
Aiming to give its audience new understandings of the world, “Tales & Tellers” creates a universe in which storytelling takes center stage. The event – part of Art Basel Paris – represents Miuccia Prada’s fascination with the lives of women and their experiences and tales. Earlier this year with Miu Miu Women’s Tales, we explored themes of love and culture, honoring women in cinema. Now it’s time to understand their background, while giving the visitors an opportunity to engage with the directors and artists behind the two projects.
“Tales & Tellers” is dedicated to the expression of meaning, sharing both real and fantastical stories. Every short film from Women’s Tales, alongside some video pieces taken at Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2022 show, will be represented in the show as a character, reenacted by real-life actors. The venue, Palais d’Iéna in Paris, will become a canvas for discussions, a safe space for sharing intimate and personal experiences. Curated by Polish multidisciplinary artist Goshka Macuga and by the director of MACBA in Barcelona, Elvira Dyangani Ose, the event will also organize screenings of all commissioned short films, after which the audience will be able to interact with the visionaries behind them. As such, everyone has the chance of telling their own tale and become part of a broader narrative exploration.
The event promises to be both a celebration of creativity and a safe haven for open dialogue. “Tales & Tellers” will be staged at the Palais d’Iéna, Paris and is open to the public from 16th to 20th of October. Online registration is possible.
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
The Beauty Booster
Foundation is like a canvas – the base of the make-up look. On this canvas, a highlighter might be a sheer, gleaming veil that enhances the face’s contours and beauty. As the final glowing touch, it captures the reflection of light on the skin with a multi-dimensional effect. It can be sensationally glamorous, natural-looking, or even evoke a subtle ethereal effect. Either way, to achieve all the possibilities of the beautifully luminous look, Armani Beauty recently introduced a new highlighter: Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter – the latest addition to their skin-enhancing Luminous Silk collection.
This highlighter brings a new level of glow with micro pearls. It is buildable from a natural to a glamorous finish, owing to its liquid blendable formula, which includes a blend of exclusive white micro-pearl and skin-boosting ingredients such as niacinamide, caffeine and glycerin. The water-like texture melts onto the skin, then stretches into a seamless film of shimmer, without moving the underlying make-up. Its pure translucency comes with a pearly glow effect and a silky, dewy finish.
Particularly, tinted or pure white pearls can be used for a variety of purposes. Shade 1, Halo, creates a perfect highlighting tone, ideally on the top of cheekbones, while the depth of shade 5, Sunset, creates a natural contouring effect. For additional use, shade 3, Dawn, can be blended with the Armani Beauty eye tints to infuse a soft metallic tone into your eyes.
www.armanibeauty.com
Fashion
The First Chypre Hermes
Determined to create a feminine scent that would follow in the steps of Jean-Claude Ellena’s Terre d’Hermès – world famous masculine perfume that tells a story of a man’s relationship with the earth – Christine Nagel launches The First Chypre. What drove the Creative Director of Hermès Perfumes most were her neverending curiosity and personal desire of adding Chypre notes to the House’s fragrance collection.
Barénia, the newest creation, captures hours of continuous work and dedication. Its main notes combine butterfly lily with miracle berry, leaving the wearer with the intensity of patchouli and the warmth of oakwood. Nagel based her work on inspiring women that trust their instincts, defining them as “the Hermès woman”: "The Hermès woman is driven by curiosity. Guided by her instincts, her side steps are never missteps”. Tapping into feminine energy, the perfumer wishes for Barénia to become as timeless and representative for Hermès as other items like the Birkin or the Kelly bag.
A passion project of Christine Nagel, Barénia took 10 years to complete and is named after the same exceptional calf leather that Hermès uses to craft its leather goods with. The floral and woody fantasy of Barénia is encapsulated in a round transparent bottle with a silver cap that has Maison’s logo. The First Chypre will be available starting this September.
www.hermes.com
Travel
Coqui Coqui X H&M Home
H&M Home is collaborating with lifestyle and fragrance brand Coqui Coqui Residences & Spa, launching a 26-piece collection for a curated home and a stylish getaway available now.
This collection includes many reinterpretations of classic Coqui Coqui pieces that have become synonymous with the brand such as blankets and pillows rimmed by tassels in shades of beige reminiscent of sandy beaches in tropical places. This is complemented by new additions such as a porcelain tea set with a palm tree motive and gold accents which perfectly goes with the gold stainless steel tray table for a perfect feeling of comfortable decadence in the home. Additionally, travel enthusiasts can find joy in the beach bag and towel featuring the Coqui Coqui logo in a prominent yet sophisticated manner.
The centerpiece of the collection though is formed around the two new fragrances specially created in Grasse for this collaboration. Flores de Yucatan and Vétyvers du Pacifique are available as room sprays, diffusers, scented candles and scented cards, allowing for a sensory island getaway from anywhere. This collaboration makes it possible to create a true home away from home and is now available in select stores and online.
www2.hm.com
Art
DIESEL X TOM OF FINLAND FOUNDATION
The celebration of Pride unites people across the globe, transcending boundaries in art, social norms, and culture. This provocative, inclusive mission is the core of the collaborative exhibition project of Diesel and the Tom of Finland Foundation.
Denim brand Diesel is partnering with the Tom of Finland Foundation to exhibit a special collaborative display in Tokyo in honor of the Foundation's 40th anniversary. Titled "Forty Years Of Pride," the exhibition will be hosted at the Diesel Art Gallery in the Diesel store in Shibuya from July 12 to Wednesday, August 14, 2024. This multi-faceted project is a highlight of their commitment to LGBTQ+ art advocacy, speaking to diversity and unity. This event not only celebrates four decades of preserving and promoting the iconic legacy of Tom of Finland but also offers a unique opportunity to reflect on Tom of Finland's impact on contemporary art, social consciousness, and its resonance with diverse audiences. Notably, the exhibition will feature "TOM House: The VR Experience," a groundbreaking virtual reality installation that provides an immersive, aural journey into Tom’s world.
With this global project, Diesel aims to support the artist community by providing a unique venue for openness, freedom, and love, underscoring the tremendous social and cultural impact of Tom of Finland’s work.
www.diesel.com
www.tomoffinland.org
Fashion
Diesel FW 2024 Campaign
Global denim brand Diesel has unveiled a new campaign for Fall Winter 2024, titled "Til D do us part." The creative narrative invites Diesel fans to Diesel's one-of-a-kind wedding ceremony, infusing an ironic twist on a traditional wedding. The bride appears expressive and sexy, wearing an entirely denim gown with a feminine silhouette, highlighting the cinched waist and deep neckline. The gown features stone-washed denim fabric with fabulous floral trims that add a touch of glamor to the wedding dress. The rose motif denim embellishment adorns the bride's dress from the shoulder to the chest and along the puff sleeves. The wedding photographer is Nick Waplington and he captured stunning and captivating visuals chronicling the special event with irony and ecstasy—the wedding prep, the ceremony, and the afterparty.
Diesel's bride is not blushing. She is portrayed by Christine Quinn, an author, model, actress, and former star of Netflix's global hit reality show "Selling Sunset." The dress code for the unique wedding ceremony is head-to-toe Diesel denim from Diesel’s Fall Winter 2024 collection. All guests celebrate the wedding with stylish denim ensembles in various denim hues and details. The attendees' looks feature Diesel Library denim and new Peel Off Denim, defined by minimalistic, utility-driven silhouettes. The denim pieces include bonded or laser panels, adding a modern twist to classic denim styles in jackets, skirts, jeans, and vests. In a nutshell, Diesel’s wedding is a denim feast.
www.diesel.com
Fashion
MANDARINA DUCK Gallery Project in Berlin
The Italian brand MANDARINA DUCK hosted MANDARINA DUCK Gallery Project in Berlin to celebrate its connection with the city. The event presented not only the new ECO COATED line but also the fascinating history of the brand at Club Prince Charles. This unique venue, a former employee swimming pool of the Bechstein piano factory, served as the perfect stage for a retrospective journey into the history and avant-garde designs of the brand.
Through an artistic installation in partnership with the Italian artist Cento Canesio, the brand envisions the future with positivity, concreteness, irony, intelligence, and enthusiasm. The brand identity remains true despite the individual transformations of each product and style, while continuing to combine dynamism and functionality endlessly.
The new ECO COATED line is part of Mandarina Duck's Sustainable Journey. It’s the brand's first 100% GREEN collection, made from recycled polyester obtained from plastic bottles (PET). The collection includes city backpacks, duffle bags, and small crossbody bags featuring multifunctional designs that highlight practical and stylish solutions for environmentally conscious consumers. The MD ECO COATED line is an innovative solution that fashion and sustainability can coexist.
www.mandarinaduck.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Escale Watch
The latest emblematic Louis Vuitton watch collection, Escale, unveils three watchpieces crafted with watchmaking expertise by La Fabrique du Temps. Continuing Maison’s quest for artisanal craftsmanship with iconic heritage, La Fabrique du Temps draws on creative audacity and an innovative approach to create the new Escale timepieces.
Above all, these three choices are the first new models in a decade for the Louis Vuitton Escale line. They offer an array of color and material variations infused with historic trunk-making design codes. Originally, the Escale line was known as “The Escale Cabinet of Wonders,” a trilogy of métiers d’art timepieces inspired by the iconic collections of Gaston-Louis Vuitton, third-generation patriarch of the Maison’s founding family. Now, for the 2024 collection, the Escale embarks on a new journey of savoir-faire, exploring the panorama of timekeeping while celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Escale at Louis Vuitton.
The latest Escale is characterized by distinctively textured and tactile surfaces, an elevated approach to case design, and sophisticated finishes. Its movement comes from the rich terrain of traditional Swiss horlogerie, La Fabrique du Temps.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
LONGCHAMP Commits to Longevity
The epitome of French elegance, LONGCHAMP’s take on longevity is uncompromising. Committing to responsible practices in all phases of production, the sustainable approach includes careful selection of raw materials and repairing service, reflecting the brand's desire to reduce environmental impact. Most of all, the exceptional quality of leather is the DNA of the brand, sourced from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group. In particular, in 2023, 79% of leather items in LONGCHAMP received the “Gold” award, the highest level of certification, guaranteeing environmental and social standards.
Moreover, the brand focuses on using recycled materials. Since 2019, the brand has introduced diverse product ranges made from recycled materials. The iconic Le Pliage bag was redesigned with a canvas woven from recycled fibers, reducing everyone’s CO2 footprint by almost 20%. Additionally, its environmentally conscious approach is evident in the latest FW24 collection, which features recycled Ready-to-wear items like a recycled polyester kimono jacket and a set of sneakers made entirely from recycled materials.
Beyond production, the brand continues its commitment to sustainability through its repair service, ensuring that every product can be repaired to extend its lifespan. This service includes almost 60,000 products annually and embodies LONGCHAMP's dedication to durability and responsible take on fashion.
www.longchamp.com
Fashion
Hublot Opens in Hamburg
The iconic Swiss luxury watch brand Hublot welcomed guests in Hamburg with the grand opening of its new boutique on Neuer Wall, known as the most exclusive shopping street in Hamburg. The boutique, which opened on May 8th, celebrated its inauguration almost two months later, July 4th, just days before the UEFA EURO 2024 final. At this exclusive event, Hublot invited Sami Khedira, a German football legend, along with numerous other guests. The memorable occasion brought football fever to the boutique’s opening, celebrating the brand’s milestone.
This new location marks Hublot's fourth boutique in Germany, following Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich. The choice of Hamburg for the new boutique pays homage to the city’s rich maritime history as a major port city, while resonating deeply with Hublot’s marine heritage. Back in 1980, the design of Hublot's first iconic watch was inspired by the look of a porthole, symbolizing the round window of ships. This iconic feature continues to influence Hublot's designs until today. Hublot's exceptional ability to blend tradition with innovation underscores its status as a high-end watchmaker, highlighting the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship, elegance, and timeless design.
www.hublot.com
Fashion
Eat Dust - A New Amsterdam Store
Eat Dust, the iconic Belgian denim brand, opens its new store in the heart of Amsterdam, at Leliegracht 24. Founded in 2010 by Rob Harmsen and Keith Hioco in the city of Antwerp, the brand draws on its unique blend of heritage and modernity.
Bridging Antwerp and Paris, the new Amsterdam store is infused with a Japanese aesthetic where the atmosphere is both serene and sophisticated, mirroring the design of the clothing. The seamless blend of minimalist design elements and exceptional craftsmanship reflects the brand's commitment to quality and style.In addition to the brand's core menswear line, the Amsterdam store features Girls of Dust, the women's line launched in 2017, which offers a diverse range of timeless, sustainable fashion characterized by an unwavering focus on craftsmanship and quality. Girls of Dust, co-created by designer Aline Walther and Keith Hioco, offers a modern aesthetic on vintage workwear, military attire, and iconic menswear, catering to contemporary women. The garments embody the designers’ vision, emphasizing a headstrong and rebellious nature. They merge classic items and their love for denim with a wide range of influences, drawing from old Western styles, military wear, Americana, motorcycling, skateboarding, and musical subcultures. Beyond the clothing, Eat Dust is a contemporary lifestyle brand with an outspoken attitude.
www.eatdustclothing.com
Fashion
G-STAR x Walter Van Beirendonck PFW
In collaboration with G-STAR, Walter Van Beirendonck brings back his specific unconventionality to the runway in a 19 piece limited-edition collection named Denim with Balls. The designer uses his unique perspective to create a bold line of clothing that makes a statement in the fashion world, explained by Van Beirendonck himself: “reimagine traditional methods”.
He leads this creative process by challenging the norms of fabrics construction and design: the designer reimagines an ordinary closet into something extraordinary. His avant-garde spirit and craftsmanship guides Van Beirendonck to predominantly use atypical techniques which include glueing and taping pieces of denim together. With this show, the icon of innovative fashion surprises his audience in the heart of Paris, the capital of the couture world.
Metaphorically, the title Denim with Balls inherently implies a daring show, yet literally the public can find decorative dots and other exaggerated details on every model that parades down the catwalk. With G-STAR’s complete freedom, the Belgian designer introduces a unisex capsule line which exhibits distinctive silhouettes and styles, such as the Square, Wader, or Embossed Pamflet Jeans, the Future Proof Jacket, 3-D knitted tops and sweaters.
Known for its denim culture, G-STAR’s artistic vision led to collaborating with “one of the most important fashion designers of our times”, as the company’s CMO Gwenda Van Vliet states. Walter Van Beirendonck’s work is often described as playful, vibrant, and most of all eccentric. The SS25 collection will be available in selected stores from February 2025.
www.g-star.com
www.waltervanbeirendonck.com
Fashion
Men’s Milan Fashion Week – Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana’s recent Menswear Milan Spring Summer 2025 show was captivated by unique Italian beauty. Not to mention its exquisite craftsmanship and tailoring in fashion, Italian rich historical and cultural heritage were truly embodied in the brand’s Milan SS 25 collection. Each outfit encapsulated the pure aesthetic of Italian beauty, all enhanced by handcrafted skills.
The SS 25 Men’s collection was inspired by 1950’s pure Italian aesthetics in the golden period of Italy, which is referenced by the famous Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni in cinematography. Italian men’s classic sophisticated style was elevated with the “Handmade label” highlighting its high craftsmanship while paying homage to Mastroianni’s heritage and timeless elegance of iconic Italian men’s style, evoking the sophistication of a summer holiday.
Well-dressed models strutted down the catwalk showcasing refined Italian elegance perfect for a summer holiday. They appeared in tailored jackets, amphora trousers, linen shirts, stripes, polo shirts, sweaters, raffia, and leather woven pieces by the skillful hands of craftsmen for shoes, overcoats, and jackets, appealing to a pure Italian-ness.
Moreover, the choice of elegant hues enhanced the collection to stay true to the authentic aesthetics of the 1950s, featuring white, sand, brown, burgundy, green, and Sicily black. The collection was also jazzed up with unique details: classic stripe patterns and delicate bead embellishments, along with extraordinary weaving detail on knitwear, adding a modern twist to the classic Italian essence of Dolce & Gabbana.
www.dolcegabbana.com
Fashion
Paul & Shark Milan Fashion Week
Born in Varese, Italy in 1976, Paul & Shark is a life-style brand that encapsulates elegance and modernity. After being referred to as “the sailing man’s sailing gear” by GQ in 2017, the luxury brand secured a valuable position among other esteemed Italian houses.
On June 15th, Terazza Duomo – the emblematic terrace with the best view of Milan and the venue for Paul & Shark’s show – was designed with elegance specific to the brand and powerful colors, textures, and symbols specific to Capri.
The new collection, Riviera Hello Capri, is an ode to one of the most popular islands in the Mediterranean and its beloved landscapes. As such, Paul & Shark bring Capri to Milan, where the Fashion Week show takes the audience through a journey of sunny, golden beaches, bittersweet scented lemon trees, and shades of blue that almost echo the sound of crashing waves on the coast of the island. Built to embody the beautiful chaos of the Mediterranean shore, the campaign is a reflection of the Italian dolce vita, and exhibits the sweetness of summer through the combination of colors and materials. The new spring/summer line features chic pieces. Linen shirts and shorts that grant simplicity, silk polo-shirts, cashmere jumpers, and swim shorts with playful patterns add to the ideal attire for a day by the seaside.
The Riviera collection represents a tribute to Italy through its yearly shift of focus on different coastal locations of the Mediterranean that the team at Paul & Shark draw inspiration from.
www.paulandshark.com
Fashion
H&M Studio Mini Summer Capsule Collection
Relax, it’s summer! This is what we imagine the slogan of the new Mini Summer Capsule Collection is. Embodying laid-back beachwear, the craftsmanship behind the collection brings an idyllic feeling of delicateness to the looks.
Inspired by the nostalgic feeling of summertime, the launch of the Mini Summer Capsule collection focuses on combining fashion with responsibility. H&M unveils the absolute summer wardrobe, while meeting the standard for ecological responsibility. Driven by the desire to design a timeless set of pieces that clients could mix and match every year, the Studio team used Regenerative Organic Certified Cotton. To obtain this distinctive textile, a particular type of agriculture that ensures the welfare of animals, the restoration of soil, and the improvement of the quality of life of farmers is used.
The collection features dreamy kaftan dresses, a set with a matching top and skirt, and a bralette with a matching skirt, yet the spotlight is definitely on the two maxi dresses. The first maxi piece, enriched by its sunset colors, which blend perfectly with the floral applications, makes the ideal dress for a beach day, a night out at dinner, or drinks with friends. Through its dramatic effect, another piece that stands out in the collection is the maxi black dress. The open back, the halterneck, the spaghetti straps all add to the boldness of the silhouette. Together, the pieces make up a blissful, versatile wardrobe that takes customers on walks on a sunny beach, with sizzling hot sand, and radiant sunshine.
The H&M Studio Mini Summer Capsule collection will be available online and in selected local stores from the 4th of July.
www.hm.com
Fashion
Once Upon a Time...
In a faraway kingdom filled with forests, castles, and rivers, lived a Queen: Mary Stuart. This emblematic figure of Scottish heritage steps out from the pages of a tale and into the real world. The next chapter in Dior's never-ending tale, the cruise 2025 collection, features an imaginative journey through Scotland and its Highlands. Dreamed up by Maria Grazia Chiuri, this story unfolds through the gardens of Drummond Castle, echoing the motifs of this land and paying homage to Mary Stuart — also known as Mary, Queen of Scots. "Divergent" is the word to characterize this show, which ranges from historic to punk vibes, embracing a multitude of styles.
The main character of the show is the emblematic tartan, which adorns kilts in numerous colors. This prominent motif embodies different personalities—from tradition to reinterpretation to transgression—the tartan is a single word with several meanings. Battles for power and contrasting textures stand their ground gloriously. For instance, velvet and lace engage in a sharp dialogue, reflecting the leitmotif of power dynamics that the show explores.
Different forms of needlework weave their swords, all the while maintaining a chic look, effortlessly on the mood. Wool dresses come in various lengths, side by side with jackets and coats in iconic fabrics and rigorous cuts, evoking the men's tailoring aesthetic.
A passionate tale of times long gone is brought to the present-day fields and gardens of Scotland. The Dior Cruise 2025 collection stands as a book of time, from a preface alluding to the past and an epilogue of the future, and the middle: a fascinating odyssey of present times and glories.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Aeternal Splendor
Bulgari unveils its sensational new campaign featuring global ambassadors Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Liu Yifei, celebrating personal renewal through ceaseless rebirth.
Since its creation in 1884, the Roman jeweler has been constantly renewing itself, finding an inexhaustible source of beauty and elevation.
Paying tribute to its 140 years of heritage, Bulgari invites on a journey of personal growth inspired by its majestic creations, symbols of strength and self-confidence.
Directed by Nathalie Canguilhem and photographed by Zoey Grossman, the campaign captures Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Liu Yifei exploring Rome through a sequence of mirrors, reflecting their evolution and multiple facets. In the light of a Roman dawn, they shine in exceptional pieces from the Aeterna collection. Rome, an eclectic fusion of eras and styles, is captured in a new light, representing heritage and modernity.
This timeless city and Bulgari's incomparable jewels embody the ability to constantly reinvent oneself.
The Aeterna collecton launches worldwide on May 28, 2024, accompanied by a digital activation and a contemporary installation in the Piazza di Spagna, creating connections between legacy and future.
www.bulgari.com
Art
Paris, Texas
Pursuing on its long-standing support for the arts, CHANEL is this time focusing on the 7th Art by supporting the restoration of "Paris, Texas."
Directed by Wim Wenders, this filmographic masterpiece won the Palme d'Or in 1984.
This initiative reflects the House’s commitment to supporting artists across all artistic disciplines. The restored version of "Paris, Texas" premiered in the Cannes Classics category at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, celebrating the 40th anniversary of its Palme d'Or win.
“Paris, Texas” is a moving drama directed by Wim Wenders in 1984. The film tells the story of Travis Henderson, a taciturn man found wandering in the desert after four years missing. Reunited with his brother Walt, Travis tries to rebuild his life and reconnect with his young son Hunter. Together, they embark on a journey to find Jane, Hunter's mother and Travis's former wife.
The film explores themes of redemption, family and identity through striking American landscapes while capturing the essence of the American dream and fractured human relationships.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
C.P. Company x Junya Watanabe MAN
C.P. Company, a pioneering sportswear brand, has unveiled an innovative collaboration with the avant-garde Japanese label Junya Watanabe MAN. This groundbreaking collection consists of two fishtail parkas featuring reflective prints on the back and a loose fit.
The two jackets are made of highly functional fabric. They are made of 3-layer laminated cotton denim and 3-layer nylon canvas respectively, featuring Explorer hoods, which is one of the signature features of C.P. company. While retaining the classic design of fishtail parkas, these jackets incorporate several symbolic technical elements typical of functional garments such as concealed zippers and press studs, a drawstring waist, and adjustable cuffs with buttons. The result is a unique fusion that blends Junya Watanabe's unstructured modernism with C.P. Company's technical innovation.
Emphasizing durability and functionality, the jackets embody exceptional technical performance. Moreover, the modern touch of minimal graphics on the back enhances their visual appeal. Altogether, these jackets effortlessly merge durability with style as well as meticulous attention to detail.
www.cpcompany.com
Fashion
Dressing Icons
Dior unveils the remarkable Icons Capsule, imagined by Kim Jones, and redefining a highly modern wardrobe for men. The collection blends excellence with timeless pieces such as wide-leg pants and structured coats, crafting sophisticated ensembles.
Each item, from knitwear to denim, showcases pure lines and subtle embellishments, in the emblematic Dior’s style.
Once again, the traditional craftsmanship is enhanced by innovative techniques and luxurious materials: cashmere elevates sumptuous sweaters, Sea Island cotton enriches desaturated T-shirts, and silk blends enhance Harrington jackets.
The allure is urban yet elegant, everyday wear, but with an inherent chic. The iconic backpacks and weekender bags feature the new Dior Gravity Leather in black, beige, or khaki, adorned with an oversized Dior Oblique motif.
The timeless Dior Icons Capsule Collection reflects a renewed simplicity and ultimate elegance, encapsulating the fusion of tradition and innovation.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Ten c X AWAKE NY - Limited Edition Capsule
The luxury and Italian DNA of Ten c meets the streetwear culture of Awake NY, made a unique collaboration on 26 April 2024 in Milan. As a limited collection, the partnership has encapsulated the best of both brands’ DNA.
AWAKE NY boasts a strong street aesthetic, featuring iconic patterns and graphics. The label’s cool aesthetic enabled the collaboration to be perfectly mixed with all Italian elegance and craftmanship with the vibrant spirit of streetwear. Each brand is seemingly distant, however, the collaborated collection summed up the best of the brand. It’s both eclectic and dynamic, resulting in bold, urban-inspired lines, characterized by tailoring details with the highest quality fabrics.
Consisting of three iconic Ten c pieces, they come in two different colors - acid green and military green. The jacket and trousers feature a unique print that reproduces the rocky substrate map of Manhattan's neighborhoods, creating an original and truly unique camouflage print. Moreover, the materials used are nylon crinkle combined with OJJ, Original Japanese Jersey, the signature material of Ten c. In particular, the outwear features both logos of the brands. On the inside, the classic OJJ label bears both the Ten c and Awake NY logos. On the outside, on the other hand, the puller and hood feature only the Awake NY logo, which respects the codes of both brands: Ten c has always been no logo and Awake NY has made its brand an important communication tool.
This limited edition was launched on 26 April and is available in online stores and some selected stores.
www.tenc.com
www.awakenyclothing.com
Art
Kaldewei- Milan Design Week 2024
Kaldewei, a luxury bathroom design brand recently showcased a new collection collaborated with e15, a Frankfurt-based interior label, known for its use of natural solid wood. The “e15-KALDEWEI collection encompassed a wide range of furniture and accessories and embodied progressive bathroom settings. To unite these two premium brands, there was Stefan Diez, one of Germany's most sought-after designers combined the shared values and progressive design with the luxurious material. His aesthetic, surely, transformed glazed bath objects into true works of art. Especially, during the Milan Design Week, Kaldewei presented the installation “Bath[o]phili” – inspired by the German philosopher Erich Fromm and his life-affirming concept of “biophilia”. This term combined the ancient Greek words "Bios" for life and "Philia" for love. Fromm's "passionate love for life and all living things" was translated into the neologism "Bathophilia" – the bath as a retreat for lively moments full of harmony, devotion, and aesthetic enjoyment. With "Bath[o]philia" at the Design Week, Kaldewei is meant to be an intimate sanctuary, an oasis of calm amidst the pulsating center of Milan. Moreover, Kaldewei merged visionary design with sustainability and meditative aspects. As a result, it combined modern luxury with sustainable thinking, pursuing the concept of Luxstainability, coined by Kaldewei itself. Kaldewei's design, thus, followed the motto, of being sustainable yet luxurious, which is reflected in its noble material, KALDEWEI steel enamel. With a unique, sustainable approach, the brand has offered design solutions for bathtubs, showers, and washbasins that give every bathroom sophisticated features.
www.kaldewei.com
Fashion
TOD’S – VENICE LIMITED EDITION
Tod’s recently has launched a limited-edition collection dedicated to Venice, consisting of the iconic Gommino driving shoes and the T Timeless shopping bag, which was introduced during the pre-opening days of the Biennale Arte 2024. This exceptional collection is an example of handcrafted excellence, made from the finest calf leather as well as finished with a special treatment that preserves its natural appearance, enhancing its transparency. The limited edition includes hand-stitched Gommino in both Men's and Women's versions and the T Timeless shopping bag, constructed with overlapping panels of plush leather, lined in suede calf, and closed with double handles. These epitomized luxury handcrafted masterpieces, boasting a strong, refined, and modern style in aligned with the brand’s elegant and classic Italian style. As a tribute to the city of Venice, two new colors have been selected for both models: Tiziano red and deep blue which evoke the colors of the lagoon.
The limited collection will be available for sale from April 19, 2024, exclusively at the new Venice boutique on Calle XXII Marzo and online store.
www.tods.com
Fashion
Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle
Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle Acne Studios comes with an exceptional collaboration in the era of perfumery and art, introducing the new fragrance, named Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle, with Editions de Parfums Frederic Malle, known for its Avant-Garde of perfume. In the intersection of fashion, perfumery, and art, the new creation is a symbol that represents the new chapter of both houses, Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle showcased their shared ambition to create a radically new aesthetic with their essence from photography, architecture, culture, and design.
Drawing on the abundant aesthetic of Acne Studios, Frédéric Malle, the founder of the brand hoped to capture its spirit and reveal its olfactory mirror. In keeping with the spirit, the creator has imagined a neoclassical perfume, both vibrant and comforting, magnetic and radical. Frédéric Malle asked the olfactory prodigy Suzy Le Helley to compose this powerful manifesto: a perfume that would be at the crossroads of the great classics of yesterday and tomorrow. Like a garment cut from a rough material and transformed into a work of art thanks to its technical treatment and design, Frédéric Malle and Suzy Le Helley, faithful to the daring irreverence of Acne Studios, have combined functional and rich materials to achieve the exceptional. To make this unique collaboration happen, Frédéric Malle and Jonny Johansson, founder and creative director of Acne Studios, have always chosen to explore alternative paths, with a multidisciplinary vision of their art, and a steadfast commitment to the principle of absolute creative freedom.
www.acnestudios.com
Fashion
The Golden Ribbon Road
From the world to Palazzo Orsini, Armani unveils its latest Casa collection: Echoes from the World (Echi dal mondo). Inspired by cultures dear to Giorgio Armani, this collection seamlessly blends fashion with design. A captivating voyage across continents and cultures, this collection guides the spectatus through rooms adorned with motifs from Europe, Japan, China, Arabia, and Morocco.
The journey begins by tracing a golden ribbon on the floor, ascending the grand staircases to reach the first floor. Here, the fine decor and 18th-century frescoes of the Palazzo Orsini serve as a prelude, hinting at the impeccable taste and craftsmanship awaiting discovery.
The first stop is the Europe section, where the TROCADERO table and the SOFIA chairs, as well as the new edition of the RIESLING bar cabinet, stand as statements of elegance. Paying homage to Japan, the Samurai armor can be found in the Virtù cabinet, crafted with a katana-inspired handle and tatami-effect interiors. As one arrives in the hall of mirrors, delicate shades of gold and bamboo stalks predominate, reminiscent of China. The VIVACE table, the VENUS console, and the VIRGOLA bookcase are some of the masterpieces showcased in this section. An echo of "Arabian Nights", the CLUB bar cabinet and the VERVE decorative cushions transport us to a new land. Finally, influences from Berber culture inspire the MORFEO bed, the ESAGONO coffee tables and the MIRO multifunctional cabinet.
From the world to Palazzo Orsini, and also to the display windows of the Armani/Casa boutique in Corso Venezia 14, cultural echoes inspire this one-of-a-kind collection. A dialogue between fashion and design, Echoes from the World leaves an indelible mark on the world of luxury.
www.armani.com
Fashion
"Born in Oasi": An ode to nature's beauty
On the occasion of Milan Desing Week, Zegna reveals what had never been told before in an insight into the brand’s original seed.
"Born in Oasi Zegna: The Book" unveils an untold legend, captivating readers of all ages and backgrounds. It transcends time and space, offering immediate connection and entertainment through the timeless medium of a book. This hefty tome indulges the senses with its tactile pages and vibrant visuals, serving as a conduit for legacy and inspiration.
At its core, "Born in Oasi Zegna" embodies the essence of Zegna's ethos, rooted in community, environment, and wellbeing. It traces back to Ermenegildo Zegna's visionary reforestation efforts in the Biella Alps, which birthed Oasi Zegna—a testament to social and environmental stewardship. Indeed, Zegna is involved in a reforestation program imagined to create cohesion and harmony between humans, industry, and nature.
Oasi is a model of social and environmental awareness, dear to the brand that continues the heritage of Ermenegildo Zegna. Thus, Oasi Zegna's influence extends globally, starting with donating green spaces in Milan. This initiative underscores the importance of urban nature in fostering biodiversity and social responsibility.
As the book comes to life during Milan Design Week, it invites exploration and reflection, echoing the cyclical nature of Oasi Zegna itself. Available worldwide, it is a tangible and beautiful embodiment of Zegna's commitment to authenticity and sustainability.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
Dior Men’s B57 low sneakers
First introduced in the Dior Spring 2024 collection, the B57 sneakers revealed its new fresh look in the Fall 2024 collection featuring the low-top silhouette. As a must-have piece of the Dior Fall 2024 collection, the B57 low sneakers grounded Dior’s runway completing the various stylish ensembles with accented bold lines and signature logo play.
Designed by Creative Director Kim Jones, the B57 low sneakers boast their retro charm and combine incomparable elegance with sportiness and fresh lightness. The captivating retro allure symbolized the objects of desire that fused elegance with sportswear, reflecting the virtuoso Savoir-faire of the French house. Crafted in luxurious smooth calfskin, this sneaker boasts several design elements that imbue it with a retro athletic style - including a perforated toe box, a rubber insert, intricate topstitching details as well as the brand's logo jacquard embellishment, featuring the iconic CD emblem that symbolizes the house’s rich heritage. Alongside the striking design, these luxe sneakers embraced suppleness and comfort in their materials. The breathable mesh lining and a cushioned ankle not only enhance comfort but also ensure essential qualities as well as prove itself to be a versatile and stylish choice for everyday wear. Available in several soft color variations– gray, black, beige, pale blue, and midnight blue, the color added a light charming contrast on both its laces and body.
The Dior men’s B57 low sneakers are available in the boutiques and online stores of Dior from March 28, 2024.
www.dior.com
Fashion
United We Stand
The renowned luxury outerwear label Ten c, recently paired with the fashion retailer Antonia. Together, they designed an exclusive collaboration featuring two of the brand's iconic pieces: the Anorak and the Tempest Anorak.
Under the creative direction of Ten c's designer, Alessandro Pungetti, the classic garments have been rethinked using the exquisite OJJ (Original Japanese Jersey) in a versatile monochromatic white. This distinctive fabric is complemented by subtle details such as tone-on-tone buttons, reflective hood strings, and special zippers, elevating the capsule collection to new heights of sophistication.
To add a personalized touch, the jackets feature a reflective print on the back, which includes the coordinates of Antonia's flagship stores in Milan, adding a creative wink to the line.
This partnership between two typically Italian companies has resulted in the creation of exclusive, high-end garments, designed for wearers looking for unique pieces synonymous with Antonia's ethos.
Seamlessly blending Ten c and Antonia’s DNAs, this “Made in Italy” collaboration combines tradition and innovation. Available exclusively at Antonia's Milan stores, and on Antonia and Ten c’s official websites, this limited-edition release promises an interesting fusion of craftsmanship and exclusivity.
www.tenc.com & www.antonia.it
Fashion
MILAN 2024/FW – Ferragamo
MILAN 2024/FW – Ferragamo Since taking on the role of Creative Director at Ferragamo in early 2022, Maximilian Davis has been at the forefront of leading the brand, infusing each collection with anticipation and fresh energy, through his youthful vision that revitalizes the luxury house.
For the Fall/Winter 2024 collection, Davis returned with a captivating show delving into the 1920s theme, emerging as a liberating era that symbolizes self-expression and freedom, bridging a century-old gap with modern flair. From his interpretation, the 1920s represent a celebration of freedom, and his focused exploration of this theme has led him to reimagine Ferragamo's heritage and icons. Revisiting the visual code of the era, he reworked raised hems, fluid fabrics, dropped waists, and relaxed cuts, and transformed the elements into the latest Ferragamo runway that reflects the self-expression of the twenties – on both sides of the century.
Embracing the spirit of androgyny, he has crafted a new wardrobe for women who boldly embrace masculine silhouettes. This reflection is seen in broad shoulders, heavy wool, and supple leathers that add depth to the collection. Sharp, sculptural lapels connote a surrealist spirit, while the distorted proportions further enhance the artistic narrative.
Drawing inspiration from the period of uniforms and utilitarian workwear, such as fishermen's gear like thigh-high waders and leather outerwear, he creates a counterpoint to fluid drapery, softening their forms through fabrications like wool mixed with cashmere for luxurious ease and unlined leathers for a relaxed finesse, ultimately imbuing the collection with fetishistic desirability.
www.ferragamo.com
Fashion
H&M Studio S/S 2024 in Berlin
H&M Studio S/S 2024 H&M has brought forward the latest H&M Studio collection with a captivating exhibition in Berlin, running until March 14th. The launch of the H&M Studio S/S 2024 collection was held at the H&M Mitte Garten store where the brand transformed the space into an immersive environment, reimagining a chic Parisian apartment for Berlin. Tilted "La Maison," this exhibition seamlessly merges a showroom with an archival display, all within an innovative setting at the store. Commencing with an exclusive event on March 11th, Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Giske graced the occasion with a mesmerizing performance, welcoming esteemed guests such as Caro Schäffler, Sabrina Lan, Noah Levi, Sissi Pohle, and Pat Scherzer in Berlin. The immersive exhibition was sophisticatedly crafted with visually captivating settings, emphasizing H&M Studio's avant-garde aesthetic. Infused with H&M's iconic red hue, the venue fostered an electrifying atmosphere across themed rooms decorated with artistic installations that represent both past and current H&M Studio collections. These intense and sensuous installations encouraged visitors to delve deep into the brand's daring narrative. Collaborating with the creative agency Ray Atelier, H&M partnered to conceptualize the exhibition, with the implementation by Reference Studios in Berlin.
The H&M Studio exhibition, La Maison, welcomes the public from March 12th to March 14th at Neue Schönhauser Straße 13, 10178 Berlin. Furthermore, the H&M Studio S/S 2024 collection will be available from March 12th in select stores and online stores.
www.hm.com
Fashion
PARIS 2024/FW – SAINT LAURENT MENSWEAR
Anthony Vacarello created the event by presenting his Menswear show to close the Womenswear PFW, a week after revealing his Women collection.
A few brands had men on the catwalk during this FW, from Miu Miu to Marine Serre, but presenting a Menswear-only show was a real gamble, and Anthony Vacarello pulled it off brilliantly, revealing a successful, timeless collection.
With suit ensembles consisting of double-breasted suits and extra light pants, the silhouettes could have been very classic, but the trouser falls, loose fit, and square shoulders gave them a modern, timelessly chic look. The tailoring was as flou as Yves Saint Laurent knew how to do it, revealing the impressive all-time craftsmanship of the Saint Laurent ateliers.
Anthony Vacarello dresses the man of today while respecting the codes of yesterday, a discreet but genuine tribute to the signature style of the House's founder. The major silhouette of the collection was a thoughtful recreation of Yves Saint Laurent's iconic silhouette, dark suit and black glasses.
Vacarello refuses to let Menswear get sidelined and proves it with this unique Fall-Winter 2024/25 collection, timelessly elegant.
www.ysl.com
Fashion
PARIS 2024/FW – ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Seàn McGirr has presented his first collection for Alexander McQueen in a cinematographic and gloomy décor, setting the tone of his influences.
The first silhouette, a woman camisoled under a shiny black jersey dress, was inspired by the Spring 1995 collection of Lee McQueen, named “The Birds”. McGirr decided that this constrained shape would be the anchor of the entire collection, exploring oppression with different fabrics and accessories, covering mouths and eyes in an atmosphere as cinematic as it is oppressive.
Newly arrived at Alexander McQueen, McGirr said that he did not have time to explore the archives of the brand, which might be the reason why the collection lacked some expected codes from McQueen.
The looks were less performative than what we're used to from McQueen, but at the same time, more street-wise, which is ultimately the essence of ready-to-wear and what could distinguish McGirr's work for the brand in the future.
However, the brand's dissonant, punk heritage was very much in evidence: models disappearing beneath huge knit or fur collars, oversized and plastic dresses, and the silhouettes were cleverly designed. Sean McGirr said that he is forever inspired by marginal individuals, those who don't fit into the mold and are labeled in an attempt to understand them. This is something that the designer has aimed to represent, also, he aimed to create a merely brutal collection, using the emblematic embroidery work of the House differently, notably by smashing crystals to give them a broken, wounded look, reinterpreting McQueen’s codes in a personal way.
The Alexander McQueen Fall-Winter collection speaks of our time, its flaws, and incoherence with the touch of extravagance -assagie but present- for which the brand is renowned.
www.alexandermcqueen.com
Fashion
PARIS 2024/FW – SAINT LAURENT
Anthony Vaccarello presented an unexpected and stunning Fall-Winter 2024/25 Ready-to-Wear collection for Saint Laurent. The tones were warm and oriental, ranging from caramel and olive to brown, ochre, and black, like a reference to the House's heritage and the inspiration that Marrakech represented for Yves Saint Laurent.
Blouses with wise collars, pencil skirts, and fabrics that fall below the knees; it might have seemed like an ultra-classic collection if the outfits hadn't been almost all sheer and the model’s breast, exposed. The collection also featured several monochrome suit silhouettes with exaggerated shoulders and a sumptuous black leather coat.
Earrings and bracelets were oversized as if to compensate for the minimal amount of fabric in the silhouettes, and headbands made of the same transparent material covered the heads.
Furs completed some looks but were often neglectfully worn on the models' arms as an accessory. An amused wink at the thinness of the fabrics used in a collection supposedly designed for the cold season.
Almost entirely built on transparent silhouettes, made from pantyhose-like fabric, this collection is as technical as it is sublime, both in the way it looks and in the message it conveys.
An ephemeral collection, almost impossible to market due to the fragility of the material used. Nevertheless, it's worth noting the technical prowess achieved by Saint Laurent artisans to create this collection. According to the designer, his job “isn’t always to do something that’s real or realistic.”
Then ready-to-wear that’s not wearable? That's the whole point. It was a risky gamble, but in the end, a successful one.
www.ysl.com
Fashion
MILAN 2024/FW – VERSACE
Versace has presented its Fall-Winter 2024/25 collection, once again designed by Donatella Versace.
With spiked hair and heavy eyeliner, the makeover was calling for a punk collection but the looks were not thought of in this way, creating a really interesting contrast. The collection covered Womenswear and Menswear, harmoniously articulated around warm colors and black hues. Pairing dark, exaggerated make-up with wise tweed and drapery, the collection then evolves into darker-toned silhouettes, reaching a deep black.
White collars and tweeds - wise, almost classic - contrasted with fitted silhouettes and sheer fabrics. Mixed with more discreet elements, we noted the brand's emblematic codes: a dress with a slit reaching almost to the waist, bare shoulders, or a décolleté encrusted with crystals, the Versace silhouette is consistently sexy and highly polished. The men's looks feature long coats in brown tones, luxurious leather, and transparency. Silhouettes are fitted and accessorized with short gloves. The use of transparency and drapery is as technical as it is sexy, sublimating all genders in a way that only Versace knows how to do it.
Anne Hathaway, present in the audience, wore a magnificent red leather dress, corseted and sublimely tailored. This hourglass silhouette was one of the catwalk's stars, interpreted through dresses, skirts, and corsets: infinitely Versace.
www.versace.com
Fashion
New Balance x Miu Miu 2024 Campaign
New Balance and Miu Miu are back together for a new collaboration, reinterpreting the iconic design of the New Balance 530 running shoe.
Launched in 1992, the New Balance 530 was originally designed for performance, with a sleek design and luxurious materials like suede, leather, and mesh that quickly made it the go-to shoe for sneaker lovers. Blending this sporty spirit with Miu Miu’s fashionably playful, the collaboration has led to the creation of a new model, called 530 SL, as a reference to the Super Light sole that composes it. The original model was entirely rethought to design a deconstructed yet comfortable shoe.
The 530 SL is available in two versions. The first one, made from distressed suede, features warm and natural hues while the second model is made in black and white from suede and mesh. Thus, the collaboration reveals vintage influences, made modern by designing a stylish shoe that suits every lifestyle.
The faces of the campaign, Peris Adolwi, Julie Hoomans and Florine Wildeboer, embody the freshness of this collaboration, placed under the sign of comfort and style, merging the spirits of Miu Miu and New Balance.
The Collection is now available online and in Miu Miu stores.
www.miumiu.com
www.newbalance.com
Fashion
MILAN 2024/FW - DIESEL
Diesel has just revealed its Fall-Winter 2024 collection, showing both a splendid show and the backgrounds, a part of the story often hushed up by fashion brands. As Glenn Martens, creative director, said: “Diesel is a fashion democracy, it is natural for us to reveal what is usually hidden”.
An interesting idea that was a big hit, indeed by giving access to behind-the-scenes parts of the show 72 hours before it, Diesel gave the public a glimpse of the brand’s secrets.
But the idea reached new heights at the show, indeed the set was a live video call with a thousand people from around the world. A daring concept that shakes up fashion for the better by turning the people behind their screens from spectators into spectacle. But Glenn Martens pushes the vice even further, going as far as to show a model wearing a screen-dress with dozens of faces of strangers printed on it: a fashion statement that's both committed and wildly fashionable.
The Diesel Fall-Winter 2024 Collection features innovative garments and accessories, with burn effects, trompe-l'oeil prints, and overlays.
This collection was impregnated with Diesel heritage, from double-breasted coats and quilted faux-fur jackets to feline-patterned bags. Accessories such as vintage-inspired sunglasses, the new D-sruptor watch, and women's and men's shoes with metallic details completed the collection.
And because a Diesel show wouldn't have the same flavor without it, denim is everywhere, worn on black or leather-like coats and cracked pants.
With Diesel's Fall-Winter 2024 collection, Glenn Martens presented a runway show that was at once conceptual, original, and consistent with the brand's emblematic codes.
www.diesel.com
Fashion
Jackie Notte: The go-to bag for Night Owls
Sabato De Sarno introduces the Jackie Notte, his very first bag creation for Gucci.
With a new silhouette and subtle details, this bag embodies the line’s identity while giving it a special twist, as a reflection of the designer’s style.
Sabato De Sarno reinvents here the vintage sophistication of the Jackie 1961 with a contemporary allure, elevating any look with a statement piece. To design this special bag, the designer found inspiration in Italy so dear to his heart, interpreting it through bold colors and a sophisticated allure.
This model reflects the codes of the iconic collection while giving it a new silhouette and joyful nuances. Made to bring joy and glamour into everyday life, the Jackie Notte elevates any look.
Timeless and glamorous, the Jackie Notte is the perfect addition to any night-out look from a slip-back dress to tailored pants.
Now available worldwide, in Gucci stores network.
www.gucci.com
Fashion
CHANEL opens its first boutique on Fifth Avenue in New York, devoted exclusively to watches and fine jewelry
CHANEL made its debut on New York's famous Fifth Avenue on February 9, 2024.
In a magnificent two-storey store designed by the architect Peter Marino, this boutique devoted entirely to watches and haute jewelry is the first of its kind in the United States.
Inspired by CHANEL's heritage at 18 Place Vendôme in Paris, where the high jewelry atelier and design studios are located, the boutique on Fifth Avenue is a moving tribute to Gabrielle Chanel, representing the designer’s love for art and design through a thoughtful decoration.
Sublimated by the gilded architecture of the historic Crown Builiding, the boutique's façade, adorned with black granite and gold bronze, recalls the emblematic building of 31 rue Cambon. The interior of the boutique is also imbued with this style, with gold and black enhanced by subtle touches of rock. A collection of contemporary art objects, antiques, and custom-made furniture complete the boutique's unique atmosphere.
A spectacular staircase leads to the mezzanine, where artworks by renowned artists such as Louise Nevelson and Anna-Eva Bergman are displayed alongside pieces of high and fine jewelry.
Finally, the collections displayed in the boutique embody the essence of CHANEL, with iconic pieces such as Coco Crush and N°5 Fine Jewelry, as well as watches from the J12 collection. Exclusive creations, such as the Eternal N°5 collection, created in honor of the Fifth Avenue boutique's inauguration, and the breathtaking 55.55 necklace, will also be available to celebrate the boutique's opening.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Chanel Spring-Summer 2024 Haute Couture Collection
Buttons and Ballet - the two defining ingredients behind Chanel’s Spring Summer 2024 Haute Couture Collection. In a mission of discovery to find new ways of telling enchanting stories, the house's Creative Director Virginie Viard recognizes dance as evocative of all emotions she considers close to her heart and as an integral part of Chanel’s DNA. In convergence with a Chanel-characteristic code as the button, old iconographies merge with new tales to sing in harmony. It was no one less than Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel herself who envisioned the button as a symbol of emancipation, allowing women to rid themselves of everything that had prevented them to move freely. The touches of ballet become evident in dazzling lace, tulle skirts or on royal ruffles on collars and sleeves, exuding an Elizabethan glamour. Merging with masculine figures on emblematic suiting silhouettes, the creations give rise to a unique affirmation of a triumphant feminine body. This celebration of feminine philosophies also manifests through sequin, coquette bow or floral patterns, reminding of beautiful bouquets. A century following Gabrielle Chanel’s initial creations for ballet, this haute couture collection, dominated by aquarelle tones of pink and white, draws its tender color accents from the influence of Ballets Russes of Léon Bakst and Sergei Diaghilev. In this couture collection touched by grace and wonderment, the worlds of fashion, theater and music come together, constructing a piece of tangible poetry.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Loro Piana Interiors Presents The 2024 Collection
Loro Piana Interiors presents the 2024 collection at Paris Déco Off, showing an eclectic spectrum of colors, materials, weaves, and textures in a never-ending quest for new components based on a century of experience and ongoing communication with clients. This season, Pure cashmere is transformed into a warm-toned, cozy Tweed for exclusive upholstery; wool and linen blend broadcloths are ideal for curtains or upholstery; and hemp is combined with cotton and jute in a pleasantly nubbly textile. Cotton velvet in 23 shades completes the range. For the outdoors, fabrics in Trevira® are flameproof and weather-resistant, suitable for all occasions and weather while always offering a certain quality and style. But the true highlight of Loro Piana Interiors 2024 is the entire personalized service, which adds distinct elegance and creativity to every area of the home. The classic bespoke services are now complemented by additional customization options for the bedroom, table, bath, and spa zone. Starting with the table, Loro Piana presents linen tablecloths, placemats, runners, and napkins with embroidered openwork, and contrasting borders. In the bathroom, a fresh color palette and a touch of cashmere provide softness and coziness. For the bedroom, a variety of sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers in organic cotton and linen, as well as cotton and cashmere, complement the queen-size cashmere blanket in natural tones and trimmed with cashmere chevron ribbon. The Sils rug is made of New Zealand wool and was hand-woven on looms to bespoke sizes in a variety of color combinations and three designs. In this way, Loro Piana Interiors, creates complete, inimitable interior decoration projects with a harmonious language made up of materials, colors, and elegance. www.loropiana.com
Fashion
ZEGNA Menswear FW24 Collection: Reshaping Matter, Remattering Shape
Transformation. It is the right word to describe the new Menswear FW24 Collection of Zegna. From matter to color, everything changes and evolves. Shapes unfold from existing ones, are superimposed, grow generous and practical pockets, loose sleeves or collars, gain tabs, closures, and drawstrings. The collection shows coats with enveloping volumes, sonic welded duvets, blousons, and vests. Double-collared blazers, collarless anoraks, the new “Il Conte” jacket, and generous trousers. All these elements can be layered and combined in many ways, allowing the individual attitude of the wearer to come through in the form of personal styling. In all of this, the cashmere remains the real star. It is a fiber that belongs to the winter season and that, thanks to its proclivity, can be turned into a wide array of textures and surfaces. An ever-changing material. With this collection, Zegna offers a reshaping of matter and a re-mattering of shapes, allowing for an organic evolution that grows and morphs season after season. www.zegna.com
Fashion
Saint Laurent's new boutique in Courchevel
Saint Laurent has opened the doors of a new boutique in Courchevel, France. Nestled amidst the snow-capped peaks of the alps, this exclusive store adds a touch of glamour to the ski resort. The boutique’s design mirrors the sophistication and modernity synonymous with Saint Laurent as well as the alpine atmosphere of its environments with unique vintage furniture and mountain items such as snowboards and skis, creating a unique shopping experience for fashion enthusiasts visiting this glamorous mountain resort. Stone facades encounter chalet-styles constructions, emblematic of the codes of Saint Laurent’s new design concept. The vision was architected by Saint Laurent’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello, resulting in a marriage of modern elegance and rustic charm. As a refuge from the cold weather of the Courchevel’s Winter Wonderland, the boutique is infused with comforting warmth through large curtains in the shades of beige and grey. From now the boutique invite’s alpine adventurers to immerse themselves in avant–garde women’s ready to wear and iconic accessory collection. The Saint Laurent boutique in Courchevel, envisioned by Anthony Vaccarello, emerges as a beacon of style in the heart of this exclusive winter haven, where fashion and alpine allure converge.
www.saintlaurent.com
Fashion
Dior x Otani Workshop Capsule
Dior reveals its latest exclusive capsule collection Dior & Otani Workshop. The house’s creative director Kim Jones and the Japanese sculptor Otani converged on their passion for creating unique art pieces, resulting in a truly avant-garde menswear collection. Onami, one of the leading figures in Japanese contemporary art, gave birth to a joyful green monster of the name Tanilla, who shall grace this collection's pieces with its cheeky grin. Tanilla finds a new home in the smart-casual allure of Dior’s refined pieces, whether in an oversized version on sweaters or by boldly peeking out of the breast pocket of short-sleeved t-shirts, the monster adds a young and playful spirit to Dior’s tasteful garments. The motif also appears on sporty bombers, as well as on bold denim overshirts. Emblematic of this fruitful collaboration, Tamilla is emblazoned on a stylized scribbled adaption of the “Dior” lettering, which adorns both hooded sweatshirts and pouches with functional shoulder straps. Otani’s Tanilla adds on to Dior’s characteristic signifiers, including the Dior Oblique Toile, which manifests in vibrant burgundy and pink shades. The garments feature a palette dominated by reds, a color close to couturier Dior’s heart, who coined it the “color of life” in his petit dictionnaire de la mode. Otani is widely praised for his off-kilter playful ceramic works and admirable mastery of traditional techniques, which he has fused into this one of a kind collaboration with Dior. The collection is on display in Dior boutiques since January 4th, 2024.
www.dior.com
Fashion
A Miu Miu Holiday
In a celebration of intimacy, elegance, and charm, Miu Miu unveils its Holiday Gifting Collection, a manifestation of beauty reconsidered for the multifaceted lives of today. The star-studded campaign featuring actor Emma Corrin invites us into a private space, the filmic environment, draped in soft carpet and adorned with precious antiques. It sets the stage for a wardrobe that is both layered and meaningful. Miu Miu's Holiday collection introduces fluid black cady, shearling, and tactile tweeds, evoking archetypically sophisticated dress codes with renewed significance. Glossed leathers, soft cashmere, and jersey fabrics offer freedom of movement and effortless allure. The collaboration with Marshall brings forth an iconic line of products, while the partnership with Polaroid introduces cameras complete with branded web camera straps. For the festive season, Miu Miu Holiday Gifting offers a range of ready-to-wear and accessories designed to cater to all occasions. Signature skirt suits, glossed leather pieces, and cashmere cardigans are adorned with instantly recognizable elasticated Miu Miu branding, creating a perfect blend of glamour and sportswear-inspired trims. This Holiday Collection not only celebrates the glamour and elegance of the past but also embraces a contemporary and highly individual spirit.
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
ZEGNA Now in Saint Moritz
In a grand stride towards alpine elegance, ZEGNA, the trailblazing luxury menswear brand, has opened a new store in the Swiss haven of Saint Moritz. Nestled on Via Serlas, this 75m2 boutique stands as a testament to the brand's reinvention under the artistic helm of Alessandro Sartori. Channelling a 'mountain resort' ambience, the store introduces patrons to ZEGNA's meticulously curated Luxury Leisurewear and Luxury Outdoor collections. Embracing the open-air ethos of Saint Moritz, these wardrobes showcase the perfect fusion of style and functionality. The spotlight, however, falls on the Triple Stitch Vetta—the crown jewel of ZEGNA's iconic Triple Stitch lineage. Named after the Italian word for 'peak,' these shoes encapsulate the spirit of the Alpine landscape that connects Saint Moritz with Oasi Zegna in northern Italy. Crafted from deerskin and suede, and boasting an innovative Vibram Arctic Grip Sole, the Triple Stitch Vetta is a stylish companion for both mountain terrains and urban landscapes. A nod to sustainability comes through the Oasi Cashmere featured in the Luxury Outdoor collection, with ZEGNA's commitment to certifying the fibres as 100% traceable by 2024. The colour palette mirrors the earthy tones of the natural world, creating a collection that is both stylish and environmentally conscious. The Saint Moritz store encapsulates the brand's dynamic strategy, offering patrons a glimpse into the future of ZEGNA's Luxury Leisurewear and Luxury Outdoor collections.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
Dior Cruise Pop-Up Kitzbühel
In a fusion of fashion and nature, Dior unveiled its Cruise 2024 collection in an enchanting pop-up store nestled in the heart of Kitzbühel, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the Alps. The store, open until the end of February 2024, transports visitors into a realm of sophistication and charm. The design of the pop-up store mirrors the naturalness of wood and the purity of white, paying homage to the Alpine landscape. Golden butterflies, symbolizing the art of metamorphosis, dance gracefully across the walls and floor, creating a poetic atmosphere that perfectly complements the exquisite Dior Cruise 2024 collection. The collection itself is a celebration of dreams, featuring long skirts, refined knitwear, silk blouses, and elegant carrés. The unique Dior Book Tote and the new Miss Dior bags add an element of magic to the fashion experience, inviting patrons to immerse themselves in the allure of high-end design. Dior Pop-Up in Kitzbühel, located at Hinterstadt 15, welcomes visitors from Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. This limited-time experience signifies a significant focus for Dior, emphasizing the brand's commitment to creating memorable and immersive encounters with its iconic collections.
www.dior.com
Fashion
The DiorAlps Capsule
As winter approaches, Dior unveils a breathtaking capsule to the enchanting allure of the mountains with its latest DiorAlps line, curated by the visionary Maria Grazia Chiuri. This exceptional collection, inspired by the House's recent shows, seamlessly marries couture-style creations with high technicity, presenting a unique fusion of fashion and function for the snowy slopes. The DiorAlps line features an array of winter essentials, from puffers and jackets to après-ski boots and the iconic Dior Book Tote, all adorned with the mesmerizing Plan de Paris print. Crafted by the Creative Director herself, this print intricately maps the City of Light, creating a hypnotic interplay of shadows and perspectives. Ski goggles with a bold "Christian Dior" strap and the iconic Dior Oblique further elevate the collection's aesthetic appeal. The pants, available in creamy neutrals or classic black, include knee reinforcements for optimal comfort in all circumstances. The Diorunion capsule's signature coat of arms is embellished with the powerful motto "L’union fait la force." This capsule promises a winter wardrobe that transcends traditional boundaries, offering a daring yet refined look for those who seek style, excellence, and innovation in every winter adventure.
www.dior.com
Art
GRAU unveils Salt: A lamp designed for well-being
The light-design studio GRAU unveils its latest creation, Salt. The sculptural luminaire Salt captured the broad light spectrum of a sunset and is ready to bring its soothing rays into just about every home. Salt stands as the first mobile lamp that is exclusively designed for mental and physical well-being. As a reimagination of its predecessor Salt & Pepper, the luminaire features a novel holistic design and simulates the full spectrum of a romantic sunset from bright afternoon light (2700K) to the glowy atmosphere of a late summer evening (1300K), replicating a sunset’s warm and soothing embrace to naturally stimulate the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Apart from the options of choosing between hues from reaching from a warm sunset orange light, a golden light, to a versatile neutral light, the relaxing glow can be dimmed and brightened to the user’s liking through the magic button on Salt’s underside. To harness the whole magic of the lamp's ability to stimulate melatonin production, Salt also features the active sleep program Sunset Sleep. Simulating the serene experience of slowly wandering off to sleep under a fiery sunset sky, the luminous sculpture gradually dims its light in the span of 30 minutes - completely automatically. In a sleek yet holistic design, the smart mobile light features an aluminum body with an ultra-touch sensitive head and a lampshade in a matte finish, creating sun rays that reach even into the furthest corners of the ceiling. Finished off with a powder-skin surface, GRAU’s Salt is not just a mobile well-being lamp but also an alluring sculpture that can accompany you just about anywhere. www.grau.art
Fashion
Breitling’s Avenger Collection
For more than two decades, Breitling's Avenger has soared through the skies as a symbol of precision, durability, and unparalleled design. The new Avenger collection, recently announced in a press release by CEO Georges Kern, is set to redefine aviation watches with its elegant detailing, wear-resistant materials, and the formidable Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 in the chronograph models. The watch pays homage to the brand's pioneering HUIT Aviation Department, which crafted precision instruments for aviation and pilot chronographs. The collection, available in three versions - 44mm Chronograph, Automatic GMT 44mm, and Automatic 42mm - promises not just style but substance. The Avenger B01 Chronograph 44 and Night Mission, powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01, boast a 70-hour power reserve, a five-year warranty, and COSC certification. The bold design choices, including coloured dials and a stainless steel rotating bezel, make a statement both in and out of the cockpit. The Avenger Automatic GMT 44, tailored for pilots and frequent travellers, features a red GMT hand for easy Zulu time reading. With a steel case and a choice of dials, it's a compact companion for globetrotters. The Avenger Automatic 42, a well-balanced timepiece in a 42mm diameter, offers robustness in a compact form. Its COSC-certified mechanical automatic movement ensures precision, while design options cater to varied tastes. The Avenger can withstand the toughest conditions in the cockpit and never backs down. The redesigned collection is not just a watch; it's a statement, ready for action-packed adventures in the sky.
www.breitling.com
Fashion
ZEGNA X Real Madrid
In a seamless fusion of Italian Luxury and sports spirit, ZEGNA, the eminent menswear house with a heritage dating back to 1910, proudly continues its exclusive partnership with Real Madrid, the iconic football club that has been dominating the pitch since 1902. With the motto “Every king needs a tailor,” the collaboration between these two reinforced their shared values and commitment to surpassing limits. As the Official Luxury Travelwear Wear Partner for the 2023-2024 season, ZEGNA will dress both the football and basketball first team of Real Madrid in exclusive outfits tailored to perfection. The first Champions League Trip of the Season unveils their new wardrobe, showcasing ZEGNA’s ALBA Overshirt, GHIACCIO Blouson in Oasi Cashmere, jogger bottoms, crewneck, and the latest version of the Triple StitchTM shoes. The made-to-measure collection, goes beyond fashion, extending into a commitment to excellence, hard work, societal responsibility, and a continuous pursuit of new frontiers, blending the heritage of both brands. It is now available in selected ZEGNA boutiques globally. ZEGNA and Real Madrid, with their respective championships in luxury menswear and on the football pitch, epitomize the idea that success is not just about the destination but also the journey.
www.zegna.com
Art
Kaldewei X Bethan Laura Wood
Kaldewei unveils the captivating "Avocado Dreams" collection by renowned British designer Bethan Laura Wood, in a bold fusion of design and functionality. Transforming four iconic pieces from Kaldewei's repertoire, Wood infuses her distinctive style into the Meisterstück Oyo Duo bathtub, Meisterstück Centro Duo Oval freestanding bathtub, Superplan Zero floor-level shower surface, and Miena washbasin bowl. Wood draws inspiration from the organic contours of the Meisterstück Oyo Duo, creating three mesmerising patterns and colour variations: "Avocado Swirl" in green tones, "Avocado Sea" in blue/purple tones, and the expressive "Avocado Disco." Each piece retains the characteristic lines of Kaldewei's bathroom objects while taking on a psychedelic and dramatic metamorphosis. The Oyo Duo bathtub, with its double-walled construction inspired by Japanese porcelain, stands as a sustainable masterpiece in the collection. The Meisterstück Centro Duo Oval, born from Kaldewei's collaboration with Ettore Sottsass, receives a fresh burst of "Avocado Swirl," adding another layer of artistic depth. Wood's creative touch extends to the Miena washbasin bowls, where purist design meets a filigree touch, adorned with the extraordinary patterns of "Avocado Dreams." The Superplan Zero floor-level shower surface, characterised by elegant lines, takes on the lively "Avocado Sea" interpretation, promising an exhilarating shower experience. Beyond their artistic allure, these Kaldewei products share a commitment to sustainability—they are plastic-free and made of 100 percent recyclable steel enamel, fitting seamlessly into Kaldewei's Lustainability® world. The "Avocado Dreams" collection is a testament to the marriage of art, luxury, and environmental consciousness in the realm of bathroom design.
www.kaldewei.com
Fashion
Hublot’s New Classic Fusion High Jewellery
Hublot’s iconic design and highest-quality craftsmanship combine in the Classic Fusion High Jewellery, a unique stunning piece. The Swiss manufacturer is proud to launch its latest creation, embezzled with diamonds on its case, bezel, dial and clasp. The dazzling watch, made of 431 baguette-cut diamonds, is the latest attrition to Hublot’s High Jewellery collection of watches. The watch features a 42mm dial in white gold, and offers a power reserve of more than 50 hours. This new addition to the Hublot family, effortlessly joins all the other watches of the High Jewellery collection, and takes its own place alongside other precious models such as the Big Bang, the Spirit of Big Bang and the Square Bang Unico. What distinguishes and renders unique the Classic Fusion High Jewellery are its embellishments: sleek lines og white gold that make this new piece a true Hublot icon. The Classic Fusion High Jewellry stands as proof that sophistication lies in simplicity, in the high quality of the craftsmanship, and in the refined details that highlight the beauty of this watch, which is created taking as inspiration the original 1980s shape. The final result represents the highest expression of fine jewelry, and accentuates the elegant, timeless purity of the classic Hublot Fusion model.
www.hublot.com
Art
Hublot Design Prize 2023
Hublot, the renowned Swiss luxury watchmaker, recently held the prestigious Hublot Design Prize award ceremony at the new extension of the Kunsthaus Zurich on October 2nd. Since its inception in 2015, the international competition has recognized and celebrated original design, with a focus on designers under 40, spanning diverse realms of creative expression. This year's ceremony witnessed the spotlight on two exceptional talents. The Hublot Design Prize 2023 was awarded to Aqui Thami, whose fluid multidisciplinary practice encompasses graphic and social design, art, and performance. The jury commended Aqui for her deep activist engagement, evident in every aspect of her work, showcasing a profound social impact and inspirational approach. The Pierre Keller Prize found its deserving recipient in Gabriel Fontana, lauded for his innovative use of sport as a catalyst for redefining societal roles and norms. Fontana's work aims to create a positive impact, challenging preconceived notions of identity and inclusion. His exploration extends to developing non-stigmatizing clothing for sports and community activities. The Hublot Design Prize serves not only as a recognition of exceptional talent but also as a springboard for young designers' careers. The ceremony at Kunsthaus Zurich brought together the six finalists, the esteemed jury, and an invited audience, marking another milestone in the ongoing commitment to celebrate and foster creativity on a global scale.
www.hublot.com
Fashion
Paris Fashion Week - Dior
Maria Grazia Chiuri, the creative force behind Christian Dior, delves into the intricacies of time and feminism in her SS24 collection, seamlessly weaving together past, present, and future. In a collaboration typical of Dior's visionary approach, Chiuri joins forces with artist Elena Bellantoni in designing the show’s space. ‘NOT HER’, the video installation covering the walls in an electric mix of pink and yellow, is unmissable. The 7-meter-high LED screens respond to sexist advertisements with counterpoint phrases challenging the dominant stereotype. From the neon pink and yellow hues to the dark, Parisian neo-grunge vibes on the runway, Chiuri's vision is a powerful statement against the conventional norms of fashion. The collection draws inspiration from iconic women rebels like Ingrid Bergman and Maria Callas, bringing a sense of empowerment to the designs. Opening with a statement of black lace gowns, metallic knitwear and bewitching accessories, all elements converge to create a spellbinding visual journey. Witches as custodians become emblematic figures in this narrative—symbols of feminine strength and independence. The Middle Ages provide a historical backdrop, interpreted in an abstract and contemporary manner. Prints and embroideries draw inspiration from the celestial, featuring phases of the moon, suns heralding seasons, medicinal herbs, and fantastical animals. A modern twist acknowledging Dior's historical Bar jacket and '50s haute couture, the iconic jacket is transformed with eased waists and frayed hems, and the pleated New Look circle skirt is disrupted with leg-flashing slits and bold prints. Chiuri rejects the notion that collections must adhere to a single reference: beyond being a showcase of fashion, they hold the duty to empower women. SS24 reflects the need for fashion to be relatable, the exploration of feminism through time and the rebellious spirit of witches, offering a wardrobe that allows the personalization of style.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Paris Fashion Week - Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent presented its SS24 collection at Paris Fashion Week on September 26th, 2023. The collection, designed under the creative direction of Anthony Vaccarello, was showcased in a gigantic architectural construct built for the occasion, with a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. For this season, the unexpected move of Vaccarello was to strip everything back. He declared that his goal was to bring everything back to its simplistic form, without overcomplicated pieces or exaggerated silhouettes. Indeed, this clean canvas marks a new chapter in the history of Saint Laurent. Cotton as a material dominated the Maison’s runway in every way possible, from shirts to evening dresses. The main inspiration behind the collection is the “Saharien” jacket, a concept that Yves Saint Laurent brought back from his North African upbringing and with which he revolutionized Parisian fashion in 1967. Despite its simplicity, the collection is definitely not humble: every piece radiates the fierce, put-together Parisian glamour which in the years has come to represent the brand. Every outfit was completed by 80s-inspired maquillage, voluminous hair, and gold jewelry. The whole collection brings back the idea of a simple, stripped-back elegance that exalts the wearer and captivates.
www.ysl.com
Fashion
Milan Fashion Week - Ferrari
Ferrari unveiled its SS24 collection at Teatro Alcione during Milan Fashion Week, focusing on the power of desire. Connecting to the strength and the passion that has always driven Ferrari, the collection focuses on the unconditional passion and the continuous dedication that traces the contour of the legendary brand. The collection is built around a sentiment that constantly strives for excellence and elegance, be it in design, performance, or innovation. Ferrari’s Creative Director Rocco Iannone leans towards a new dimension of complex simplification, focusing on feelings that guide the path to emotions, resulting in a collection that exudes Ferrari’s powerful allure through fashion. The brand’s style codes, racing, workwear, and tailoring, are filtered through the creative director’s lens putting the body and its silhouette at the center stage. The silhouettes are carved, molded, and exaggerated through volumes and sharp lines, which also contribute to the dynamic feel of the garments. Iannone goes to the core of forms and materials, de-saturating colors to emphasize the shapes. Through tightness and voluptuousness, a new language of the body is born as a symbol and the expression of the brand’s perpetual desire to create, innovate, and communicating the passion that drives it.
www.ferrari.com
Fashion
Milan Fashion Week - Armani
Armani’s SS24 Women’s collection pays homage to summer as a condition of the spirit. The lightness of thought and echoes of an otherworldly essence imbue the garments and the outfits of the collection. The spirit behind Armani’s clothing for SS24 is playful, feminine, and ethereal. It is a thought picked up along the journey and caught in the air, which materializes in items made with light and breezy materials. A radiance and an all-pervasive breeze are what make this collection unique, through weightless fabrics that are discreetly illuminated by touches of iridescent elements, lightly embroidered and interwoven to create an impalpable sensation. The body and its shapes take center stage, thanks to flowing jackets modeled to the bust, and shirts and crop tops that reveal hints of skin. The trousers flow with the silhouette, and the skirts are long and ample, meant to emphasize each step. These outfits are accompanied by flat shoes and breezy foulards; the bags are in stark contrast with the clothing, minimal yet capacious. The color palette reflects the etherealness of the whole collection with warm beiges, deep blacks, and cool hues that match together perfectly to create a collection that is an ode to feminine etherealness.
www.armani.com
Fashion
Milan Fashion Week - Diesel
The Diesel fashion show, held on September 20th at the Milan Fashion Week presenting the brand’s SS24 collection, was an ode to the brand’s creative spirit. The brand’s newest collection takes as its main inspiration partying and letting loose. One’s truly authentic self and the beauty of freedom are reflected in the garments of the collection and in the attention and care that went into the fashion show. The main pillars of the collection are impact, experimentation, play, and pleasure. Diesel hits the nail on all these characteristics, presenting a unique collection that showcases once again the creative spirit and ability of the brand’s creative director, Glenn Martens. The brand’s love for denim, pop, and artisanal craftsmanship is pushed to the limits with unique distressing effects on every garment, devoré denim, and floral prints. Utility pieces feature zip-up denim and cargo pockets held together by straps, adding an edgier side to the pieces. Through this collection, the House of Diesel once again confirms its ability to surprise, engage, and innovate. Every garment and outfit is a pop culture statement, staying true to the brand’s pillars and yet always innovative. The feel of the collection is that of a fading film poster, nostalgic yet always relevant and reflective of pop culture.
www.diesel.com
Fashion
Valentino Black Tie Campaign
The Italian maison Valentino presents its new Black Tie advertising campaign. The brand’s concept is centered around the description and the codification of a style, not simply a dress code. The face of the campaign is American actress and top model Kaia Gerber, who with her effortless beauty and impeccable style perfectly embodies the character and personality of Valentino’s Black Tie campaign, which represents the universal language of fashion. The campaign was shot by Steven Meisel at Oheka Castle in New York, a place that symbolizes the Maison’s attention towards timeless fashion and style that is perennially elegant. Through Valentino’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, the black tie is reclaimed as a symbol of self-expression, which, from its traditional association with formal menswear, becomes a versatile and outspoken piece. In Valentino’s campaign, the black tie stands for individual representation and the breaking of solidified boundaries that are reclaimed, and thus hold a different, stronger power. The reinterpretation of the black tie as an element and as a symbol represents a shift towards inclusivity and diversity, imbuing this classic symbol with new meanings. The campaign perfectly represents the shift between past and future, maintaining elegance while at the same time gracefully embracing what is to come.
www.valentino.com
Fashion
C.P. Company’s FW23 Campaign
C.P. Company once again develops the project started for its 50th anniversary in 2021 featuring a history of Italian sportswear. For its FW23 campaign, the brand renowned for its outerwear features four people photographed by Neil Bedford. C.P. Company’s campaign features Hee Choi, vice president of GF Fashion in Seul, Milo Cuki, a London-based model, Cheb Moha, an artist from Dubai, and finally a special guest, Sergio Pizzorno, a London-based young musician and leader of the British band Kasabian who shot for the campaign alongside his father. The people featured in the campaign come from different cultural backgrounds and have had different experiences throughout their lives; they are from different ages, genders, and interests. At the same time, they are brought together by wearing, buying, and selling C.P. Company, and for having intersected it with experiences of cultural interest. The four talents interpret C.P. Company's seasonal looks through the lens of their style, representing the brand’s unique ability to use the materiality of clothing as a form of expression, intertwining their personal story with the company’s vision. With this campaign, C.P. Company unveils the versatility of its materials and the possibility of self-expression that it offers, perfectly representing the brand’s commitment to uniqueness and innovation.
www.cpcompany.com
Fashion
Oris X Bracenet
Oris, the Swiss watchmaker, has revealed an exciting collaboration with Bracenet. It is a social enterprise through upcycled creation, transforming discarded ghost fishing nets into accessories. This innovative venture led to the creation of stunning watch dials, a special-edition version of the Aquis Date diver’s watch. Their revolutionary partnership commenced with a recognition of the ecological concerns stemming from abandoned ghost nets in the oceans. The outcome, according to ocean experts, unveiled an annual influx of approximately one million tons of fishing nets into the seas. Therefore, the ghost nets continue to trap and endanger marine life as they linger in the water. As a result, their ongoing efforts led to the stunning collaboration to create a new Oribis watch that features a spectacular dial made of recycled ghosts and end-of-life nets. Crafted in these vibrant kaleidoscopic dials, it has a remarkable color accent where the pure green gently blends with blue and white as they fuse into the raw material. Moreover, every dial has a unique look due to its unique production process. Alongside its sophisticated look, the material is entirely devoid of additives, fillers, or adhesives. All in all, every delicate detail collectively represents a cool, unique appearance, making a perfect statement. Available in two stainless steel versions, there is one with a 43.50 mm case and the other with a 36.50 mm case. Both models have automatic mechanical movements and uni-directional rotating bezels and are water-resistant to 30 bar (300 meters).www.oris.ch bracenet.net
Fashion
The Future’s not Ours - Jodee Knowles’ Newest Exhibition
The internationally celebrated Australian artist from Perth is returning to her hometown with an exhibition titled The Future’s not Ours, which marks the artist’s first solo exhibition at Kamile Gallery. The showing features 15 pieces, each offering a different take on the human experience. The exhibition, true to the artist’s signature thought-provoking style that focuses on the human condition and emotions, explores profound themes connected to spirituality, identity, and life experience. Societal norms and perceptions are continuously challenged throughout the works in the exhibition, which delve into the otherworldly realm. Through Knowles’ unique perspective on deep societal topics, viewers are invited to question their perception of themselves and others in search of acceptance in the multidimensional reality brought to life by the artist’s works. Our lifelong quest for identity in today’s world is at the core of the artworks, explored through different dimensions that lead the viewer to contemplate their own life journey. One element brought up throughout the exhibition is the concept of masks, both visual and metaphorical, that we wear every day to appear in society. The Future’s not Ours represents another achievement in Jodee Knowles’ artistic and philosophical journey. Jodee’s exhibition will be inaugurated at 6PM on August 25th at Kamile Gallery in Perth.
www.jodeeknowels.tumblr.com
Fashion
New PHANTOM Perfume by Rabanne
Following the creation in 2021 of PHANTOM Eau de Toilette, Rabanne now releases a more intense version: PHANTOM Eau de Perfume. The original PHANTOM represented a new era in the history of men’s luxury perfumes, characterized by its masculinity and encouraging men to be the boldest version of themselves. The PHANTOM perfume represents a new chapter in this narrative, aiming to inspire the new generation. It is a dark fragrance, meant to reveal all mysterious aspects of masculinity and exalt them, and this is exactly what makes it such a seductive scent. This fragrance is inspired by a night out in the captivating city of Paris, by its dark scenery and exhilarating scene. The PHANTOM man follows his instincts and lets himself be guided by his emotions, leading to a seductive mysteriousness. Actor and musician Charlie Heaton is the embodiment of PHANTOM’s spirit through his compelling personality and mysterious and attractive aura. Charlie Heaton has thus become Rabanne’s global ambassador for PHANTOM’s campaign, perfectly representing the essence of the perfume. The fragrance is crafted from prestigious and ethically sourced ingredients, created by the world-renowned perfumers Juliette Karagueuzoglou, Anne Flipo, and Dominique Ropion. To its core, Rabanne’s PHANTOM Eau de Perfume is an ode to modern masculinity and its mysteriousness, boosting an irresistible aura around whoever wears it.
www.rabanne.com
Fashion
FENDI’s 2023 Chinese Valentine’s Day Capsule Collection
FENDI celebrates love with a romantic color palette with pastel hues in its 2023 Chinese Valentine’s Day Capsule Collection. The limited edition collection comprises joyful, fun, and romantic attire with ready-to-wear pieces such as bags, shoes, and accessories. The women’s collection conveys a playful attitude through a reinterpretation of the multicolor iconic FF logo, which made its first appearance on a baguette bag in the SS09 collection. In this women’s collection, the logo appears in different formats on multiple items, such as a doodle version of the FENDI mirror logo printed on a cropped shirt and a matching asymmetrical skirt. The juxtaposition of different tones also contributes to the fun and playful feeling of the collection. Since the brand owes its iconicity to its bags, this collection features a multicolor pattern on a selection of bags in embroidered canvas or printed leather, as well as on matching accessories such as foulards and headbands. For menswear, the pattern is reinterpreted in tones such as lilac, pink, orange, yellow, and navy blue. Geometric patterns can be found on the iconic Astuccio bag and on T-shirts, which also feature graphic designs. Overall, both the men’s and the women’s collection has a playful yet sophisticated energy that perfectly captures FENDI’s elegant feeling through colorful tones.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Berlin Fashion Week - Fassbender
“Original” is the provocative title of Fassbender’s SS24 collection presented at the Berlin Fashion Week 2023. The collection indeed plays with the meaning of the word “original,” which stands for both the real thing that already exists and something completely new. The Hamburg-based label, formed by Christina Fassbender and Matthias Louwen, combines elegant and sophisticated tailoring with comfort and functionality, resulting in a unique style that appears effortless in its complexity. The brand was founded in 2017 alongside Christina’s brother, Sebastian Steinhoff. With a strong focus on sustainability, the brand uses the most innovative techniques and findings to ensure that its garments are made sustainably throughout the process without compromising style and affordability. Fassbender believes in a solid circular economy, contributing to the well-being of nature and living beings. The garments manufactured in Europe are made to adapt to a constantly evolving wardrobe: they are versatile and wearable on multiple occasions. Fassbender’s passion for innovation is evident in their interest in using AI in fashion design, something the brand’s creatives are eager to integrate into their process. One of the brand’s goals is to draw attention to the work of craftsmanship that takes place behind the scenes of every collection. The care that goes into crafting each garment is part of the sustainability behind the brand, which poses itself in direct contraposition to the culture of fast fashion, emphasizing the timelessness of their clothing.
www.myfassbender.com
Fashion
Berlin Fashion Week - Richert Beil
The concept of gender is challenged in Richert Beil’s new collection, presented at the Berlin Fashion Week 2023. The setting of the fashion show was an old supermarket, where designers were allowed to set up their scenery. Beil’s new collection, titled “Vater, Unser,” defies the traditional societal norm that sees men as the preferred gender. This collection indeed aims to deconstruct men’s wardrobes, thus challenging classical notions of beauty and elegance. Through their collections, the two designers and founders of the brand, Jale Richert and Michele Beil, aim to challenge gender stereotypes and aesthetics. Richert Beil draws inspiration from multiple sources, such as the craft itself or the materials used in their collection. Its primary source of inspiration, though, comes from traditional German textiles, sewings, and finishing techniques, thus paying homage to the heritage of the two designers. Another influence on the brand comes from the interviews that the designers regularly conduct with people from their diverse community to get a better grasp on what is generally expected from today’s fashion and to integrate different emotions and aspirations into their creations. Finally, with its diversity of backgrounds, the city of Berlin constitutes the perfect hub for Richert Beil’s brand to grow and develop. The designers are mainly interested in the city's history of activism, its thriving cultural and artistic scene, and the openness and acceptance that characterizes it.
www.richertbeil.com
Fashion
An Archaic Past is Revived in Dior’s FW23/24 Collection
Maria Grazia Chiuri presented Dior’s FW23/24 Haute Couture Collection in the afternoon of July 3rd. The collection is constructed around the idea of time, reflecting the care that is put into creating couture. The past is integrated into the present: the sketched form is immediately translated onto the dress without making use of any paper patterns. The forms are simple, morphed into archetypal sartorial elements such as the peplum, the tunic, or the cape. Maria Grazia Chiuri has worked on the collection presentation with the artist Marta Roberti, transforming the catwalk into an art gallery that evokes archaic artistic elements such as goddesses and animals. The artist assembles these elements to represent myths of a distant world where the female figure was revered above all else. The Mediterranean region is a reference point, as the ancient cultures in those areas produced the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic images present in Roberti’s art for the Dior fashion show. The models' composition recalls divinities through a vertical silhouette and flat shoes. The main colors are white, beige, silver, and pale gold, with coats evoking the shape of classical statues. The shimmery dresses are intertwined with pearls, symbolizing purity. Overall, the presentation of this collection aims to represent the strength and fragility of femininity through the cult of goddesses, enhancing sensitivity and attention to detail.
www.dior.com
Fashion
“Get Ready for Cozy Season” with OCCHIO’s New Lighting
At the heart of OCCHIO’s brand is the “joy of use” of its innovative products and a desire to instill a new culture of light. The company, born in 1999 thanks to Axel Meise, aims to design living spaces through lighting, making it possible to adapt rooms to every situation. The German brand has been a leader in the luxury lifestyle sector for more than 20 years, and it has now come out with a collection of lighting products tailored for the colder season. With the weather getting colder, it is natural to want to feel more comfortable in one’s home. OCCHIO’s lighting aims to deliver that cozy feeling and feel-good atmosphere through lights that can be adjusted to different moods and situations. The collection creates cozy light zones for reading, eating, or relaxing during the colder months. The Gioia lighting series, which has received this year's IF Design Award, is versatile and adaptable to every situation. It can be combined with the Gioia Lettura for a comfortable and enhanced reading experience, with the possibility of adjusting the direction and light intensity. The unique flexibility of the Gioia allows it to turn 360°. OCCHIO’s classic reading lighting, the Sento Lettura, allows for coziness and concentration while reading through an adaptable arm available in two lengths.
www.occhio.com
Fashion
EBEL Launches the Sport Classic Luscious Red
The functional retro design of the Ebel Sport Classic is now made into two new editions in luscious red. The new models have launched in April 2023, of which one is a limited edition. The Ebel Sport Classic is a versatile model that can be worn both elegantly and sportily and perfectly embodies the brand’s passion for innovation and excellence in watch design. With these new models, the brand reiterates its connection with tennis, which first took place in the 1980s through a collaboration with great tennis players of the time. The new classic editions feature a luscious red dial in EBEL’s iconic hexagonal shape with rhodium-plated Roman numerals. Attention to detail is a defining feature of the brand, and it is noticeable in the Sport Classic model in the retro touches added to its design, such as the brushed and polished stainless steel detailing. The limited edition also displays a net motif on the dial and is only available in 50 pieces. The bracelet is comfortable, with the brand’s signature curved wave links and folding clasp. EBEL’s Sport Classic Lady Tennis models are the perfect balance between elegance and comfort, targeted toward women leading active lives. EBEL is also an official partner of the Ladies Open Lausanne, the Bad Homburg Open, the ELLE Spirit Open Montreux, and the Hamburg European Open 2023.
www.ebel.com
Fashion
The Gentlemen’s Crystals are Blood Red
Fashion, at its core, is a waltz choreographed by the different essences established by Maison’s different aesthetic codes and principles. This waltz, with a diverse range of silhouettes, energies, and colors characterizes the DNA of the Haute Couture House Dior. The Creative Director of Dior Men’s, Kim Jones, draws inspiration and pays homage to beloved iconographic elements in the grand world of Haute Couture, from the silhouettes of Yves Saint Laurent to the embroideries of Gianfranco Ferré; the cabochons of Monsieur Dior to the textures of Marc Bohan.
Garments are imbued with playful femininity, slim-fitting suits adorned with ephemeral crystals resembling a transitory rainbow, patterns that accentuate the personality of the individual wearing the garments, and accessories that deconstructed preconceived notions of the divine masculine.
Kim Jones orchestrates a flirtatious pairing between the expected practicality of male tailoring and pop excess; producing an infusion of a sense of crisp, playful modernity, practicality, and ease. A key look that stands out includes a silhouette constructed by the combination of an embellished baby pink button-down and an egg-white jacket paired with dynamic Bermuda shorts that imbues the look with luxurious androgyny. The neon yellow handbag that accompanies the look contrasts the atmosphere curated– the artistic vision of Jones oozes from the holes of the garments, the pores of the models, and the fingers of the artists who have threaded the art on display into a whole.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Men’s Milan Fashion Week - Ralph Lauren
During Milan Fashion Week, Ralph Lauren presented its SS24 Purple Label collection. The event held at The Bar Ralph Lauren, and made in collaboration with Esquire, was an intimate dinner for close friends of the brand, such as Chris Pine and Damson Idris. The collection presented has as its central focus the Purple Label’s European craftsmanship mixed with American design. But this time, the clothes are inspired by the Mediterranean summer and the romance that comes with it. Indeed, Purple Label’s collections are titled Ralph’s Dolce Vita to recall the timeless elegance and glamour of old villas. The clothes honor Maison’s iconic high artisanship while at the same time presenting fresh colors and fabrics. The lightweight fabrics such as linen are combined with lush textures to ensure comfort and wearability; the eveningwear is characterized by sleek silhouettes, which, once again, are reminiscent of the brand’s enduring items and classic style. The color palette is quite varied, from classic linen shirts to colorful swimwear that presents a tropical pattern. The SS24 collection is a continuation of the Purple Label’s classic American style while being inspired by the Mediterranean summer.
www.ralphlauren.com
Fashion
CHANEL at the Biarritz International Film Festival
The House of CHANEL has strong ties with the city of Biarritz, to which it has even dedicated a fragrance. This year, the brand is supporting the first edition of the Biarritz International Film Festival, Nouvelles Vagues, by hosting a dinner at the Hôtel du Palais on the opening day of the festival. The festival will last five days, from the 28th of June to the 2nd of July. The leitmotiv of the festival is youth, to which the screenings, concerts, and exhibitions are dedicated. The films participating in the festival explore the place of young people in our society or recount stories of youth. Among the jury, composed of young multidisciplinary artists under 35 and film students, is actress and CHANEL ambassador Lyna Khoudri. The trophy of the festival also emphasizes the partnership with CHANEL. Students from the École Boulle designed it for the Paurier Desrues, the first House to join the Fashion Métiers d'Art in 1985. Established by CHANEL, the Fashion Métiers d'Art is a prominent organization that recognizes the skillful work of Maison's partner artisans. The festival will be an unprecedented cultural event, an occasion to bring together guests from a wide arrange of cinematic backgrounds in the beautiful backdrop of the city of Biarritz.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Men’s Milan Fashion Week – Ten c
The Italian brand Ten c focuses its attention on technical fabrics. Its unique and iconic fabric, the OJJ – Original Japanese Jersey is for the first time created in lighter tones such as light blue and pink in the Men’s SS24 collection.The inspiration for the shades of the year-round sweatshirts and jerseys is taken from the reflection of the light over the Berici Hills of Vicenza, where the photoshoot of the collection was filmed.
The Laminated RIP-Stop and the ultralight sanded nylon with a cotton hand are among SS24’s novelty in Ten c’s menswear collection. The pieces take inspiration from the British navy and army, and have been designed with the purpose of creating a total look. The OJJ is mixed in the clothing of the new collection with the new material, thus maintaining it as the iconic material of Ten c; at the same time, it becomes a visual symbol of the brand through external hot-stamping applications. The OJJ remains the focal point of the collection, with sweatshirts dyed in the light hues that characterize the collection and a new Japanese model reminiscent of American varsity sweatshirts. In the men’s SS24 collection, Ten c maintains its technical style proposing it in different, lighter tones.
www.tenc.com
Fashion
Men’s Milan Fashion Week– Prada
Prada’s SS24 menswear show during Milan Fashion Week unveiled Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’ new collection, Fluid Form. At the very core of the collection is an exploration of fluid architecture and the human body: a realization of bodily liberation and awareness through the silhouette and materiality of garments. Simplicity and fluidity permeate throughout. The structure and details of a shirt are borrowed to transform and reconstruct staple menswear pieces; leather bags take on a striking softness; headbands and eyewear are crafted to appear as if capturing fragments of motion. Purpose and function are reimagined as well, transitioning from expansion to elaboration. Utilitarian pockets leave behind their conventional use to become decorative devices, while the floral print is animated through applications of corsages and fringe. Silhouettes are intended to surprise us: while borrowing their lines from masculine suiting, their structure carries an intrinsic flexibility. The showspace, the Deposito of the Fondazione Prada, adds another layer to the concept of fluidity with abstract walls that form an ever-shifting enfilade. Prada’s SS24 menswear collection speaks to humanity’s underlying qualities of life, to its natural state. A state characterized by its inherent dynamic movement and constant transformation: fluidity.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Keepall and Keep Dancing
J-Hope is much more than a triple threat, he is the South Korean rapper-singer-songwriter and music producer as well as the lead dancer of the world-renowned K-Pop band BTS. In February of 2023, Louis Vuitton was pleased to announce this 21-st century icon as a House Ambassador.
J-Hope now becomes the face of the latest Louis Vuitton campaign, a series of stills featuring the iconic Louis Vuitton Keepall, an extremely coveted item from their leather goods range since the 1930s. J-Hopes charm and suaveness radiate in the images, where he is caught mid-action in dynamic, dance-like movements that reference his strengths in choreography that are adored worldwide. He is dressed in monochrome, tailored looks, with the Keepall in hand like an extension of his body.
The Keepall is a versatile, elegant travel bag; the perfect cabin-size companion for carrying all travel essentials for anywhere from romantic weekend getaways to far-flung adventures. Its hard, roomy, rounded shape is crafted with Louis Vuitton excellence and built to last. It has received a wide array of material and color treatments, including several exclusive artistic collaborations through the years from Yayoi Kusama, and Takashi Murakami to Supreme and Stephen Sprouse. The Keepall is woven into the Louis Vuitton DNA and delivers endless future possibilities of both style and adventure. The Keepall campaign featuring J-Hope will run on Louis Vuitton digital and social channels from the 14th of June.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
The Gateway from Paris to India
Dior’s Fall 2023 collection, dreamed up by Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri, was a poetic marriage of Dior’s fundamentally Parisian elegance with the dazzling splendors and savior-faire of India. In an unprecedented new documentary, an exclusive take on the behind-the-scenes story of the collection reveals every stage of the collection’s genesis. Through the collection and the documentary, Chiuri wished to highlight her inspiring collaboration and relationship with experts and artisans from India, and in general, the integral role that India has in the system of fashion. Over many years she has forged an unwavering friendship with Karishma Swali, the head of the Chanakya Ateliers and the Chanakya School of Craft, which champions the inclusion of women into the competitive and traditionally male domain of fashion creation. The documentary reveals an intimate perspective from Dior’s cross-cultural inspirations and history to captivating dialogues with artisanal masters of silk and embroidery, right up to the debut of the collection last March on the runway in Mumbai. The resulting pieces, including shantung silk saris and tunics and the Christian Dior “bar” jacket reimagined with a Nehru collar, were elevated to a level that could only be achieved through the collaboration and deep respect between Indian artisans and the French house. From their practical wearability down to the most intricate details in the design, the collection reflects outstanding expertise and a fascinating imagination, which can now be discovered on YouTube.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Journey into the Unknown of LV
Louis Vuitton is embarking on a new voyage of creation with Web.3, where the physical and digital are seamlessly woven into one material for the Maison to create, dream and craft the exceptional. A material designed to unlock a new form of travel and a renewed sense of wonder for the brand and its clients.
The voyage will begin with a key, dropped several weeks after the Digital Trunk itself, unlocking digital collectibles. An ongoing series of digital keys available to owners of the trunk will follow, each with its own digital collectible that will pair with exclusive access to physical counterparts. The result is a never-before-seen shopping journey inviting the most loyal clients of the Maison to wonder and wander a step deeper into the universe of Louis Vuitton. From dissecting clues of what’s to come; to creating new connections with like-minded innovators, expanding their horizons, and sharing collectibles with their own communities, the world of VIA will renew the bounds of shopping as we know them. Louis Vuitton’s first digital trunk, the VIA Treasure Trunk, is available from the 8th of June in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Australia on Maison’s website.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Your New Milano and Tokio
The latest venture of the high fashion brand Dior is a brand-new Beach Capsule made in collaboration with the legendary footwear pioneer Birkenstock. Kim Jones, Artist Director of Dior Men, and Birkenstock together are a force to be reckoned with, this second collaboration revolves around the reinvention of two iconic models from the famous footwear brand.
Embodying function and quality, the German brand creates unique shoes – both in form and practicality – to support walking as nature intended, drawing from a heritage that can be traced back to 1774. The journey of the brand, however, can be traced back to Konrad Birkenstock’s orthopedically designed footwear journey in 1897.
The Milano launched in 1965, was designed as an outdoor sandal for active people and nature lovers, whereas the Tokio appeared in 1987 as a protective accessory for walking and professions requiring a lot of standing. Both of the collaboration’s suede models are dressed in the season’s hues, namely pastel shades of yellow, khaki, and green. The models combine summery elegance and practicality with ease, providing irrefutable comfort and support embellished by rubber details and industrial buckles– meant to reflect the bright rays of the sweltering summer sun. The aesthetic product is a love child between the aesthetic codes of both brands: Birkenstock’s anatomically shaped orthopedic cork footbed is lined with smooth leather, while the outsole combines the Dior Oblique pattern with the German brand’s signature Bones graphic.
www.dior.com
www.birkenstock.com
Fashion
A Solid Footing
The leading brand in performance-supporting shoes, Adidas has come together with the luxury brand Prada to create their first-ever Joint Football Boot Collection. This iconic beginning of a new story recodes iconic Adidas silos through Prada’s Linea Rossa. The power of the Football for Prada collection rests on the individual mastery of both of the brands, the high-performance football technologies unique to Adidas, and the elegant aesthetic vision of Prada’s Linea Rossa.
The collection reimagines the three leading Adidas products - the Predator Accuracy, the Copa Pure, and the X Crazyfast. Creating design cohesion across the pack, all footwear has a lining and upper expertly crafted with the finest leather - using the material in fresh ways for Adidas in football - the bold red iconography of Linea Rossa, and a clean mono-color base of black, white and silver. The sleek silhouette of the boots extends the limbs of the athletes, providing immense support for maximizing performance whilst imbuing the athlete in the light of aesthetic mastery and understanding.
All of the reimagined boots share the triangle spikes that increase traction during a game and represent the Prada codes embedded into the brand’s DNA. Merging art and sport, high-performance with elegance and luxury, the Football for Prada collection will be available in limited numbers via the Adidas CONFIRMED App from the 22nd – 25th May 2023, as well as prada.com and selected Prada stores from the 25th of May, 2023.
www.adidas.com
www.prada.com
Fashion
A Higher Standard of Luxury for Golf
Loro Piana, the Maison known for its distinctive understated elegance and celebration of Italian excellence, has announced that they will once again collaborate with Team Europe for the Ryder Cup, Golf’s greatest team contest. The greatest team contest in Golf will be held at the “Marco Simone Golf & Country Club” in Rome from September 25th to October 1st.
Loro Piana will dress the athletes and their entourages for all the official events, inspiring players through the highest standard of clothing and the savoir-faire that has been the Maison’s hallmark for six generations. Through meticulous design and craftsmanship, the garments will be functional and comfortable, without cutting short on style and elegance. Loro Piana used 3D technology to stimulate the clothing’s reaction to the fine movements of golf, guaranteeing ease of movement for each and every swing.
Six looks especially designed by the Maison will include a short-sleeved polo, a high-neck shirt with a zipper, a waterproof vest, and classic tailored trousers. The technical materials of each have been chosen for maximum softness and stretch, as well as for special features that enhance ergonomic performance to guarantee unparalleled wearability. In addition, a selection of the Team Europe uniforms, collectors’ items, complete with the Team Europe and the players logos, will be available in the Maison’s boutique in Rome exclusively during the competition for golf lovers to experience the wardrobe for themselves.
www.loropiana.com
Fashion
Longchamp’s Fantastical Cultivation
The legendary French leather goods brand, Longchamp, has reopened the doors of its Cologne boutique, Domkloster 2. Joining the rest of the brand’s stores around Germany, the Cologne boutique highlights the genius of the RISE concept. The interior of the boutique is as meticulously thought out as everything else the brand creates. Every room spanning the two floors of the boutique is embellished uniquely to cultivate a special ambiance. As you step in, your eyes are immediately pulled toward the standing desk situated in the reception area – modeled after the authentic workshop table – and the most important pieces that are showcased on the bookshelf. The latest pieces are paired with their transcendent aesthetic companions such as books, pictures, and decorative items. Every detail is thought out and the entire layout is pulled smoothly by the aesthetic values of the house, present in every small corner of the boutique.
The reopening of this stylish and elegant boutique was celebrated on the 10th of May by customers and friends of the house. As the doors of the store opened to allow guests to experience the RISE concept in close proximity, the Parisian atmosphere transported the guests into the heart of Longchamp set in limbo between the present and the future. Good food and DJane were the puzzle pieces that perfected the night of celebration. The highlight of the evening was the raffle for a box-trot bag towards the end of the event.
www.longchamp.com
Fashion
Dior’s First Boutique in Hamburg
In March 2023, Dior opened its first boutique in Hamburg. On April 27th, to celebrate the occasion, Dior organized an in-boutique cocktail, followed by an exclusive dinner at the premises of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Bathed in natural light thanks to large bay windows, the reinvented building where the boutique is housed offers a breathtaking view of the Bleichenfleet canal. Inside the building, the unique space – spread over nearly 500 square meters and divided over two floors – hosts the different universes of the Maison, from ready-to-wear to accessories.
Starting from the ground floor, we come across Victoire de Castellane’s creations, as well as iconic women’s shoes and bags, such as the Lady Dior, the new 30 Montaigne Avenue, and the Dior Book Tote, embroidered with Plan de Paris or Dior Petites Fleurs prints. Moving on to the second floor, Dior’s SS23 ready-to-wear line by Maria Grazia Chiuri is enhanced by wood sculptor Etienne Moyat’s artwork, whereas Kim Jones’ wardrobe is staged in a refined atmosphere, adorned with an abstract painting by Scottish artist Peter Seal. Combining the purity of white and the naturalness of wood with elegant touches of beige and gold, the sophisticated setting features emblematic Dior fundamentals throughout the entire space, such as the Versailles parquet floor. To complete this eye-catching environment, designer furniture adds an ultra-contemporary touch, while the grand staircase is punctuated with white canvases from the haute couture ateliers, a poetic fresco inspired by 30 Montaigne. The boutique conveys Dior’s savoir-faire, and its constantly renewed inventiveness.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Longchamp in Hamburg
RISE– the new concept of the newly renovated Longchamp Hamburg boutique. The reopening of the brand’s second store in Neuer Wall 18, following the Munich store, was celebrated yesterday evening with genuine happiness and pleasure with esteemed customers and friends of the house.
The new Longchamp store envelops whoever walks in with the warmth, elegance, and aesthetics of a Parisian apartment. The new concept explored through the renovation of the Hamburg store expertly reflects the company's heritage and savoir-faire, energy, and optimism. Paying homage to the birth of Longchamp in 1948 Paris– the store’s decor is imbued with the Parisian creative curiosity and cosmopolitan attitude that distinguishes Longchamp and its clients from others. Traditional dark green asserts the value of tradition and authenticity while a contrasting rich light green presents energy and modernity.
On the 27th of April, 2023, the opening of the Hamburg Longchamp store was honored with the creation of a relaxed atmosphere that the respected guests and clients of Longchamp would appreciate. The ambiance was perfected with eclectic drinks, delicious food, and a brilliant set by DJane. The guests in attendance roamed calmly through the store, a glint of curiosity present in their eyes, exploring and soaking in the final production of the store. The highlight and entertainment of the glamorous and exciting evening was the raffle for a box-trot bag towards the end of the opening.
www.longchamp.com
Fashion
The Ultimate Denim Experience with Wrangler & Lee
Lee® and Wrangler® Jeans joined forces to launch their new, dual-branded denim store in Amsterdam, offering consumers the ultimate denim experience. “Europe continues to be a key market for expansion for the Lee and Wrangler brands. The new Lee and Wrangler dual-branded stores will create a powerful platform for our iconic denim brands to excite and engage our growing European consumer base,” said Chris Waldeck – Lee’s EVP, Co-Chief Operating Officer, and Global Brand President. The underlying concept is an immersive experience: not only with both brands’ products showcased in the curated retail environment, highlighting the brands’ unique characteristics and iconic heritages, but also with the brands’ commitment to creating an unmatched denim destination. On April 20th, 2023, Wrangler and Lee kicked off the Amsterdam store opening with a house party. At the store, the consumer’s journey begins in the space’s main area – where jeans from both brands are merchandized by gender and fit categories – and continues towards a specialized denim room – with a wide variety of denim on a seven-shelf stack. To underline the brands’ distinct personalities, heritage materials and imagery are displayed throughout the store: featuring a capsule area for the premium Lee 101 range, as well as red and indigo blues in the visuals to evoke the spirit of Wrangler. “In the coming months,” Waldeck remarks, “you can expect to see additional Lee and Wrangler stores in top retail destinations across Europe as we continue to introduce our brands’ iconic designs and unrivaled denim heritage to new audiences.”
www.wrangler.com
www.lee.com
Fashion
Valentino Vintage 2023: Archival Fashion as a Tool for Future Creativity
Valentino Vintage, the Maison’s unique second-hand initiative first launched in 2021, returns once again with its alternative shopping experience, placing value onto a more circular fashion model as it expands its universe through many historical layers of the past. The project indulges the global community to bring to selected vintage stores their preloved Valentino garments and exchange the items with the option to buy new Valentino designs.
Starting on April 18th, 2023, the seven vintage stores (Milan, Paris, London, Los Angeles, New York, Seoul, and Tokyo) will experience a shared temporality with a Valentino take over. Each boutique – carefully chosen for its distinctive identity and curated collection, representative of the respective city’s local culture – fully takes on the Maison’s DNA with a unique Valentino Vintage display. Madame Pauline in Milan evokes the feeling of sitting in a mid-20th C apartment, while the timeless and tasteful Janemarch Maison in Seoul is curated by Creative Director Jung Jae Ok as a French-style boutique. This year, Valentino also established an international creative partnership with 1 Granary, a London-based education and incubator platform that invited their student community and seven fashion, design and art schools to join the initiative in all selected cities. This one-of-a-kind project invites the next generation of creative talent into Valentino Vintage’s multidimensional world by fostering engagement initiatives and connections with professionals, and offering resources to empower their talent and creative vision. Marking a new direction, the initiative grants the preservation and transmission of Valentino heritage, know-how, extraordinary handmade workmanship and mastery.
www.valentino.com
Cinema
Saint Laurent on the Big Screen
Saint Laurent has now become the first-ever luxury brand to include full-fledged production of movies in the brand’s list of expertise. The debut of Saint Laurent Productions echoes the cinematic essence so often seen in the collections of the brand. This expansion, envisioned by Anthony Vaccarello, is intertwined with the narrative that the Creative Director has in mind for the future of the grandiose brand. Vaccarello expertly stated his aim and desire for the growth of Saint Laurent Productions, “I want to work with and provide a space for all the great film talents who have inspired me over the years,” showcasing a genuine interest in the elusive industry.
Further immersing itself in the life of cinema, Saint Laurent Productions will participate in the 76th Cannes Festival (16-27 May 2023), premiering “Strange Way of Life” by Pedro Almodóvar, starring Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal. Committing to this new step forward, Saint Laurent Productions are already set to work with authors David Cronenberg and Paolo Sorrentino on future projects.
Pairing the alluring world of motion pictures with fashion, all of the company’s films feature costumes by Vaccarello for Saint Laurent, making this a unanimous step forward for the entire brand.
www.saintlaurent.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Voyager Skeleton: A Journey Beyond Time
Described as a journey beyond time, the Louis Vuitton Voyager Skeleton is not simply a watch but a powerful storytelling tool. Encased in the watch is a tale about Louis Vuitton itself: a house with a profound commitment to craftsmanship, the finest quality, and a smooth mixture of style and innovation – all culminating in unique designs.
We begin by entering the miniature world of the mechanical watch movement. The self-winding mechanical skeleton manufacture movement is meant to showcase the watch’s design and mechanics. Louis Vuitton moves away from mere functional mechanics and, instead, moves towards structural components that embody the house’s essence by transforming stationary elements into engineered forms of dynamic beauty. The LV60 caliber, designed and developed by La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton, is the horological equivalent of contemporary architecture. The caliber is equipped with a tungsten micro-rotor, positioned off-center to maximize visibility and decorated with a white gold rhodium plated plate. The barrel ratchet wheel has been open-worked to spell “Louis Vuitton”. The watch’s case, with satin-finished sides and a polished top, sapphire glass, is crafted from platinum, a rare, dense and valuable alloy. It is therefore most remarkable that the case’s front combines sweeping curves and contrasting surface finishes, a challenge for those working with platinum. The watch also comes with two strap options, a navy blue, alligator leather strap or a taurillon leather strap. The Voyager Skeleton is available in an exclusive edition, limited to 150 pieces that carry on Louis Vuitton’s technical expertise and attention to detail.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Loewe’s Reality Glitch
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you, this is Loewe’s SS23 pixelated capsule collection. Loewe reimagined casual staples in their women’s ready to wear and accessories, making them into a real-world glitch.
First debuting on the Paris SS23 runway, the capsule includes everything in pixel form, from a technical knit hoodie and T-shirt to Duchesse silk satin trousers and denim staples. The 2-D look of the technical hoodie and T-shirt is achieved with polypropylene, cut with a sharply jagged edge around a black outline. The hoodie has a functional kangaroo pocket on its front. The other garments feature a textured block print that complements the natural shadows of the human form. The denim pieces - jeans, a jacket, and a miniskirt - round off the collection.
The Puzzle Bag, which was the first bag designed for the brand by its creative director Jonathan Anderson, joins the collection with its own pixelated makeover. The bag is usually offered in a single shade, but now its supple calfskin leather is decorated with a black, grey, blue, and white pixel design that complements its geometric shape. All the pieces will be packaged in limited designed bags and boxes that fit the theme seamlessly.
www.loewe.com
Fashion
This is You in Tiffany
The essence of Tiffany jewelry is about the way one chooses to wear it. The “This is Tiffany” campaign is a celebration of this message, an homage to individual style and the power of expressing one’s true self. In their latest campaign, Tiffany & Co. elevates the Tiffany T and the Tiffany HardWear collections by allowing their ambassadors Zoë Kravitz, Jimin, and Gal Gadot to fit the pieces to their personal styles.
Both collections are defined by the fine craftsmanship of the luxury jeweler with hand-polished finishes, sleek silhouettes, and striking pave diamonds. The Tiffany T collection is a classic and simple tribute to the strength of the Tiffany name, instantly recognizable, just like the House’s logo. The Tiffany HardWear collection is inspired by the energy and architecture of the House’s birthplace, New York City, crafted with gauge links that have allowed the collection to triumph as one of Tiffany’s signature collections. This year, a new watch design joins the collection, with a cushion shaped case and Sapphire top glass resembling a full-cut diamond.
Both collections exemplify Tiffany’s commitment to superlative quality, elegance, and sophistication. The 2023 “This is Tiffany” campaign offers a full range from subtle to subversive jewelry that provides an option fit for anyone to express their unapologetic personal style.
www.tiffany.com
Fashion
W&W Rolex: Icons in the Making
A perfect combination of style and functionality, and a perpetual pursuit of excellence set apart Rolex’s new watches unveiled during this year’s Watches & Wonders. From questioning and perfecting every detail, method and component to its capacity to reinvent while preserving a sense of continuity and tradition, Rolex’s creative vision is one of meticulous attention to detail.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytone is an icon defying time. Rolex’s new adjustments, such as a new balance for the dial graphics and the renewed caliber 4131, ensure the continuation of this legendary watch. A true epitome of Rolex’s commitment to excellence, the Perpetual 1908 is elegant, classic and contemporary with a harmonious interplay between scintillation and reflection. Ideal for the sportsperson is the light and robust Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42, whose case and bracelet are crafted using RLX titanium. With its two time zones and its annual Saros calendar, the Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller is one for the travelers seeking comfort. The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II is now available in two new versions and an entirely new color combination, while the Oyster Perpetual Explorer 40 is expanded on with the introduction of a new, 40 mm model. The Oyster Perpetual’s new lacquered dial in 31 mm, 36 mm and 41 mm is an explosion of color and liveliness. A variety of Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 watches now come with dials decorated with stones in shimmering tones that evoke the atmosphere of the Mediterranean coast. Truly, Rolex’s novelties are bound to become icons.
www.rolex.com
Fashion
30 Years of the Royal Oak Offshore
The Royal Oak Offshore model was first launched in 1993, causing an even greater sensation than the launch of the original Royal Oak 20 years prior. The watch’s virile aesthetics, complete with oversized proportions and an enlarged rubber seal, earned it the nickname “The Beast”.
In a stand-alone collection, the Royal Oak Offshore represents the pioneering design and technical innovation of Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet. Inspired by offshore racing and the unapologetic creativity of the 1980’s, the Royal Oak Offshore was designed by Emmanuel Gueit. The model was quick to be embraced by the young and adventurous, as well as various communities of extreme sports. Exuding powerful and dominant energy, thanks to its 42mm diameter and sturdy design, the chronograph became an icon of the millennium.
Marking its 30th anniversary, the Royal Oak Offshore is relaunched, master-crafted from black ceramic and punctuated with yellow details with an ultra-contemporary design and innovations in ergonomics and materials. It pays tribute to the Royal Oak Offshore “End of Days” limited-edition collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1999, which ushered in a succession of limited-edition designs with numerous multidisciplinary celebrities. Only 500 pieces of the “End of Days” model were manufactured, and there will only be 500 pieces of the new Royal Oak Offshore Self-winding Chronograph.
www.audemarspiguet.com
Art
The Revival of French Modernism
As a contribution to the PAD Paris 2023 design fair, Saint Laurent’s Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello partnered with several prestigious Parisian galleries to curate a tasteful selection of vintage furniture. The French Modernists Exhibition is dedicated to French Art Deco & Modernist design– centered around the work of Jean-Michel Frank, although designed almost a century ago the exhibition assuredly exhibits the modern and contemporary nature of Frank’s creations. Additionally, Vaccarello also included pieces by Jacques Adnet and Jean Després, expanding the realm of modernist artists appreciated.
The furniture expert Jean-Michel Frank basked in pre-war glory and spent his time decorating the homes of the intellectual and artistic elite. The minimalism highlighted by his designs gives them an edge- a transcendental quality concocted by the stripping of forms. His genius fell through the cracks of wartime, however, dealers, historians, and collectors from the ‘60s outlined his rediscovery as a masterful designer and artist. Yves Saint Laurent was a huge contributor to Frank’s rediscovery – the 2009 historical estate sale of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé transparently exhibits the passion for the works of Jean-Michel Frank, now one of the most expensive and sought-after artists.
The exhibition is riddled with the nuances of French modernism, tied together with the silk rope of minimalism. The materials used highlight the lines of the pieces- natural lines are highlighted with natural materials. Details resembling minuscule portions of our elusive world. This breathtaking exhibition will be on view from March 28th to April 24th at Rive Droite stores in Paris and Los Angeles.
www.saintlaurent.com
Fashion
W&W CHANEL: Into The Cosmos
For the 2023 edition of Watches & Wonders, CHANEL debuted its new timepieces created in its laboratory in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Inspired by science fiction, space and time travel, we accompany CHANEL on an intergalactic journey, traveling throughout the cosmos. Dreamed up by CHANEL’s Watch Creation Studio, the new Interstellar Capsule collection presents seven exclusive watches – including reinterpretations of some of the French Maison’s beloved designs.
The J12 watch is continuously reinvented without sacrificing its singularity. The new J12 Interstellar and J12 Cybernetic watch are no exception. The former carries an aventurine effect black glittery lacquered dial, while the latter is a graphic interpretation of the J12 watch that produces contrast, apparent in the black-lacquered dial with a matte white-varnished pixel motif. The designs align with the Maison’s stellar odyssey: the Première Lucy Star watch comes with a steel comet-shaped charm set with 6 brilliant-cut diamonds, whereas the J12 Cosmic watch comes polished with rhodium-plated space-inspired stickers. Similarly, a black-lacquered dial with a rhodium-plated printed circuit motif set distinguishes the Boy·friend Cyberdata watch. In line with the collection’s theme, an 18K yellow gold, black ceramic and titanium robot-shaped case adorns the Première Robot watch. Lastly, the Code Coco Cybergold watch is fashioned with a golden quilted calfskin strap with black trim and black calfskin lining. As an ode to Gabrielle Chanel’s astrological sign, Leo, four new pieces, such as the Lion Astroclock and the lion-sculpted cuffs, launched alongside the new collection. The creations are now available in CHANEL boutiques around the globe.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Bulgari’s Latest Gem
Bulgari has announced the newest precious gem added to their family, Yifei Liu joins the Roman jewelry Maison as a Global Brand Ambassador.
Bulgari’s Chief Executive Officer Jean-Christophe Babin has put into words the excitement on the side of the Maison. They have found a talented and strong personality, who represents the values at Bulgari’s core. Yifei Liu’s extraordinary performances in film and TV drama have been well-acclaimed since the beginning of her career and have gained international recognition of the years. Notably, her numerous nominations for Best Actress in Disney's live-action film "Mulan” and for the Chinese TV series “Dream of Splendor” in recent years, the latter of which she won. She continuously exerts her talents in new domains and innovative professional challenges, refusing to stop at the astounding achievements she has made thus far.
Her glamorous style and strong, magnetic personality are perfectly in line with Bulgari’s audacious spirit, making this collaboration a brilliant fit. This was exemplified during the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Bulgari Serpenti, where she adorned jewelry from the Serpenti collection. In the campaign, she radiates with the same allure of the ancient sinuous serpent motif that wraps around her neck, and the power of the bright sapphire that centers her necklace, ring, and earrings. She has expressed her fondness of Bulgari’s design language, and its capability to express and empower the multi-faceted and audacious spirit of women. She looks forward to being a part of Bulgari’s future and their constant pursuit of excellence.
www.bulgari.com
Fashion
Carlos Nazario to Carve A New Direction for Moose Knuckles
Effective immediately, Carlos Nazario has been announced as the new Global Artistic Director for Moose Knuckles, the Canadian sports- and outerwear brand. Moose Knuckles is devoted to creating luxurious clothing with ethically sourced materials and impeccable tailoring that can keep one warm from the city to the wildest voyages in the tundra.
A native to Queens, New York, Nazario is hailed as a key shaper of the modern fashion industry. He has left his mark, a provocative and creative force, on numerous magazine covers and luxury brands and has broken boundaries in his work with various world-famous talents. He is currently the Global Fashion Director at i-D.
From March 21st, 2023, Nazario joins the Moose Knuckles community, taking over the collection design, image content, brick and mortar presentation, and marketing/communication expressions across all channels. He has served as a stylist and guest creative consultant in their recent campaigns and is excited to reinvigorate the strong foundation of the brand. He has a clear vision, to introduce a new chapter that broadens and widens the scope of Moose Knuckles with innovations in product design and communication. Moose Knuckles and Nazario are ready to carve out new directions for the evolution of the brand, while staying true to its uncompromising craftsmanship, its highest quality creations, and its unequivocally irreverent nature.
www.mooseknucklescanada.com
Fashion
A New Step in Fur
Devohome is an Ukranian-based company that produces healthy and natural hemp textiles without the use of pesticides. Hemp fur – the brand’s plant-based fur that can be substituted for animal and synthetic fur is now being celebrated worldwide.
The brand’s Hemp Fur Coat won the Green Product Award 2023 in the Category of Fashion. Since 2013, the international Green Product Award has been celebrating products displaying a future-oriented design, innovation, and sustainability. The Hemp Fur Coat is evidence of the unnecessary nature of animal farming for textiles.
Devehome’s hemp fur was created in 2018 and was patented in 2021, a pioneer in sustainable design in high fashion. The appearance is as charming as animal or synthetic fur, and the ethical advantages imbue the fur with a charm that cannot be imitated. The Hemp Fur Coat, large and welcoming is lined with the brand’s Hemp Fur, ensuring warmth and comfort, and additionally, the external black fabric of the coat traps more heat and adds a chic touch to any outfit worn to bear the cold weather.
The biodegradable hemp fur is 100% natural and biodegradable, vegan, antibacterial, and antifungal, warms up to 30 degrees, and absorbs moisture. These incredible qualities intensely enhance the masterful design and craftsmanship of Devohome. The industrial production of hemp fur is growing, and Devohome is persistently integrating its sustainable substitute into the textile industry to help make permanent changes and start a new wave of garment production that protects our environment.
www.devohome.com
Fashion
A Tease of H&M and Mugler’s Capsule Collection
After a long wait and much anticipation, H&M has announced that its next capsule collection collaboration will be with none other than the House of Mugler.
Mugler has always pioneered as a breaker of fashion’s rules. Since its founding by the late Manfred Thierry Mugler in 1973, their glamorous and daring designs have always centered around themes of body positivity, gender fluidity, transformation, and self-awareness. Casey Cadwallader and Ann-Sophie Johansson, the Creative Directors of Mugler and H&M respectively, design the next chapter in the House’s story, welcoming a greater audience into the Mugler fantasy.
Cadwallader pays tribute to the history of the house, with bodysuits and finished denims that represent their most iconic pieces. Designs with broad shoulders and narrow waists are an ode to the natural curves and shapes of the body, as Mugler’s silhouettes have always been. This ties in with his own contemporary pieces, such as his signature second skin and transparent catsuits. In addition, a special limited-edition range of recreations from Mugler’s 80’s and 90’s archives awaits within the collection, allowing the global fanbase to own pieces of the brand’s heritage.
Teasing the groundbreaking collection, H&M and Mugler have released a music video directed by Torso featuring a group of rising stars with their own rendition of Stardust's 1998 dance hit 'Music Sounds Better With You'. The full collection is yet to be revealed but be sure to save the date as it is bound to fly off the shelves. Menswear, womenswear, and accessories will be available in select stores and online from May 11, 2023.
www.hm.com
www.mugler.com
Music
Depeche Mode and Hublot are back!
After five years, the legendary band return to the stage with The Memento Mori World Tour. Alongside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted band will be their official charity partner Hublot, supporting the sustainability of the tour and raising funds for The Conservation Collective, a global environmental charity.
Hublot and Depeche Mode first joined forces for the first time in 2010 based on their common philosophy: “be first, be different and be unique”. They find that their partnership has always felt natural, and they have collaborated numerous times for a range of different deeply important causes. Now, their shared goal focuses on sustainability, reducing waste and cleaning our environment. By supporting The Conservation Collective, they empower a network of local foundations and grass-roots initiatives who work tirelessly to protect and restore biodiversity and the environment.
Hublot’s CEO Ricardo Guadalupe describes how special the atmosphere is created by Depeche Mode in their live events, and how excited they are to transform their sound into a positive environmental change. Dave Gahan and Martine Gore of Depeche Mode devote a sincere thanks to Hublot for giving them the power to raise funds for The Conservation Collective and Live Nation’s Green Nation team who focus on sustainability-related initiatives on tour and at tour venues.
Depeche Mode released their 15th studio album, ‘Memento Mori’, on March 24th, 2023. Following, they began their tour in North America, and are set to continue to Europe in the summer, and back to North America in the Fall.
www.hublot.com
www.depechemode.com
Fashion
Bally SS23 Campaign: Villaseñor's Take on Modern Luxury
After welcoming Rhuigi Villaseñor as its new Creative Director in January 2022, Bally’s SS23 campaign is a tribute to his debut collection and future ambitions for the house. Villaseñor builds onto the Swiss brand’s 172-year rich heritage of craftsmanship and its longstanding relationship with art, architecture and the environment with his creative vision: an evocative and fresh play that conveys his interpretation of modern luxury. “I wanted to introduce a new visual language to Bally campaigns,” he explains, “a mix of bold sophistication and sensuality”.
Under Villaseñor’s direction, the SS23 campaign honors the power of nature that has always been at the heart of Bally. Photographed by Harley Weir and styled by Emmanuelle Alt, the models – including Vivienne Rohner, Kayako Higuchi, Nyakong Chan, Yeray Allgayer, Hong Seong Jun and Feranmi Ajetomobi – are captured in natural elements overlooking a windswept, rocky coastline. The ingenious use of the landscape produces a captivating outcome. An innate sense of confidence pervades, while a dichotomy arises. Sophisticated silhouettes with rich materials, such as velvet and snake-printed leather, lie in contrast with the rugged terrain. The vision is taken further as the light and shade of the water and saturated blue skies are used to amplify metallic leathers, golden-toned Bally emblem hardware, washed denim and cutaway forms. In continuation of Bally’s craftsmanship legacy, Villaseñor introduces a new category: jewelry geared to suit an energetic lifestyle.
The Creative Director elucidates his intentions to remodel Bally, and, under his direction, we impatiently wait to see what is next on his agenda.
www.bally.com
Fashion
Unboxing Valentino Around the World
Valentino’s SS23 collection, titled Unboxing, unfolds globally, celebrating the limitless diversity and complexity of fashion. Nine brilliant stylists with their own window displays infuse the collection with the stories of the city they create in. Supported by precision tailoring and fine differences in drapery and design, minimalistic and monochromatic clothes serve the true individuality of any wearer.
In New York, Law Roach connects to Valentino’s history with a deep totalizing red and the Valentino Toile Iconographe pattern. In London, Rebecca Corbin-Murray’s contrasts all-black with vibrant yellow blooming flowers to signify the unboxing of nature. Clement Lomellini takes Paris in a literal direction, creating a desire to tear off the wrapping paper behind which Valentino awaits. Lorenzo Posocco reflects the authentic fashion of the streets of Milan with a video installation. A paradox plays out in Dubai, where Anna Dello Russo color-blocks and accessories Mannequins in a profusion of Valentino Garavani feathers and fluff to create a fantasy world. Mix Wei in Shanghai infuses traditional Chinese culture into the collection’s quest for purity, honoring the essentials that make up the worlds of art. In Seoul, Geum Nam Hwang invites viewers into the puzzle of the Soma Cube, to search for and unbox their personal essence. In Tokyo, Masataka Hattori spreads the wings of earth-toned looks in an enclave that pays homage to the natural environment. The final window, styled by the duo Grandquist, transcends location with a digital display suspending mannequins in a world of intense red that epitomizes Valentino.
www.valentino.com
Fashion
Prada’s Tenth Exclusive Timecapsule NFT Collection
On March 2nd 2023, Prada dropped its tenth limited-edition Timecapsule collection paired with a corresponding gifted NFT – titled INTERFERENZA OTTICA ART PRINT BY ENZO RAGAZZINI, 1969. Last year in June, the NFT initiative was put in place to expand on the Prada Timecapsule project, launched back in December 2019. Currently, Prada’s Timecapsule NFT is an online event that takes place on the first Thursday of every month. For 24 hours, a limited amount of 50 items are made available for purchase.
This month, the Timecapsule collection concludes Italian photographer Enzo Ragazzini’s print trilogy from his 1960s and 1970s archives. This edition’s shirt carries the final print of the three-part series – a print that was originally designed in 1969 for the Enzo Ragazzini exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London (ICA). The design was made with the optical interference technique, using mechanical devices of Enzo’s own invention. The “rotating plane” and the “rotating drum” – digitized in 2017 – are used for the shirt’s circular and horizontal patterns respectively. The shirt also features the Prada enameled triangle logo with “MARCH” transferred on the back of the item. Each shirt comes with its own gifted NFT – an invitation to join Prada’s exclusive Crypted NFT community. As each NFT series includes a serial number for the drop and another for the item, Timecapsule collection holders can match their physical product to the virtual one. As such, Prada continues to expand on its Web3 community with artistic ingenuity.
www.prada.com
Fashion
MFW - Bottega Veneta FW23 - Unfolding Endless Possibilities
Taking over as Creative Director, Matthieu Blazy has brought his ‘Italia’ trilogy of shows to an end with Bottega Veneta FW23. Showcasing his future ambitions for the house, Blazy continues to honor Italy’s history with craft in motion. An artistic vision expressed in the show’s theme: a parade. “The alchemy of the street is in the difference”, Blazy explains, “it is the surprise of the encounter that has importance”. Looking “at what makes people gather together in a place without hierarchy, where everyone is invited”, he debuts a versatile and relatable yet also elevated collection.
Past techniques, motifs, characters and creatures voyage through space and time to materialize in the present and future. Roman bronze runners and a Boccioni statue decorate the runway. The mythology of antiquity and Futuristic influences heavily inform the designs. Blazy’s parade is a place of joy, entertainment and endless possibilities – a place of priests and playboys, sleepwalkers and streetwalkers. Craft is reconfigured as innovation: cuts, fabrics and proportions take center stage. Shaved leather appears weightless, intricate silk hand embroideries are recreated and rearranged, cascading scales and ostrich-feathers decorate leather pieces and a fringed coat was woven in one piece rather than embroidered. Tailoring divides the figure: wide shoulders and pinched waists become a trend, while cuffs and collar create dimension. Transformed through cut, fantastic and chimerical creatures emerge as skirts allude to a mermaid’s fishtail. Representing a sheer variety of occasions across the 81 looks, Bottega Veneta’s all-inclusive collection has something for everyone.
www.bottegaveneta.com
Fashion
PFW - RICK OWNENS FW23 - Goth Goddesses
The Egyptian city of Luxor granted Rick Owens a creative stimulus for its FW23 women’s collection. This eye-catching and evocative ready-to-wear-line draws on the monumentalism, mystery and exoticism that permeates throughout the breathtaking ancient ruins, pyramids and deities of the city. Taking place at the Palais de Tokyo, the show encapsulates the spirit of goth goddesses and punk pharaohs as fog machines lead the way for models to start walking down the runway. Black stripes cover faces and black lenses cover eyes. Muted tones of lime green, art deco pink and bordeaux catch our attention in contrast to the predominant use of black. The human figure is almost unrecognizable: sleeves are prolonged down to the leg and voluminously inflated garments covered in matte black and pink sequins encircle the body. Ribbed knits made from GRS-certified recycled cashmere and indigo denim from Japan, which had been treated with mineral was and shredded by lasers produce amusing outcomes. Coats appear to be decomposing. Skirts, on one side, show the hip bone, while, on the other side, cloth trails behind them – conveying the impression of a mummy. Armor-like features are apparent in platform boots that rise over the knee and flowy capes. Sculpturesque jackets appear as if something was about to break free from their protruding shoulders. The designs sway from fantasy to reality, protection to vulnerability, to reveal an aesthetic yet realistic approach that recognizes both the beauty and harshness of the world. This is an all-around Rick Owens spectacle.
www.rickowens.com
Art
Traveling Affairs
This winter, NOMAD – a one-of-a-kind art and collectible design fair – begins an exhilarating journey with a multifaceted curatorial project, Artists in Flux, powered by Gucci. In accordance with NOMAD’s ambition to devise a unique platform where art, design and architecture can dialogue world-wide, this project explores travel culture through ideas of mobility and encounter.
Three internationally praised artists traveled with their Gucci luggage to hotel Grace la Margna in St. Moritz, where they presented their work from February 23rd - February 26th 2023 for the project’s first chapter. Concentrating on their artistic experiences and approaches, they also participated in a round table conversation organized by Monocle radio. The works of American artist Lola Montes Schnabel and Swiss artist Yves Scherer were displayed in parallel in the exhibitions organized by Nilafur and Golsa, while Nepalese artist Tsherin Sherpa collaborated with Mt. Refuge, a design studio at the front of Himalayan heritage. Schnabel’s recent work centers on tile paintings made from volcanic ash and clay from Mountain Etna in Sicily. Fluid lines and limpid forms allow her work to sway between figuration and abstraction. Scherer creates enveloping environments – narratives combined with fanfic and celebrity culture offer a romantic lens that transforms the viewer’s perception of the self, relationships and the everyday. Sherpa reconceives and reappropriates identities, symbols, colors and gestures in order to transcend their chronological and cultural limitations. His work is a scene of tension and continuous negotiation between tradition/modernity, sacred/secular and settlement/movement.
The collaboration’s resulting material will be available on NOMAD and Gucci networks.
www.nomad-circle.com
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Giorgio Armani’s 10 Corso Como Collection
A deep exploration of one element synthesized by established details- Giorgio Armani’s 10 Corso Como Collection renovates the essence of the old west through slim and androgynous silhouettes. This second collaboration with 10 Corso Como showcases the “new Giorgio Armani” - pushing the limits of the possibility that coherence provides.
The entire collection is made of denim - the elusive intimacy that the intense blue of the unwashed denim tailored into thin, elongated forms and coupled with cognac-colored elements transforms the garments into an avante-garde expression of passion and persistence. The brand’s dedication to coherence is admirable - an established loyalty to the coarseness of denim opens the door for elegant details such as subtly formidable boots or belts to shine. A relationship between traditionally masculine and feminine tailoring allows the brand to play with harsh lines, denim ties, and structured garments to accentuate the feminine confidence and sexuality of the models.
The experience that Giorgio Armani curated includes Flavio Favelli’s Mobilia Essay- a 20-square-meter installation that entails luminous hangers and grand armchairs upholstered in rubber. Differing armchairs will be exhibited in Giorgio Armani’s boutique stores around the world. The 10 Corso Como Collection is an avante-garde praise of denim as a lucrative medium of creative expression.
www.armani.com
Fashion
MFW - Genetics: the legacy of house Gucci - FW23
Taking on the concept of genetics, Gucci highlights its intention to foreground the house’s legacy for its women’s FW23 collection. Describing itself as an “ecosystem of designers and artisans whose shared understanding of the house has passed down and evolved from creative to creative for over a century”, Gucci evokes a dialogue between past, present and future to honor the contribution of the visionaries that propelled the house and paved its future. In line with this vision, the house of Gucci is the focal point throughout the show: from cast and sound to scene and collection. In the Gucci Hub, elevators move the collection from building to runway – mirroring the creative process that traces its starting point, the archives, all the way to its final destination, the runway. A nostalgic attitude pervades the silhouettes, drawing on Gucci’s early 1990s and 2000s erotic form language and the 2010s energetic color palette. Voluminous shoulders and dropped necklines outline oversized wool or leather suits. Evening wear, such as the drop-waist skirt of a double-duchesse bustier dress, takes on the shape of a heart – a Gucci symbol. Colored visor sunglasses, which allude to a classic Gucci flacon, convert vision through Rush-tinted glasses. In honor of an iconic archival piece, the Jackie bag is softened in its composition and adapted in two-tone colors while keeping its original shape. The veneration of the old and a devotion to the new pays tribute to the creative culture and community found at the heart of Gucci’s legacy.
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Fendi Women’s FW23
For Fendi’s womenswear FW23 collection, Kim Jones takes Delfina Delettrez Fendi as an inspirational starting point. Drawing on her instinctively chic and pervasive form of individual expression through her Fendi archive wardrobe, this Creative Director presents a collection marked by a nonchalance illusion and a lens of subtle subversion that explores classicism and elegance, and entertains with binary constructions. An admiration for DIY and a critical attention to deconstruction elevated the designs into luxurious pieces, capable of being worn in all manner of ways. Feminine sophistication is disrupted through the interpolation of gender stereotypes: masculine tailoring and fabrics are deviated from their traditional purpose to now compose feminine forms. A touch of sensual femininity is visible in intimate apparel occasionally peeking through, thigh-high lace-up boots and layered lace. A perfected and more chic punk style is apparent throughout the collection along with influences from Karl Lagerfeld’s 1981 sketches. Knitwear is cleanly slashed or carefully wrapped, ribbed knitted pieces are left unbuttoned or worn asymmetrically. Glances into the history and innate features of house Fendi are omnipresent. Jones draws on graphic motifs from the FW 1996 Fendi archives. The brand’s multipurpose sensibility is shown with Silvia Venturini Fendi’s introduction of the Fendi Origami. By design, this new handbag is two things in one – it transforms between two distinctive silhouettes. Silvia’s daughter, Delfina, shows off Fendi’s appreciation for duality with her jewelry designs – directly in line with the collection’s essence. Fendi’s ability to transform complexity into simplicity, purity and sophistication hints at the collection’s success.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
An Ode to Connectedness
On February 22nd of 2023, Tiffany & Co. hosted an exclusive dinner party in Berlin with the newly appointed ambassadors of the house, Ruby O. Fee and Matthias Schweighöfer, to celebrate the LOCK collection. Staying true to the brand’s desire to prioritize diversity and inclusion as well as positively impact the communities with which it works, this unisex collection follows the motto: “No rules. All are welcome.” The iconic jewelry pieces point to the power and importance of personal connections in our close environment, as they constitute who we are as individuals. LOCK resonates with Berlin, a diverse and busy city characterized by sharp contrasts, and a united metropolis where creativity and art flourish in ever new forms. Who better than one of Germany’s power couples to represent this collection? The event transpired during the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where many friends of the house and beloved couple – including figures from the film, music and art industries – walked the carpet wearing Tiffany & Co.’s designs. Matthias combined a dark blue velvet suit with the Tiffany Lock Pendant in rose and white gold with diamonds and displayed various Tiffany Lock Bangle styles along with his girlfriend Ruby. The event commenced with an exclusive dinner at the iconic Schinkel Pavillon. Soon after, Anna Liset of Women of Style entertained the attendees – among which we find Yusra Mardini, Lea van Acken, Riccardo Simonetti and Jerry Hoffmann – with a DJ performance. Honoring the collection, the event embodied the celebration of friendship and of Tiffany’s innovative designs.
www.tiffany.com
Fashion
TUDOR becomes official Timekeeper of the Giro d'Italia
The world of competitive sports today has become more competitive than ever before. Through research, developments and optimization of training methods, the athletes’ performances are brought to a peak. Races are no longer decided by seconds, sometimes it’s merely fractions of a second which decide about winning or losing. The world of pro cycling is by no means an exception. One of the biggest happenings in the yearly cycling calendar is the Giro d’Italia which is considered to be one of the most prestigious and gruelling races in the world. In its 106th edition this year, riders from all across the world are once again chasing the maglia rosa, the Pink Jersey, handed to the overall winner of the tour. For the first time, TUDOR will now be the official timekeepers of the Giro d’Italia. But the Swiss watchmaker will not only be the timekeeper of the Giro d’Italia, but for all the RCS races which include classics such as Milan-San Remo or Il Lombardia. TUDOR and pro cycling have longstanding ties, as both are connected through the shared values of courage and team spirit as well as a constant striving for perfection. This is also embodied by the TUDOR Pro Cycling Team competing in races and tours all across the world. The Giro d’Italia will take place between May 6th, 2023 and May 28, 2023.
www.tudorwatch.com
Fashion
A Dash of Parisian Nonchalance
Paris is one of fashion’s epicentres with some of the most influential fashion houses in the world calling the French capital their home. And the city’s residents themselves also have a reputation for being especially fashionable with the notion of Parisian Chic being world-renowned. But as the world is changing, our understanding of Parisian Chic does as well. Living up to this notion, Givenchy is presenting its newest bag, the Voyou. To put it in Givenchy Creative Director Matthew Williams’ own words, “I wanted to revisit fashion archetypes with a kind of new language and playful attitude. With the Voyou, you know at a glance that it’s Parisian, but it’s at home wherever it goes, and it makes an everyday style statement that has true staying power.” Named for the slang term that means “bad boy” in French, the Voyou is blending the language of a lady’s handbag with an easy-going demeanour, resulting in this elegant, yet casual bag. Crafted in tumbled, subtly grained calfskin, the bag features zippered compartments for everyday essentials and luxurious turned edges fusing the Givenchy polish with the convenience and lightness of a hobo. Yet it receives a jewel-like allure through its distinctive hardware embellishments. Combined the visual features of the bag provide every look with a dash of Parisian nonchalance, by day or by night.
www.givenchy.com
Fashion
The Art of Genius
Every industry has its own calendar, its own rhythms which determine the course of the year. Fashion is by no means an exception and functions by its two-season model with luxury houses presenting their new collections twice a year. But more and more are moving away from this traditional modus operandi. In this spirit, Moncler launched Moncler Genius in 2018 as a continuous flow of newness. Another core principle behind Moncler Genius was the power of collaboration. Over the past five years, Moncler has relentlessly amplified the concept, engaging in collaboration with some of the world’s greatest creative minds in the industry providing innovative ways of curating, communicating and sharing creativity with the world, tapping into the cultural zeitgeist and continuous evolution embedded in its DNA. This platform is now taking the next step forward, going beyond fashion and exploring the boundaries of creation at the intersections of art, design, entertainment, music, sport and culture. To introduce this year’s roster of co-creators, Moncler presents The Art of Genius. This event, a live show on a grand scale, features some of the world’s premier creators from various industries who present their creative visions bridging different formats and disciplines.
The Art of Genius will take place on February 20th and will allow visitors to immerse themselves in a world of creativity with all its beauty and emotional power.
www.moncler.com
Fashion
Sabato De Sarno Appointed as GUCCI's New Creative Director
End of November, Kering announced that the house of Gucci and Alessandro Michele, the Creative Director at its helm, would part ways after an extraordinary seven-year run which has seen the Italian house return to its rightful place as one of the most iconic and influential luxury houses in the limelight of international attention. Ending months of speculation about who would take over, Gucci has now announced that Sabato De Sarno will assume the role of Creative Director with his debut collection expected at the Milan Women’s Fashion Week in September later this year. Following the announcement, De Sarno expressed that he was “touched and excited to contribute my creative vision for the brand.” Born and raised in Naples, De Sarno himself was relatively unknown to the wider fashion world prior to this announcement having worked primarily behind the scenes. His own journey in fashion started in 2005 with Prada, before moving to Dolce & Gabbana, followed by a 13-year tenure at Valentino. Throughout the years, he held positions of increasing responsibility, helping the brand to evolve into one of the most influential houses of today. It’s this vast and valuable experience that will help Gucci open an exciting, new chapter whilst bringing a singular and contemporary perspective to modern luxury.
www.gucci.com
Fashion
The Passage of Time
The changing of the seasons, the passing of time. The cycle of life moves through the motions – like a river; always moving, never still. Stillness in movement, in change. The passage of time, of life and death, of renewal and mutability, have been themes that have absorbed artists and philosophers alike for centuries. Such was the inspiration behind Kim Jones’ latest collection for DIOR Men Winter 2023-2024.
In a release to the press, DIOR explains the river as a symbol of inspiration to the designer; ever-changing, a parallel to the constant flow of movement that is fashion. Jones has often been praised for his unique ability to pay tribute to the history of the iconic Maison whilst bringing in novel elements such as streetwear, striking a careful balance between the codes of the past and the ways of the present and future.
In this collection, Jones especially pays tribute to one of his predecessors, Yves Saint Laurent, who was the immediate and chosen successor to the father of the Maison, Christian Dior. The Spring/Summer Collection of 1958 is mainly drawn upon for inspiration, yet Jones brings in elements of himself and the time in which he lives to provide freshness and relevance. Mixing male and female elements, as well as a sense of modernity in the ease and practicality of the garments, Jones abides faithfully by the Maison’s mission to reinvent its codes in ways that fit to the lifestyle and agency of the modern wearer. HZ
www.dior.com
Fashion
Paul Smith at Paris Fashion Week
Debuting in Paris, inside the American Cathedral, Paul Smith’s FW23 Collection is a true testament to the designer’s past. As ever, designer Paul Smith has stayed unfalteringly loyal to the integrity of his craft, with each new collection a reflection of a high caliber of tailoring and fabrics.
This season, Smith took a new approach to the art of tailoring. A contemporary take, including more modern items such as the puffer jacket, a crew neck vest in place of a waistcoat, or simply oversized everything, gave the collection a distinctly 2023 feel. A looser narrative structure defined Smith’s vision for this collection, leaving more space to explore different avenues. One such avenue of inspiration was the modernist movement, from which evolved many of the collection’s silhouettes, defined by sharp, geometric lines.
Paul Smith carried some of his signature motifs into this new line. His penchant for bold and saturated color, evident in the vibrant cobalt blue and bright candy pink, plays out against a backdrop of more somber autumnal colors – the whites, beiges, browns and blacks that form the basis of the collection. Smith’s vivid graphics ripple across the clothing as well, for example in the Big Floral or the Signature Stripe, a fun and youthful juxtaposition to the tweed, houndstooth and bouclés of the collection. HZ
www.paulsmith.com
Fashion
Missonism
Missoni, the Italian family-owned fashion brand, boasts an over 60-year history of producing apparel that has become recognizable the world over. Known partly for its colorful zigzag patterns, partly for its cheeky sheer designs, and partly for a honed craftsmanship in high-quality knits, the brand grew from a small-town shop owned and run by the married couple, Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, to an international mega-brand.
Abiding by the qualities that propelled it to its world-famous status, the latest Missoni Men’s FW23 collection is a true exercise in ‘Missonism’ (as the brand calls it), intersecting shapes, patterns, colors, and ease of wear. Above all, the collection seeks to be transversal: to be worn in multiple different contexts. This is epitomized in the cardigan – a staple in the Missoni catalog – universally wearable, a quality that extends over the entire collection, in the form of windbreakers, coats and shirt-jackets. Loose silhouettes, designed to free the body and the wearer, are emboldened in the classic Missoni manner – through colorful patterning and creative textures. Effortless, cool, fun, comfortable: this is Missoni in its truest form.
www.missoni.com
Fashion
GUCCI REBELS
The debut of the Gucci FW23 Men’s Collection at the Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, two weeks into the start of the calendar year, marked yet another historic moment in the company’s history – its first collection since the departure of Alessando Michele, former Creative Director of the House. To the tense musical accompaniment of Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, the Gucci models strutted their stuff on the circular runway, many of them donning beanies and oversized silhouettes. Apparently inspired by acts of improvisation, the collection riffed on a core premise of oversized everything in the beginning and elements of indie sleaze especially in the latter part of the collection. Leg warmers featured prominently, as did variations on conventional male designs such as the blazer and chinos. Touches of glitter and pastel also emanated throughout, giving a colorful spin to the looks. As the models moved as if in a gravitational orbit around the energetic trio in the middle of the circular stage, the mood was undeniably… sexy. And moody. The collection reflected something of a rebellious take on traditional and less-traditional styles – fitting to the grunge-y chords and drum beats emanating from the core of the show. The finale, with the models revolving in single file around the periphery of the stage, had to be the highlight; as the models left the stage, Marc Ribot let out one final cry and the band played an epic drum-filled outro – an explosive and electrifying moment to mark the end of the show. As the first composition of Gucci’s post-Michele era, the show and collection sets an exciting new course for the House and its loyal followers. HZ
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Lady 95.22
The Dior Lady 95.22 is revisiting the iconic Lady bag, first released by the Maison of Dior in 1995; its name a reflection of its decade-long history. As the new replaces the old, the Lady 95.22 reinvents the original Lady with new lines and silhouettes. Its rounded silhouette and bold black design makes it a statement piece that nonetheless blends seamlessly into any outfit. Like its predecessor, the Lady 95.22 retains its signature pattern and textures in the form of the maxicannage pattern, an instant identifier. The two handles are dressed in leather and metal and embellished with Dior lucky charms. Leading the charge of the new Dior staple are three industry-leading women. World-renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is by now widely regarded as one of the most influential novelists and public speakers of this generation. For her work she has been distinguished with a MacArthur Fellowship, a National Book Critics Circle Award, and perhaps most importantly, the faithful following of a generation of young readers. Appearing next to Adichie in the current campaign are Anya-Taylor Joy, the award-winning young actress who found international recognition especially through her role as a chess grandmaster in the hit show ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, and Beatrice Borromeo, long-time Dior ambassador and political journalist. With such an impressive roster of representatives, the new Lady 95.22 embodies a pluralistic vision of femininity, painting a picture of grace, empowerment and style. HZ
www.dior.com
Fashion
Golden Sunshine
“My wine overbrims a whole summer;
My bowl is the sky,
And I drink at my eye,
Till I feel in the brain
A Delphian pain -
Then follow, my Caius! then follow:
On the green of the hill
We will drink our fill
Of golden sunshine,
Till our brains intertwine
With the glory and grace of Apollo!”
- John Keats (1818)
Written shortly before his death, Keats wrote this poem as an appeal to Apollo, the Sun God. Drinking up the golden sunshine – the glory of Apollo – with his eyes, he remains, until the pain becomes un-withstandable.
If only Keats had had the adaptable pantoscopic lenses, anti-fog technology and sleek metal accents, all offered within the LV 4MOTION sunglasses! A Maison-favorite, the model equips its wearer to drink in the sunshine while looking chic and sporty. With their universal fit, the shades are expected to be an essential statement accessory on the runway for the Spring/Summer 2023 "Rainbow Playground" men's wear collection. The LV 4MOTION sunglasses will be available in store starting February 2023. HZ
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
The Year of the Rabbit 2023
January 22nd, 2023 marks the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit in the lunar calendar. Traditionally, the sign of the Rabbit is associated with longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. Starring Chinese actors such as Qi Xi and Shi Pengyuan, as well as athlete Zhao Lina, Burberry has unveiled a new campaign to celebrate the Year of the Water Rabbit 2023. The capsule collection features well-known, traditional Burberry motifs redesigned with playful elements to celebrate the Rabbit, such as the Thomas Burberry monogram with rabbit ears. These iterations abound throughout the collection on womenswear, menswear and childrenswear, leaping off the paper onto clothes, and from bags to silk scarves and other accessories. The campaign video (aptly named “Take A Leap”) is directed by Zika Liu and Sky, and shows each individual on a journey through open spaces, finding inspiration and energy from their surroundings. Burberry encourages the viewer to use the new year to a similar end, with the message “Dream Further. Take a Leap.” HZ
www.burberry.com
Fashion
radio.cubo 50°
Brionvega is a name that is synonymous with quality engineering and elegant design. Masters of such cult-design objects as the radiocubo or the radiofonografo, the Italian design house has recently shifted its focus toward revisiting and reinventing these timeless bestsellers. In time for Milan Design Week, the brand is unveiling the remake of the legendary radio.cubo TS502 designed by Richard Sapper and Marko Zanuso in the early 1960s.
The two designers, the German Sapper and the Italian Zanuso, were two true pioneers in the world of industrial and technological design. A masterpiece of the ‘Made in Italy’ label, the radio.cubo stands out as “the radio that changed the radio.” In its time, the radio.cubo was a fresh and fun take on a heretofore rather dull piece of technology. Since the 1960s it has become an icon of this design period, being exhibited in major museums such as various branches of the MoMa.
Like a cube sliced through the middle, the radio unfolds into two shells. Light, portable and playful, the radio.cubo was a rebel to the old-fashioned static radios that prioritized function over style. Now, Brionvega revisits the design icon of the 1960s with the radio.cubo 50°, with the latest generation Bluetooth technologies, in high definition, allowing you to stream your playlists directly. It is available in Orange and Yellow Sun, White Snow, Black Night and Red. As part of the rebirth of the radio.cubo, Brionvega also unveils a collaboration with Supreme, emblazoning the famous cube with Supreme’s iconic logo and red and white colors. HZ
www.brionvega.it
Fashion
Andiamo, Bottega Veneta!
"Andiamo!" The cry is familiar to anyone that has spent a bit of time in Bella Italia. "Let’s go!" "Come on!" An appeal, a cheer, a mobilization, the four-syllable word is wrought with energy; less spoken than it is sung, like all Italian.
Born in 1966 in Vicenza, Italy, to parents Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro, the brand Bottega Veneta has since its inception retained a sharp focus on artisanal design and craftsmanship, focusing on the production of beautiful high-quality leather goods. 2001 marked a turn in the tide following a more unsuccessful chapter in the company’s history, with the acquisition by the Gucci Group and the crowning of new Creative Director Tomas Maier. Maier codified the essence of the brand as we know it today: refined and elegant, discreet yet recognizable. For Maier, a German Creative Director in a deeply Italian fashion house, sophisticated designs trumped the trends that were taking other major labels by storm in those days.
Since the beginning, Bottega Veneta has abided by a ‘non-branded philosophy’, refusing to take part in the logo craze that swept over the fashion industry in the 1990s and 2000s. Rather, the company focuses on artful design and leather craftsmanship, such as the brand’s famed “Intrecciato weave”. Today, Creative Director Matthieu Blazy has been commended for his ability to respect and evolve the codes of the house with a focus on strong tailoring and bold accessories.
The Andiamo Bag, designed by Matthieu Blazy for the Bottega Veneta Summer 23 Collection, is a strong example of the brand’s DNA. Wearable by all genders, the bag comes in three sizes and several colors and features the classic Intrecciato design, and an intricate golden knot detail on the woven straps. HZ
www.bottegaveneta.com
Fashion
Hublot's Carbon Rainbow
Aided by the newest innovations in digital and watch technology, Hublot is able to push to the borders of creativity and innovation. This is shown most recently in the newest and most colorful product on the market: the Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve in Rainbow 3D Carbon. It is the splashy sequel to the original MP-09 Model, released in 2017, but upgraded to be encased by a rainbow-themed 3D carbon case. The technology underlying the MP-09 is no less astonishing than its saturated exterior – the carbon case is assembled by threading countless thin bars of carbon into a woven pattern. It is milimeter work. What meets the eye as a seamless rainbow is more like an optical illusion, when one looks to the actual technology beneath. An impressive piece of craftsmanship, creativity and engineering.
It lies in the very DNA of the brand Hublot to explore uncharted territory in the art and craftsmanship of watchmaking. The “Art of Fusion” is how the brand itself conceptualizes it, a melding together of tradition, craftsmanship and innovation.
The Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve in Rainbow 3D Carbon will be exhibited exclusively at the Hublot Loves Art event in Miami.
www.hublot.com
Fashion
Canadian Winter Meets New York Street Style
“Not for you – for everyone” is a philosophy that lies at the heart of TELFAR, the New York based unisex fashion brand. Telfar Clements is the mastermind behind the brand, a queer Liberian-American designer, who became a success story during a pandemic that wreaked havoc on large swathes of the fashion industry. In the world of high fashion, Telfar has made a lasting impression with his emphasis on inclusivity and diversity. The relative accessibility of prices distinguishes the brand from large segments of the fashion industry, which explains in part its far-reaching popularity. Its cult-favorite, the TELFAR shopping bag, became somewhat of an “It bag”, coveted for its sleek design and rather egalitarian accessibility. Telfar applies himself to the subversion of traditional fashion expectations, from classism to gender binaries and beyond.
Moose Knuckles, Canadian luxury outerwear brand, has made a name for itself as an industry leader in producing high-quality, resilient garments. A 24-piece ready-to-wear collection marks the second collaboration between the two brands, “where Canadian technical innovation merges with unapologetic New York style designed for all.” The collection includes the classic weather-resistant Bomber jacket with a matching pair of pants, both trimmed in either fox fur or lamb shearling. Additional pieces all feature TELFAR quilted monogram and embroidery. Building upon the mania surrounding the TELFAR shopping bag, the collaboration also unveils a new shopping bag range. Moose Knuckles will also be engineering and manufacturing the debut TELFAR outerwear collection dropping this fall. HZ
www.mooseknucklescanada.com
Fashion
LOEWE opens in Amsterdam
The brand LOEWE has found new ground in the Dutch capital. With a new location on the picturesque P.C. Hooftstraat, a shopping district that runs up to the city’s cultural center, Museumsplein (“Museum Square”) and is home to a vast number of high-end retailers. “Artisanal detailing with modern flourish” is the overarching concept of the new flagship’s interior design – featuring vibrant colors and patterns, maple wood shelves and glazed ceramics.
The new store’s modest and carefully selected art collection reveals the brand LOEWE’s commitment to art and craftsmanship. It features works such as American sculptor Ron Nagle’s unmistakeable ceramics and design classics like Jos Devriendt’s “Night & Day 383” lamp. The store also includes one unmissable piece: Tomonari Hashimoto’s “Untitled” (2021), a piece from a series of sculpted works of clay that are repeatedly fired and carbonized to bring out an incredible outer layer of metal oxides, that create the look of a unique rainbow of metal oxides. The piece’s display in the store also comes following Hashimoto being distinguished as a LOEWE Craft Prize finalist in 2019.
The store is an anthology of visual expression, featuring not only sculptures but painted works as well, both contemporary and earlier. The walls are adorned with Cian-Yu Bai’s “Spring with an Angel” (2022) painting, as well as a still life by 17th-century painter Jan van Kessel. Artisanal furniture pieces such as by Gerrit Rietveld and George Nakashima carry on this first-rate collection of pieces.
The Amsterdam store is open as of December, 2022, and is located at LOEWE P.C. Hooftstraat, Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat 97, 1071 BR Amsterdam. HZ
www.loewe.com
Fashion
A quiet retreat
December, 2022. FENDI unveils its new store in Düsseldorf, located in the Königsallee. The two-storey boutique stretches out over 460 square meters, creating a spacious and airy interior feeling. Wide windows, marble floors, and FENDI’s characteristic arched LED lights tie in to this feeling of space and quiet comfort, with plush seating and lush plants forming elegant centerpieces to the rooms. The store is imbued throughout with a soft color palette and smooth materials – ivories and pinks, champagne metal shelves and silky green backdrops – that adds to the serenity of the space. FENDI handbags, clothes, and shoes line the smooth metal shelves.
The entire upstairs area is dedicated to FENDI’s ready-to-wear collections, and is a visual continuation of the airy elegance of the ground floor, using alternating elements of Arabescato Vagli marble and gold to complete the picture. The highlight of the store design resides on the first floor – a floating mirrored glass walkway that connects the glass elevator with the rest of the first floor. The intimate VIP area is a quiet retreat: with azul metal walls, a light blue marble floor and ivory velvet curtains, it brings the customer into an even deeper state of peace and meditativeness.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
FENDI for the Home
Luxury houses like FENDI don’t solely make clothes for their customers, they provide them with a complete vision, a specific lifestyle that extends beyond the confines of their body into other facets of their lives. Especially FENDI has always shown great awareness for this, having been the first luxury house to launch a home collection. In this spirit, FENDI is delighted to announce that its FENDI casa world, through which the Roman house has been bringing the unique FENDI vision into our homes, is now expanded with the first Home Décor & Lifestyle Accessories Collection. Created under the creative direction of Silvia Venturini Fendi, this new collection picks up on the FENDI codes, mirroring the house’s aesthetics not only in terms of color, as for examples the iconic FENDI yellow, or in terms of logos such as the O’Lock, FENDI Roma and Pequin, but also in terms of the Maison’s known commitment to excellence and the highest craftsmanship. The O’Lock and the FENDI Roma act as fil rouge throughout the collection having been reshaped into decorative patterns that adorn porcelain sets, boxes, trays, candle holders in a graphic reinterpretation of the Maison’s DNA. As to be expected, each piece is crafted only from the finest materials and with an incredible attention to detail, with each piece honoring the Maison and its codes.
The FENDI Home Décor & Lifestyle Accessories Collection will be available in FENDI and in FENDI Casa Boutiques worldwide, as well as online, starting from December 2022.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Memento Mori
The “Nocturnal Angels” collection represents a new chapter for the label Palm Angels, as it ventures into uncharted waters in its first-ever High Jewelry collection. Working in close collaboration with the designer and jeweler Duffy, Francesco Ragazzi – designer, photographer, Palm Angels founder – brought his own brand of daring to the endeavor, bringing the jeweler into his specific world of shapes and colors.
The collection comprises only four pieces: the Oxymoron bracelet, the Pleasuredome necklace, the Antithesis bracelet, and the Allegoria pendant. Each individual piece is handcrafted and brought to life out of varying components of gold, sterling silver, precious stones such as amethyst, sapphire, diamonds, and more. Each piece is also uniquely adorned with motifs that call to mind the theme. According to Ragazzi, “Memento Mori” was a central concept in this collection – an artistic and religious trope that was thought to remind the viewer of their mortality and the inevitability of death. In this vein, the two designers played especially with the motifs of bones, insects, snakes, skulls, and leaves – common motifs in art history used to evoke this theme – to point to the “transience of life”. Another case in point for Palm Angels’ ongoing mission to use clothing and design as “cultural signifiers”.
The Palm Angels High Jewelry collection will be exclusively available at the brand pop-up boutique in Los Angeles, 8818 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, California 90069. HZ
www.palmangels.com
Fashion
Goodbyes at Gucci
Alessandro Michele is bidding “Arrivederci” to the House of Gucci. In announcing Michele’s departure, François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering, stated, “I am grateful to Alessandro for bringing so much of himself in this adventure. His passion, his imagination, his ingenuity and his culture put Gucci center stage, where its place is.” Alessandro Michele has certainly left his mark on the House during his tenure. Gucci’s vast successes in recent years have often been attributed to Michele’s visionary character, whose fresh and unorthodox ideas breathed new life into the company. His experimentation with such things as gender-fluid styles, digital exploration, and environmental conservation brought Gucci back into the focus of younger audiences. Creative collaborations with the likes of Harry Styles, Måneskin, and Jared Leto furthered this cause. His inauguration as Creative Director back in 2015 followed on from predecessor Frida Giannini’s reign, one which painted a rather rigid image of Gucci: exclusive, sophisticated, jet-setter lifestyle – a few words often used in association with Giannini’s Gucci. Michele’s Gucci, by contrast, favored a looser, romantic, more contemporary approach. His inventiveness spelled reinvention for the House. Gucci has yet to announce the new creative lead, as it bids goodbye to the era of Michele. HZ
www.kering.com
Fashion
Prada's Crypto Christmas
Prada’s newest announcement of its seventh Timecapsule Collection drop marks the latest development in the House’s digital saga. The Timecapsule collection is a futuristic take from an over 100-year-old business. The House of Prada, along with some of its other peers in the industry, has taken a bold step toward expanding its area of function and creative presence into Web3. The Timecampsule NFT collection embodies this progression into the digital realm, as each new monthly drop is linked to both a gender-neutral physical product as well as a gifted NFT. The drop takes place in the form of an online event: on the first Thursday of every month, a limited quantity of the Timecapsule Collection products are made available for 24 hours. Limited-edition Timecapsule items are linked to a unique serial number, and buyers are granted Prada NFTs in the second stage. NFT owners are also offered exclusive benefits and experiences, including invitations to Prada Extends or Prada Mode. The latest installment celebrates the festive season with the revisit to a familiar favorite – the holiday sweater. Made of Merino wool and using a special Norwegian jacquard knitting technique, the sweater forms one half of the Prada package, weaving in knitted traditional festive glory with Aura blockchain technology. HZ
www.prada.com
Fashion
The sun, the moon and the stars of Berlin
The Italian jewelry maker DoDo recently presented its new Moon & Sun Collection at its grand opening in Berlin. The new collection revolves especially around the use of semi-precious stones like smoky quartz and moonstone. Inspired in large part by the sun and the moon, the new collection weaves in these fundamental elements conceptually and physically throughout the collection. The sun, representing warmth, light, vitality, and passion, is symbolically packaged into jewelry pieces through the use of brown diamond pavé on burnished gold, creating a rose gold background. The moon, representing sensuality, mystery and cyclicality, also takes center stage in the jewelry line. The collection mimics the moon’s waning phase on the rose gold background, as a pavé of white diamonds on rhodium-plated gold. The sun and moon motifs are elegantly embodied in the rings of rose gold. The bracelets bring together moonstone or smoky quartz beads between small tubular sections of rose gold. Moon pendants of white diamond and sun pendants made up of brown diamonds bring the cosmic motif to the foreground again.
An impressive roster of guests filled the halls of the brand’s new boutique at 32 Rosenthaler Strasse at Hackescher Markt, the famous square in the middle of the illustrious Mitte district in Berlin, to celebrate the launching of the new collection. The festivities at the boutique were followed by an afterparty at the Weekend Club Berlin. “A sky over Berlin studded with gems and diamonds” served to complete the image, reflecting back the light from the beautiful jewelry on display below. HZ
www.dodo.it
Fashion
THE POWER A SMILE HOLDS
For over 50 years, the SmileyWorld brand has been gatekeeper to the iconic smiley – a simple yellow circle holding no more than two dots for the eyes and an arc for the mouth, which has nonetheless become a symbol of positivity and light to generations since. What began as a venture to bring light to daily news by highlighting positive news bits with a smiling face, has since become a thriving business model. Having the foresight to license the trademark, the father of the smiley, French journalist Franklin Loufrani, has created something of a smiley empire. As a symbol of the free love/counterculture movement in France in the early 70s, and later on a ubiquitous staple with the rise of the internet, the smiling yellow face has stood the test of time. In its FW22/23 collection, A|X Armani Exchange is now breathing fresh life into the long journey of the famous smile, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SmileyWorld brand. Two new designs are at the forefront of the collection, giving a new face to the familiar logo – the first replacing SmileyWorld’s eyes with the A|X logo, the other paying homage to founder Giorgio Armani by distinguishing it with his recognizable glasses and smile. These are applied across the collection; on bombers, t-shirts, backpacks, and more. True to form, the famous smiley radiates positivity, and reflects its characteristic rebelliousness across the entire collection. HZ
www.armani.com
Travel
Abadia Retuerta Hotel: Experiences in a historic Setting
Excellent Wine, Spanish sun and Spa experiences in a historic setting Abadìa Retuerta welcomes its guest in a former monastery from the 12th century
In the heart of Spain, two hours north of Madrid, the lavender still smells in autumn, a hawk soars and the sun has enough warmth for you to enjoy the pool. Around Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine – a 5* hotel and winery – gentle hills rise with vines, olive trees and pines. The history of this special hotel is present everywhere, it makes you slow down, pause, relax: Located in a 12th century monastery the Santa María de Retuerta Abbey was founded by monks in 1146 and was later declared a Site of Cultural Interest by UNESCO in 1931. Much can be discovered in the old walls that protect you from the Spanish sun: an exclusive wine bar is hidden behind a door, and the oldest part of the property, the chapel, extends behind the cloister, where unique works of art find their ideal setting. Art – be it works from the Renaissance and Baroque – can be found throughout the luxury hotel, on the large historic walls of the corridors and restaurants as well as in the rooms and suites. And it is wondrous, the halls and gardens are so spacious that one feels like a single guest on the property, only at breakfast, dinner or at the fireplace in the evening other guests are suddenly around, enriching the pleasant atmosphere. Two Michelin stars have been awarded to the upscale gastronomy at the Refectorio restaurant under the direction of chef Marc Segarra, including a Green Star for the sustainable cuisine. In the impressive historic rooms, the former dining hall of the monks, local and seasonal products are served under the imposing vaulted ceiling alongside fresh vegetables from the restaurant's own organic garden. Visible from all windows in all directions is the essence that is the soul of Abadìa Retuerta: the more than 700 hectares of land where delicious grapes thrive and are treated by the Spanish sun. On the huge Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine vineyard, which extends in the valley of the Douro River, where the earth is particularly aromatic, various vines grow, awarded the "Winery for Climate Protection" seal. A guided tour of the wine cellar and the wine production facilities is recommended, and of course includes a tasting of the wonderful wines. Those who prefer spa and wellness will love the Abadìa Retuerta. Either enjoy the sun by the spacious outdoor pool or head to the underground spa, which is like an oasis of calm. A spa sommelier combines the healing properties of aromatherapy with wine and oils in the treatments. Whether in the spa, during dining, in the chapel or on a walk in the vineyards - the hotel is a place of deceleration, of retreat, of finding oneself. Just as the monks in the monastery celebrated already centuries ago. BK
www.abadia-retuerta.com
Art
TC Stool by Kokke House: Revamping a Classic
Ruud-Jan Kokke is a Dutch designer working in line with the tradition of Gerrit Rietveld, who rose to fame in the mid-80s due to his inventive objects and furniture pieces. He might be best known for his TC Stool, which was awarded several prizes and has also been included in the permanent collections of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, as well as the MoMa in New York. The story behind this iconic piece is simple. Gallery Owner and museum guide Trees Coenders approached Kokke in 1989 with a request to create a chair that was suitable for museum tours. Up until then, they had used folding chairs, which were not only relatively heavy but which also proved to be quite impractical due to their angular shape. The new chair needed to be light, practical and easily movable during the museum tours. Kokke immediately caught on to the question and began the work which led to one of his most famous creations the TC Stool. The design is simple and pure yet well-thought-out, a defining characteristic of Kokke’s work. He is not distracted by fuss but aims to create a balance of form and use, drawing upon his extensive knowledge of materials and techniques. The chosen material for the TC Stool was aircraft plywood which is very strong, yet flexible. Kokke, a pioneer working with this material, bent the material into a cone shape and milled a handle into the seat. But this first prototype was initially rejected, as according to the client it looked too massive. To give it a light appearance, he added horizontal slots in the hull, resulting in the playful and light-footed design we came to know today. The TC Stool became an immediate success. 32 years later, the TC Stool is now making its return onto the market. Kokke House, an initiative by Romy Kokke and her husband Daniel Beasley, is now bringing back the iconic design of Ruud-Jan Kokke. Starting with the TC Stool, they will also bring back other designs in limited editions collaborating with artists such as Klaas Gubbels and Petra Hartman. With Kokke House being a family business, it will now bring back the spotlight to this highly acclaimed piece of Dutch design history.
www.kokkehouse.com
Fashion
Rolex Boutique Berlin
Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm belongs to the country’s most famous streets, and has become the German capital’s premier address for luxury. After extensive renovations and remodeling, Swiss watch manufacturer Rolex and Wempe are re-opening their joint-boutique in the historic building situated at Kurfürstendamm 184. Having initially been opened as the first Rolex Boutique in Germany back in 2009, the boutique’s new interior is an embodiment of the famed Rolex aesthetic and all the values of excellence, precision and love for detail for which they have become known over the years. Carefully selected colors and patterns radiate an ambience of comfort whilst providing an insight into the world of Rolex. The focal point of the new store are the impressive oval sales tables crafted in walnutwood with golden paneling, exclusively designed to showcase the Rolex selection in the store as well as an intimate VIP area and lounge. The partnership between Rolex and Wempe dates back as early as the 1950s, when the first Rolex watches were sold by Wempe in Germany and has continued throughout the decades. As Rémi Corpataux, Managing Director of Rolex Germany puts it, “We are happy to, in collaboration with our longstanding partner Jeweler Wempe, reopen our Berlin Boutique after extensive renovation and remodeling.”
www.rolex.com
Fashion
The comeback of Cartier’s pebble-shaped watch
An icon returns, as Cartier releases the pebble-shaped watch which has been firmly rooted at the core of the Maison’s watchmaking heritage for 50 years. Distinguished by its rarity and singularity, the watch and its unprecedented design recall the feeling of excitement in London at the beginning of the 1970s. During this time, a creative upswing within the English capital and Cartier became noticeable and led to the designs of the Crash in 1967 and the Maxi Oval in 1969. Meanwhile, the pebble-shaped watch was released in 1972 and was only produced in a very limited number. The thus highly sought-after watch model returns today with a surprising and singular aesthetic, paying homage to the original design which unites roundness with a square dial beneath an elegant exterior.
Cartier launches 150 individually-numbered pieces of the reinvented model, subtly deviating from the original in their proportions. Beyond that, it houses one of Cartier’s flattest hand-wound movements, the Manufacture 430 MC movement. Emphasizing the creative mind significant to Cartier, the watch consists of an 18-carat gold case, which combines pure lines with harmonious proportions. The Roman numerals and blued sword-shaped hands stand out on the eggshell-colored dial, showing great attention to detail. To complete the sophisticated design, a light brown calf leather strap with a gold pin buckle adds a vintage touch to the otherwise timeless design. JW
www.cartier.com
Fashion
Dion Lee launches Dion Lee Code
Dion Lee introduces Dion Lee Code as it launches the Façade Digital NFT collection in collaboration with MA+CREATIVE. As the official launch into web 3, the collection is dropping today, including five digital garments and two full looks. The looks are distinguished by a semi-sheer lace as lace serves as a window into the character’s identities. Beyond that, the first look consists of a silicone wave lace frock coat, contour corset, and, contour lace trousers, while the second look features a visceral lace hooded tank and blueprint denim.
The designs stem from Dion himself while the universal format in 3D files was created by the NFT artist Sam Walker. Entitled Façade, the collection investigates, how far we use constructed identities to build up a facade. The designer thus enters another dimension, where we can choose our characteristics, no matter the societal circumstances and external controls. Sevdaliza’s track System was chosen to accompany the collection as it was inspired by Sevda’s experience as a woman in the music industry who does not identify in any way with industry standards.
Dion Lee has announced, to donate part of the proceeds to the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistant Project, which offers comprehensive support for women to have a safe, legal abortion or emergency contraceptives. JW
www.dionlee.com
Fashion
Hermès opens new flagship store in NYC
Parisian elegance meets New York dynamism at Hermès’ new flagship store at 706 Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side. Testifying to the Maison’s love for New York City, this new address exudes its lively and creative spirit. In order to provide a spaciously sized and unique store, the Parisian architecture agency RDAI connected three existing buildings, one former bank building adjacent to townhouses. The interior of the several distinctive salons that form the store is inspired by New York’s Art Deco past, thus pure yet decidedly anti-minimal, linking angular geometry with curved manifestations. The now fully renovated premises stand out due to their carefully chosen materials and neutral color palette as some aspects, including a coffered ceiling, recall the history of the buildings. The highlight is an arresting stone staircase running all the way to the fourth floor, which is adorned with an astonishing artwork collection on its supporting wall.
On the floor ground, one can find fashion jewelry, the silk universe, perfume, and beauty as well as men’s silk, leather goods, and equestrian collections. The second-floor houses the men’s universe in a warm atmosphere which transitions into the comfortable aura of the women’s universe on the third floor. A moment to rest is offered by the bars on the third and fourth floor, which also lead to the enticing roof garden, a rare treasure in New York.
Various iconic Hermès designs have been revamped for this special occasion, including the American Quilt, celebrating this exciting opening. JW
www.hermès.com
Fashion
My INNER HEALTH Club launches revolutionary streaming service
As humankind becomes more and more health aware while at the same time everyday life becomes more hectic and fast these days, engaging with comprehensive and profound information surrounding the broad topic of mental and physical well-being is more significant than ever. With the aim of reviving and introducing traditional knowledge into daily life, the Berlin-based startup My INNER HEALTH Club was founded.
The young company launched as Europe’s first streaming service in the health sector and offers new original content every week revolving around the diverse and broad aspects of health. The personalized information gathered from world-leading experts can be accessed based on monthly or yearly subscriptions, depicting a revolutionary step in shaping our relationship with health. On the platform, customers can visit multimedia online classes which provide holistic solutions to issues of our modern life, including among other things stress, digestive disorders, or low energy. Taking into consideration that information about health can be abstract and inaccessible, My INNER HEALTH Club unravels complex issues and presents simple and individual approaches to preserving health. Beyond that, the startup introduced the My INNER HEALTH Club Traditional Health Practice Report 2022 in Western Europe as part of the launch. JW
www.myinnerhealthclub.com
Fashion
Gucci presents Valigeria imagery with Ryan Gosling
For the Gucci Savoy collection, creative director Alessandro Michele and photographer Glen Luchford created an imagery which takes us into a reality-adjacent dream of a present built on the possibilities of the imagination and of an encounter. Featuring actor, screenwriter, director and musician Ryan Gosling, the collection’s images and video follow him and the exceptional Gucci suitcases on a journey to surprising places and fantastical worlds, which are first and foremost mental places, as Michele explains.
The narrative depicted is not unfamiliar to the maison’s history: At the beginning of the 20th century Gucci’s founder Guccio Gucci left Italy when he was seventeen years old and started working at The Savoy hotel in London. Getting a taste of the magical world of travel, which back then was synonymous with discovery, discussion and cultural exchange, the young Florentine transferred this experience of the unexpected into his work, that is his first suitcases. Honoring this first part of Gucci’s rich history, the trolleys, hard and soft suitcases, duffle bags, trunks, hat boxes and beauty cases of the Savoy collection get to tell the a story of possibilities in the Gucci Valigeria imagery, as they are more than containers, but repositories of dreams. JW
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Dries Van Noten SS23 goes from Darkness into light
During Paris Fashion Week Dries Van Noten showed the women’s spring/summer 23 collection, which revolved around the theme of Darkness into light. Thus the collection was divided into three parts: the purity of black, the suggestion of color faded pastels, and novel flower prints. Investigating the contrast between these elements, the development from dark shades to cheerful patterns celebrates and embraces optimism.
The first part of the collection, distinguished by its black color, is inspired by the radicality of Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square. As it consists of structured pieces, this part includes jackets with oversized shoulders and dresses with sculptural waists. Continuing with the pastels, which can be found on crushed pleats, the fringing of cargo pants, and a layered dress, the soft shades embody the lingering memory of color. For the flower prints, significant to Dries Van Noten, earlier designs got revamped. Varying between oversized and micro-prints, the patterns and textures collide in powerful silhouettes. As the collection plays with the contrast between transparency, lightness, and precision, masculine jackets are combined with mousseline skirts.
The accessories, including glass jewelry and heeled shoes, are fragile and robust at the same time, paying homage to intimate moments within the whole collection. JW
www.driesvannoten.com
Fashion
Seeing double at the Gucci SS23 fashion show
During Milan Fashion Week Gucci presented the new Spring/ Summer collection 2023, designed by the Maison’s creative director Alessandro Michele. Titled Twinsburg, this collection pays homage to two extraordinary women of the creative director’s life, his mother and her twin sister. Having experienced their deep connection, secret intimacy, and ancestral alliance while growing up, Michele developed a fascination for the double. He explains: “Every single time I catch an aura of beauty in such specular multiplication. It’s so familiar, so powerful.”
For this reason, 68 pairs of identical twins walked the Gucci runway to present the garments of the new Spring/ Summer collection, yet portraying the impossibility of the perfectly identical. From this, the designer derives the tension of the relationship between original and copy, which determines the collection. It shows how the same garments create different effects on seemingly identical bodies and how fashion after all reinforces the act of individualization. That is, the collection describes twinship as a relationship between identity and otherness. Though sharing a confusable appearance, twins are not limited in their being. Nevertheless, they portray the sense of co-belonging and sisterhood, which is an indispensable part of our every life. JW
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Brunello Cucinelli SS 23 dresses the “female explorer”
With a special focus on high-quality and artisanal workmanship, Brunello Cucinelli created the new Spring Summer 2023 collection which revolves around the idea of a “female explorer”. The collection stands for an elegant, luxurious, and discreet style, reinforced through the beige colors, significant to the brand. Earth tones and delicate pastel tones round off the palette and, in the context of the “explorer”, portray impressions gathered on the journey. Centered on the idea of “fluid tailoring”, the garments were crafted in a versatile and easy-going manner, balancing out the orderly elegance and masculine tailoring. As the core of the brand, knitwear becomes a feminine and contemporary element within the new collection. Textured embroidery and crochet stitches show once again the brand’s high expertise in craftsmanship. A highlight of the collection is the new Twin Wear category which consists of matching sets as a feminine alternative to dresses, jumpsuits, and suits, allowing versatile combinations.
The accessories of the Spring Summer 2023 collection seem contemporary and timeless at the same time. Taking on the neutral colors of the garments, these accessories can be described as minimalistic and pure. Knitting techniques used for the clothes can also be seen on everyday accessories, whose material gets enhanced by special textures, such as nappa leathers with broderie anglaise-style embroidery. JW
www.brunellocucinelli.com
Fashion
Sportmax shows SS23 at Milan Fashion Week
Sportmax presented its new Spring/ Summer 2023 collection at Milan Fashion Week. The collection is based on the relationship between speech sounds and visual shapes and objects. As the human brain attaches shapes to abstract meanings, such as “bouba” and “kiki”, the title of the collection, Sportmax addresses the duality of elements in its own experiment. That is, the brand created a collage of elements, which discover their own balance while removing themselves from any logic. Hence, the collection celebrates dualisms and brazen creativity, disrupting social norms.
With a playful approach, Sportmax constructed a collection around minimal but contrasting looks and hypnotic, luminescent patterns. Techno-couture skirts matched with ultra-cropped tops. Streetwear gets linked to evening wear in a vivid palette of acid tones, pastels, deep colors, and black and white. Not only combine the garments different aesthetics but also different time eras. For instance, A-lines and large flare silhouettes of the 1950s are seen next to futuristic space age styles of the 60s and counterculture looks of the 90s. Regarding the accessories, Sportmax designed pneumatic bags as well as exceptional footwear such as second-skin boots. JW
www.sportmax.com
Fashion
Diesel SS 23 showcases democratic fashion
For its fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Diesel broke a world record. In front of 5000 spectators, the Italian brand presented the world’s largest ever inflatable sculpture, creating a unique and energetic atmosphere for the runway. Glenn Martens, creative director of Diesel explains: “I wanted to open Diesel up to the public, for people who may never have been to a fashion show before. They deserve a spectacle so we’ve broken the record (...).” For this reason, the new collection revolves around democratic fashion as it is titled the Diesel Democracy, characterized by denim, utility, pop, and play.
In the spirit of the brand, Martens experimented a lot with denim. To create denim devoré he weaved denim onto a transparent base, which then was fabricated into the devoré corset. Some of the denim incorporated into the garments has been bonded with a layer of cotton and then acid washed, revealing the denim once more. The collection also includes bonded leather jackets that are cut with raw edges. Alongside many other designs, Diesel also presents a new Eyewear collection in collaboration with Essilor Luxottica. Defined by color edging and metallic temples finishing on a perfect D, the styles complete the collection with a special accent. JW
www.diesel.com
Fashion
Dior presents La D de Dior Black Ultramatte
According to Christian Dior’s Little Dictionary of Fashion, published in 1954, the color black can be worn at any time, at any age, and on any occasion. Correspondingly, Victoire de Castellane, the Artistic Director of Dior Joaillerie, now launches La D de Dior watch in an all-black ensemble. Referring to Christian Dior’s dedication to the color, which is deeply rooted in the French Maison’s history, the watch is mysterious and familiar at the same time. It is simple as well, as there are no numbers on the dial, only the Dior lettering and three small dark stones divide it into four sections. However, this does not detract from its luxurious and high-quality appearance but seems to rather emphasize it. As such La D de Dior Black Ultramatte offers the possibility to reflect one’s personality, adapting to its wearer. The stainless steel Milanese mesh bracelet is characterized by a “Satine” pattern and rounds off the design as a whole.
The unique and chic watch model is also available with a black diamond-set bezel, which creates an astonishing light-dark radiance, thus evoking a sense of elegance and preciousness. JW
www.dior.com
Fashion
The new JEANY icon bag by LIEBESKIND BERLIN
Continuing the exclusive “THE EDIT” collection, LIEBESKIND BERLIN introduces its new “JEANY” icon bag. Manufactured in a Tuscan factory and made of the finest Italian leather, the bag stands for high quality and craftsmanship. As the limited edition comes out twice a year, the brand decided to reinterpret one of its classics, which echoes the progression of the brand over the last 19 years, as Gina Condé, Creative Director of LIEBESKIND BERLIN explains.
The bag is available in two sizes, ranging from small to large, which come in different leathers. They are either fabricated in fine nubuck, modern crinkled patent leather, or natural Nappa leather. With great attention to detail, special touches have been added to the handmade bag, including the bonded leather lining in contrasting colors inside the bags, alternating between classic and bold colors. Furthermore, the different versions of the JEANY are embellished with a hand-turned leather handle and brass accessories, which define the overall look of the leather goods as it gives them a modern note. Combining Italian artisanry and the Berlin atmosphere in the brand’s spirit, the bag is a unique piece, distinguished by its luxurious and timeless design. JW
www.liebeskind-berlin.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton opens Men’s pop-up in Amsterdam de Bijenkorf
For the first time, the French Maison Louis Vuitton welcomes customers to a unique pop-up in Amsterdam, dedicated to the new Fall in Love collection. Located in the center of de Bijenkorf’s ground floor, it can not be missed thanks to its impressive architectural structure in an eye-catching orange. The open space is decorated with modular furniture and has patterned walls in Damier, a signature motif of Louis Vuitton. In combination with the displayed musical instruments and the Louis Vuitton on Air neon lights, the pop-up resembles a recording studio. The construction follows the New York and ’70s vibe of the clothing of the Maison’s collection, which is distinguished by its special color palette and graphic designs. Since the garments are casual and sophisticated at the same time, they reflect the style of a modern man. Enhancing classic pieces by adding a modern twist is the basic concept of the clothing line. As the collection is composed of ready-to-wear and leather goods pieces, it combines Louis Vuitton’s savoir-faire with exciting contrasts. Highlights are the Taurillon Denim and the Record Monogram leather goods line, as they reinforce the retro touch of Fall in Love. JW
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Billie Eilish stars in Gucci Eyewear imagery
Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish makes her debut as the face of the new Gucci eyewear imagery, featuring designs of the second release of Gucci’s 2022 eyewear collection. Known and loved for embracing authenticity and self-expression, Billie Eilish reflects the core values of the iconic Italian brand. Inspired by the film noir genre, the series follows the talented musician on a dreamlike car ride, which takes her and the viewer on a journey through a range of striking portraits echoing Billie Eilish’s unique style. An intriguing plot attracts the viewer, who gets ready to unravel the mystery. The images are based on unbalanced compositions and use a rich color palette, as well as contrasted lighting effects, creating a suspenseful atmosphere. Portraying the cars as a symbolic extension of their driver in the imagery, they reflect their intentions, motivations, and personalities. The imagery as a whole is composed of retro allure and modern sophistication which recurs in the eyewear designs. In one of the images, Billie Eilish wears caravan sunglasses distinguished by black acetate and gold-toned Gucci script logos. Another one shows the American singer with an 80’s-inspired cat eye design in pink, echoing the alluring and cinematic vibe of the images. JW
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton celebrates its watchmaking - anniversary
20 years ago, Louis Vuitton released its first-ever watch, the Tambour, which embodied the French Maison’s new passion for watchmaking. Two decades have passed since then, during which the Tambour has become an integral part of the luxury brand’s watch collection. While taking on different versions, it always remained in Louis Vuitton’s spirit as it combines the Art of Travel with bold creativity in the fields of technology and craftsmanship. 2009 marked an innovative year in the Maison’s history of watchmaking, as the then-launched Tambour Spin Time replaced clock hands and indexes with rotating cubes. This innovation was followed by the strong and masculine Tambour Evolution in 2014 and the sleek Tambour Slim in 2016. After the launch of further variations of the elegant watch model, the Tambour Carpe Diem was honored by receiving the Audacity Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève in 2021, while the Tambour Street won the Diver’s Watch Prize. Now, in 2022, Louis Vuitton has revealed the third generation of its Tambour Horizon Light Up model, testifying to the Maison’s dedication to technological innovation. The French Maison now celebrates its two decades of watchmaking with the Tambour Twenty, available in a limited edition of 200 pieces. Honoring the original Tambour, this model is defined by its deep, flared shape and a brown sun-brushed dial as well as the chronograph’s long yellow hand glides. JW
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak turns 50
To celebrate the 50th birthday of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, the Swiss Haute-Horlogerie manufacturer launches a special book in collaboration with the luxury publishing house Assouline. Written by award-winning cultural journalist Bill Prince, the book tells the story of the iconic watch model from a culturally relevant point of view. It includes exclusive information found in Audemars Piguet’s archives and frames the text with pictures and annotations of longstanding friends of the watchmaker.
When the Royal Oak was first released in 1972, it caused a great sensation due to its ultra-flat automatic movement, which has never been seen before. In the following years of cultural and industrial change, the watch not only kept up with time but was even ahead of it. Marking a new era of Haute Horlogerie distinguished by sportiness and finesse, it embodied an active yet serene lifestyle. Combining technological innovation and high-quality craftsmanship the Royal Oak is not just a watch but a cultural asset that goes beyond the momentariness of our being. The “Generation Royal Oak”, including celebrities such as Kevin Hart, Mark Ronson, and Serena Williams, are featured in the book as they talk about their inspirations rooted in the cultural movement since the Royal Oak was first released. JW
www.audemarspiguet.com
Fashion
LML Studio presents Sensible Ensemble
Known for his hand-painted and re-tailored garments, fashion designer and founder of LML Studio Lucas Meyer-Leclèrc showed his latest collection, titled Sensible Ensemble, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin in the old Telegraphenamt. The new collection revolved around the theme “remake, reuse, reassemble”. Thus, Lucas Meyer-Leclèrc incorporated many reworked and repurposed vintage pieces into the collection, some of which derived from the 1930s. A significant part of Sensible Ensemble was composed of hand-knitted, crocheted, painted and embroidered pants and shorts as well as coats, tops and accessories. The designs and the fashion show, which was divided into three parts, were inspired by the beautiful feeling of togetherness as well as diversity and the freedom of love and life. A highlight of the runway show was the Berlin Ensemble, who performed an a cappella version of German icon Marlene Dietrich’s and Peter Seegers’ song “Tell me where the flowers are.” Musician PZUDEMO also performed during the show and sang his song GRIND. He was dressed in retailored cotton gabardine trousers, a leather vest and a jacket, which was composed of several evening suits from the 1930s, both hand-painted. A hand crocheted tie completed the look. JW
www.MBFW.berlin
Fashion
Kilian Kerner and LIEBESKIND BERLIN collaborate for Berlin Fashion Week
For the first time, German bag brand LIEBESKIND BERLIN joins forces with the Berlin fashion designer Kilian Kerner for his show at Berlin Fashion Week. In the course of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin, Kerner presented his new collection which carries the name IKONEN, German for icons. The title references the inspiration which defined the designs as Kilian Kerner was heavily influenced by his own personal icons of various fields. In the building of the old Berlin telegraph office, which spreads a unique atmosphere, the event welcomed high-profile guests, like actress Jella Haase, Model Franziska Knuppe and influencer Klaudia Giez.
Kilian Kerner’s garments were perfectly complemented by the clean yet idiosyncratic design of the high quality bags of LIEBESKIND BERLIN, such as the Paper Bag or the Chelsea. The collection of clothing is as well defined by clean cuts and striking designs. Furthermore the two labels are interconnected as they both are soaked with the extraordinary spirit of Berlin and draw huge inspiration from the German capital. Having similar perceptions of charm and creativity, both brands create timeless and remarkable pieces, which they combined at Berlin Fashion Week. JW
www.liebeskind-berlin.com
www.kilian-kerner.de
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend - Sofia Pashaei at Ballon Rouge
On the occasion of Brussels Gallery Weekend Ballon Rouge is presenting Sofia Pashaei’s first solo exhibition Meaning in the off hours.
The exhibition is showing paintings, which revolve around relationships individuals have with themselves and other people. An important component in the settings portrayed is time. It is depicted in the change of architecture and objects decorating the scene, creating a narrative which then again takes time to fully grasp. Seamlessly and smoothly, the Swedish artist paints interiors and pieces of furniture transitioning in one another, thus a couch can become a bathtub and so on. In these sceneries Pashaei refers to human identities, which can be similarly structured as many dissonant, but woven rooms. Hence, the architecture depicts splitted identities, common for families of immigrants. Nevertheless, a room or a house holds and reveals all parts of the identity of the person living there. In many cases the painter uses the same symbolism in her works, such as a toy-like bird silhouette which represents childhood. Another popular one is the lemon, referring to the saying “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. Depicted in various ways, the meanings differ from one to the other, for example a halved lemon symbolizes a secret gladly revealed. Touching the heel of a foot or the mouth, the lemon shows the supporting yet inhibiting effect of the changing form of one’s identity.
The exhibition Meaning in the off hours by Sofia Pashaei will be open to the public from September 8th to October 23rd, 2022 at Ballon Rouge in Brussels. JW
SOFIA PASHAEI
The Blue Room, 2022
Oil on linen, 80 x 60 cm
Photo credit: Seppe Lewaut
Courtesy of the artist and Ballon Rouge, Brussels
www.ballonrougecollective.com
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend - Fabrice Monteiro at Didier Claes
Didier Claes returns to Brussels Gallery Weekend this year with a solo exhibition, showing photographs of Belgian/Beninese artist Fabrice Monteiro. The 8 Mile Wall shows a series of portraits as the artist’s favorite form of expression. His works deal with the stereotypes of black people that date back to the time of slavery and colonialism.
When Monteiro was still a child, he had a conversation with his father, which made him realize the subconscious effect of aesthetic details, such as clothing, on how we perceive each other. Many years later this conversation led him to create this series, trying to deconstruct this way of thinking. The title of the series, The 8 Mile Wall, refers to a wall of the same name in Detroit, which runs from 8 Mile Road to Pembroke Avenue for 0.8 kilometers. Built in 1941, the wall was supposed to separate black and white homeowners as black people were not welcome on the other side of it, epitomizing racial discrimination. As his photographs portray his complex heritage, they also illustrate the difficult and ambivalent relationship between Europe and Africa, one of curiosity and rejection. His works aim to break down the hurtful and widely used stereotypes by countering the clichés and presenting black people with dignity as a symbol of mental oppression.
The exhibition The 8 Mile Wall will be open to the public from September 8th to November 11th, 2022 at Didier Claes in Brussels. JW
FABRICE MONTEIRO
Pitit Noir, 2017
Digital art print, 120 x 120 cm
Courtesy of the artists and Didier Claes, Brussels
www.didierclaes.com
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend - Andrea Büttner at Jan Mot
In the course of Brussels Gallery Weekend, Andrea Büttner is showing the second part of her exhibition Painted Ceiling and Floor at Jan Mot.
The German artist had previously shown the first part of this exhibition in an art gallery in London in the year of 2019. This time however, the artwork, a painted ceiling, rather resembles a painted grid. Büttner had already shown such a grid in another gallery the previous year. The artist's main focus is to show ceiling painting as the connecting element between architecture and painting. Furthermore, her works are reminiscent of Romanesque chapels, where the ceiling paintings have a special significance for the viewer's experience. Besides the ceiling, the floor of the gallery also becomes a work of art, as it is also painted by Büttner. In doing so the artist wants to entice a change of view from top to bottom since she is particularly interested in this kind of movement as a social and economic condition as well as one part of doing labor.
The exhibition Painted Ceiling and Floor by Andrea Büttner will be open to the public from September 8th to October 29th, 2022 at the gallery Jan Mot in Brussels. JW
ANDREA BÜTTNER
Painted Ceiling and Floor
Vue d’installation Jan Mot in Brussels (detail), 2022
Photo credit: Philippe De Gobert
Courtesy of the artist and Jan Mot, Brussels
www.janmot.com
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend - Jean Katambayi Mukendi at Waldburger Wouters
Opening during Brussels Gallery Weekend, Waldburger Wouters is presenting the exhibition f’low by Congolese artist Jean Katambayi Mukendi.
Born in 1974 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and based in Lubumbashi, the capital of the Haut-Katanga region and second biggest city in Congo, his artworks often revolve around Congolese society. From an early age, Jean Katambayi Mukendi developed a passion for the fields of technology, mechanics, geometry, and electricity, which later led him to graduate as an electrician and study mathematics at university. The impressions he gathered from these experiences as well as aspects of his daily life now inspire and define his work as a visual artist. For this exhibition, opening on Brussels Gallery Weekend, Jean Katambayi Mukendi created art installations, fragile and complex at the same time, which are driven by sophisticated electrical mechanisms.
The exhibition f’low by Jean Katambayi Mukendi will be open to the public from September 8th to October 22nd, 2022 at the gallery Waldburger Wouters in Brussels. JW
JEAN KATAMBAYI MUKENDI
Concentrateur
Photo credit: Koen Vrancken
Courtesy of the artist and Waldburger Wouters, Brussels
www.waldburgerwouters.com
Fashion
Bottega Veneta shows craft in motion
Exchange and teamwork are at the core of the imagery for Bottega Veneta’s Winter 22 collection. Gaining new perspectives on the brand and the collection from one another, creative director Matthieu Blazy brought together a cross-generational cast, composed of different fields, such as photography, cinematography, and modeling. In doing so, the creation of the imagery reflects the tradition and history of the luxury brand, as Blazy puts it himself: “Bottega Veneta was created by a collective of artisans. This is the history and this is how we approached (the project) (...), with many different ways of seeing.” The series consists of 41 still and moving images mainly shot on film. Since the imagery was produced over several weeks, the participating talents were able to form deeper connections, leading to an exciting exchange which then again enriched the outcome of the project. Some of them have never worked in fashion before, others have a long history in it, hence the images link fresh and more experienced approaches to presenting the collection. Exploring the intimate, yet carefully constructed space between the creation and the capture of a moment, the images are distinguished by Blazy’s notion of craft. They portray the true character of the brand, composed of movement and pragmatism as well as high quality and luxury. JW
www.bottegaveneta.com
Fashion
Exquisite by Gucci
Inspired by the wondrous world of cinematography, Gucci presents its new imagery Exquisite, set in motion by the brand’s creative director Alessandro Michele. The Italian fashion designer has long been fascinated by the cinema’s visionary power to tell stories. For this reason, he always imagined his “collections as films able to convey a cinematography of the present”. Exquisite honors the work of Stanley Kubrick, a philosophic filmmaker and a great master in his field. Admiring his experimental approach to creating films that do not belong to a specific genre but blur their boundaries with exceeding significance, Michele draws great inspiration from him. Taking his liberty of decomposing, altering, and reassembling, the designer produced a film and images which depict various of Gucci’s creations from the last decades in captivating sceneries. The Adidas gown is presented as a Victorian costume, followed by a dress designed by Laura Whitcomb, popularized by Madonna in the 90s, and a dreamy evening dress, fabricated in tulle. Furthermore, a philosophical approach is incorporated in Exquisite, as it arises questions about meaning in life.
In the film and the pictures, the “clothes get closer to bare life”, telling the story of the human, shattering and enchanting at the same time, explains Alessandro Michele. JW
www.gucci.com
Fashion
The Power For The People by Steve Davies
After spending his whole life in London, Steve Davies decided to found his own brand “The Power For The People” in 2020, which is heavily inspired by his journey, which led him through London’s neighborhoods Shoreditch, Soho, and Savile Row. For this reason, he also attaches great importance to closely working together with British fabric mills and manufacturers for the production of his collections, ensuring high quality for his clothing. Furthermore, the designs of the handmade garments refer to the British capital in their street energy, as the city surprises the founder and creative director of the brand again and again, despite having lived there for so long. For Autumn/ Winter 2022, only the second season for “The Power For The People”, the label of Steve Davies reflects his first season in tailored and military styles. The collection is crafted in traditional British manufacturing techniques and references the 80s and 90s London club scene with bondage pants, mixed with classic men’s tailoring fabrics.
Based on Davies’ passion and love for the city of London, an all-inclusive structured line of garments emerges, defined by its unconventional style and dedication to its fine production. JW
www.thepowerforthepeople.com
Fashion
The Dior Jardin Capsule Collection for Men
Recently Dior launched its new Dior Jardin Capsule Collection for Men. In remembrances of the Maison’s founder Christian Dior, the designs of Kim Jones allude to the Monsieur’s love of nature, by incorporating a studded rose, the “Queen of Flowers”, in various pieces. Throughout the collection, it can be found in each of the Dior emblems, which it artfully entwines.
The magnificent blooming single rose is emblazoned especially large on the back of the polo shirts and hoodies, striking in its pink color on white cotton piqué or in green shades on black fabric. In another variation, which adorns among others an overshirt and slim-fit jeans, it is shown in an all-over tonal jacquard pattern, that highlights the individual rose petals and places them together in a dense structure. In an ensemble, including comfortable fitted Bermuda shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, made of silk twill, the rose represents itself in a pattern of multiple single roses. These models are also available in the two color combinations of white-pink and black-green. Furthermore, the collection features a variety of accessories, such as a tie, socks, bandanas, a backpack, and bags as well as sneakers and derby shoes.
Honoring Christian Dior, British fashion designer Kim Jones created a collection that radiates joie de vivre. The motif of the rose adds a touch of romance and a refreshing splash of color to the elegant everyday wear. JW
www.dior.com
Fashion
The Tommy Factory
For its Fall 2022 imagery, Tommy Hilfiger introduces the “Tommy Factory”, a creative space inspired by Andy Warhol’s celebrated New York Studio. Portraying an epicenter of self-expression and artistic freedom, it deeply fascinated fashion Designer Tommy Hilfiger. As did the Pop-Art artist himself, whose approach and nose for relevant topics led Hilfiger to the concept of his own creative playground, though it is not a physical place but a “state of mind”.
Linking the classic and the new, the experimental factory unites a diverse cast of cross-generational Future makers, including mother-daughter duo Kate and Lila Moss, drummer Travis Barker, actor Anthony Ramos, musician Jon Batiste, street pop artist Mr. Brainwash, drag queen Lady Bunny and last but not least tattoo artist Steve Wiebe. Shot by Craig McDean in the Bronx and styled by Katie Grand, the images convey the spirit of the city and its cutting-edge communities. At Hilfiger’s fashion show in September during New York Fashion Week, the “Tommy Factory” will continue to unfold in a unique experience. To highlight and reinforce the power of the individual, the show will be accompanied by installations, again inspired by Warhol and his “15 minutes of fame spirit”. Reimagining and evoking the famed Factory by Andy Warhol, Tommy Hilfiger presents its fashion, honoring the iconic artist. JW
www.tommy.com
Fashion
Jewelry by Louis Vuitton - Empreinte Collection
The 2004 Empreinte collection shines in new splendor as Francesca Amfitheatrof, Artistic Director of Jewelry and Watches for Louis Vuitton, presents its unmistakable designs in a refreshing and bold way.
The collection includes 18-karat yellow, white and pink gold pieces adorned by the distinctive LV initials and Monogram Flowers. The Monogram flower appears in particular on a medallion which resembles a modern talisman as well as on the cords of bracelets. While Empreinte portrays strength and adventure, the interlaced bracelets give a warm feeling by symbolizing loving relationships. They also refer to an iconic piece of the company’s history as they are inspired by the leather strap that fastens the Louis Vuitton luggage. A long necklace that can be worn stacked or as a bracelet gives the collection an individual touch. Hoop earrings and diamond-studded ear cuffs complete the clear and contemporary ensemble.
With Empreinte Louis Vuitton and Francesca Amfitheatrof represent the “Art of Travel” in the tradition of the company. While remaining true to Louis Vuitton’s values, history, and quality standards the designer did not miss to meet modern requirements concerning the design and also the production of the collection. The company attaches great value to producing its goods in an ethical way and is therefore certified by the Responsible Jewelry Council since 2012. JW
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Comme des Garçons x Air Max Sunder
Comme des Garçons has undoubtedly become a household name within the luxury fashion industry. The Japanese brand, under the creative lead of Rei Kawakubo, has continuously evolved, establishing a visual identity which is unrecognizably Comme des Garçons. Throughout the year, the Japanese brand has also worked together with Nike to create a series of collaborative sneakers. Now, they are pleased to announce the newest collaboration, the Comme des Garçons x Air Max Sunder, which first debuted in Tokyo during the Comme des Garçons Homme Plus SS22 show. The original model was first introduced in the late 90s and has remained unchanged ever since. Comme des Garçons is the first to update the design since its inception. The exterior shroud is customized by featuring premium neoprene and nubuck. Available in three colourways, the new and modern redesign is simplified, yet maintains the original fit of the sneaker with its unique combination of zipper and lace-up.
The Comme des Garçons x Air Max Sunder will be available at all the CDG and Dover Street Market stores globally, as well as the DSM E-Shops.
www.comme-des-garcons.com
www.nike.com
Fashion
DIESEL opens new Stores at two Prestigious Locations
When Glenn Martens was announced as the new Diesel Creative Director, it was clear that a lot of new and exciting things were to follow. With his first collections, the young Belgian designer has already started to leave his mark on the innovative Italian lifestyle brand and will continue to do so in the years to come. His influence is by no means just limited to the garments, but he has also designed the brand’s new retail concept. Now, Diesel opens new stores in Forte dei Marmi, Italy, and Puerto Baùs, Spain, two prime holiday destinations in Europe. They mark the start of a new chapter under the creative lead of Glenn Martens, whose new retail concepts are defined by both curated shopping elements and experiential immersions. Throughout the store, one can see functional and innovative design details which exhibit the concept's key characteristics of renewal, disruption and transformation. The interior of the store is additionally also reflecting the Diesel DNA, for example through the bone-white and signature red walls, recalling the iconic Diesel logo. Additionally, sculptural elements are interspersed throughout the space, providing a certain depth, textures and timeless appeal to the space. These two will not be the only new stores opening under this new retail concept. Other 2022 rollouts will include new flagship stores in Tokyo Ginza, Shanghai Grand Gateway and Paris Saint Honoré.
www.diesel.com
Fashion
CD Diamond Glasses
Sunglasses are not only for the sunny seasons. They have become an intricate part of most people’s wardrobes and an absolute essential that one should always have on hand. Like many other luxury houses, DIOR has long recognized the appeal and popularity of sunglasses, but now the French Maison takes this a step further by applying their exquisite savoir-faire. The CD DiamondGlasses are a combination of advanced technology and highly refined DIOR craftsmanship and ultimate expertise. Assembled by hand, these virtuoso creations exalt the house’s fundamentals. This special accessory is defined by the infinite precision and attention to detail throughout every stage of the production. This is instantly recognizable in the lenses which have the Christian Dior Signature laser engraved or the diamond motif and iconic CD Diamond Logo applied with the most meticulous care. This Diamond pattern was first unveiled in 1974 and this original emblem and hypnotic design are now celebrated by Kim Jones.
www.dior.com
Fashion
LOIS Jeans SS23: Porto di Como
In the context of its 60th Anniversary, Spanish jeans brand Lois Jeans unveiled its new SS23 collection ‘Porto di Como’ with its first-ever fashion show in Italy. Taking place at the historical location of Acqua di Bianchi in the picturesque village of Taceno, close to Lago di Como, the collection and show were a homage to Italy, its music and its heritage. The unexpected scenery is a direct reference to the inspiration behind the 16th collection, the enchanting ambience of the natural oasis captured through the striking designs and exceptional elegance of the collection. The natural surroundings of Lago di Como expressed through a harmonious color scheme of clean whites, deep blues, soft yellow tones adorned with orange details, floral artworks and elegant shapes is contrasted with Lois Jeans’ iconic characteristics which have catapulted the brand to global prominence. Iconic jeans sets, elevated 60s styles and low-waisted 90s fits are reinvented as visual highlights throughout the collection and bear witness to the essence of the brand’s heritage. Naturally, ABBA, who Lois is known for sponsoring shortly before their Eurovision Song Contest success in 1974, was present through their iconic song ‘Take A Chance on Me’, which was the musical backdrop of the show’s finale. Among the models of the shows were the Lois muses of the past years, such as Dutch icons Rianne ten Haken and Ton Heukels, as well as Lois campaign stars Nour Lwasi, Jena Goldsack and Robin Hölzken. The incredible evening was finished off by an authentic Italian dinner in the serene setting natural setting of Taceno, a perfect setting to celebrate the 60th Anniversary and the 16th Lois collection.
www.loisjeanstore.com
Art
Wir Überleben das Licht
Johan Tahon was captured by sculpture at the early age of 15 and this fascination has not stopped since. Since his beginnings and most importantly independently from all various trends and streams which at one point dominated the art world, Johan Tahon has continued to uphold craftsmanship, personal expression and spirituality as guiding principles in his works. In 1996, Jan Hoet discovered the Belgian artist and started to promote Tahon’s monumental sculptures. Under his sponsorship, Johan Tahon developed into an artist of international stature, heralded as a part of a group of artists who heralded the comeback of figuration and craft in the arts. Tahon’s deeply rooted topics of human psychology and spirituality also caught the attention of writers, most notably Till Lindemann, frontman of the German band Rammstein, who collaborated, under the initiative of ZOO Magazine, with the Belgian artist by writing a number of poems inspired by his sculptures. The resulting exhibition, Wir Überleben das Licht, conceived in collaboration with ZOO Magazine is now on display at the Cultuurcentrum de Steiger in Menen, Tahon’s hometown of which he is also an honorary citizen. The display encompasses the sculptures of Johan Tahon, the poetry of Till Lindemann and the photography of Sandor Lubbe. Aside from Wir Überleben das Licht, the Cultuurcentrum also opened up the DEPOT TAHON, a permanent display of countless sculptures by Johan Tahon, allowing visitors to dive deep into Tahon’s artistic world.
The exhibition Wir Überleben das Licht will be on display at the Cultuurcentrum de Steiger Menen until August 31st.
www.johantahon.com
www.ccdesteiger.be
Fashion
Louis Vuitton announces newest House Ambassador: Cate Blanchett
Louis Vuitton already has an impressive roster of brand ambassadors from all over the world, covering all different fields, ranging from the worlds of sports to cinema and entertainment. Now, yet another big name is announced as the French Maison’s newest house ambassador, iconic actress Cate Blanchette. For this reason, the Australian actress is captured by Sølve Sundsbø, featuring Louis Vuitton’s latest High Jewellery collection, Spirit, in an expressive and enchanting series of portraits. Cate Blanchette, synonymous with elegance and charm, is not only a perfect match for Francesca Amfitheatrof’s creations, as she is an effortless embodiment of the collection’s themes of liberty, fantasy, grace, radiance and destiny, but she is also a personification of the timeless and modern Louis Vuitton woman. As Blanchett puts it herself, “I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to collaborate with Louis Vuitton - a truly iconic House with an enormous cultural reach. To wear the magnificent pieces created by Francesca Amfitheatrof is a bedazzling pleasure, and Nicolas Ghesquiere, as ever, amazes and inspires me.”
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
DIOR Men Summer 23
Kim Jones created a gardener’s dream in Dior men’s SS23 show. The pieces pay tribute to Christian Dior’s passion for nature by reimagining the designer’s childhood home in Granville, Normandy. Placed in front of a bright blue backdrop with grass-like features, the models wear pieces dominated by pastel colors that seamlessly blend into their natural surroundings. There is a clear nod towards practicality, with an array of outdoor clothing such as reflective gilets and practical backpacks. Also featured are gardener’s hats designed by Stephen Jones Millinery, some of which are made using a 3D printer. Some elements of Bloomsbury set painter, Duncan Grant’s work was placed on fleece sweaters and embroidered on sheer tops for playful effects. The post-impressionist vibrant colors stood out well against the vivid backdrop. In a practical yet rebellious tone, the pieces evoke an effortless contemporary existence. Reclaimed cashmere, double-breasted tailored coats were teamed with tailored shorts in thirties fabrications. Semi-transparent silk organza revealed the strict, traditional masculine construction of the garments underneath.
www.dior.com
Art
“Torso Reloaded” - Homage to Andy Warhol
On October 1st 2022, the solo exhibition “Torso Reloaded” by Nadine Dinter will open at Haze Gallery in Berlin. 10 years ago, Dinter developed the concept while working alongside a long-term companion of Warhol, Christopher Makos. Here, the artists traveled with former erotic model and tattoo artist Benjamin Godfre, who is a passionate Warhol fan. Using this, Dinter and Godfre spontaneously decided to photographically recreate Warhol’s legendary Torso series from 1977. Now, Nadine Dinter has recreated the series using the different body types of the current generations of men, with Warhol’s spirit as the continued inspiration. Alongside Benjamin Godfre, six representative men are presented: from a model, influencer, wrestler, computer scientist, and photographer. Shifting away from Warhol’s initial project of capturing the front and back of the models in a tight, close up shot, Dinter’s wider framing gives them more space, adding impact to individual characteristics such as tattoos, scars, and musculature. As a result, the bodies seem close enough to touch without being overtly sexualized. The exhibition also addresses the female gaze on the male body, while documenting the exploration of the body cult in contemporary society. These contemplative body shots were taken using only natural lighting between January and April this year. Each image captures its own story, transforming the bare image into a unique photographic profile. GH
Image: Nadine Dinter; Traegi, Cologne 2022 © Nadine Dinter courtesy HAZEGALLERY
www.haze.gallery
Fashion
La Martina SS23 Collection
Held at Garden Senato, a classy, unconventional, and unique location, the La Martina SS23 show stands for creativity, multiculturalism, and integration. The brand has unveiled a new collection inspired by a journey that follows the polo players from Argentina to London to attend tournaments and social events. But like everyone, also La Martina’s polo players deserve a holiday. The SS23 Collection is structured around 4 four macro themes: Argentina, England, Holiday, and Essential. From sporty to casual, from streetwear to a more elegant cut, the new garments are made for any adventure, especially during summer vacations. Then, as a fil rouge to connect the many looks are, as always, colors and materials such as nylon, linen, and jersey. La Martina fashion show was presented during the Milan Fashion Week in the shape of a big live event followed by an exclusive party with a DJ set by Graziano della Nebbia, a well-known name on the Milanese music scene. To attend the event were prominent personalities such as Italian and international journalists, K.O.L., VIPs, ambassadors, and friends of the brand. VB
www.lamartina.com
Fashion
Born in Oasi Zegna
Innovation is paramount for Zegna and starts from the Oasi. Created by Ermenegildo Zegna, Oasi Zegna is an ecosystem born long before this word was even known. It is not only a unique model of societal and environmental consciousness but also a set of principles that foster consistency and promote harmony. From here starts the journey made by Artistic Director Alessandro Sartori while designing the SS23 Menswear Collection. Going back to the roots and keeping in mind two of Zegna’s hallmarks - craftsmanship and tailoring - the brand has presented a new series of garments that feature new shapes and textures, giving life to a new language. The idea was to keep the finesse, the attention to detail, and the respect for materials while experimenting with lighter silhouettes and fabrics, as well as finishes with different technicalities, to create a new style for men. The result is a collection that brings the lightness and the freedom of the Oasi Zegna as an environment into the city: kimono-cut jackets, impalpable coats, shirts, and tops, are characterized by loose and unstructured shapes, Bermuda shorts further free movement, while tailored blazers are freed from the necessity of having a collar. Also, materials and colors evoke this feeling of extreme lightness. Throughout the collection, engineered knitwear, technical silk, meshes, rubberized nylons, wools, terry, rubberized leather, and lacquered nappa were combined with a color palette that ranges from earthy tones, powder white, and dusty rose to charcoal, sulfur, and black. VB
www.zegna.com
Fashion
A Basketful of Summer
The Emporio Armani Men's SS23 Collection evokes the summer season with a distinct feeling of lightness. Clothes and accessories have been designed to bring the holiday spirit, characteristic of this period, to the city and give any holiday the appropriate fresh and composed sensation. The brand, created by Giorgio Armani, is an original container of possibility that, on this occasion, has presented a collection in which shirts take center stage combined with soft trousers cut from the same fabric. Jackets and tunics complete the look. New deconstructed blazers in jacquards reaffirm a cornerstone of the Armani style. Everything has been thought of in detail: slits, vertical openings, and cuts reveal the skin giving the clothes a vibrant sensuality, while the new silhouettes are soft and graceful. The garments barely touch the body, allowing it to breathe vital energy. Lastly, the color palette includes different shades of blue, natural tones, as well as the black of the night. Emporio Armani has created a show that fully recalls the magic of summer, its beauty, joy, and serenity. VB
www.armani.com
Fashion
Karl Lagerfeld x Alled-Martinez
“This collection is a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld himself, to fashion, and to iconic fashion moments from the early ‘00s that left a mark on me while growing up”, says Archie M. Alled-Martinez when discussing the Karl Lagerfeld x Alled-Martinez capsule collection. The genderless styles reinterpret Karl Lagerfeld’s vision through a queer lens, with details that celebrate fearlessness and self-expression. The capsule features ready-to-wear and accessories that embrace Karl Lagerfeld’s original vision of effortless sophistication combined with Alled-Martinez’s signature aesthetic of being playful, camp-chic, and unapologetic. The ready-to-wear essentials include tailored knitted suits, a lurex-jersey suit with a unique finish that resembles denim, and sparkling sequin pieces. Key accessories range from statement rings to bowling bags, tote bags, and driving gloves that evoke Karl Lagerfeld’s own iconic look. When describing the merging of the two brand’s identities, Archie M. Alled-Martinez said “I brought some daringness to Karl’s rigor and style. At its core is the belief that fashion needs to be real. There’s no right or wrong – it’s about knowing and celebrating who you are". The collection is available globally from June 16th 2022. GH
www.karl.com
Fashion
Herno Resort FW22/23 Collection
Precious details and soft, warm fabrics are the key features that give life to Herno Resort Collection. Thought for leisure time, the collection is designed for the wearer, who can enjoy the refinement of materials, the fluidity of the shapes, and relaxing colors in a perfect Herno style. Knitwear and outerwear are merged thanks to the recent creation of an in-house department in the headquarters on Lake Maggiore, offering a wide range of garments divided into two categories. Travel & Leisure features casual wear dedicated to all travelers who need clothes ready to go. Wool sweaters with zipping, hood, or round necks and sweatshirts are e embellished with sophisticated decorations and pastel colors. Jackets in unlined boiled wool, with knitted cuffs and adjustable drawstrings, give a romantic touch with their hues that range from lilac and teal to blue and butter. It is the perfect starter pack for every adventurer. Luxury Dream, instead, represents the destination of this journey. It is a mix of elegance and luxury. Herno women's collection includes a cape in pure soft wool, a sweatshirt made of 3 materials - cotton for the body, nylon for the hood, knit for the sleeves and edges - and an over sweater and cardigan that combine nylon and knit. For men, the great protagonist of the new collection is the iconic bomber jacket, translated into a college-style model. VB
www.herno.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton releases Pégase in collaboration with Marc Newson
Louis Vuitton the Rolling Series is a collection made up of elevated statements through designs that are built to last. Recently, Pégase has been introduced as an advancement to the series, newly reimagined by Marc Newson. This is Newson’s third collaboration with the brand, having previously released Horizon followed by the Horizon Soft duffle in 2016. The objective for all three of these collections was to “have a consistent vocabulary between them and to share the same innovations”, according to the designer. For Pégase, Newson applied his expertise in materials and engineering to produce an unparalleled slimness to the luggage. Topped with an ergonomic handle, this trolley system excels in strength and maneuverability. True to the visual language of the house, the Pégase is offered in timeless Monogram, Monogram Eclipse, Damier Graphite, and Taiga Leather. Underneath, the shell ensures that Pégase is lightweight and ultra-resistant. In this way, travelers will appreciate that Newson has given equal consideration to the exterior and interior of the piece. Pégase is truly the ideal addition to the Rolling Luggage series, combining emblematic Louis Vuitton features with super functionality. GH
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
LOEWE Celebrates The Paula’s Ibiza Collection
Last weekend, the Spanish brand LOEWE flew to Ibiza to host a special event to celebrate the launch of Paula’s Ibiza collection. Born from the hedonistic vision of Creative Director Jonathan Anderson, the SS22 Collection features sequins, bright colors, and creative cutouts perfect for the thrilling nightlife of the Spanish island. Ibiza is a world-class party destination whose energy and vibrancy reflect LOEWE’s ethos and spirit of freedom. There, the brand organized an exclusive weekend festival that started with a personalized Mercadillo and party at Las Dalias, followed by lunch at beachfront restaurant Cala Bonita the next day, and ended with an evening cocktail dinner at the newly opened Beach Caves at Six Senses. It was an ode to escapism. Among the guest who attended the event were: Stéphane Bak, Amina Muaddi, Jahleel Weaver, Jeanne Cadieu, Blanca Miró, and Ziwe. VB
www.loewe.com
Fashion
Dior presents the CD Diamond Accessories
The CD Diamond is the epitome of modernity and a classic symbol of Dior spirit. Originally designed by Marc Bohan, the iconic motif has been seen across Dior designs since the Miss Dior ready-to-wear collection of 1974. Today, Kim Jones has reinterpreted the design that was originally featured on blouses, scarves, and skirts, as a canvas for his Dior SS22 men’s collection. Revisited in the manner of a refined diamond, this new approach to the “CD”, with its unique relief, enlivens the season’s creations in Dior Gray, evoking the Granville sky as an ode to the founding couturier. The canvas is also featured in black, ono the B23 sneakers, for a casual and sportswear style. The design has also been extended to the Lingot line of bags, in a slim pouch, messenger, and briefcase version. These mesmerizing designs are the perfect continuation of the exemplary print that is maintaining its way of being an emblematic fundamental. GH
www.dior.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Unveils Colorful Lineup on Monogram Macassar and Taurillon Monogram
Louis Vuitton has introduced a fresh and cool lineup on Monogram Macassar and Taurillon Monogram for Summer 2022. To pay homage to Virgil Abloh, the French Maison designed a leather goods collection featuring a distinctive seasonal color palette of orange, purple, and mint green that evokes the late Creative Director's rainbow and energizing universe. The new accessories are practical and colorful, all crafted in LV Taurillon Monogram leather. The briefcase is a sophisticated yet spacious item able to contain tech and essential documents thanks to a padded laptop sleeve and pockets. Its closure features the iconic Virgil Abloh-designed S-Lock Signature, while a top handle and a wide woven shoulder strap make it functional and comfortable. The new wearable wallet is roomy, with a vertical silhouette, and characterized by a flap with a magnetic finishing inspired by Louis Vuitton's original, unbreakable lock from 1886. Then, two other unique Louis Vuitton cult favorites have been redesigned: the Keepall 25 in a city bag size and the Christopher backpack in a smaller version. To complete the collection are the Monogram Macassar canvas bags in the same seasonal colors embellished with signature matte black metallic finishes. VB
www.louisvuitton.com
Art
Loro Piana Interiors Presents New Furniture by Raphael Navot
A new installation by Loro Piana Interiors can be discovered at Cortile della Seta, in Via della Moscova 33. During Milan Design Week, the Italian brand has unveiled exclusive furniture designed by Raphael Navot in the name of craftsmanship, softness, intimacy, and togetherness. The non-industrial designer, who had already worked in partnership with Loro Piana, has set up an exhibition where the objects are hidden and revealed simultaneously through a landscape of soft, undulating dunes. In 2021, Raphael Navot launched The Palm Duet Chaise Longue in Cashfur fabric by Loro Piana Interiors. It was an ode to intimacy and pleasure. Today, distinctive elements of The Palm Duet recur in the new objects characterized by the same soft lines and contemporary aesthetic. A sofa, méridienne, armchair, stools, a side, a coffee table, and an ottoman have been created with a futuristic approach, but without indulging in the cold hyper-technological vision of the future. The new furniture, made of the noblest fibers, can be either used alone, with their elegant personality or grouped in joyful interactions dedicated to conviviality; thus the name “Palm” as in the palm of a hand with fingers slightly closed to welcome, protect, repair. It is all a game of interactions. The Loro Piana Interiors installation will be open to visitors from June 9th, 2022. VB
www.loropiana.com
Fashion
Alexander McQueen AW22 Women’s Pre-Collection
British fashion label Alexander McQueen has unveiled a new creative project that involves a group of twelve artists to highlight the brand’s AW22 women’s pre-collection. Titled “Process,” this special art collaboration illustrates the fact that creativity emerges from countless perspectives. Sarah Burton, Creative Director of the brand, expressed her willingness to give these artists the freedom to reinterpret the garments she created for this season. Each of them had the possibility to choose a look from the collection and work on that through their preferred medium, engaging in a creative dialogue with the house. Among the collaborators can be found the names of Ann Cathrin November Høibo, Beverly Semmes, Bingyi, Cristina de Middel, Guinevere van Seenus, Hope Gangloff, and many others who realized exclusive artworks according to their points of view. The artists’ projects have been displayed alongside the McQueen pieces they relate to in a temporary installation. In addition, Alexander McQueen has created a detailed zine to tell each artist’s personal story and journey about how they engaged with Sarah’s work. VB
www.alexandermcqueen.com
Art
The Miss Dior Chair by Philippe Starck
The Medaillon chair, an object so dear to Christian Dior and an inexhaustible source of inspiration for the Maison, makes its comeback thanks to the French industrial architect Philippe Starck during the Salone del Mobile 2022. The one between the designer and Dior Maison is an unprecedented collaboration that reinterprets an iconic piece of furniture, a quintessential symbol of French Art de Vivre and Louis XVI style. Philippe Starck has created timelessly elegant pieces with clean lines and marked by modernity exalted by the lightness of aluminum. Named “Miss Dior,” the new chairs are true works of art that can be discovered at Palazzo Citterio, a sumptuous 18th-century building located in the heart of Milan. The installation is a one-of-a-kind experience. The design items are presented in a monochrome decor of a deep, matte black that gives the exhibit a theatrical allure and highlights the materials used to make the chairs. In addition, an interplay of light, punctuated by a musical composition created for Dior by Soundwalk Collective, originates a scenographic choreography. The Miss Dior Chair imagined by Philippe Starck will be on view from June 7 to 12, 2022. VB
www.dior.com
Fashion
LOEWE Presents WEAVE, RESTORE, RENEW At Salone del Mobile In Milan
LOEWE has finally announced a new unique project made for this year's edition of Salone del Mobile in Milan. After two years of full stop, the Spanish brand makes its comeback at the annual furniture fair, celebrating the regenerative power of handwork and collaborating with artisans of unique flair, inventiveness, and technical ability. Titled “WEAVE, RESTORE, RENEW,” the installation aims to give new life to things that could be forgotten or discarded and turn them into exclusive pieces by repairing and reviving them through artisanal interventions. The project shows LOEWE’s commitment to the environment and crafts. Turning ages-old techniques into something unexpected, LOEWE WEAVE, RESTORE, RENEW explores leather weaving, the Galician straw-weaving tradition known as Coroza, and the Korean paper weaving technique known as Jiseung. Different artisans such as Idoia Cuesta, Belén Martìnez, Santiago Basteiro, and Juan Manuel Marcilla worked on the restoration of 240 existing baskets using leather strings to create a new playful, and surprising version of those. Then, LOEWE designed sculptural bags and basket bags by using the ancient technique of the Coroza. In addition, together with Young Soon Lee, the brand created a series of jars made out of paper, as well as sturdy totes. VB
www.loewe.com
Fashion
Gucci Town: The House’s New Gathering Place On Roblox
Carrying on its journey in the metaverse, Gucci has unveiled Gucci town, a virtual piazza in the landscape of Roblox. Following the launch of Gucci Vault, this new project aims to build meaningful experiences, giving the community members the possibility to interact with the codes of the House, discover the kaleidoscopic vision of Alessandro Michele, express their individuality, and connect with worldwide, like-minded individuals. The digital space is divided into different areas characterized by dedicated activities. Walking from the central piazza to Mini Game Heights, visitors will come across a portal that will take them to an arena of Gucci-inspired competitions. Then, moving on to the Creative Corner, they will be able to create art pieces experimenting with patterns, colors, and shapes and will later be joined by visiting artists showcasing their works. At the virtual Vault Plaza, the users can explore the exhibition space, while, not far from there, they can find the Gucci Shop, where to purchase digital Gucci items to collect or outfit Roblox avatars. Finally, community members can take a break and connect with others at the Power-up Place, a virtual café. To complete the experience are GG Gems, the in-experience currency, that will be given to the visitors as a reward. Gucci Town has been developed hand-in-hand with independent content creators from the Roblox community, such as Rook Vanguard, Bunnexh, and Lirn, to create an immersive space that translates Alessandro Michele’s vision. VB
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Tommy Hilfiger x NBA: The Essence of Basketball
Tommy Hilfiger, one of the world’s most recognized premium lifestyle brands, has unveiled a new project in collaboration with the NBA. Symbol of the American style, since the 1990s, Tommy Hilfiger has been associated with basketball and street culture, capturing the attention of A-list celebrities and influencers, many of whom had ties to the NBA and sports community. Since then, the sport has always remained a key component of Hilfiger’s brand vision. Today, to celebrate its roots and streetwear fashion, the American brand has launched the new TOMMY JEANS capsule collection by partnering with the National Basketball Association. Inspired by the energy at the heart of basketball, a sport that helped to shape local street culture and diverse communities, the new collection features hoodies, sweatpants, t-shirts, denim pants, and shorts combined with NBA team logos. These garments represent streetwear fashion at its finest. The TOMMY JEANS and NBA capsule collection is available on Tommy Hilfiger’s website and at TOMMY JEANS stores across Europe, North America, Latin America, and select stores in Asia. VB
www.tommyhilfiger.com
Fashion
"Victory travels in Louis Vuitton"
For the second time, the unprecedented Trophy Travel Case for the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco is being presented by Louis Vuitton and the Automobile Club de Monaco. The bespoke case in the colors of the Principality is a celebration of both exceptional French savoir-faire and passion for a legendary sporting event. The Trophy Travel Case epitomizes the Maison’s and Automobile Club’s shared values of tradition, transmission, and excellence. Hand-crafted in Louis Vuitton’s historic Asnières workshop, the trunk showcases the brand’s savoir-faire with its one-of-a-kind red Monogram pattern on a tarmac-black background, drawing inspiration from the heritage of the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco. The Monogram canvas is adorned with the red shade of the Monaco flag, while the red lines, tracing “V” for “Victory”, are rimmed with a white strip, reminiscent of the unique urban route of the track, and the colors of the Monaco flag. Inside its Louis Vuitton case, the trophy is the perfect replica of the 3,337 km circuit with its famous 19 bends, where overtaking is close to impossible. GH
www.louisvuitton.com
www.acm.mc
Christian Louboutin presents L’Exhibition Chapter II
Christian Louboutin, L’Exhibition[niste] is returning in a new form this summer and will be presented by the Grimaldi Forum Monaco from July 9th to August 28th 2022. Chapter II will be devoted to the work and imagination of Christian Louboutin, the shoe designer and key figure in the world of fashion who has drawn much inspiration from the Principality. Redesigned by Oliver Gabet, and showcased across a spectacular 2000 square meter set, the exhibition will unveil previously unsees pieces related to the designer’s Monegasque inspirations, as well as new collaborations. The “Musée Imaginaire” will be in a 300 square meter room, where objects from Christian Louboutin’s personal collection will be displayed in conjunction with heritage and artistic works from public and private collections of Monaco’s museums. It will explore themes in the designer’s work such as his love of dance and the legacy of the Ballets Russes, his passion for African art and Asia, the pop influence of Warhol, and his fascination with oceanography. Far from a traditional retrospective, the exhibition has been designed as a joyful odyssey across three decades of overflowing creativity. Indeed, it is imbued with a curiosity for all arts and cultures. GH
www.christianlouboutin.com
www.grimaldiforum.com
Fashion
Frédéric Malle: “Vetiver Extraordinaire”
Creative freedom has consistently been an integral factor in Frédéric Malle’s products, with “Vetiver Extraordinaire” being no exception. The brand has regularly collaborated with admirable artists and some of the greatest perfumers in the world. The scent of Vetiver Extraordinaire began in the mid-1980s, with its woody base originally intended for women’s perfume. Frédéric would wear and road test its base layer; a bouquet of cedar, sandalwood, and a synthetic molecule called cashmeran, all woods and no top notes. 15 years later, Dominique Ropion was sent a vial of a molecular distillation of Haitian vetiver, and the pair found themselves returning to the unforgettable formula. This new vetiver was the perfect missing element to the enigmatic woody base. As the very first men’s perfume to be published by Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, Vetiver Extraordinaire is born from the desire to create the ultimate perfume for a man. The fragrance line is complemented by an ideal skincare ritual: Body Wash, Shaving Cream, and After Shave Balm. This grooming base is the perfect combination of the two worlds of an exceptional base composed in a Swiss laboratory, scented with the iconic and universal Vetiver Extraordinaire perfume. GH
www.fredericmalle.com
Fashion
Etro Announces Marco De Vincenzo As New Creative Director
Etro, the Italian luxury fashion house founded by Gerolamo Etro, has appointed Marco De Vincenzo as the new Creative Director of the women’s, men’s, and home collections. Starting June 1st, he will take the lead of the brand, debuting with his first collection next September during Milan Fashion Week. Graduated from the European Institute of Design in Rome, he started his career in 2000, carrying on a long collaboration with Fendi before launching his eponymous brand, thanks to which he won the first prize in the new talents competition “Who is on Next?.” Marco de Vincenzo is considered one of the most innovative designers of the new generation. Also, Fabrizio Cardinali, Etro’s Chief Executive Officer, expressed his enthusiasm about the new entry into the Etro family - “As part of the brand’s new course, we welcome with enthusiasm the arrival of Marco De Vincenzo. Through his sensitivity for colors, prints, and fabrics, we are sure that Marco will be able to translate at best Etro’s extraordinary heritage into new interpretations for the different brand’s collections and also giving a new drive to the world of accessories”. VB
www.etro.com
Fashion
G-Star RAW Calls Out To Wear Denim Longer
G-Star has worked rigorously to improve this past year, from social and environmental points of view to transparency and circularity innovations. The Dutch brand has launched a new global campaign to encourage consumers to invest in quality, as well as eight new responsible initiatives as part of their RAW Responsibility strategy. The “Wear your denim till the End” Campaign shows the beauty of the aging process in both people and denim. For G-Star, raw denim is the beating core of the company; jeans are meant to last a lifetime, and they believe denim gets more distinctive and unique at each stage of life. The film's message is simple: take care of your clothes so you may wear them longer. Simultaneously with the campaign, the brand has also launched a raw denim capsule collection with a warranty. Then, in addition to these new initiatives, G-Star has revealed an eight-point sustainable program. To begin with, they provide free repairs to extend the life of jeans, as well as a program that converts worn jeans into brand-new pairs of shorts and a recycling project called "Return Your Denim." Furthermore, G-Star launched a new art platform where international design talents are challenged to work with denim waste and deadstock. VB
www.g-star.com
Art
Art Rotterdam 2022: Artist From All Over The World
During Art Rotterdam, people will have the possibility to dive into the creations of hundreds of artists from all over the world. From France, UN-SPACED Gallery presents the new work of Lilah Fowler on show in the New Art Section. The British-Japanese artist is famous for her complex and layered installations that represent the geopolitical layers of our globalized virtual and analog landscapes, as well as how these parallel worlds occasionally overlap. Her woven works, photography, sculpture, and video art explore the effects and consequences of technology on contemporary society. The Belgian booth curated by Galerie Felix Frachon, instead, showcases the art pieces by Brazilian artist Mano Penalva. His works are based on everyday objects collected during his many trips to major world cities, especially at popular street markets. These items are, for him, examples of material culture and globalization. What fascinates him is the new, poetic values that these objects gain once they are taken out from their original context. Then, representing the Netherland, one of the galleries that take part at the fair is STEVENSON, presenting the new masterpiece by Viviane Sassen. Her creations are characterized by sculptural representations of bodies, often surreal and anonymous. VB
www.artrotterdam.com
Fashion
New Hermès window display on PC Hooftstraat
The summer window display at the Hermès store on PC Hooftstraat in Amsterdam has been designed by Dutch studio WM. Unveiled on May 17th, the installation named “Vivid Shadows” by Wendy Legro and Maarten Collignon celebrates Hermès’ 2022 theme of “Lighthearted” and takes us deeper into the world of the brand, one in which shadows play with light. Their concept uses projection to showcase two different scarves through a beam in a deep indigo blue, like a blueprint. In Minuit au Faubourg by Dimitri Rybaltchenko, a masked horse wearing a cape flies out of the print alongside a man swinging on a Hermès Twilly from an apartment window as he tries to grab a pot of gold. On the floor above, a Hermès bracelet overlooks a sleeping city. Here, a horse leaps forward, radiating the spirit of the theme with bright and vivid colors. Whirling around this figure is a belt, a bag, and a pair of leather sandals. Created exclusively from layers of paper, the installation is hand-painted and carefully carved to build volume and perspective, showcasing the fragile yet enchanting nature of paper. This window display overall creates a strong connection between the urban landscape and interior space. GH
www.hermes.com
Art
Art Rotterdam 2022: Outdoor Artworks
From 19-22 May, Art Rotterdam comes back to Van Nelle Fabriek, the building icon of 20th-century industrial architecture and a Unesco World Heritage Site. This fair is the ultimate opportunity to discover new galleries as well as new artists. As the most renowned contemporary art fair in the Netherlands, Art Rotterdam offers a unique perspective and a platform for the latest developments in the visual arts. The 23rd edition will display, through the 10,000m2 space, the creations of emerging and established artists, alongside a record number of seventeen large-scale installations in the outdoor area. Since spring has finally come in the Dutch city, the art fair has set a series of socially engaged outdoor presentations that refers to the world around us, addressing important issues such as climate, pandemics, and populism. The first artist to welcome the public is Onno Poiesz with his work “De blauwen,” an allusion to the war and pandemic that dominated the beginning of 2022. Then, Tim Wes unveils his installation “Trauma Triggers Triumph” about the concept of the uomo universale. And in the end, among many other projects, stands that of Thierry Oussou. His “Equilibrium Wind” flag is a reference to the cotton plantations located in the district of Panouignan in Benin and the significant impact they have on the country's economic growth. Placed on top of Van Nelle Fabriek, this flag is a symbolic representation of all those people working in the shadows. The outdoor artworks at Art Rotterdam 2022 are ready to be discovered. VB
www.artrotterdam.com
Fashion
Debut of luxury label Maeden
Luxury label Maeden has made its debut with the launching of a designer bag to be worn and enjoyed for generations to come. The brand has been launched as a homage to Dutch design, local craftsmanship, and true luxury at its essence. Founder and Creative Director Christian Heikoop launched the brand with the intention of fulfilling the potential of leather ateliers and tanneries in the Netherlands, pairing designers and craftsmanship. According to Heikoop, “by pairing the two you can reach true innovation by challenging and learning from one another”. Whilst offering a solidly made, sustainable product that goes against fast fashion, the brand labels itself in between high street and traditional luxury, being more visible to those who position themselves between the two. With its first collection of bags emerging from experts in the fields of jewelry, fashion, product design, and textiles, the pieces offer a fresh and much welcomed take on shape, material, crafts, and innovation. Possibly looking simple at first glance, the bag designs are technically complex and incredibly detailed. Summarized in one word: pure, the pieces are therewith in line with Maeden’s definition of genuine luxury. GH
www.maeden.nl
Fashion
BE YOUR CHANGE
Brunello Cucinelli started the #BeYourChange project in order to use its voice to touch on important issues such as hope, courage and the future. By joining forces with various personalities, the house’s message of trust and reflection for the new generations on how change always starts with people, is echoed. For the fifth series of the project, Brunello Cucinelli teams up with Ramla Ali, the first female boxer representing Somalia at the Tokyo Olympics. Her path to success was not predestined, on the contrary Ali had to overcome multiple obstacles, such as fleeing the ongoing civil conflict in her home country. In this edition, Ali talks about her personal story and how boxing has helped her to find a voice, to grow as a person and to stand up to prejudice, fear and insecurity. A successful athlete and activist, Ali now shares the empowering lessons she took from boxing with other women. In 2018, she founded the Ramla Ali Sisters Club, a weekly, free boxing session for women in London aiming to provide a safe space without discrimination. Through the #BeYourChange project, Ramla Ali uses her voice inviting everybody who wants to listen to pursue your dreams with courage. FM
www.brunellocucinelli.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Cruise 2023 Women’s Fashion Show Collection
This season, Louis Vuitton is exploring the nomadic aesthetic in the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, by architect Louis Kahn in San Diego. This is a brutalist building from 1965 designed as a serene concrete monastery for enlightened souls. Here, during times when the sun is blazing, it is perfectly framed by the building within the precise axis of the central foundation. The combination of sun rays and shimmering water creates prisms across the silhouettes, while a myriad of natural materials gives the illusion of a metallic palette. This introduces the show’s perfect guest of honor for the Cruise 2023 collection, the sun. This plays an active part in the evolution of this wardrobe where temperature changes set a stylistic tempo. The collection consists of linen, jacquard, silk, leather, and tweed, with metallic embellishments that reflected the setting sun. Other pieces lifted design details from water sports; the airbrushed colors of half tops and boxy short skirts that came from jet skis. Designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, the show encapsulated superheroine goddesses, with the opening dresses cut from robust jacquards, which were inspired by molten lava. A trio of jackets with enormous, sculpted collars as shiny as armor perched above tinsel sleeves finished off the show, the perfect ending to capture the otherworldly imagination of Ghesquière. GH
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Zoë Kravitz partners with OMEGA
Actress, director, and model Zoë Kravitz is the latest to have joined OMEGA’s impressive line-up of women proud to wear the Swiss brand. A standout performer in the world of entertainment, Zoë Kravitz captivates audiences in a diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films and notable independent releases. Her individualistic youthful, confident style is the perfect fit for Omega’s willingness to take risks with its designs. Kravitz has consistently stood out in blockbuster big-screen franchises, with roles in The Batman, Mad Max, and Fantastic Beasts, and later this year will make her directorial debut in the original motion picture film, Pussy Island. Omega President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann has expressed the brand’s excitement about making Kravitz the latest member of the Omega family, describing her as “an extremely talented young woman with an admirable drive and determination to succeed on her own terms” and the new partnership as “the next exciting move in our commitment to reach an emerging generation who are reinventing the idea of luxury”. GH
www.omegawatches.com
Fashion
So-Hee Han Joins OMEGA
So-Hee Han has joined the OMEGA universe of female talent, which already includes Cindy Crawford, Nicole Kidman, and Kaia Gerber, amongst many other celebrities. The South Korean actress, born in 1994, began her career as a supporting character in several TV series, “Money Flower” (2017) and “100 Days My Prince” (2018), to name a few. Then, she quickly took up leading roles in the JTBC series “The World of the Married” (2020), where she played a villainous yet charming character, and in the Netflix-produced feature “My Name” (2021). In the future, she will also appear in the drama “Gyeongseong Creature.” Today, So-Hee Han, with her charisma and captivating presence, has become a member of OMEGA’s ambassador family, stepping out in front of the camera wearing the most elegant watches. She is a rising star in the world of entertainment, and her talent and acting skills are inspiring, the reason why the Swiss watch manufacturer has chosen her to be the new face of the brand. So-Hee Han embodies many of the qualities and values that OMEGA stands for. VB
www.omega.com
Fashion
Miu Wander: A New Perspective
The new Miu Wander handbag is a re-discovery and re-exploration of Miu Miu's identity from a fresh perspective. Designed by Miuccia Prada, this one-of-a-kind accessory is made of Matelassé leather, a playful yet sophisticated fabric that has become a Miu Miu signature. The bag is soft and feminine with its curved lines and pillowy surface, while the handle makes it a functional item, merging pragmatism with decoration. The Miu Wander appears, also in a campaign that reflects the same spirit and aesthetic of its design. Photographed by Tyrone Lebon, the images portray the actress Sydney Sweeney, the star of the acclaimed TV Series Euphoria, in a sublime atmosphere that recalls classic film stills, encouraging the viewer’s mind to wander. She perfectly embodies the Miu Miu ethos: a youthful energy and rebellious attitude. VB
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
Suicoke Launches The MOK Injection Sandal
Suicoke has presented the new MOK injection sandal, the latest addition to its ever-growing injection sandal family. The MOK is a more versatile, lightweight, and eco-friendly model that pushes the brand's visual identity even further with its avant-garde design. Suicoke aims to craft a unique product that shows its attitude towards premium quality design. Light as air, comfortable like clouds, the sandal is produced using recycled waste materials. It is the result of a complex process of experimentation and trials with poor shape, inconsistency of colors, and even explosions. The MOK injection sandal, a new milestone in footwear production, is part of a long journey through creativity and innovative technology undertaken by the Japanese brand. Made in Italy and with a slip-on construction, as well as holes for breathability and a Suicoke-branded strap, the new item is available on the Suicoke website and in selected retailers worldwide. VB
www.suicoke.com
Fashion
Furla Futura: Love for Nature
With the intention of reinforcing its constant innovation, Furla has launched a new iconic bag shape that links the concepts of sustainability to art, launching with a creative yet experimental touch. The Furla Linea Futura features materials created through new eco-friendly processes, such as the upcycling of leftover leathers and the use of metal-free suede. The metal-free is a tanning process that does not resort to heavy metals, thus preventing the pollution of wastewaters. The Design of Furla Linea Futura is a futuristic interpretation of the shape of a bird’s nest. This style is bold and eye-catching and can be worn crossbody in a way that blends against the body in perfect harmony. Two sizes are offered which are available in 11 bright shades like a rainbow, staying true to the brand’s artistic DNA. What truly separates this bag from others is the focus on upcycling: precious recycled leathers are reworked with Global Recycled Standard certification and are reintroduced in this new, original form. GH
www.furla.com
Fashion
TAG Heuer F1 Edition
Tag Heuer has unleashed its newest timepiece inspired by the dominant style of race legend Ayrton Senna, an admired and adored legend for motor racing, as well as Formula 1 fans all over the world. The collaboration between TAG Heuer and Ayrton Senna has been ongoing since 1988, Senna was redefining the word “drive” by breaking many records. Continuing to pay tribute to the driver’s legacy, TAG Heuer continues its quest to create the perfect Formula 1 watch, the one the legendary driver would have loved to wear on his wrist. The bold design and original red color nod to Ayrton’s original watch. The TAG Heuer Senna Special Edition is a very elegant mix of red, anthracite, and black, in line with the design codes of the brand. SENNA’s iconic S. The timepiece also features an ultra-resistant black ceramic bezel, with the number 400 engraved as a reference to the symbolic 400km/h that has never been reached in Formula 1. The famous S/EL bracelet is inspired by the first TAG Heuer chronograph watch worn by Ayrton Senna. Highly shock-resistant, it has a folding clasp with a driver extension to fit over the sleeve of a racing suit. The timepiece is equipped with the automatic Calibre 16, protected by a stainless-steel screw-down case back engraved with the Brazilian driver’s iconic helmet on the back, alongside a special engraving of “SENNA SPECIAL EDITION”. GH
www.tagheuer.com
Fashion
Audemars Piguet Celebrates the Royal Oak’s 50th Anniversary
To celebrate the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, Audemars Piguet will host a series of events in key cities around the world. From Dubai to Shanghai, passing through Zurich and New York, the Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer will offer immersive sensory experiences with the setup of in-situ installations and edutainment platforms that will guide people into the Royal Oak’s multifaceted world. The Royal Oak, designed by Gérald Genta for Audemars Piguet, was officially launched on April 15, 1972, at the Basel Fair. This timepiece combines sportiness with ancestral craftsmanship and technological advances, setting new standards for watchmaking. Since then, over 500 Royal Oak models have been created, featuring different sizes, materials, styles, and movements. Today, the brand has decided to pay homage to this iconic watch and its 5-decade history, creating surprising and immersive edutainment content that will dive deep into the Royal Oak’s cultural universe. Starting in Dubai, from 15 – 24 April 2022, these installations will lead visitors on a journey to discover the multiple characteristics of this remarkable timepiece. In addition, visitors will be able to test their knowledge of the Royal Oak and the brand as a whole through a digital challenge. The public will be able to join in these immersive experiences in Zurich from May 6 to 12, New York City from May 19 to 25, and Shanghai in July. VB
www.audemarspiguet.com
Fashion
Colmar SS22: New Optimistic World
Lightness and freedom of movement characterize Colmar’s SS22 collection, perfect for the changing of the season. Colmar is renowned for observing the present, looking to the future inspired by the surroundings: technology, art communication, style, material, and thoughts. Each innovative collection is divided into four themes according to fit and occasion, the first being fitting to spring. This makes everything perfectly adaptable to the user’s own needs in everyday life. Being eco-friendly is a focus of the collection, representing a more conscious approach to the garments, as they are made from recyclable fabrics that always respect the environmental conditions. The second theme is biodegradable, each garment is made from biodegradable nylon fibers in collaboration with Amni Soul Eco. This allows for the garments to be degraded within five years, providing they are placed in the designated disposal areas. Thirdly, the collection presents a range of garments for spring’s changeable weather. This includes woman’s and men’s jackets are made of a three-layer fabric, created by processing elastic stretch material and soft jersey. The fourth theme, daylight saving time, consists of light garments, colorful designs, graphics, and personalization for a stylish summer look. A special addition to the imagery named “Matchy Matchy” divides into two different designs, themed father and son. The first plays with reflective logotypes and rainbow effects, while the second represents the connection between Colmar, the mountain, and skiing. GH
www.colmar.com
Fashion
Paul Smith and Ahluwalia unite for a capsule collection
Supported by the Paul Smith Foundation, &PaulSmith has launched its inaugural collaboration and mentorship program, with an innovative capsule collection in partnership with the celebrated London-based menswear brand Ahluwalia, founded by Priya Ahluwalia. &PaulSmith tends to offer a fresh and authentic approach when creating partnerships to mentor and nurture the next generation of emerging and untapped talented designers. The 11-piece limited-edition Ahluwalia &PaulSmith collection is spurred by the designer’s shared passion for creativity, innovation, and sustainability. Paul Smith has said that “While our styles may appear different at first glance, we're coming at it from the same place: a real conviction that clothes should be a source of joy”. Distinctive codes and signatures from each designer are combined here, from Paul Smith’s check fabrics and Ahluwalia’s seaming and paneling techniques, creating a rich collage-like effect. Inspiration is drawn from a variety of instances, such as Priya’s personal archive of photographs taken in Nigeria and India, and Paul’s collection of cycling records. With the shared interest of sustainability in mind, the collection utilizes surplus Paul Smith fabrics found in the brand’s archives, as well as sustainable alternatives where new cloths were developed. Premium fabrics and finishes elevate the traditionally relaxed silhouettes and a purposeful meshing together of graphic influences, merging branding from both houses to one incorporated logo dedicated to the project, This collection is available on both brands’ websites, in selected Paul Smith shops, and exclusively at SSENSE. GH
paulsmith.com
ahluwalia.world
Fashion
LOUIS VUITTON for UNICEF: The New Silver Lockit Bracelets by Virgil Abloh
Louis Vuitton has launched a new collection of Silver Lockit bracelets designed by Virgil Abloh, carrying forward solid cooperation with UNICEF. This year the Creative Director of the French Maison, who passed away last November, created a collection including bracelets and pendants that recall his first Silver Lockit collaboration but with new colors and materials. The LOUIS VUITTON for UNICEF partnership started six years ago to help bring vulnerable children life-saving support in humanitarian situations, assisting the international organization in responding quickly to emergencies or disasters worldwide. Since 2016, to support this initiative, Louis Vuitton has annually presented new versions of the Silver Lockit bracelet to raise money to donate to UNICEF. Given the success of these sales, the brand let Virgil Abloh reinterpret these items with his stylistic signature bringing a breath of fresh air to the collection. The Men’s Artistic Director added a bold chain linked to a thicker cord, a silver padlock, and a Louis Vuitton charm that in the current collection come in natural and black titanium and are combined with neon yellow, rainbow, or black cord bracelets. VB
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
X-Technology's New Management Team
X-Technology enters the future with new leadership. X-Technology Swiss research & development AG, based in Wollerau, has announced the set-up of a new management team, bringing on board a highly entrepreneurial, innovative, and strongly digitally-minded group of employees. For more than 20 years, this company has been the innovation leader in the sporting goods industry, becoming one of the leading suppliers of textile performance technologies thanks to its X-Bionic and X-Socks brands. In particular, X-Bionic received the Plus X Award, the world's largest innovation prize for technology, sports, and lifestyle, 13 times in a row as the most innovative brand of the year. X-Technology Swiss research & development AG has a long history of developing effective solutions to complex design problems, having submitted over 800 international patent applications and winning over 600 prizes and 1,200 medals at international competitions and the Olympics. Therefore, to further strengthen and expand the company's position in the market, X-Technology CEO Maximilian Lenk will take over the leadership to realign the sales organization and implement the digitization of the brand. VB
www.x-technology.com
Fashion
Audemars Piguet Unveils The New Royal OAK RD#3
To pay a fine tribute to the Royal Oak’s 50th anniversary, Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet has unveiled the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Flying Tourbillon Extra-Thin. This unique timepiece remains true to the aesthetic codes of the iconic “Jumbo” models but features the Manufacture’s new self-winding ultra-thin flying tourbillon movement, Calibre 296. It is a mechanism that was developed over five years by Audemars Piguet’s engineers and watchmakers to accommodate the extra-thin nature of the OAK RD#3. With a diameter of 39mm and a thickness of 8.1 mm, the watch reveals a new movement architecture that, for the first time, combines the tourbillon cage in titanium with a peripheral drive, making the distribution of energy to the tourbillon more fluid while lightening the regulating organ. A huge accomplishment that needed to be recognized and, most all, displayed. Audemars Piguet, in fact, redesigned the model’s geometry by placing the flying tourbillon at the dial level for a greater visual experience, making the watch’s beating heart even more perceptible. In addition, the sapphire case-back reveals the hand decoration of the movement components that merge the dynamism and classicism of V-angles with the modernity of traits tirés. The new OAK RD#3, crafted in stainless steel and graced with a Bleu Nuit, Nuage 50 Petite Tapisserie dial, which pays tribute to the original model, continues to evolve, showcasing Audemars Piguet’s expertise and techniques. VB
www.audemarspiguet.com
Fashion
Out of Time Watches & Wonders Cartier
Cartier reinvents Maison’s stylistic codes, launching new iconic watches during the Watches & Wonders tradeshow. Thanks to the extraordinary expertise of Cartier’s watchmakers, the Cartier watches are precious objects that constantly renew and explore our way of understanding time and how to make the most of it! Each singular creation establishes its own identity while maintaining its link with Cartier heritage. These horological creations are evolving and establish themselves across different periods, perpetually relevant due to is purity of design and outstanding craftsmanship. This year the brand has presented different models that combine extravagant style and illusory shapes with more classic designs. The famous Louis Cartier watch reveals a playful aesthetic combining monochrome colors such as red, the Maison’s signature shade, and anthracite gray. The Pasha de Cartier watch, overlaid with a geometric grille, displays a vibrant elegance, while the Crash Metiers d’Art revolutionizes the aesthetic codes of watchmaking with its asymmetrical dial. Following the same playful style, the Masse Mystérieuse turns out to be a spectacular watch, an innovative movement, created by the Fine Watchmaking Manufacture. Looking back on over a century of heritage, the Cartier pieces are made to delight through a freedom of possibility, of taste of identity. VB
www.cartier.com
Fashion
Armani Hotels and DGDA Announce Plans for New Armani Hotel in Diriyah
Armani Hotels & Resorts has announced the realization of a new signature hotel in the city of Diriyah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This plan is made in collaboration with Diriyah Gate Development Authority, a program that aims to preserve Diriyah’s history, celebrate its community, and develop the historic UNESCO site. This 300-year-old city, located just 15 minutes from Riyadh, and the capital of the First Saudi State, is part of a pedestrian-centric project designed to preserve the rich history and culture of Saudi Arabia. Diriyah will soon become an extraordinary international cultural and lifestyle destination, and the Armani Hotel will be one of the new hotel units in the city. That is the third Armani property globally and represents a new interpretation of Armani hospitality and lifestyle. The hotel, realized by Mr. Giorgio Armani and his in-house interior design team and architects, embraces Saudi Arabia’s culture and heritage. The structure, including 70 luxuriously designed rooms, two restaurants, and a high-end spa, is characterized by essential lines that enhance the precious materials utilized. Here, volumes, light, and shadow are blended with the unique architecture and landscape of the site, giving life to a building that fits organically into the rich urban and cultural fabric of Saudi Arabia. VB
www.armani.com
Fashion
Acqua di Parma Presents COLLAB - The Colonia Laboratory
In collaboration with IED - Instituto Europeo di Design, one of Italy's most significant fashion, design, and communication schools, Acqua di Parma has launched a new initiative. COLLAB is an open laboratory that connects customers and emerging artists through art and scent in an interactive co-creation process. The Italian brand collaborated with six emerging Italian talents that have translated their creative vision in a collection of 300 unique 180ml pieces from the Colonia Collection. Departing from their personal style, each artist developed a design inspired by the Italian culture, from the horoscope tradition and card games to the reinterpretation of the gladiator imagery from ancient Rome. Different techniques, visions, and colors blended in dynamic visual communication. In addition, since the COLLAB project is a co-creation laboratory, the clients can customize their very own personal fragrance bottle based on what the artists have previously crafted. A Roman number or a horoscope symbol, among other themes, can be added to the final product giving life to a true collector's item. To take part in this experience, people can book their one-on-one appointment on the Acqua di Parma website to meet the artists at the Maison's Boutique in Milan, starting their creative path together. Then, to offer the same service to those clients across Italy and Europe, the brand provides online appointments through a customized platform. COLLAB reflects Acqua di Parma values in preserving culture, art, and design while supporting future generations. VB
www.acquadiparma.com
Art
Tim Van Laere Gallery Presents Self Portraits and Nudes (Gesamtkunstwerk) by Jonathan Meese
Tim Van Laere Gallery presents SELF PORTRAITS AND NUDES (GESAMTKUNSTWERK), the fifth solo exhibition by Jonathan Meese at the gallery. Known for his multifaceted work, which includes paintings, installations, performances, and a body of sculpture in numerous mediums, Jonathan Meese is a German artist that plays with a sense of humor, a combination of both the grotesque and a powerful, original creative will. His paintings allow us to enter an alternative universe. Especially in this exhibition, Meese showcases a new series of works that captures the interplay of inner and outer worlds, merging imagination and reality. "SELF PORTRAITS AND NUDES," as the title predicts, deals with self-portraits and nudes. According to the artist, all self-portraits are nude, and all nudes are self-portraits. In addition, the art pieces want to celebrate the birth of the Gesamtkunstwerk, paying homage to evolution, nature, love, power, collage, abstraction, animalism, and art itself. SELF PORTRAITS AND NUDES (GESAMTKUNSTWERK) by Jonathan Meese will be on display at Tim Van Laere Gallery from April 7th to May 14th, 2022. VB
www.timvanlaeregallery.com
Fashion
BYBORRE explores the power of simplicity for the introduction of its 10th Edition
Edition10 by textile design company BYBORRE showcases its advanced knitted textiles and garments in collaboration with the illustrations of Dutch icon Dick Bruna, best known for creating Miffy. By taking Bruna’s simplistic yet iconic designs, the textiles play around with the scale of the artwork and apply a limited palette of colors, giving their spin on the illustrator’s classic line work. The range of textiles celebrates Bruna’s recognizable line work while highlighting how BYBORRE’s techniques enable the power of artwork to be transformed into a textile. Staying true to Bruna’s signature illustrations, there was a strong focus on precision and simplicity in the process of designing and developing the featured garments. Featured in the imagery are key pieces from previous Editions such as the Open Back Vest, Layer Shirt, and A-Type Jacket. There is a continuation to the evolution of staples such as the Suit Jacket, Pants, and Button Tee. These features are all executed in the latest iterations of BYBORRE Textiles. Additional focus has been put into the development of accessories, resulting in the introduction of a versatile everyday bag. The collection truly captivates the simplicity of Bruna’s while going perfectly in hand with BYBORRE’S signature knitted textiles. GH
www.byborre.com
Fashion
Summer Feeling
Summer is around the corner, bringing with it the anticipation of sunbathing and lunching on the patio. To celebrate this season, Maison Sarah Lavoine has crafted a selection of outdoor and tableware pieces in cheerful colors. Since 2012, Maison Sarah Lavoine has always conveyed its values and bold design through its architectural projects and creations. Its furniture, decoration, and ready-to-wear collections are elegant and relaxed: timeless but original, simple but with constant attention to detail, always colorful, and with a resolutely ethical manufacturing process. This season the Maison has presented a collection with Saffron and Pistachio shades that perfectly match with the geometric design of the new Soleil plates. The linen and cotton napkins are embroidered with a shell motif for a summer twist, while the Slave, Diane, and Castiglione candleholders make the good times last longer. The Esquisse collection is an invitation to color and sunshine, enjoying a picnic at the beach or on the grass happily seated down on the bright loungers and stools. VB
www.maisonsarahlavoine.com
Fashion
Emmanuel Gintzburger Is The New CEO of Versace
Capri Holdings Limited, the global fashion luxury group, has announced Emmanuel Gintzburger as the new Chief Executive Officer of Versace. Mr. Gintzburger joined Versace after six years spent as CEO of Alexander McQueen. Prior he was Worldwide Retail and Wholesale Director for Saint Laurent from 2011 to 2016, having joined the Parisian fashion house in 2009 as the Europe Retail Director. From 2007 to 2009, he served as International Retail Director at Lanvin, and before that, he held regional retail and marketing leadership roles at Sephora. Emmanuel Gintzburger also spent six years at Louis Vuitton in Hong Kong. Both John D. Idol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capri Holdings, and Donatella Versace were enthusiasts to welcome Emmanuel as the new CEO of the Italian brand. They agreed that Mr. Gintzburger, thanks to his background in luxury, is the perfect partner to take Versace to even greater heights. Emmanuel’s leadership and vision will help the brand further accelerate its growth and strengthen its strategic initiatives. “I am thrilled to be joining Versace as Chief Executive Officer. I have long admired the unparalleled style and fearless narrative of the house. I look forward to having the opportunity to partner with Donatella and the talented Versace management team to accelerate growth and strengthen the position of Versace as a leading fashion luxury house.” - Emmanuel Gintzburger. VB
www.versace.com
Fashion
Icons Unite: Mercedes-Benz x AWGE
Mercedes-Benz has launched a collaboration with multi-hyphenated artist A$AP Rocky. The well-known luxury car company has presented an exclusive capsule collection including a range of fashion and lifestyle merchandise characterized by iconic trademarks of Mercedes-Benz AG. Mercedes-Benz x AWGE is not the first creative partnership made by the two, but it follows the 2017 “Glow-Up” campaign fronted by the American rapper highlighting the Mercedes-Benz compact-car family focussing on people caught between the coolness of adolescence and the squareness of adulthood. This year the brand and AWGE tight up to realize a line of clothes spanning from t-shirts, pullovers, hoodies, and jackets, to trousers, baseball caps, and bags. Inspired by the 90s pop culture, “Icons Unite” is the new co-operation that sits at the intersection of cars, music, and streetwear, bringing together A$AP Rocky’s distinctive aesthetic and Mercedes-Benz iconic design in a unique offering of merchandise. Mercedes-Benz x AWGE capsule collection is available for purchase via select third-party channels, including the online shop of A$AP Rocky’s agency AWGE and PacSun’s website. VB
www.mercedes-benz.com
Fashion
Moose Knuckles SS22 Campaign: Summer Solstice
Spring is a time of transition when the sun seems to stand still in the sky, and in the natural and beautiful scenic state of this season, Moose Knuckles Canada revealed the SS22 Campaign. Moose Knuckles has always crafted resilient garments for the most unforgiving conditions, from the tundra to the city. The brand has become globally known for its relentless commitment to product design and technical expertise alongside its irreverent spirit and energy. This season the Canadian brand has transported the SS22 Collection to the beach. Shot by renowned risktaker Kenneth Cappello, the images portray Moneybagg Yo and Justine Mae Biticon in a picturesque Malibu shoreside sunset, capturing the feeling of mellow tones of a summer solstice through their warm and undeniable chemistry. These photos highlight Moose Knuckles’ SS22 Collection which, with a reinvention of classic styles, offers a range of premium sportswear and outerwear crafted with water and wind repellent nylon, and windproof tech fabrications, to be suitable to face the unpredictable transitional Spring season. The collection is available in Moose Knuckles stores, luxury outer and sportswear retailers worldwide, as well as on the brand’s website. VB
www.mooseknucklescanada.com
Fashion
A Souvenir Snow Globe
In a not-so-distant future, what was once considered ubiquitous is now rarefied, often only experienceable via simulation. In line with this concept, Balenciaga presented its FW22 Collection on an infinite white field, encapsulated with a protective glass screen. The weather became digitally rendered and the term “winter” took on a new meaning. The show was a real-life 3-D live stream with a 360° view showing the idea of a season as we once knew it. Just as a souvenir snow globe. The collection, surrounded by this atmosphere, featured classic looks pared down and redrawn, letting bold silhouettes stand out. Hybrid stretch dresses and bodysuits fitted and fell in new ways by combining gloves, shoes, pants, trains, or leggings. Staples, such as turtlenecks, pants, and jersey hoodies, were partially destroyed or oversized. Then, through graphic prints, Balenciaga introduced XXXL fits or messages like “Be Different,” while logos were blocked out with black tape. The accessories were exaggerated, emphasizing reuse and alternative materials like the Trash Pouch, inspired by a garbage bag, and purses made from pairs of Cagole or Rodeo boots. For Creative Director Demna Gvasalia, research and innovation are key during the predictably unpredictable time ahead. In addition, following recent events in Ukraine, Demna Gvasalia decided to dedicate the Balenciaga fashion show to fearlessness, resistance, and the victory of love and peace. VB
www.balenciaga.com
Fashion
VEJA X MARNI
VEJA and MARNI have introduced a new collaboration that offers an original interpretation to contemporary footwear, revisiting a slightly nostalgic design with a colorful, DIY-inspired look. Marni, the luxury brand recognized for its unorthodox take on fashion, has joined VEJA to launch a new pair of shoes that combine its playful approach with VEJA’s environmental and social commitment. VEJA is a footwear brand that creates long-lasting sneakers focusing on design and social responsibility, for them, sneakers are, for them, a symbol of our generation and era, but also a product that crystallizes the issue of globalization. VEJA’s V-10 and the newly introduced high-top V-15 welcome MARNI’s free-spirited aesthetic expressed through a colorful scribbled motif covering the upper shoe. Each pair has been assembled by hand, with the right foot different from the left to underline the originality and creative vein of the Italian brand. While, in line with VEJA’s philosophy, all the materials involved in the production are sustainable. The shoes’ laces are made of 100% recycled polyester, the leather is sourced in Uruguayan farms and tanned in Brazil, at a Gold-certified tannery by the Leather Working Group, and the soles are composed of 31% Amazonian rubber, 22% rice waste, and 12% recycled rubber. Made in Brazil, the first release presents two colorways: the V-15 in Black and the V-10 in Marsala. VEJA X MARNI collaboration is already available in selected retailers worldwide, as well as in VEJA and Marni flagship stores. VB
www.marni.com
www.veja.com
Fashion
Bas Koster at De Grote Kunstshow
Artist and Fashion designer Bas Kosters’ work will be displayed in The Great Show from March 11th until May 1st, 2022. The show will be presented by Lucas De Man presents the special show with light, music, monologues, interviews, and lots of fashion. De Man will involve the audience in the show and stimulate them with his unexpected thoughts. Embedded in the show are Koster’s fascinations with gender identity, ideals of beauty, overconsumption, vulnerability, and eroticism will be ideal ingredients for an exciting Great Art Show next spring, in which his multidisciplinary work will come to life theatrically. After the presentation by Lucas De Man, the public will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the presented fashion and art objects on stage. Kosters considers fashion to be one of his ‘languages’, alongside illustrations, paintings, dolls, wall hangings, and other graphic work. De Grote Kunstshow has been displaying visual art and design in the spotlight in a theatrical way since 2013. Initially intended as a one-off event, it grew into a popular and successful format. Koster is The Netherland’s most outspoken fashion designer, therefore deserving of his own edition in the show. GH
www.kunstshow.nl
www.baskosters.com
Fashion
Valentino Pink PP
Creative Director for Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli has conceived the brand’s new collection following the experimental urge of a radical gesture. The entire collection is based around a single hue of vibrant pink, this maximizes the expressive possibilities in what would originally seem like a lack of possibilities. The distinctive shade by Piccioli is being collaborated with Pantone Color Institute to create a unique identity that is individual and unrepeatable in itself. A variety of bodies, attitudes, and physicalities are enhanced by the monochromatic palette, bringing the vision to life. The accumulation of pink elements is produced with the aim of eliminating the visual shock to bring out the unique character of the individuals. The signs that shape the figures into a silhouette, the textures give the garments consistency, and the decorations are part of the construction. Large volumes are sculpted on the body by geometric tucks that highlight the gesture of tightening, sensual s-shaped lines, very short hemlines, and cinched waists. Also featured throughout, are bows, ruffles, petals, lace, and embroideries. The shoes throughout, stand on massive platforms in the same shade of pink. The pink-out is an experimental yet deeply human gesture that enhances individuality, capturing values and feelings. GH
www.valentino.com
Fashion
Saint Laurent Women’s Winter ‘22
Saint Laurent’s FW22 womenswear show paid tribute to the art deco style that was deeply appreciated by Yves Saint Laurent himself. Possibly the most memorable show of Anthony Vaccarello’s career, it was presented under the Eiffel Tower at Paris fashion week. Writer and political activist Nancy Cunard served as a template for the collection, with designs showcased across models from different age groups. Known for her wild elegance, Cunard dressed audaciously ahead of her time, wearing African bangles during a period that would deem it barbaric. Multiple looks such as minimalist gowns worn with heavy bangles, evoke her bold attitude. The looks take us back to the ‘90s, with long, narrow, and languid silhouettes with covered arms and subtle use of color, but the range does not stop there. Also featured are fake fur coats and bombers; overcoats with big shoulders; narrow leather coats; elegantly nonchalant cocoon-back profiles. The flute-like dresses brought the perfect balance of masculine and feminine energy. Looks throughout were embellished with chunky accessories, contributing to the essence of the brand. The show made the audience feel like times are truly changing within fashion, all in the right direction. GH
www.ysl.com
Fashion
Trussardi FW22: A New Narrative
Trussardi, one of the oldest fashion houses to show during Milan Fashion Week, presented its FW22 Collection designed by Creative Directors Benjamin A. Huseby and Serhat Isik. Held at the ground floor of Palazzo Trussardi, the setting reflected the idea of excavation of the house and a return to origins. Benjamin A. Huseby and Serhat Isik wanted to give life to a new Trussardi narrative using their methodology of uncovering the layers to get to the foundation. They looked at the past to reshape the present and think about the future. From a sleeping beauty, Trussardi is awakened, showing a collection that combined fantasy and reality, the historical and the present. It is a mixture of fantastical fairy tales and the genuine codes of how people dress on the streets of Milan. The two Creative Directors studied the Milanese and noticed how almost everyone was wearing 100-gram Piumino jackets, the typical and essential lightweight down jacket, and created a more beautiful and improved version of the item. Benjamin A. Huseby and Serhat Isik's idea of fashion lies in the magic of clothes that gives visibility to who is wearing them, like a magic cloak. For the FW22 show, they aimed to give this power to everyone, inviting people back into the building because the Trussardi spirit has always been to look at fashion democratically. In addition, they redesigned the house motif, an ouroboros depicting the iconic Italian greyhound eating its tail. For Benjamin A. Huseby and Serhat Isik, time is not linear but a loop, and there is no hierarchy in dressing for a world that exists as much in the past as it does in the present. VB
www.trussardi.com
Fashion
Modernist Magic
This season Max Mara paid homage to creative polymath Sophie Taeuber-Arp. Architect, dancer, textile designer, painter, and sculptor, she was a modernist who invested even the most everyday object with a sense of magic and mystery. Sophie Taeuber-Arp was the artist, with Wassily Kandinsky, Giorgio de Chirico, Max Ernst, and many others to give rise to the Dada aesthetic. But what inspired Max Mara FW22 Collection were Taeuber-Arp’s hastily improvised costumes and marionettes designed for her work “King Stag”. Full of joy, energy, and theatrical panache, they were formed fairytale characters that the Italian brand reinterpreted with strong and surprising silhouettes. The collection explored playful contrasts of mini and maxi, micro and macro, skinny and outsize, presenting a wide range of garments: from Max Mara’s crepe-soled knitted cuissardes, part boot, and part leggings to bell-shaped and full-length skirts and voluminous trousers. And a pale matte gold zipper was the new talisman of the season. As well as Sophie Taeuber-Arp used to elevate prosaic hardware to poetic heights, Max Mara clothes and accessories assumed a Dada dimension. To complete the collection, Teddy Bear coats and oversized puffas, layered one on top of the other, became dream items. Max Mara presented a sleek, modern dressing, with a dash of Cabaret Voltaire’s whirlwind creativity and a sprinkle of magic dust. VB
www.maxmara.com
Art
ZONA MACO 18th Edition
To celebrate its 18th edition, ZONA MACO featured, in a singular event, international exhibitors from more than 25 countries bringing together its four fairs simultaneously. Held at Centro Citibanamex in Mexico City, ZONA MACO MÉXICO ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO, which combines leading and emerging national and international art galleries in four specialized sections, presented the most representative contemporary artists in the global scene. ZONA MACO DISEÑO, curated by Cecilia León de la Barra, promoted furniture, jewelry, textiles, and decorative objects, as well as limited editions and historical pieces. ZONA MACO SALÓN showcases exclusive antiques welcomed for this special occasion, the new curator Alfonso Miranda. As well as Sara Hermann, who curated ZONA MACO FOTO: a fair focused on galleries and artists working in the photographic and video fields. ZONA MACO, as every year, also announced its Conversations Program, which featured national and international guests to discuss current issues affecting the art world, and the extensive Parallel Activities Program. In addition, ZONA MACO Libros presented publishing projects specialized in art and photography. The 2022 edition has been a unique event that marks the return of the art fair platform to its traditional format, adding to an already tested formula something new and revolutionary. VB
www.zsonamaco.com
Fashion
Erdem FW22 Show
Erdem’s FW22 show in London Fashion Week showcased an exquisite assortment that captivates the feeling of entering a European club in the ‘30s. The collection imagined the nightlife of a group of iconic women who pioneered Berlin’s progressive cultural spirit in the ‘30s, a particular vein of avant-garde expression. These artists explored the notions of gender, sexuality, identity, and expression long before terms such as “fluid” and “non-binary” had been added to our vocabularies. The collection explores and juxtaposes the intertwining of daywear and eveningwear, womenswear and menswear, and formal and casual clothing. Each look is characterized by its distinctive sense of degenerated glamour; mixed and matched together are jacquard and ivory dresses, lavish black beading, and tailored grey-skirt suits. There are embellishments of lace, pearls, studs, and black sequins, perfectly encapsulating the heady spirit of freedom. There is a feeling of isolation from the outside world, a bittersweet edge as the club created is a place of safe space and expression, unlike the world beyond the club. The brand depicts the collection to have created electricity in the air, febrile energy of abandon that comes in the calm before the storm. GH
www.erdem.com
Fashion
Fratelli Rossetti in Fiumara d'Arte
Fratelli Rossetti has shot her SS22 campaign in Sicily, among the monumental works of Fiumara d’Arte, one of the largest open-air sculpture museums in Europe, designed by patron Antonio Presti. The colossal works create an evocative and poetic setting for a collection whose every detail evokes the art of craftsmanship. Presti describes the imagery as “a combination of art and fashion that reflects current environmental, social, and cultural concerns. It helps raise the profile of the extraordinary area of Sicily and its ancient villages”. The forms are captured by skilled fashion photographer Federico Sorrentino, who pays great attention to contours, geometry, and perspective. Human subjects merge with their environment and create a sense of harmony between the shapes and colors. The collection maintains Fratelli Rossetti's signature elegance while being extensively innovative and bright. The brand continues to bring about small and big revolutions in the fashion world as it has done over the past 70 years, remaining as an international ambassador for “Made in Italy” and Italian style. GH
www.fratellirossetti.com
Fashion
The Savoir-Faire of the Dior Tribales Earrings
The Dior Tribales are a timeless design that is modern yet iconic. The style is composed of two asymmetrical resin pearls that are emblematic of the line. The small resin pearl sits on the front while the larger resin pearl appears at the back of the lobe. This season, Dior has reinvented the pieces in see-through shades of blue, orange, yellow, or pink. These are the perfect additions to already available models in fun matte colors, set stones, and pearlized finishes. The fruit of unique craftsmanship, these creations are fashioned from a transparent resin made in Florence, Italy. The bold yet elegant accessories are punctuated with the initials “CD”, in the form of a delicate extruded signature, or as a precious pendant. The pieces can be mixed and matched, worn alone, or in pairs, adding the perfect elevation to any look while creating whole new customizable combinations. GH
www.dior.com
Fashion
LOEWE Valentine's Day: Love is in the Air
LOEWE truly embrace the over the top essence of Valentine’s Day with its new Valentine’s collection. Within the collection are the ultimate tokens of affection - a special edition collection of bags, accessories, and small leather goods featuring the brand’s signature Anagram jacquard canvas in bold, heart stopping red. The 22 piece collection inspired by love, pairs the vibrant red Anagram Jacquard print with classic calf leather trims. The bags come in nano and 28cm sizes, as well as the iconic Flamenco, Balloon, Cubi and Gate. For the first time, the timeless Goya is available in Anagram Jacquard, adding a warm tactility to its clean lines. Joining the bags in this love affair, is a selection of small leather goods, including wallets, cardholders, and pouches, all with the same print. A bucket hat, sunglasses, and a logo strop complete the line in co-ordinating Valentine’s hues. The campaign for the capsule collection is a declaration of excess where too much is never enough. Pairing pieces from the collection with a tongue-in-cheek flurry of hearts, bows, and teddy bears pay homage to the most romantic time of the year. GH
www.loewe.com
Fashion
Gentle Monster x Coperni "5G" Collection
Gentle Monster and Coperni are two modern brands with an innovative and digital DNA. They used these similarities to create a range of sunglasses named “5G”, with the promise of taking us on a futuristic voyage. Inspired by the connection and speed produced by 5G, the sunglasses display five pure and radical lines on the temple that reflect a similar movement. The collaboration consists of six different version of two models: the “5G BOLD” and the “5G”. Echoed by their names, the “5G BOLD” is inspired by the 90s aesthetics of “RoboCop” or “Back to the Future”, whereas the “5G” model displays a more minimal variation of this. The campaign for the collection is shot in an urban, avant-garde landscape by Parisian film director Alexandre Silberstein. The campaign is inspired by the infamous movie “The Matrix”. Transporting us into the two brands technological universes, the campaign features a newly inspired trinity composed of singer Le Diouck, and models Louise Roberts and Jeanne Zheng. The collaboration collection was launched on February 11th, but has already been seen during Paris Fashion Week last September, and worn by celebrities like Zendaya. GH
www.gentlemonster.com
www.coperniparis.com
Fashion
Loro Piana Baseball Cap: A Modern Icon
Loro Piana presented the baseball cap, an iconic item capable of connecting the most diverse people worldwide. The baseball cap is a sports accessory that was discovered by fashion in the 60s and has since become an essential piece that not only protects the head and eyes but also serves as a decorative eye-catcher. This item, which creates a sense of mystery by hiding and revealing the face at the same time, made its first appearance in Loro Piana collection in 2005, where it was worn, quite classically, in combination with the Horsey jacket. Today, instead, Loro Piana introduces a six-piece baseball cap with an innovative style able to transcend trends and generations. The new garment, made from Maison's fine and distinctive fabrics such as Microfiber Wind, Cashmere, Vicuña, and Velvet Cashmere, all treated with the Storm System® process, shows off the brand know-how without letting the item lose its aesthetic appeal. Refined then with a wool-cashmere flannel lining, and seamless front, the baseball cap is transformed into a sporty and contemporary accessory that should be part of any wardrobe.
www.loropiana.com
Fashion
Balenciaga SS22
The second installment of Balenciaga’s ongoing campaign was captured by photographer Stef Mitchell. Several phases of the campaign are being released throughout the season, capturing friends of the brand either in their homes or their place of work. These friends include the likes of Kim Kardashian, Isabelle Huppert, and Tommy Blue shot in their homes, as well as Justin Bieber and Marie-Agnès Diene in their respective studios. The models are all dressed in Balenciaga’s signature silhouettes and pieces, including the iconic Hourglass bag styles, sportswear-inflicted outerwear, and figure hugging bodysuits. As well as having a strong focus on products that continue from season to season, new classics are also introduced such as newer versions of the Tote bags; stretch knee pants; and sunglasses. The imagery of the campaign celebrates and perfectly captures the brand’s unique vision of futuristic streetwear that is becoming timeless. The collection is featured at large scale on famous façades worldwide, beginning at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.
www.balenciaga.com
Fashion
Giuseppe Zanotti's Sustainable Make-Over
For the SS22 season, Italian luxury footwear brand Giuseppe Zanotti launched a new eco-friendly version of its signature Blabber sneaker. Taking a step towards sustainability, the designer presented the Ecoblabber, which realized with eco-conscious materials, keeps the iconic design untouched and clearly alludes to its inspiration, the first original skater styles. This particular pair of sneakers are crafted with a polyurethane and polyester blend obtained from recycled plastic bottles, utilizing a production process that reduces CO2 emissions. Each of them is then assembled with water-based glues to avoid any component that might be dangerous to the environment, and refined with bio-based soles and organic cotton laces. The Ecolabber, realized in a restrained color palette of black and white, with gold and silver nuances, turns out to be a truly green product certified by leading company CIMAC, the Italian top partner of those footwear firms seeking to achieve the highest levels of sustainability.
www.giuseppezanotti.com
Fashion
Versace Men’s 2.0
On the second day of the second month in 2022, Versace presented the FW22 Collection, introducing Versace Men’s 2.0. The collection, which does not focus on the singular but on multiplicity, progression, and diversity looks at the Versace Man, showing garments designed to proudly reach out to a diverse range of men in celebration of who they are. Clean forms, fluid lines, and adaptable designs define a contemporary approach that shows a refreshed masculinity inspired by the new generation. In this collection, Versace synthetized its brand codes presenting unstructured finishes which allow freedom of movement and create a smooth silhouette. While, the brand's heritage ornate prints are polished, portrayed as stenciled bicolors like the new Barocco Silhouette, and bright, optimistic hues like cerise, pink, and orange are worn as solid blocks of color. La Greca motif remains as the brand monogram, interplayed through cable knit sweaters and vivid lurex cardigans. In addition, Versace crafted new accessories and shoe designs like wide totes and belt bags in soft-grained leather and the Odissea sneaker that acts as a confident exclamation point at the foot of an outfit.
www.versace.com
Fashion
The Eternity of Rome, the Spirituality of Rome, the Celestial Rome
The Fendi Haute Couture collection was an ode to the brand’s home, the city of Rome, its past, present, and imagined future. Conceived by Kim Jones, the collection is an embodiment of the eternal city, to put it in his own words, “When you walk down the street in Rome, you are constantly moving back and forth in time. Where we work feels very modern, but you pass monuments on the way there. There’s a total timelessness to the city: a historic vein which runs through it, but also a movement that is projecting forwards.” This harmony between past and present, the historic codes of the city explored through a celestial lens, set the tone for the whole collection. The pieces themselves draw upon time-honoured techniques alongside modern craftsmanship, which is also reflected in the interplay of materials. The lavish embroidery and craftsmanship are paired with sci-fi silhouettes, making the model appear like an army of empresses descending from the heavens. Fluid pieces are draped atop shimmering bodies, beading is illuminated and hand-embroidered tights act as a second skin. It’s a celebration of the celestial Rome, its past being referenced throughout, but more importantly, it’s the essence of Jones’ vision for the Roman House, celebrating the power of women.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Stray Rats & Carhartt WIP SS22
Carhartt WIP has partnered with Stray Rats for their SS22 collection. Stray Rats is a brand that spans from punk and hardcore nostalgia to strands of underground American counterculture, which paired with Carhartt’s authentic adaptations of American workwear has instigated a strong collaboration. The collaboration features nine products, including reworked iterations of the original Active Jacket, Western Jacket, and Smith Pant. The items are all in either canvas or denim, and have an “aged” effect while also bearing a hand-drawn allover print. Each of these garments is accented with classic brass detailing and trims and is in either duck blue or tobacco brown. As a staple to the Stray Rats collection, there are also some cotton jersey items, including a sweatshirt and sweatpants with graphic prints similar to the hand-drawn prints on the canvas and denim items.
www.carhartt-wip.com
www.strayrats.com
Fashion
Jude Law and Raff Law Are The New Ambassadors of Brioni SS22 Campaign
Brioni, the Italian luxury menswear house, has announced Jude Law and Raff Law as new brand ambassadors, with the SS22 campaign marking their official debut. Jude Law is one of the most enigmatically compelling actors working today, having held roles in highly acclaimed movies and TV Series. One perfect example is “The Young Pope”, thanks to which he also formed a special connection with the city of Rome where the brand is also based. He is an actor of unparalleled versatility, a great master of his art, and his son, following in his steps, is considered a rising talent in the same universe. Both have a strong personal style and natural complicity, to put it in the words of Raff Law, even though they have different tastes and perspectives, they share the same love for Brioni, its craftsmanship, and quality, both key features of the brand. The Laws naturally embody elegance and class, making them the perfect pairing to reflect Brioni’s modern vision of menswear, in which distinctions of age are blurred by a shared passion for genuine craftmanship.
www.brioni.com
Fashion
CHANEL Haute Couture SS22
For the Chanel SS22 Haute Couture Show, Creative Director Virginie Viard has invited French contemporary artist Xavier Veilhan to realize the set design of the show. It is the first time that Chanel entrusted a contemporary artist to imagine the staging of the show. Part landscape, part garden, and part open theatre stage, the project combines key topics close to both parties: from the equestrian paths to the principle of lightness and constructivist motifs. The show was opened by Chanel Ambassador Charlotte Casiraghi on horseback, dressed in a black tweed jacket with jeweled buttons, setting the tone for a collection in between the realms of fantasy and reality. The Chanel SS22 Collection expresses an ethereal lightness made of bright and joyful silhouettes set in sharp contrast to the geometric decor. Ethereal dresses float as if suspended while embroidered patterns such as constructivist camellias in black, white, and coral beads pay homage to Gabrielle Chanel in a conversation that crosses time. In addition, Chanel also released a series of short films that feature two personalities close to the French House: musician Sébastien Tellier, who can be seen in one of the graphic compositions, and Charlotte Casiraghi.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Hermès FW22
Hermès FW22 Collection exudes an air of optimism and lightness, focusing on the vitality of a world regained. A new form of elegance is presented, sophisticated and elaborate, a combination of different techniques and materials with dandyish flair. Chevron patterns, a golden-brown gloss, and a touch of velvet feature bright colors such as pop orange, lettuce green blended with earth tones, and darker hues. This formula gives the looks fluidity and restored energy, that spread within the walls of Réserve Perret of the Mobilier National. The location has been chosen by the Creative Director Véronique Nichanian and Director Cyril Teste, and has been injected with new life. The tapestries conserved in that space have been transformed and placed on moving screens where they rhythmically change as forward-moving models, becoming part of the landscape in which the collection’s energy unfurls. The Hermès FW22 Collection merges with the decor and gives life to a lively fresco made of heritage but also avant-garde.
www.hermes.com
Fashion
Fashion
Maluma is the New Face of Versace SS22 Men’s Campaign
Versace has announced the new face of the SS22 Men’s collection, the global superstar Maluma. Already part of the Versace Family, having previously created memorable moments such as Maluma wearing custom-made garments for his performances and red carpet looks, the Colombian singer has now been appointed by Donatella Versace herself as the new icon of the latest collection. The long-lasting relationship between the two has been love at first sight. Maluma has always been a fashion enthusiast and in the brand, he found the right features for an exceptional collaboration. Donatella Versace herself has always been intrigued by Maluma’s energy and engaging personality; to put it in her own words “He’s the kind of man that makes a difference and makes the world a better place”. The images, released globally on January 19th and shot by photographic duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, portray the singer wearing a varsity jacket finished with a range of brand motif patches and “Donatella” embroidered across the heart. In addition, for the first time, Maluma is not pictured alone but with his dog Buda. With these enticing images, the Italian fashion house and the Colombian megastar are creating new memories together as a fashion family.
www.versace.com
Fashion
Dior Men's FW22
Artistic Director Kim Jones says about the inspiration behind the Dior FW22 menswear collection: “I wanted to look at the archive, at the purity of the beginnings of the house, at its original impulse. We looked at the initial collections and focused on the architecture, taking these elements and transforming them almost instinctively in a masculine way for today, always keeping the joie de vivre at the heart of Christian Dior’s clothing.” Presented in Paris on the Pont Alexandre III, the silhouettes emerge in motion reflecting the colors of the sky and the passage of time during the show for Paris Fashion Week. The looks reflect the movement of time and the continuum of designers who unify the past, present, and future of the House’s legacy. This season is an homage to heritage, a living history paving the way for the future. Fluctuating between masculinity and femininity, the garments blend gender-boundaries in a contemporary manner. During the show, the scent of lily of the valley fills the air, symbolically fusing nature and culture, a connection dear to Dior. For the 75th anniversary of the House, Kim Jones engages in the ultimate conversation and association with Christian Dior himself. Two men’s paths collide, forming a new legacy for Dior.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Miu Miu Tigers T-shirt Collection
In honor of the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac, Miu Miu launches an exclusive collection of t-shirts featuring the tiger motif from different animation productions. Ranging from playful to heroic and majestic, the spirit of the collection is ubiquitous and unexpected. Tiger Mask originally appeared in a manga comic book written by Ikki Kajiwara and illustrated by Naoki Tsuji, later adapted into an animation series by Toei Animatio. The character is a powerful wrestler and loyal companion to orphans, whose true identity always remains obscured. Created by Tiger Key, the Tiger Girl character featured in the t-shirt collection is a crime-fighting tiger battling evil. The last iconic animated tiger figures are Disney’s Tillie Tiger - dating back to 1936 when she first appeared on screen – and the anthropomorphic Tigger from the tales of Winnie the Pooh. The Miu Miu’s Tigers t-shirt collection evokes nostalgic images of iconic stories of animation history, in celebration of Chinese zodiac tradition. The Tigers collection of t-shirts is available starting from mid January 2022 at selected Miu Miu stores and online.
Fashion
CHANEL x 2022 César Revelations
For the fifth consecutive year, CHANEL is the Official Partner of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma for the César Revelations project. This partnership is an opportunity for the House to support the young talents of today and tomorrow, while reaffirming its commitment to creation. It features thirty-two young actors designated by the Revelations, who are set to assist the members of the Academy in the voting process of the categories of Best Emerging Actress and Best Emerging Actor at the next César ceremony, which will take place on Friday 25 February 2022. This year, the César Revelations are brought together in a short film directed by the duo Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai, whose film “LOURDES” was nominated in 2020 for the César Award for Best Documentary Film. Parigot and Zbeida Belhajamor as well as actresses Ludivine Sagnier, Irène Jacob and Mélanie Thierry who are featured in the film were dressed and styled by CHANEL.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Etro FW22
The Etro FW22/23 show at Milan Fashion Week presented a journey through this season’s menswear collection: sidereal and Nordic, crystalline and vibrant, undertaken by a platoon of young men in the making, who face the adventure of life with a book in their pocket. The adventure of life and the pursuit of knowledge are at the core of Etro’s creations. A new mental order can be felt, as crisp as the new beginnings arising in the January light. The journey, whether it is knowledge or adventure, requires a map and a map requires direction, which is not about being strictly bound to it, but about being lucid. It is about being curious. The collection is clear in the overlapping and accumulation of different signs: north stars and anchors, winter sea and mountains, wolves and roses. A small library of symbols that signify the will and vision of its creator, Kean Etro. Geometric dimension meets clarity in the rhythm of shapes colors and themes. The soft silhouettes of the season appear in a variety of full colors arranges in monochrome compositions. Materials are dense and tactile, presented through the typically Etro lens: coats, gardening overcoats, pullovers meant as outerwear, caftans, duvets, jackets, printed shirts, and sweaters. Overall, a collection that embodies a face-off of youth and adulthood. The journey of knowledge and the adventure of life has just begun.
www.etro.com
Fashion
J.W. Anderson Menswear FW22
Fascinated by the endless possibilities of experiencing masculinity, the J.W. Anderson FW22 menswear show at Milan Fashion Week impresses through its enthusiasm for exploration. Anderson is deeply inspired by the transformative nature of garments and the discovery of their meaning in current times. Playing with the role that sounds play in the hyper-stimulating online media environment, Anderson created menswear tunics with rubber bands and sweaters featuring tube-shaped extensions along the hem, designed to generate a sound through movement. The designer intended to make a reference to the current ASMR and TikTok culture, in which sounds are at the core of expression. Anderson: “A lot of the materials have these odd sounds qualities that are kind of almost sexual… there’s a kind of tension.” A tension that paves the way for creative opportunity filtered through the label’s sense of luxury and beauty.
www.jwanderson.com
Fashion
Missoni Men's FW22
Art has always been at the center of Missoni’s sense of creation. This season, the world of art deeply influences the house's FW22 menswear collection. Precisely, the informal abstract art movement which developed in Italy during the 1940s forms the point of departure for the distinctive graphics and harmonic color palette that characterize the collection. The style is openly informal, featuring effortless versatile pieces that emanate a sense of spontaneity. The textile excellence is highlighted by the neutral and timeless shades of gray and blue, combined with vibrant touches of bright tones, such as red, yellow, orange, and green. The collection offers a realistic wardrobe designed for men with a dynamic lifestyle, willing to embrace elegance and comfort. In line with the brand’s tradition, knitwear is the star of the collection. Timeless icons, such as the zigzag and the rashel, find space next to new jacquards featuring abstract motifs with an impactful graphic appeal. Patchwork, one of the techniques rooted in the brand's tradition, pops out with a denim jacket enriched with knitted inserts. The collection exudes timelessness while keeping its gaze towards the future through the language of innovation.
www.missoni.com
Fashion
C.P. Company CINQUANTA
C.P. Company CINQUANTA For Milan Fashion Week, C.P. Company presents a throwback on 50 years of sportswear design with "CINQUANTA: A retrospective on 50 years of sportswear innovation by C.P. Company”. At the end of their anniversary celebrations, which lasted all throughout the past year, an exhibition, freely accessible to the public, is open from January 15th to January 17th, 2022 in Milan. Created in collaboration with Random Studio, a creative agency from Amsterdam, “CINQUANTA” is a series dedicated to five decades of Italian sports and casual wear. It includes more than 70 pieces from the C.P. Company archives, alongside original sketches and special projects that have marked and shaped the brand legacy. The retrospective also includes a special area dedicated to the 50th anniversary presenting the collaborations next to various objects and memorabilia. As Lorenzo Osti, President of C.P. Company put it himself, "This exhibition is designed to facilitate the understanding of the essence of the brand through its most iconic items: the ability of C.P. Company to model and create objects that resonate with contemporary society. This way, through our garments, you will find the evocations of cities, landscapes and adventures that have most involved and fascinated us in the last 50 years."
www.cpcompany.com
Fashion
Fashion
G-Star: The Rhythm of Denim
Tap dance emerged in the early 19th century, quickly developing into a dance style that was seen as a form of communication. With a powerful part to play in the Roaring Twenties, the dynamic art form grew so popular, it was frequently featured in Broadway shows in New York. Fast forward to 2022 and tap is making a modern revival across the globe in a new street dance variation of classic tap. The new G-Star denim campaign tells a story narrated through an immersive dance performance. Titled The Rhythm of Denim, the new campaign is inspired by the urban tap movement that is taking over the world by storm. Showcasing the motto “tapping into the new year”, the denim collection in combination with the dance campaign expresses this season’s longing for novelty and reimagination. An artistic encounter between two world-class tap dancers - World Tap Champion, Kamira Samuel and successful Broadway performer, Lee Howard – is captured in The Rhythm of Denim. The two extraordinary dancers communicate and express themselves solely using the language of dance. G-Star gives a stage to what becomes a spectacular dance performance using the mode of interacting through body movement only. Dance becomes a dialogue and the denim pieces their uniform. With The Rhythm of Denim, G-Star emphasizes and explores its artistic side to present the collection. Creating a bold, immersive experience for the viewer, the campaign is a strong celebration of different modes of human expression, foregrounding the beauty of dance and the abilities of the body. Choreographer Jack Evans describes the production saying: “The simple premise of two characters in separate locations communicating transcendently through rhythm gives a contemporary lens for us to view tap dance in its rawest, most authentic form.”
Art
The Genius Immersive Experience
The Genius Immersive Experience guides the visitor through a creative, multi-sensory journey. The show presents an interactive experience through the eyes of Leonardo Da Vinci and pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling. Its multi-media concept brings the exhibition and show to an astonishing new level. Just as the Italian painter, craftsman, sculptor, architect, and engineer was ahead of his time in creating works, which embody true Renaissance humanist ideals, the show innovatively merges past, present and future. What's it like inside one of the brightest minds that ever existed? How can you touch, play, hear and live iconic works of art? The Genius Immersive Experience provides a space to not only receive but experience the answers to these questions and more. Science, art and intuition were at the core of Da Vinci’s approach to creation and exploration of the world. The master himself famously said: "All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions". Perceptions that are brought to life by The Genius Immersive Experience creators through revisiting Leonardo’s inventions and ideas within a modern framework using cutting-edge audiovisual technology. Almost 80 million real pixels, 50km of cabling and more than 350,000 projected lumens come together to create a sensory explosion. In the revision of Leonardo’s work, the Genius Immersive Experience explores what his vision might have been making use of the resources that are available in the realm of art today. Providing a new lens on ecology, nature, science, space exploration and modern art the show investigates the present through the past, exemplifying methods and possibilities of the future.
Fashion
Pooch Knuckles
Moose Knuckles introduces its latest collection for pets - Pooch Knuckles. The mini-me style jackets for dogs launched in December 2021during the holiday season. The collection features two dog-wear styles inspired by Moose Knuckles' iconic Stirling Parka. Pooch Knuckles’ functionality is designed to help pet owners to dress their dogs for outdoor activities in the cold winter months. Featuring an opening on the back for the leash, adjustable Velcro closures and J-seams with pockets for dog bags, the parka meets the needs of both the owner and the pet. The collection includes the Pooch Parka and Pooch Parka Gold Series coats, which showcase fur trim and Moose Knuckles' signature metal logo and studs and have a durable, water-resistant and windproof exterior. Available in three size options the Pooch Knuckles pieces are available for four-legged friends of various body shapes and heights. Offering the same high-quality weather-proof combination of style and materiality, Moose Knuckles translates its core design ideals into the world of dog wear. The collection is available at Mooseknucklescanada.com, as well as Moose Knuckles stores in SoHo (New York), Boston, London and Montreal.
Fashion
Brunello Cucinelli Menswear SS23
For the men’s SS23 collection, Brunello Cucinelli finds the perfect refined yet relaxed balance between sophistication and verve. Feeding on the knowledge of tradition, this skillful nonchalance offers a new interpretation of style: fresh, innovative, and capable of conveying harmony and versatility for any occasion. The prestige behind the origins of the brand is transferred to a more relaxed, effortless style. The modern suit is a feature of the collection, which can be used for daily, leisure, and summer dressing alongside business elegance. A blazer and trousers can be worn separately to adapt to the evolving needs throughout the day. Also included are an array of knitwear, t-shirts, and shirts that boost the sense of ease and comfort of contemporary suits and casual styles alike. The colors highlight the essence of summer in a rich variety of tones. Patterns are captivated by the variety of textures, where structures and color-enriching effects confer three-dimensionally and unique characteristics to elements across the collection. A generous collection of accessories has been made as the perfect embellishments to the looks. A variety of footwear has also been designed to fit styles of any occasion, varying from formal to more lightweight designs. These are characterized by the utmost attention to lightness, comfort, and flexibility. GH
www.bruellocucinelli.com
Fashion
Versace Pre-Fall 22: Reimagining History
The Italian luxury house Versace unveils its Pre-Fall 2022 collection, which encapsulates the quintessence of creativity. Versace was established by Gianni Versace in 1978 in Milan, emerged into a leading international fashion house during the 80s, and is now creatively led by his sister Donatella Versace. One of the most distinctive recognition features of the luxury fashion brand is the Baroque print. Donatella Versace states the leading mantra of the Pre-Fall 22 collection as “[…] I see creativity as an opportunity and a way of looking at things you have known all of your life in a different way, from another perspective and transform them into something new that, like a scent reminds you of emotions past, but are now connected to something completely rooted in the present moment.” For the Pre-Fall 22 collection, the infamous Baroque print is reimagined in a black and white version on garments, ranging from fitted suits to loose silhouettes. The collection features dresses, sensually hugging the silhouette of the models and silk wide-leg pajama pants with matching shirts as well as bold colored and heavily printed garments, deeply anchored in the Versace vocabulary. The Pre-Fall 22 collection embraces the so-called Versace woman, a strong independent woman who is confident in continuously reinventing herself through clothes.
www.versace.com
Fashion
Dior Welcomes Kylian Mbappé
Dior has announced Kylian Mbappé as an official ambassador of the French Maison the soccer prodigy will prospectively lend his image to the design creations of Kim Jones, Artistic Director for Dior’s men’s collections, as well as the iconic Sauvage perfume. The globally recognized soccer player is part of the Parisian Saint-Germain club and further one of the major players of the French National Football team with whom he won the world championship in 2018. In the same year, Kylian Mbappé was awarded the title of the Best Young Player by FIFA in the same year as well as the Kopa trophy celebrating the best player aged under 21. Propelling his professional career with a steady advancement, he has also been the player to break the record of scoring a quartet of goals, which had last been achieved in 1958, during a match that qualified the French National Team for the 2022 Worldcup. Kylian Mbappé makes a point in supporting charities, in particular the Premiers de Cordée association, which organizes sports initiatives for hospitalized children. Through this collaboration, the young soccer star aims to be an active part in using athletic aspirations to create purpose and perspectives. Pushing his charitable endeavors further, Kylian Mbappé has launched his own association, named Inspired by KM. With the mutual values of generosity and breaking standards, Dior and Kylian Mbappé are a match that promises exciting collaborations.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Giorgio Armani's New Beginnings at Königsallee
After a thorough renovation, the Giorgio Armani boutique on the Düsseldorfer Königsallee has reopened its doors to its customers just in time before Christmas. Located in the prominent luxury shopping district of the city, the Giorgio Armani store exhibits Italian tailoring on three sizeable floors. The façade of the building already prepares the customer for the ambiance inside – with green granite surfaces and platinum-colored finishing, the impressive windows allow a glance into the luxurious retail space. Going with the times, the retail experience has been enhanced by an interactive digital wall on the ground floor, showcasing the women’s accessories collections and Armani beauty. The first floor is reserved for women’s evening wear and the Giorgio Armani fine jewelry collection, whereas the second floor presents the men’s collections and Made to Measure services. Just as the sartorial lines, the space consists of substantial, sophisticated elements: satin-finish furniture with metal detailing, silken wall panels that reflect the marble effect of the floors and armchairs from the current Armani Casa collections. Special dedication has been devoted to the lighting arrangement, making the most of the natural light that pours into the space through the windows, softened and re-directed by delicate gold-mesh metal screens. The Giorgio Armani boutique appears refined and fluid, exuding elegance and warmth in a classical Armani manner.
www.giorgioarmani.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2022
To Virgil Abloh, pre-collections had a special element to them. As passionate as he was about the sensation of the regular runway shows, he found contentment in immersing himself into the as he defined “normalcy” of the pre-collections that celebrates the idea of commercialism behind fashion, rather than looking upon it. Catering to the terms “trendless” and “lifewear”, his pre-collection frequently delivered looks that stood for contemporality while remaining timeless. His first pre-collection introduced the now widely recognized idea of ‘boyhood ideology’, a perspective with which Virgil Abloh nodded to the influence of upbringing, education and evolvement in the early years of life. The pre-fall 2022 collection seized on this initiation, effortlessly fusing the ideas of formalwear, workwear and streetwear into one fluid wardrobe devoid of conventional dress codes. The collection touches upon the traditional idea of suiting yet adjusts the classical three-piece with a wrap skirt replacing the waistcoat. The seriousness of tapered trousers is replaced with flares and blazers traded for utility jackets. A small selection of looks focuses on elevating sportswear elements with tracksuits appearing in tailoring fabrics. Bringing graphics into formal dressing, the designer played with the Louis Vuitton Damier pattern, reintroducing grid patterns with embroidery work and incorporating landscape motifs into denim pieces. The show exemplified Virgil’s persuasion of questioning definitions and labels, taking visual elements out of context and reviving them by exploring opposites. The shows indicate, in an all-encompassing way, how Virgil Abloh’s designs have shaped the idea of modern menswear and how he continued to pursue the unusual and unexpected while keeping wearability and commerciality in mind.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Dior Men SS22: Paying Homage to Those Who Shaped Our World
For the SS22 Menswear collection, Dior pays homage to one of the most revolutionary writers of the last century—Jack Kerouac. Christian Dior reimagined the pre-war silhouettes with a refreshing approach, influenced by his journeys, where the couturier acquired knowledge and new sources of inspiration in numerous countries and cultures. The influence and importance of author and poet Jack Kerouac are synonymous with Dior. Kerouac shaped his generation with an avant-garde approach to literature art and gained worldwide recognition with his novel On the Road, published in 1957. Kerouac is considered to be part of the Beat generation, which was a rebellious literary movement, emerged out of the desire to break down the established structures and traditional writing conventions in the 60s. Also known as the Beat poets, they influenced culture and politics with their celebration of experimentation and spontaneous creativity. The SS22 collection celebrates the power of imagination and fuses Dior’s heritage, characterized by intricate embroideries or the soft pastel color palette with futuristic technological qualities in materials, such as technical silks and recycled nylon. Fair Isle knits embroidered with sequins are worn with bias-cut soft collegiate jackets and complemented with an original silk Foulard from the 60s. Dior perpetuated Kerouac's legacy by hand-painting and printing extracts of his novel onto leather and silk. “But you can go on thinking and imagining forever further and stop at no decisions to pick up a bag for the thinkings. Turn your thinking into your work, your thoughts into a book, in sieges,’’ as perfectly encapsulated by Jack Keruoac himself, Dior aims to encourage confidence in imagination with its SS22 Menswear collection.
www.dior.com
Art
Heliotropo 37 – Fondation Cartier
Fondation Cartier announced the exhibition named Heliotrop 37, by Graciela Iturbide, who carries the W. Eugene Smith and the Hasselblad price – two of the most distinguished photography prices to exist - and has been practicing the métier of photography for over 50 years. This exhibition in Paris marks the debut of the Mexican photographer in France and shows collected works from, captured between the 1970s and today. Heliotropo 37 – which is an acronym that alludes to the address of Graciela Iturbide’s studio in Mexico City, presents over 200 images, from iconic works to more recent, unshown ones. Graciela Iturbide, whose photography is determined by a black-and-white color scheme, has further implemented a unique, entirely unedited color series into Heliotropo 37. Her works sound out the depth of human mysticism, leveling off somewhere between a raw, documentative style and poetic depiction of the obscurities of life. The artist herself describes her profession as a ritual, where picking up the camera is inevitably followed by the search for symbolism. “I look for the surprising in the ordinary, which I couldn’t have found anywhere else in the world,” is how Graciela Iturbide defines the driving force between this search. With the striking character of her photos, the exhibition promises to leave a lasting impression on the viewer, inciting a dialogue that revolves around the strange beauties of humanity, the animal kingdom, seemingly ordinary objects and the bond of nature.
Heliotropo 37 by Graciela Iturbide is on show from February 12th to May 29th 2022 at Fondation Cartier Pour L’Art Contemporain Paris.
www.fondationcartier.com
Fashion
Art
Marséll Exhibition: The Edge Effect
Marséll hosts a new exhibition named The Edge Effect, curated by Chiara Bardelli Nonino, visual editor at Vogue Italia, and Jordan Anderson, editor-at-large of NSS magazine. Marséll was founded in 2001 as a shoe manufacturer, distinguishing itself from other shoe brands by using innovative techniques as well as traditional methods in a nonindustrial manner, resulting in original handcrafted shoes. Later on, the brand developed a concept to support young artists, a multidisciplinary exhibition space called Marséllaria. The performances and exhibitions at Marséllaria serve as a platform for like-minded young visionaries to meet for cultural exchanges. The Edge Effect exhibition revolves around ecotone, which describes a transitional area where two different ecosystems meet, and through mutual influence, intensify and enlarge in density and uniqueness. This phenomenon is an ideal metaphor for our contemporary society, where our identity and the concept of belonging are constantly changing. Each participating artist prepared variations on contemporary Italian identity with a biographical approach through visual dialogues or experimentation in fashion or digital art. The Edge Effect aims to articulate the Italian identity of the future with different approaches, resulting in a personal exhibition that gives exclusive insights into the family history and everyday life of the artists.
www.marsell.com
Fashion
Made To Order, Created to Last
Carnations London – which recently celebrated its first birthday after being founded in 2021 – has made it its mission to produce beautiful and cheerful designs with high quality. Determined to disrupt the shortcomings of the fashion industry, Carnations London has committed to the made-to-order business model – one of the most promising solutions for grappling with wasteful overproduction and a powerful tool to counteract the mindless consumption propelled by fast fashion and throw-away cultures. Each item is made by hand in a small studio – a direct reflection of founder Sarah Bartlett’s vision, in which fashion revolves not only around aesthetics but more so about social responsibility. As such, Carnation London’s design exude the brand values with their visual language: tie-dye patterns in pastel colors and embroidered scribbles make for a charming character, that reminds the wearer to return to the simple and joy sparking items that are uncomplicated and comfortable to wear. Combining the creative forces of various artists is an endeavor the British label pursues with great integrity - after collaborating with artist Joy Yamusangie, who created a lively illustration for a bucket hat, Carnations has partnered up with Stockholm-based print designer KJP, resulting in multifunctional checker-board bandanna and shirt in a vibrant blue color – which has yet to be revealed to Carnation’s followers. Now, during the festive month of December, Carnations returns to the item that marked their debut over a year ago: the classic cotton T-Shirt. With its muted sunset colors, melting together in the iconic tie-dye design (needless to say, achieved with non-toxic dyestuff), the shirt ensures to lift the spirits – and evokes the satisfying conscience of a responsibly sourced product. Besides the B-Day t-shirt, Carnations has included a selection of their best-selling items into the temporary “Festive Shop” collection, offering gift ideas with reasonable origins that make valuable stocking fillers.
www.carnationslondon.com
Fashion
Gucci Aria Campaign KAI: A Fairytale Trip Down Memory Lane
Gucci unveils its special campaign, starring the global brand ambassador KAI and the exceptional looks of the Aria collection. The Aria collection presents the most spectacular highlight of the brand’s centennial anniversary. The collection featured the most recognizable and well-known looks of the luxury fashion brand since its founding in 1921. It includes the iconic red velvet suit, designed by former creative director Tom Ford and the red and green stripe logo design, which reflects Gucci’s equestrian heritage. The history of Gucci begins in 1921 with Guccio Gucci, who founded a leather goods shop, which eventually became one of the most recognized and sought-after luxury brands. The campaign is set in a surreal and frosted winter landscape, which transports the viewer in a fairytale-like environment. KAI the brand ambassador and protagonist of the campaign is a South Korean singer and dancer who became world-known as a part of the boy group EXO-K. The singer wears the signature looks of the Aria collection, including a velvet, tailored suit, cozy knitwear, and monogram-adorned trousers, worn with equestrian helmets and boots. Director Woogie Kim captures KAI, gracefully dancing and sensually moving, while music composed by Nicolas Fleury is playing in the background.
www.gucci.com
Fashion
Hublot is Welcoming a New Family Member
The luxury watchmaker Hublot introduces three-star chef Anne Sophie Pic as the new brand ambassador. The art of fine dining is in Anne Sophie Pic’s blood, a distinctive part of her identity since her great-grandmother opened her restaurant in 1889, which led to a tradition for three generations of restaurant pioneers. The family’s distinctive cuisine style of cooking is characterized by original flavor combinations. Anne Sophie Pic masterfully manages to embrace her heritage in fine food and intuitively brings out flavors and aromas, resulting in an explosion for the senses. The exceptional cook is honored with three Michelin stars, which is more than any other female chef has acquired in Europe. Pic’s tireless search for potential in every ingredient, followed by infinite experiments and combinations to explore the full range of possibilities and strive for perfection, coincides perfectly with the philosophy of luxury watchmaker Hublot. Visible and invisible qualities or flavors are revealed, transformed, or enhanced through precise and unique watches from Hublot or, in the culinary counterpart of Anne Sophie Pic’s craft. The culinary talent is guided through an enduring passion for innovation, sensitivity, and finding perfection in small details of flavors and aromas, which makes her the ideal candidate to convey the core message of Hublot.
www.hublot.com
Fashion
BALR. X ISHU: Every Story has Two Sides
BALR.‘s joined forces with London-based fashion start-up ISHU to create a collaboration under the theme “Every Story has Two Sides.’’ The Amsterdam-based brand BALR. was founded in 2013 by professional football players with a focus on high-end lifestyle products and fashion. “We all have dreams of becoming a great and successful person. Greatness is not something that happens as a result of a careful selection process. It happens by taking action!’’ is their leading mantra. Demy de Zeeuw, Juul Manders, and Ralph de Geus, the founders of BALR. aim to inspire the youth to pursue their dreams and work tirelessly to turn them into reality. The latest collection is the brand’s answer to the downside of being a well-known public figure and constantly being observed and analyzed. The clothes are equipped with the ability to block out unwanted flashes of paparazzi cameras. The collection ranges from hoodies, capes, and down jackets with an emphasis on versatility and functionality, and worn with sneakers and complemented with differently shaped bags. BALR. used an innovative sunlight technology to distract and distort, and almost every item is imprinted with an eye-catching geometric print in black and white, which is a signature symbol of the fashion start-up ISHU.
www.balr.com
Fashion
MB&F x BVLGARI: Reading the Future
Initially showing mutual admiration and professional respect from afar, BVLGARI and MB&F decided to join forces to create FLYING T ALLEGRA, an exceptional timepiece that fuses both luxury brands’ signature skills. Maximilian Büsser founded MB&F in 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland on the concept of revolutionizing the conceptual norm within the world of luxury watches with an unconventional creative approach. For the special collaboration, BVLGARI combines its exquisite feminine graphic aesthetic with the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s complex mechanical know-how, resulting in a series of wearable pieces of art. The timepieces are characterized through their three-dimensional vertical architecture and luxurious case, ranging between white and rose gold and adorned with a high domed sapphire crystal on top. The heart of the watch is the diamond-set flying tourbillon— a technical organ that goes beyond the borders of a traditional dial-plate, anchored only at its base, and set in a 50-degree angle, precisely aligned towards the wearer of the timepiece. BVLGARI replenishes MB&F´s cold and massive construction by a softly sensory experience, with perfectly cut and colored gems. With the FLYING T ALLEGRA series, BVLGARI and MB&F have created historic timepieces with complex micromechanical construction and induced with a futuristic and feminine twist.
www.bulgari.com
Fashion
Dior Heralds Christmas
Slowly but surely the Christmas season is unfolding in Paris’ shopwindows. As such, Dior has revealed their annual window decorations – this year, the prestigious vitrines of the Avenue Montaigne flagship store are brought to life with scenes of Greek mythology. Paying ode to the eternal beauty of Greece, Dior’s windows recall the bright, flowing and crisp draperies that determined the ambiance of the Dior Cruise Show 2022, which was held at the heart of the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. The white and ecru theme of the collections was highlighted with glistening golden accentuations – an iconic code of the French Maison. In front of the celestial backdrop of the window, a selection of Dior items is exhibited, providing the passerbys with gift inspirations for their loved ones. Herein, Dior’s most iconic bags make an appearance in the windows and according campaign, including the Book Tote, the Caro and the Vibe, in sparkling and festive shades. The star symbol, a recurring talisman in Dior’s designs, enhances many of the items and heralds the approach of the Christmas season. With jewelry being an indispensable item under the tree each year, Dior incorporated a selection of poetical pieces. Scarves adorned with Pietro Ruffo’s sketches, such as the Tarot Arcana and the infamous Around the World motif replenish the selection further. The vitrine and its selection represent a contemporary odyssey that cherishes the pastimes of Dior while making the viewer dream of the celebratory month of December.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Unwrapping the Holiday Season with BOSS
BOSS introduces a new festive campaign together with Chris Hemsworth. Under the name “Unwrapping the Holiday Season”, the campaign celebrates the joy of giving and the special moments inherited by the act of sharing gifts. The campaign shows the American actor unwrapping, unboxing and untying various presents – small ones, big ones, classics as well as unexpected ones. BOSS has translated the suspension and joy of opening presents into their Holiday collection, which looks sport logo-embossed, ribbon-like details. All-over logo patterns and sporty trims feature across many of the items, which are presented in sleek black and festive gold color palettes. The collection ranges from perfectly cut tuxedo and sequin dresses to tracksuits and sweaters, providing a broad variety of items and styles, suitable for the formal as well as the relaxed days of the Holiday season. The collection is further complemented with footwear and fragrances, as well as bodywear and accessories, such as bags and backpacks. The capsule invites the BOSS advocates to experience the Holiday collection through the virtue of giving and sharing joy.
www.boss.com
Fashion
Sabotaging Conventions of Jewelry Design
Free from confines; tethered to self. Unbound. Unchained. This is how the newly launched jewelry label Saboteur defines the essence of its brand identity. Founded by Thomas Sabo, Saboteur relies on the 35 years of design experience of the jewelry titan, while catering for a new generation of customers who seek unconventionality and individuality. Santiago Sabo, son of Thomas Sabo, herein represents the young generations to whom cultural inclusion, open-mindedness and unapologetic expression of the self are values reflected in their consumption choices. Saboteur is designed to break through the sophisticated worlds of jewelry by making use of mystical and metaphorical elements – portraying a spiritual cosmos while being balanced through geometry. The first two collections, called Elemental and Sacral, exhibited under the mantra “Unchain My World”, show elements of industrial engineering that create charms representing solar systems and mysterious relics of extraterrestrial realms. Skulls and hieroglyphic symbols recur on the rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches of the Elemental collection, while the Sacral pieces present visual anecdotes to the North Star, compass silhouettes and studded spikes. Many of the pieces feature an interplay of axles, turning the charms into tiny wondrous objects that can be turned and tilted to the liking of its wearer. Combing the signature 925 Sterling silver of Sabo’s design vocabulary with 18k golden elements, the jewelry line exhausts the possibilities of mixed metals, creating an allegory to their conventionality-defying vision.
www.saboteurworld.com
Fashion
Missoni x Supreme: A Gathering of Innovators
For the Fall21 collection, Missoni, a house rich in tradition, united its strengths with streetwear company Supreme. The history of Missoni begins as the founders, Ottavio Missoni and Rosita Jelmini meet. Ottavio Missoni gained his first experience in design by creating athletes’ tracksuits for the 1948 Olympics in London, and Jelmini specialized in shawls and embroidery. Combining their prior garment experience and knowledge with the proficiency of knitwear construction and machinery of Rosita Jelmini’s family, the couple founded a small knitwear studio in the north of Milan and started producing innovative lightweight knits that would become an unmistakable recognition value for Missoni. The jackets and sweaters of the collaboration are imprinted with an undoubtedly Missoni-esque-inspired pattern. Ottavio Missoni drew inspiration mainly from Guatemalan, Aztec and Incan textiles and was especially known and admired for his bold approach to color, creating a chromatic harmony by adding a third color to two clashing ones. The Missoni patterns are elevated in this collection, developed by implementing them on a new range of clothes. Supreme supplements the strong Missoni identity with its signature casual and sporty streetwear shapes and designs for the garments, such as hooded sweatshirts, crusher, and polo shirts, perfectly in tune with our zeitgeist.
www.missoni.com
Fashion
YUSE Fall 2021: Re:Yuse: In Sync with Nature
The FW21 collection is a prime example of the refreshing, contemporary, and sustainable approach of the design of Korean brand YUSE. The brand was founded on the principles of finding a better solution for a successful interaction between human society and the environment. YUSE identifies itself with a new generation of fashion brands, defined by consciousness, intelligence and a focus on finding solutions. The brand puts an emphasis on sustainable and transparent production, which is indicated in the name of the latest collection—Re:Yuse, a pun alluding to the term “re-use”. Finding inspiration and unorthodox materials in the exceptional sides of nature, the brand designed tube tops, imprinted with its signature nature-inspired pattern and made out of PET bottles. The pattern showcases a vision of the seaside, glimmers of natural light and mystic forests. YUSE’s clothing production results in a transformation of former plastic waste that pollutes the Earth into extraordinary garments that can be worn with a clean conscience. The showcased dresses, blouses, and various knitwear pieces are created with an asymmetrical shape and are available in different earthy shades of brown as well as an azzurro blue and pomegranate red. YUSE’s design approach creates no boundaries between minimalism and boldness but rather highlights the individuality of a person through clothing.
www.yuse-shop.com
Fashion
First Eau de Parfum by Retterspitz: Pure Juniper Completion
Heal, care and well-being are the core identity of the tradition-rich manufacturer of natural remedies Retterspitz. The origins of the company lie in the keen eye of Margarete Riegel, who saw potential and variety of application possibilities in medicinal water, passed on to her by Riegel´s first husband. Out of this formula, following generations of the Riegel family managed masterfully to build a small empire around it. During the 1960s, the family expanded its business activities to include the new area of cosmetics and now the German company convinced the unparalleled perfumer Geza Schön to translate these core values into its first scent— Juniper. The juniper scent is derived from the eponymous fragrance line ‘‘1902’’ which included scented candles and a room scent. Retterspitz sought out a strong note of tree resin, musk, jasmine, rounded with juniper and basil and providing an invigorating yet calming effect. Freesia is also introduced, a scent that not only complements the fragrance but is equated with the restoration of balance and strength. Conjuring up a profound sense of the 120-year-old tradition, the scent is meant to evoke a healing effect.
www.retterspitz.com
Fashion
ETRO & Harris: Redefining Luxury Fashion
For the FW21 collection, classical ETRO and Harris Reed decided to join forces to create a unique capsule collection of genderless blouses. Designer Harris Reed is known for opening conversation about the power of clothes with his thought-provoking gender-fluid designs. The young designer places an emphasis on sustainability, using deadstock fabrics to reimagine the traditional blouse. ETRO perfectly matches the core identity of Harris Reed, offering a great selection of archival fabrics The capsule collection revolves around the theme of giving archival fabrics a second life. Reed designs his signature blouses, with a voluminous shape, long ties, a bow on the front and in the back, and small details on the sleeves with a Rockstar feel to them. The colorful fabrics used are imprinted with a paisley or floral print. The art of upcycling breaks down the established structures of the luxury industry and ensures a more thoughtful and less harmful way of producing clothes for our planet. Harris Reed and ETRO masterfully manage to fuse their brand DNA, complementing and supplementing each other, resulting in unique creations with a sustainable heart.
www.etro.com
Fashion
Bally SS22 – The Art of Utility
The art of utility. Bally’s namesake SS22 collection is dedicated to the post-pandemic future. Inspired by sportswear and workwear elements, the collection celebrates elegant looks with a utilitarian touch. Comfort, lightness and versatility represent the main attributes of the looks and are translated into voluminous proportions, layered styling and a combination of high-quality knit and leather materials. For the SS22 collection, the Swiss house continues its heritage of craftsmanship, which is reflected in refined techniques and intricate details. Leather-woven patterns, hand-trimmed studs and lavish topstitching recur in the looks of the collection, paying tribute to the literal art of utility. The footwear collection presents a cut-out lace-up boot with a clog-like sole, as well as a unisex sneaker with the signature Bally wing emblem. The newly introduced B-monogram and alpine floral motifs are reminiscent of Bally’s pillars of art, nature and design. In recent years, sustainability has become a significant part of Bally’s design approach and resulted in the implementation of environmentally friendlier solutions over the past seasons. For the SS22 collection, deadstock fabrics, as well as recycled cotton material and regenerated leather.
www.bally.com
Fashion
Saucony Highlights Fall/Winter 2021: Reimagines the Shadow 6000
This year marks a milestone for Saucony- the 30th anniversary of the iconic Shadow 6000. To celebrate the duration of the sneaker, Saucony decided to reimagine the shoe with five different themes- Destination, Food Fight, Pearl, Shadow 6000 OG, Sweet Street. Saucony was founded near a river in Pennsylvania in 1898. The brand name refers back to the city name “Saucon”, which is the native inhabitant’s meaning for fast-flowing river. The name of Saucony immediately resonates with a commitment to design and innovation. The Shadow 6000 was developed in 1991 with a new innovative sole, which achieves the perfect balance between heel steadiness, flexibility, and forefoot cushioning and results in the perfect essential for every professional runner. On the occasion of the anniversary re-interpretations, each limited edition of the Saucony classic takes the wearer on a different journey, through a land of sweets with delicious colorways or inspired by the act of marriage implemented in an elegant white design. The Shadow 6000 OG is a historic and significant version since it equals the original design from 1991 with blue, grey, and navy blue accents. Saucony’s anniversary collection perfectly highlights the timelessness of the company’s designs and passion for creative innovation.
www.saucony.com
Fashion
Bulgari Celebrated B.Zero1 Rock Chain in Berlin
On the occasion of the new B.Zero1 Rock Chain collection, Bulgari celebrated its iconic jewelry line with an extraordinary cocktail party in Berlin. In addition to the two brand ambassadors Princess Lilly zu Sayn Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Stephan Luca, VIP guests such as Palina Rojinski, Viktoria von Faber-Castell, Veronika Heilbrunner, Gizem Emre, Sonja Gerhardt, Stephanie Giesinger and Langston Uibel celebrated the launch of the fierce collection. Inspired by the rigorous architecture of Rome’s iconic Colosseum, the collection presents itself with an unconventional approach to jewelry design that celebrated the inspiring power of Bulgari’s bold visions. B.zero1 Rock Chain stands for the uncompromising breaking of rules, a liberating expression of independence and strength, and a pioneering spirit - all of which are closely linked to the DNA of the Roman jewelry house. Thus, the new collection makes all lovers of exceptional jewelry pieces that underline their personality shine. In the spirit of the new collection, the Alhambra location on Kurfürstendamm was bathed in a sea of lights of white, yellow and rose gold, perfectly reflecting the Bulgari brand through a combination of precious materials and timeless design elements. The rapper UFO361 performed an extravagant live show under an oversized Bulgari B.Zero1 ring. The exuberant mood was reinforced by DJ Alexander “Ali” Schwarzer from Tiefschwarz, whose music set the tone for the unforgettable evening that celebrated the sparkling confidence of the B.Zero1 Rock Chain collection.
www.bulgari.com
Fashion
Valentino: A Tribute to Creativity
The Maison Valentino releases a sequel of the extraordinary first art book VLogo, curated by Pierpaolo Piccioli. For the second edition of the artbook, the creative director draws inspiration from 1968’s spirit, a time defined by the desire for radical individualism and liberation from traditional values. Piccioli picks up the theme by visualizing the bold statement of this generation-“Power to the imagination.” Paying tribute to unlimited creativity, Piccioli called upon the industry’s most important players, such as 032c, AnOther Magazine, or Nylon China, just as well as the Valentino style offices to contribute to the project. The edition is filled with unique and different interpretations of the renowned Valentino Logo, created by various independent international publications. Furthermore, the book includes extraordinary images, texts as well as photographs, and drawings of specific moments in the recent past. The contributors reimagined the aesthetic core identity of the Maison, resulting in a broad, interesting spectrum of VLogo interpretations. The intention was to create this book as a canvas of possibilities rather than just a precious coffee table book. Piccioli’s work perfectly visualizes and embraces the idea of creative freedom and contributes to a more diverse world.
www.valentino.com
Fashion
Dries Van Noten SS22: A Firework For The Senses
For the SS22 collection, the design team around Dries Van Noten draws inspiration from the Holi festival in India, renowned for its visible celebration of love and colors through colored powder clouds. The clothes embody the explosion of bold colors and euphoric emotions. Dries Van Noten is one of the most successful members of the Antwerp Six and is best known and admired for his creative integrity for his design process as well as the extraordinary aesthetic of his clothes. The collection showcases sculptural silhouettes, that perfectly mimic the festival explosions with heavily draped amounts of fabric on blouses as well as dresses. The garments also include shapes, that emphasize the body, such as caftans, matching suits, and jackets, cinched in the waist and finished with a flounce. Van Noten is picking up the theme of the Holi festival with the print and embellishments on his clothes. Replicate stains on garments give the impression of being doused with pigment and blurred photo prints of flowers and explosive fireworks on silk resemble a festival experiment. The color palette ranges from strongly saturated shades, such as orange, green, and pink as well as soft blues, purple, and mint to stripes in black. The special collection has been launched with a campaign video, directed by Albert Moya. The director perfectly captures the quintessence of Dries Van Noten´s latest collection- a celebration of love and joy, communicated through beautifully constructed clothes.
www.driesvannoten.com
Fashion
Heron Preston for Calvin Klein: Heron Preston´s Twist on Calvin Kleines Classics
Following a debut collaboration with Heron Preston as a creative consultant, Calvin Klein continues their work with the streetwear pioneer for a follow-up collection. The name of Heron Preston is immediately associated with a clever fusion between fashion and function. The designer has already collaborated with legends such as Kanye West or Virgil Abloh and has become a youth culture icon. The collaboration includes Calvin Klein´s signature pieces, such as long-sleeved crop tops, leggings, and bralettes, which gained a distinctive recognition value for the brand with the captivating and hypersexual Ad campaigns, featuring famous personalities like Kate Moss or Mark Wahlberg in the 90s and revolutionized men’s as well as women’s underwear. Preston brings an over-elaborate simplicity and his signature orange detailing into the collection, enriching Calvin Klein’s timeless classics with a modern twist. The collaboration provides the perfect essentials for the upcoming cold season. As such, the collection includes cozy crewneck sweaters, puffer jackets as well as a few denim pieces. Most notable about the range of clothes are the exquisite and innovative materials used by Preston, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and nylon as well as a waffle thermal fabric. The collection perfectly emphasizes the ability of Calvin Klein´s timeless designs to adapt to cultural changes and new forms of expression, resulting in an exceptional range of purposeful pieces induced with a modern twist by Heron Preston.
www.calvinklein.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Ski Mask: Innovation Meets Style
Right on time for the ski season-opening, Louis Vuitton launches a new Ski mask, that fusions fashion and function once again. Ever since its founding, the brand which has been initially known for its high quality and exquisite luggage pieces, expanded their assortment steadily, incorporating ready-to-wear, fragrances and an elaborate range of accessories- among others face and ski masks. This year, the winter vacation essential comes along with additional functions and aesthetic details, ensuring a golden mean between performance and style. The mask has a UV coating to protect the eye from harmful ultraviolet radiation and had to undergo a special post-production treatment, which results in an anti-fog effect as well as scratch resistance. The lenses are adorned with the famous LV monogram and available in exquisite colors such as black, blue, and orange. Louis Vuitton´s products are innovative and perfectly tailored to the needs of a customer, who plans on traveling into the mountains to ski. To ensure maximum visibility, the ski mask with darker lenses included a lighter version as well, meant to be worn on days when visibility is poor. The orange, pink and blue tinted lenses enable to notices and condition changes on the slopes in time.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak Automatic: Diamonds in Soft Tones
Audemars Piguet’s legendary 15452 series has been extended with a white and a rose gold version, both coming along with a captivating interplay of diamonds and colored gemstones. The latest versions of the Royal Oak Automatic, with a diameter of 37mm, come with a subtle satin-finished calfskin strap that completes the watch’s elegant and original aesthetic. The guilloché dial comes in a soft beige and neutral gray. Each bezel is adorned with no less than 40 brilliant-cut stones which have been carefully selected by Audemars Piguet’s specialist to ensure a smooth and harmonious gradation. The stones exhibit exclusive luxury – individually cut and polished to achieve Audemars Piguet’s quality standard of the clearest and sharpest angles, the stones have been set on the bezel by hand. Perfectly aligned, they reflect the light that shines on them, creating visual effects that range from flirtatious red and orange hues for the rose gold version and mellow rose tones for the white gold one. The white and rose gold versions are both crafted from 18karat gold and showcase an impressive amount of 124 diamonds in total, covering the watchcase entirely. The dials exhibit a Grande Tapisserie pattern, which resembles the surface of a checkerboard with a subtle three-dimensional effect, reinforcing the glistening effect of the bedazzled watchcases. The watch hands and numbers on the dial are kept in clear lines and minimalistic design. With its discrete yet playful colors and sparkling stones, the new Royal Oak Automatic exudes femineity and gracefulness with a charming touch.
www.audemarspiguet.com
Fashion
PB 0110: Versatile Favorites
PB 0110’s signature styles are the protagonists of the FW21 collection this year. The brand revived and reinterpreted their exceptional range of unique and elegant signature bags for this season. PB 0110 was founded by Philipp Bree with an emphasis on high craftsmanship, devoting enough time for the production of unique bags and accessories in a few selected reputable European manufacturers. He is an advocate of cherishing the longevity of an accessory. With his designs, he aims to nurture the idea of an essential accessory becoming a crucial companion, instead of a replaceable item. The designer initiated a collaboration with the designer and artist Ayzit Bostan, to pursue the idea of a revived version of the traditional Japanese “Sacoche’' bag. The so called AB112 is only 145 gr light, made out of a vegetable-tanned leather and accentuated with a silver zipper. In addition the shoulder strap can be adjusted individually by a knot on each side of the bag. The production factory is a Belgian tannery that first opened its doors 170 years ago and has been awarded with the Bronze Standard Certification - a factory that coincides with PB0110's high quality standards. The revived Sacoche bag is an elegant solution to the complexity of daily life - subtle enough to remain discrete, yet sturdy and sizable enough to fit the essentials.
www.pb0110.com
Fashion
A Story of Success: Louis Vuitton’s Essentials
Elegant leather goods are deeply anchored in the success vocabulary of the traditional fashion house. Since the invention of the Trunk 1854, Louis Vuitton and his successors have been reinventing the Trunks constantly. From a medical kit for Damien Hirst, a helpful essential for Ernest Hemingway to Virgil Abloh’s Mini Soft Trunk with a modern twist and - the trunk is a shapeshifter adaptable to any desired purpose. For the FW21 collection, the French brand re-interprets their everlasting Christopher and Soft Trunk designs. Louis Vuitton first unveiled the Christopher in the FW 2004 collection as a backpack and ever since revived it season for season in a wide range of different versions, always drawing inspiration from the iconic original. This season, the leather goods are available in in the recognizable Monogram pattern Taurillon Gommato and the chess pattern Damier, in black or white with shoulder straps and large opening to ensure easy access to the inside. The reinvented FW21 versions of the bags are centred around the acknowledgement of the need for a bag to serve a multiplicity of uses, for casual or formal occasions. The Christopher and the Soft Trunk are symbols of the traditional French Maison and carry an unmistakable recognition value. No matter which updated version of the trunk or backpack you prefer, it elevates every look and makes it unique as well as prepared for every possible change of plans and venues.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Marcell von Berlin FW21: Fashion Remains
No matter where in time we find ourselves, the past, the present or the future: fashion is always a representation of the Zeitgeist that collectively expresses the ideas and thoughts of indivduals. The Berlin and Los Angeles-based brand Marcell von Berlin creates charming clothes, worn by celebrities like Lady Gaga, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, aiming to encourage this individual self-expression that eventually turns into a sign of the times. The FW21 women’s collection features rock n´ roll inspired clothing, reinvented in a modern version and bold colors that give every wearer the necessary optimism for the future. Eye-catching neon pink, flared trousers with matching blazers, red sequin dresses and gigantic hats represent a spirit that is never out of style, no matter the decade's fashions : joy. In the FW21 collection, particular attention is given to Marcell von Berlin's siganture handbag; the MM. In order to pursue the idea of timeless, adaptable fashion, a bag needs to function as an allrounder, suitable for every occasion whether day or night. The new MM Bags are unique handbags, available in captivating colors such as neon-pink, yellow or green and in a range of different sizes. The theme of joy was also picked up for the men’s collection with shark motifs on shorts and shirts as well as bright colored suits. Marcell von Berlin and their brilliant designs as well as exceptional craftsmanship are perfectly in tune with the current times, in which authenticity is the most desirable thing to wear for men just as well as for women.
www.marcellvonberlin.com
Fashion
Dior SS22
“I have always thought that it’s pointless for artists to speak about their own work. It’s the artwork itself that must speak to people. Certainly, it’s the work that has spoken indeed. (…) It was a natural talent of mine, but it all remained primarily in the background. I always say I have painted a great deal, I exhibited very little and sold nothing [Laugh]” Anna Paparatti is of the most iconic and vivid figures of the 60s in Rome. She was at the centre of that atmosphere of freedom against any preconceived codes and dogmas surrounding the art world, using the theme of “game” and playfulness beyond reality, where art becomes life and vice versa. Conceived through her "absurdist" spirit reflecting the philosophy of her work, Paparatti designed the show space starting from bits of her paintings. here as a gigantic Game of Goose, models move at beat of Italian band “il Quadro di Troisi” live performance. On January 27th, 1961, L'Aurore wrote about Marc Bohan’s tenure as Creative Director of the House and his Slim Look: "It completely changes fashion, just as the New Look did in 1947." Maria Grazia Chiuri pays homage to the visionary spirit of Marc Bohan’s Slim Look collection and the richness of the 1960s. The silhouettes reveal cuts and graphic effects with color blocking, evoking the painting by Paparatti. The materials and various motifs recall the legendary Roman nightclub, the Piper Club, a unique place for expression at the crossroads of art and design. Sequins, vivid prints, transparencies: Maria Grazia Chiuri dives into women’s freedom once again, and into what means to be a woman today, where several facets of personal expression comes together through the intrinsic desire to be real.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Sportmax SS22 Shows How Harmonic Contrasts Can Be
“Every something is an echo of nothing.”
For this season’s show the artist John Cage serves as main source of inspiration for the brand. The avant-garde composer is known best for his unorthodox ideas and especially the song 4’33’’, presented in a complete absence of any sound and which profoundly changed the perception of music.The contrast between noise and silence, John Cage became famous for, is being transformed by the brand in a fashion context. Light backgrounds stand in contrast to dark as well as vibrant colors used in Sportmax’ creations. The models wearing intricately, heavily draped amounts of fabric appear out of nowhere between clean walls that can not be distinguished from the white floor on the runway, like an echo caused by the reflection of a sound coming out of nothing. Sportmax’ SS22 looks include jumpsuits with big, puff details on the sleeves as well as boxy cut blazers and second skin bodysuits, in a color palette covering natural shades in contrast with bold colors like lilac and fuchsia. The brand also presented charming contrasts between corsetry details and long flowing dresses in soft earthy tones. The journey through the different kind of contrasts inside and outside of the clothing, Sportmax invites us to this season is a perfect addition to Cages silent music studies.
www.sportmax.com
Fashion
VERSACE SS22: Celebrating Comebacks
This season is all about revisiting iconic archival Versace trends, while having the first live fashion show since the pandemic has started. Donatella makes strong use of the typical Versace vocabulary, the vibrant colors, sleek latex dresses and what comes first to mind when thinking about Versace, the brands multifunctional signature piece: the foulard. Aside from the fact that the runway location is wrapped with the silk scarf, it appears on a range of different garments such as flowing dresses, pajama sets, Bikini tops and for the men’s collection in form of the infamous silk shirt. The SS22 collection is youthful and playful, strongly oriented to the needs of the Generation Z for ´90s revival trends. It includes the short, bold colored party dresses as well as the iconic safety pins, which serve two purposes, decorative embellishment and functional fastening of the pieces. The collection also features the iconic pinned black pencil dress, worn by Elizabeth Hurley in 1994. The colorful mix of colors and ornamentation details is intriguing to look at and at the same time acts as a teaching lesson for anyone who wonders how the mind of the Gen Z generation processes impression rich social media such as Tik Tok.
www.versace.com
Fashion
Marsèll x RRose 2021: Last Comes First
Marsèll x RRose 2021: Last Comes First In 2016, the Italian brand Marsèll has established Marsèll Paradise, a platform for generating a dialogue between the brand's creations and other art forms. This autumn, Marsèll Paradise initiated a collaboration with RRose, the alter ego of musician Seth Horvitz. The California-based musician, who is celebrated for his sensual techno DJ sets, repeatedly collaborates with fashion houses. Under the wings of Marsèll Paradise, RRose has created the media installation “Last Comes First” which thematizes the limits of perception: “I am fascinated with the fuzzy boundaries between things – the moments that rupture the mind’s ability to distinguish between independent entities. Illusions reveal the limits of a fixed reality.“ RRose embodies Marsèll Paradise’ vision of cherishing personalities on the pulse of time, who aren’t afraid to look beneath the surface of what is commonly accepted and perceived as the norm. By choosing RRose as a featured artist, the platform draws attention to gender perception in particular. The exhibition includes six images, which are transformed into a series of endless video loops, pursuing the idea of an intimate visual investigation. In addition to the exhibited images and videos, RRose has given Marsèll exclusive access to “Sporophyte”, one of the songs on her upcoming album.
Last Comes First is exhibited at Marsèll Paradise, Milan, from September 24th - October 3rd 2021.
www.marsell.it
Fashion
Giorgio Armani SS22: Back to the Roots
The Armani SS22 collection is a trip down memory lane to the beginnings of one of the most iconic global fashion brands. For this season’s women’s collection, the designer chose a special venue-the birth house of the brand, a place where some of the most memorable shows were staged: the Via Borgonuovo 21. The SS22 collection is an invitation for all of those, who were old enough to catch the beginnings of Armani to relive it as well as for younger generations, to get a glimpse of the brands roots. The designer makes playful yet unmistakable use of the deeply anchored Armani vocabulary, with classical light summer suits and elegant, cinched waist dresses that serve as perfect attire for a weekend in the Hamptons. The collection also includes a range of pastel colored, flowing blouses, trousers, widely cut and resembling the shape of skirts as well as prominent, colourful jewelry. The collection gives us also a deeper into Giorgio Armani’s heritage, which isn’t Italian, as widely believed. His parents originally came from Armenia and fled to Italy during the genocide in 1915. Pieces like wooden bead tops and caps as well as crocheted shoulder bags leave us deeply wanting to join Giorgio Armani as he explores his roots. The sensual, soft materials and colors in combination with the azzurro blue background give the viewer a glimpse of the luxurious present world of Giorgio Armani.
www.armani.com
Fashion
Tod’s SS22: Freedom of Craftsmanship
Tod’s SS22 collection revolves around the notion of freedom. Paying tribute to the brand’s closeness to crafts and material quality, Tod’s has worked with and sponsored artists who make use of the same medium in the past. For the SS22 collection, Tod’s collaborated with Spanish artist Carlota Guerrero, who combines photography, film-making and art directions in her work. Guerrero produced a campaign shoot and video, in which seven women come together in an atelier-like setting where they encounter material sculptures. Through this work, Guerrero tells her own journey with craftsmanship and nods to Tod’s expertise in this field. The looks of SS22 refer to urban use, encapsulating relaxation and good taste simultaneously. Short trench coats, windbreakers and parkas refer to the experience of open-air events, while knit items and tailored elements evoke the sophisticated touch of Tod’s. The collection achieves an equilibrated balance between utilitarian, masculine looks with lavish, dedicated detailing and high-quality materials. Herein, the collection takes up the iconic indispensable color palette of Tod’s of muted tones such as ecru, beige, brown and black – making the craftsmanship of the items stand out from their neutral canvas. Tod’s “T Timeless” project, an undertaking that pursues the recognition of the brand even in future years, shows in the accessories of the collection; showcasing prominent memorability through classical footwear and handbags.
www.tods.com
Fashion
Armani SS22, the Soft Spot in Fashion
Emporio Armani celebrates 40 years in business with an extensive collection for men and women, that fills your warderobe for every imaginable occasion for SS22 from holiday sightseeing, going to work to elegant night outs in the city. It is an hommage to Armani’s deep rooted essence in enjoying fashion without any strict, imposed rules. The show takes us into different worlds, from an imaginary desert to a dreamy heaven of pastel colors. The runway is filled with Armani’s signature lightness and fluidity of the cuts, some genderless pieces and a softness of colors. Pastell pink, green, blue and dusky lilac mac blend together in fluid trousers, blouses and blazers, easily confused with something light as a summer shirt but also holiday ready-to-wear pieces like semi transparent jumpsuits, shorts in an emerald green and turquoise as well as flowing dresses with layers of see-through fabrics and cinched waists, to empathize a little bit of feminity. The men’s clothes are ranging between loose-fitted jackets and trousers crafted from linen, jersey, silk and wool as well as more experimental pieces like a light mullet shaped vest with a hood. The accessoires ranging from scarves to cord belts also empathize the lightness, that stands for the brand. Armani is all about showing a strong confidence without losing any harmony or softness in garments.
www.armani.com
Fashion
Tommy Hilfiger FW 21 Pass the Mic
Voices speak volumes and every voice has the power to affect and change the world. It is this positive affirmation that laid the ground stones of Tommy Hilfiger’s current FW 21 campaign called Pass the Mic. The campaign features international voices of the entertainment industry from the United States, Korea and Nigeria. Together with these ambassadors, Tommy Hilfiger aims to create a global interface of discussion, where consumers can express their visions and inspirations to create change. Yara Shahidi, Anthony Ramos, Jack Harlow, Wizkid, Kim Soo-Hyun and DJ Cassidy call their followers to action in five portrait videos, revolving around their personal mantras. Empowering phrases such as “I am the I in light. I am the reason the future is so bright”, “How many tried? And you still rise.” and “Pass the mic and share your light. Every person, every voice can change the world. So what do you have to say?” invoke the audience to engage and answer to the campaign videos on social media. This call to action accompanies the FW 21 collection, which propels Tommy Hilfiger’s mission towards diversity and sustainability. Collecting answers to questions on what inspires one to make a difference, what would one say if the world was listening and what drives one towards the future, the Pass the Mic aims to give the audience a platform where engaging conversation erupts.
www.tommyhilfiger.com
Art
Gallery Weekend *Discoveries: Offset
Coinciding with the Gallery Weekend *Discoveries, LA-based artist Kate Mosher Hall is showcasing her first solo exhibition at Tanya Leighton. Kate Mosher’s artworks are individuated by her unique style. The painting displayed in Offset revolve around a play of black, white and grey-scale; capturing walls, facades, windows and doors hid beneath shadows, partially illuminated by faint light beams. By depicting close up details of larger imaginary architecture and blurring the surroundings into silhouettes and hushed projections, Kate Mosher Hall draws in the attention towards a specific segment. The paintings exude simmering darkness, letting the mind of the observer pause with an uncertain premonition, following the pathway of the light beams. The imagery carries a melancholic heaviness, enforced by the low-resolution style of painting. The grainy overlay amplifies a feeling of secrecy and indeterminacy. While looking at the surfaces the pictures seem to question realities, portraying an intimate yet secluded emotion that trailblazes a feeling of foreshadowings. The mind begins to wander, curious to see through the glass of the windows, through the blinds and curtains, through the keyholes of a door – only to reveal nothing but what the observer's inner eye fathoms to imagine. The light beams search with a faint luminosity, seemingly escaping the two dimensions of the paintings, just a moment in time away from unveiling what lies behind the blurred surfaces.
Offset by Kate Mosher Hall is exhibited at Tanya Leighton, Berlin, from September 17th to October 23rd 2021.
www.tanyaleighton.com
www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de
Art
Gallery Weekend *Discoveries: Senorita Latifa Sharifah
Sculptural collages made from peculiar objects are the centerpieces of Jasmin Werner’s first solo exhibition at Guido W. Baudach Gallery. The exhibition consists of two of Jasmin Werner’s latest series, Wholly Family and Schloss der Republik Burj Khalifa OFW. The common ground of the two series that together make the exhibition Senorita Latifa Sharifah is the display of peculiar and arbitrary objects, puzzled together into assemblage-like sculptures which exude cryptical and allusive allegories. As such, the exhibition features sculptures in which combine construction mesh prints with light installations. Many of the assemblages feature quirky objects such as children toys like chopping cart that are turned into extension cords that power the light work or miniature ladders, inducing a change of perspective and size distortions. The Cologne-based German-Filipino artists used mostly recycled materials from former works at Städtische Galerie Bärenzwinger in Berlin. Through the new interpretation, in which she dissects the former scaffolding sculptures and images of buildings, she connects the locations of the Palast der Republik, the Berlin Stadtschloss and the skyscraper Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Senorita Latifa Sharifah by Jasmin Werner is exhibited at Guido W. Baudach Gallery, Berlin, from September 11th to October 16th 2021.
www.guidowbaudach.com
www.jasmin-werner.de
www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de
Art
Gallery Weekend *Discoveries: Starter Kit
Cudelice Brazelton IV is a Frankfurt-based artist who channels subcultural happenings into hybrid art installations. Sculptures and paintings are his preferred vehicle of artistic expression. Through the combination of sculptures and paintings as well as sound accentuation, Brazelton creates unusual installations that induce the experience of tactile, auditory and visual stimuli. By engaging multiple senses, Brazelton creates a performative context that points towards a specific source of inspiration. Through his installations, Brazelton refers to black, punk and queer culture. For the artist, these cultures represent the driving force behind his profession, which is why he ensures to represent current events, controversies and critical discourse through his artistic outputs. DIY elements and the idea of clubs as a meeting point play a significant role in the actualization of the sculptures. Brazelton’s installations showcase a spectrum of industrial, abstract, delicate and crafty elements. Canvas, electronic supplies, chains, pipework – the materials used are diverse, yet Brazelton’s installations feature distinctive handwriting. Alongside more rustic materials, Brazelton incorporates photographs and paintings into his sculptures, often featuring a human face or body part. The hybrid nature of humanity, technology and objects that is reflected in his sculptures evokes an absurd aftertaste that poses questions of identity and belonging, which directs back to the inspirational essence from which subculture emerges.
Starter Kit by Cudelice Brazelton IV is exhibited at Barbara Weiss, Berlin, from September 4th - October 7th 2021.
www.galeriebarbaraweiss.de
www.cudelicebrazelton.com
www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de
Art
Audemars Piguet Contemporary: Aleksandra Domanovic
Following collaborations with Cao Fei and Ryoji Ikeda, Audemars Piguet Contemporary has brought to life a collaboration with Aleksandra Domanovic. The Berlin-based artist translates the history and latest innovation of technology into her ambiguous body of work while incorporating social and political commentary stemming from her upbringing in Yugoslavia. Re-evaluating and unravelling the role of women in science and specifically in technology, she touches upon current questions and shifts of society and the influence of technological advancement at large. The core of her work revolves around a unique understanding of the ever-present digitization happening in current times. Precisely this thematization of current and future-oriented matters is what Denis Pernet, Art Curator of Audemars Piguet Contemporary, mentions as their motivation to work with Aleksandra: “We are delighted to support her in the development of this new body of work that will contribute to the wider contemporary art discourse and raise questions about our future.” Aleksandra’s new body of work Becoming Another (2021) is a site-specific installation presented at the former print house of Der Tagesspiegel in Berlin. The installation exhausts the impressive dimensions of the site, portraying the tension between sight and perception through the intertwining of dynamic LED fan displays and the visuals they project onto the corporeal space.
Aleksandra Domanovic’s Becoming Another (2021) commissioned by Audemars Piguet Contemporary, will be presented during the Gallery Weekend *Discoveries in Berlin at the former print house of Der Tagesspiegel at Potsdamer Straße and will be on display for the public from September 17th 2021 until October 10th 2021.
www.audemarspiguet.com/com/en/about/ audemars-piguet-contemporary.html
www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend: Thinking Two Heads
Thinking: Two Heads is a collaboration between artist Ana Mazzei and Fabian Peake. The exhibition at Galeria Jacqueline Martins unites their visions, despite their diverging backgrounds and generation. Mazzei (1980) displays floor installations of human and non-human shapes and abstract objects made from wood and metal. These studies of space are replenished by vivid paintings and sculptures by Fabian Peake (1942). Hoping to encourage an experimental development process for the exhibition, Mazzei and Peake cultivated an extensive letter correspondence in advance of the show. In these writings, they expounded common ideas, symmetries and equivalences that manifest in both of their artworks. This exchange of ideas and views, which largely contributed to the dynamic between the singular art pieces, is part of the exhibition. The pivot point of their artworks is the concept of staging individual elements into a composition. Peake’s distinctive shapes and color contrasts seem to be positioned independently while being inextricably intertwined into the motif as a totality. Convergent with the staged paintings and sculptures, Mazzei’s installations are constructed in a calculated manner. With the fragments of the pieces wide apart or narrowly arranged, the composition of the installations makes them appear as an inherent part of the room. The placement of the installations guides the visitors through the gallery space, leaving in the open where art ends and open space begins. Although the duo exhibition displays two diverging aesthetics from artists relying on opposing mediums, the exhibition exemplifies that next to visual harmony, the intention, execution and interpretation of art determines a holistic collaboration.
Thinking: Two Heads is exhibited at Galeria Jacqueline Martins, Brussels from September 9th - 30th October 2021.
www.galeriajaquelinemartins.com
www.anamazzei.com
www.fabianpeake.co.uk
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend: Soap Opera
For the third time, Takahiro Kudo exhibits his most recent works at the Archiraar gallery. Kudo’s creativity often revolves around the idea of restriction, he defines the physical presence of humans as a state of being trapped. Since the body is the vessel for human’s mental activity, Kudo pursues the idea that restriction itself is the matrix of human purpose. Given the development of the past month and the succession of a global pandemic, Kudo investigated the term of restriction in a new light. In times where turning inwards, metaphorically and literally, was not a choice but a given, the notion of restriction has changed. Various practices and concepts of social life have been put on hold. Resulting from the forced collective social sabbatical, society has newly defined what it means to be connected or secluded. In his most recent works, Kudo channeled his own development during social distancing in recent times. Reflecting on his personal experiences with separation and connection, he discovered a new meaning of the term that applies to the fluctuating intimacies of private lives. Aligned with the close to real-life concept of his work, Kudo experimented with soap and acrylic glass, both materials that symbolize self-care and separation. By depicting private yet common narratives, the exhibition of Kudo’s work illustrates the dynamics behind distancing oneself in social engagement, the commodification of happiness and its consumption.
Soap Opera is exhibited at Archiraar Gallery, Brussels, from September 9th - November 6th 2021.
www.archiraar.com
www.takahirokudo.com
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend: Around the Figure
The exhibition Around the Figure touches upon the reconfiguration of the human body since the post-war years. After a time of austerity, the following years marked a liberating shift concerning the vision of the body. This shift in perception brought along artistic practices which explore the transformative states of human physicality. The exhibition addresses the question of whether the corporeal body truly belongs to the human. A compound of sculptures, photography and paintings from various artist shine a light on bodily perception in abstract and figurative ways. The works center around the predicament between the human desire to reveal the true self and the impulse to remain inscrutable to the outside world. This constant dynamic between exposing and concealing, propelled by second-wave feminism and the sexual liberation movement, exemplifies how the body is harnessed and liberated simultaneously. Control versus powerlessness plays a significant role in many of the exhibited artworks. As such, Cindy Sherman’s self-portraits delineate the male gaze on the female body, proving how the self-control over the own body is limited. Gerhard Richter challenges the mind’s eye in a portrait that depicts the temporary, unreliable character of distant memories, indicating how they are replenished by vague remembrances. Blurring the lines between the individual artists' visions, the exhibition opens a discourse on the individual and inevitably societal perception of the human figure, painting a holistic notion of the mutability of the body of the past seventy years.
Around the Figure is exhibited at Vedovi Gallery, Brussels, from September 10th - November 13th 2021.
www.vedovigallery.com
Fashion
Loewe FW21: Aligned with Nature
The earth is the home of humanity. In times of uncertainty and dismay, it becomes more important than ever to cherish this home not only as the base of our existence but just as much as an organism that lives, breathes and feels. An organism to be respected by humanity, where the relationship between inhabitants and surroundings is not fuelled by exploitation but by respect. It is this mind game that lead LOEWE to introduce their FW21 collection called Eye/LOEWE/Nature. The essence and backdrop of this special collection is the outdoors, the realm where the elements of nature and the instinct of the human meet on a par with each other. The core Eye/LOEWE/Nature FW21 reflects a vibrant playfulness that brings ideas of patchwork and upcycling to the extreme, exploring ways to create surfaces as well as entire garments. Outdoor, vintage and military details are hybridised into garments that make for progressive dressing. Following the overall tendency to loose-cut clothing, the collection features generous shapes, unexpected volume and items that are versatile in their purpose. Tailored tweed jackets are fused with sportswear details, tents are turned into long coats and flannel and knit sweaters are combined with fleece styles. The sartorial range of the collection is replenished by accessories such as coloful hiking boots, technical bags, protecting gear such as hats and small upcycled items including charms and belts.
The Eye/LOEWE/Nature collection is available online and in LOEWE shops.
www.loewe.com
Fashion
Kolor SS22: New Minimalism
For the SS22 season, Japanese brand Kolor pursues a new take on minimalism. The majority of the presented looks remain in a simple aesthetic, whereas profound design ideas and detailing is limited to just a fraction of the collection’s pieces. By this approach, Kolor’s SS22 collection carries the uniqueness and complexity the brand is known for, and presents itself with a patchwork-like, mixed and matched aesthetic in which the minimalist singular pieces are elevated through the whole of the look. As seen in previous collections, Kolor incorporated the element of “broken-then-fixed”, yet introduces a twist by using transparent, clear fabrics to emphasizes the seemingly “repaired” parts. The see through fabrics reveal the structures of the garment, bearing the tapes, staples and seams which are usually hidden. By intentionally showing these messy and raw parts of the garments, Kolor puts them into the limelight as the aesthetic essence, creating lightness and an analogue feeling. The color palette of the SS22 collections is composed of cool tones, such as blues and greens, paired with conservative beiges, grey and brown tones. To create accentuation in this otherwise muted scheme, Kolor worked with hints of with bright purples, red and oranges. The collection conveys the loose and light feeling of 60s and 70s wear, with inanimate and avant garde touches through rubber coatings and silvery, reflective fabrics.
www.kolor.jp
Fashion
Amsterdam Fashion Week: Wandler FW21
Without light, there is no color. With this mantra in mind, the FW21 collection of the Amsterdam-based accessories label presents itself in a bright, apple green color palette. Being the vanguard of the Amsterdam Fashion Week 21, Wandler orchestrated an art show that put the collection’s items in the limelight– in a literal way, creating a homage to colorful expression and celebrating the significant role of colors in Wandler’s creativity and collections. Introduced by a light installation and narrated prose that touches upon the empowerment of color, Wandler showcased the collection at an abandoned gas station in Amsterdam Noord. The graphic elements of the light installation represented the striking shapes and unexpected nature that Wandler’s designs are known for. Following the installation, the items were presented in a lab-like manner, drenched in green neon lights, radiating a sophisticated and confident atmosphere. The choice of apple green reflects on past times and simultaneously embodies hope, growth, joy and happiness, pointing towards a bright future – in general, as well as for the Amsterdam label itself. The collection features the classic Wandler pieces such as the Rosa boots and loafers, as well as the Penelope and Louis bags. For the FW21 collection, the brand’s most iconic piece, the Hortensia bag, parades its rounded, trapeze shape in the fresh emerald color, too.
www.wandler.com
Fashion
Dior Talks with Felicity Jones
Dior invites the curious listener to experience the contemporary mind of the French Maison. At Dior Talks, persons who directly shape the creative direction of Dior meet with those whose artistic, cultural or intellectual views inspire the narrative of it. Hosted by journalist Justine Picardie, the sixth season of this podcast series revolves around feminism and features strong female characters from different professional backgrounds. Following talks with poet and author Robin Morgan, international ballet start Eleonora Abbagnato and artist Eva Jospin; the latest episode features actress Felicity Jones. Jones, who has been a part of the movie industry for over 25 years, touches upon acting, gender roles and her opinion towards all-male environments, specifically in regards to the recent shifts and developments in the acting world, which have been unfolding since the #MeToo happenings in October 2017. Picardie and Jones get to the bottom of the shortcomings and pitfalls of the male-dominated film industry and discuss the importance of women-led projects – in front of and behind the camera. Jones has admired Maria Grazia Chiuri designs at Dior for their ability to empower women, and for the Maison’s modus operandi of tying together unapologetic femineity, freedom and feminism all in one.
www.podcasts.dior.com
Fashion
HUBLOT x NOVAK DJOKOVIC
Joining the ranks of top-tier athletes like Pelé, Usain Bolt, Dustin Johnson and Kylian Mbappé; Hublot has selected their latest ambassador, Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic. In anticipation of the US Open, the world’s number one tennis player has aligned his pursuit of greatness with luxury watch-maker Hublot, in becoming an ambassador and part of the Hublot family.
Djokovic’s mastery of the sport is evidenced in his life’s work, having 85 singles titles on the ATP circuit, 20 Grand Slams, 5 Masters games and 36 Masters 1000 games and an Olympic medal. In addition to his many accolades Djokovic is the only player in the Open era to have won at least two Grand Slam tournaments. Ricardo Guadalupe, Founder of Hublot, the opulent Swiss Watch company which created the Big Bang in 2005, spoke fondly of the star tennis player, saying “we are particularly honored to have the great Novak Djokovic join our beautiful Hublot family. He is a player who makes tennis history by being unique, first and different, which is exactly our motto. It’s a great day for Hublot!”
To excel beyond that which is widely seen as expected or attainable, to reach further than your imagination can comprehend; to truly be the best at your craft is a conquest that is shared by Hublot and Novak Djokovic.
Fashion
Remastered Archives at C.P Company
In 1971 C.P Company, then still called Chester Perry, was called to live by Massimo Osti. Osti, who had a background in graphic design, was soon earned the reputation of a “godfather of urban sportswear”. Ever since, C.P. Company has been known for its hybrid style that combines elements of vintage military and sportswear. For their 50th anniversary, the revolutionary streetwear brand has launched a series of celebratory chapters, of which the latest, chapter six, is the collection Remastered Archives. With Remastered Archives, the Italian brand cherishes the past of its legacy by reinterpreting pivotal designs of their creative history. The most emblematic item of the brand, the classical t-shirt, has been used as a canvas to portray the retakes on these nostalgic designs. The design of the shirts relies on the graphic design roots of the brand, featuring a variety of type fonts that bestow a bold yet simple message. Iconic moments of the brand, such as the British Sailor motif, the Flatiron Building – which represents the site of the very first C.P Company store –, the Rainforest Foundation moment and the original MilleMiglia race mark celebrate the half-century anniversary with all its landmarks. The appearance and feel of the t-shirts are also a nod to both historical designs and current aesthetics, using heavyweight cotton, a relaxed fit, and a higher neckline.
The Remastered Archive collection is available at all C.P Company flagship stores in Milan, Amsterdam London and Riccione, as well as online.
www.cpcompany.com
Fashion
Responsible Living: DIESEL Library
The next chapter in eco-friendly denim production from high quality denim brand, Diesel. ‘Diesel Library’, which will be presented for the brand’s Spring / Summer 2022 collection, incorporates a genderless design aesthetic and extends the brand’s commitment to innovation and production technologies that consistently make durable and desirable denim garments. The removal of the 5-pocket demarcation between women and men offers a new perspective on the most democratic material, denim, and to usher in a new era of essential pieces at Diesel.
All fabrics consist of resource-saving materials, including B. organic and recycled fibers The techniques implemented in making the Diesel Library significantly reduce the use of water and chemicals. 50% of the Diesel Library will be “made-to-stay,” meaning that they will have a permanent home on the shelves in the future of the brand. Leather patches are tanned free of chrome, the metal buttons found in the Diesel Library are treated without zinc, even the labels found on each piece are made from recycled materials. Tags and patches are also made from FSC certified materials. This reinforces the brand’s dedication to sustainability, a “total look” will anchor the wide range of eco-friendly garments in the evergreens collection; intended to outlast trends and withstand the test of time.
A first look of the Diesel Library collection premiered at a show hosted by Creative Director, Glenn Martens in June of this year. The garments will be available from November 2021 online and in select Diesel stores globally.
Fashion
FW 21 Suicoke x Daniel Arsham
For their FW 21 collection, Japanese label Suicoke collaborated with Daniel Arsham. The New York based artist contributed to Suicoke with a textile design applied to one of their most iconic shoe styles, the Zavo. Inviting comfort and items that create a certain atmosphere are central attributes that determine the design process of Suicoke. The Zavo style embodies these characteristics with a a closed toe cap and a flat sole with a raised foot bed – resembling a pantofle. Arsham overhauled a Porsche 911 from 1986 in late 2020. For the shoe collaboration, he lent the canvas design of this automotive work to Suicoke. Thus, the FW 21 Zavo version features a sturdy, heavyweight stonewash textile material. The cap is finished of with a horizontal strap showcasing the Arsham Studio logo, along with a branding emblem on the inside sole. Fur ultimate comfort, the Zavo variant is lined with mouton fur, which increases heat retention and premium comfort and is available in navy and beige.
The Suicoke x Daniel Arsham collaboration footwear will be available online and at selected global retailers from August 20th 2021.
www.suicoke.com
Fashion
CHANEL Watchmaking: Monsieur. Superleggera Edition
“With its powerful engine, dream coachwork and unique finishing, the Monsieur. Superleggera Edition watch opens new roads that lie ahead” is how CHANEL presents the launch of a unique watch that compromises the most distinctive elements of two renowned chronograph lines – the Superleggera and the Monsieur. Resulting from this rendez-vous, a unique blend of high-tech and elegance emerges. The Superleggera line, consisting of unisex chronographs that appeal to both women and men, features an athletic, masculine look manufactured from high-tech aluminum. The J12 Superleggera proclaims a passion for performance and a love of sports. On the contrary, the Monsieur, characterized by old-school classic elements, is a timeless, scaled-back watch that charms with elegance and grace. With its understated leather bracelet and detail-oriented clock face, the Monsieur watches do justice to their name. The Monsieur. Superleggera Edition stands for a contemporary interpretation of fine watchmaking for men at CHANEL. The new interpretation is inspired by racecar speedometers and has been designed to stand out from the crowd. With a matte black ceramic 42mm-diameter case and a matte black dial with a small detail of red calfskin the Monsieur. Superleggera Edition persuades with a discrete force.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Karl Lagerfeld x Aubade
Aubade Paris has been manufacturing premium lingerie for over 60 years. Over the decades, the French brand has acquired incomparable expertise in corsetry that delivers the perfect fit and cut to their loyal customers. Bringing confidence through empowerment to women is the philosophy behind Aubade. Relying on experience and craftsmanship, Aubade modifies its undergarment collections to current trends and styles. The quality values and aspiration to go with the Zeitgeist show in their latest collaboration for an F/W 2021 capsule with Karl Lagerfeld. The collection consists of four underwear sets, available in an elegant black version and as well a bolder variant of bright red. Karl Lagerfeld’s signature rock-chic design and tuxedo inspirations shine through in selected details and are completed by a clip-on collar and waist corset. From simple to daring, the capsule offers a range of styles that celebrates the body in true classical French fashion. The pieces are crafted from premium quality fabrics and haberdashery, including satin-covered buttons, guipure embroidery and mesh embellishments. The development of the collection centered around the mutual Parisian heritage of the two brands, merging together Karl Lagerfeld’s design creativity and Aubade’s proficiency in manufacturing.
www.karl.com
www.aubade.eu
Fashion
Alpine Capsule: Skiing with Dior
As an ode to the Alps’ winter wonderlands, Maria Grazia Chiuri designed a capsule collection that fusions Dior’s elegance with sporty skiing attires. Concentrating on looks that combine style and high-tech functionality, the designs are not only suited for going down the slopes but for après ski occasions as well. The capsules’ color palette consists mostly of white and black alpine looks accentuated with red and navy details. Voluminous puffers, trousers and the classic book tote are available in leopard print for an extra dash of glamour that creates an unusual contrast to the snowy landscapes of the mountains. Knitted sweaters with patterns that distantly remind of traditional alpine garbs complement the aim of the collection to meet athletic as well as leisure purposes. The brand’s signature logo pattern - the Dior Oblique, as well as the infamous camouflage and the Dior lucky star motive, are featured throughout the designs as well. For the maximum coordinated look, accessories like an ultra-matte ski mask and logo-emblazoned sunglasses are part of the Dior Alps collection too.
The Dior Alps capsule collection will be available in-store starting mid-September.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Freedom Now x Versace Jeans Couture
Freedom is a volatile notion, it takes on different forms for each individual identity and is both universal and personal at the same time. In a quest to find an answer to the contemporary meaning of freedom, Versace Jeans Couture has brought the collaboration Freedom Now to being. This series of content is curated by three artists: Savana Ogburn, Vincent Catel and Naguel Rivero. Resulting from their individual artistic interpretation of freedom, three unique concepts arose. “Freedom means being able to inhabit a variety of selves throughout our lives” is the idea behind Ogburn’s concept that touches upon the versatile facets of femineity. With a campy, colorful and textural lens, Ogburn opted for a series of kitsch and pop collages portraying the model as a spirited garden gnome, a pastel alien and a vampiress. Catel chose the medium of videography to capture a story of freedom. In Catel’s short film, two motorcyclists fall in love while exploring a dream-like landscape. Cliché imagery orchestrates a shy playfulness with a touch of irony that sets the archetypal characters free. Rivero focused on freedom in a post-pandemic world by taking portraits of determined young people who resonate with tolerance, empathy and acceptance.
www.versace.com
Fashion
aeyde Pre-Fall 21
The pace of our everyday lives is becoming faster and faster. News and images circle the globe almost instantly and we are at all times connected to almost everything that is happening in the world, bombarded with a constant flux of outside stimulus. Then, Covid-19 happened and the world for once stood completely still. People were confined to their homes, events were cancelled, streets were empty, and suddenly we found ourselves alone with our thoughts almost without any distractions. This wasn’t just the case for individuals. Also, companies suddenly found themselves in a period of intense introspection, as the minds behind aeyde put it, during which the immensity within was allowed to swell to the surface. All the changes and challenges of the past five years were finally able to sink, sparking the creation of a renewed inner space to contemplate the journey which has brought aeyde to where the brand is now. This is also reflected in the new Pre-Fall collection, which was launched this July. The ongoing reflection is presented throughout the styles, old as well as new, revealing the brand’s past, its identity, but also what’s to come. In line with its typical signature aesthetic, the two highlights of the collection are the new razor-sharp pointy-toe shoes in monochrome and the sleek square-toe styles in classic colors and luxe snake prints.
The aeyde Pre-Fall collection is available in select stores and online now.
www.aeyde.com
Fashion
Valentino Des Ateliers
Valentino’s Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli makes it clear that fashion is not art. Art has no purpose outside itself, art for art, whereas fashion due to its very nature features functionality, a practical scope directly linked to our body. Nevertheless, these two creative differences aren’t opposed. On the contrary, when taking the time to learn about these differences they offer a great source of inspiration and opportunity to broaden our horizons. All that's required is to be curious and to take the time to listen. This is the foundation for the Valentino Des Atelier project, meaningful dialogue between the disciplines. Driven by the urge to build a community of makers around Maison Valentino, convinced that painting is to contemporary art what Haute Couture is to fashion, Piccioli brings together a group of painters of different ages, backgrounds and aesthetic inclinations, translating the two-dimensionality of their works into three-dimensional garments, a truly metamorphic process that transforms the paintings which are contemplated as something still into an animated and draped garments moving with the body. Color layering, signs, backgrounds, the full and empty portions are translated by Piccioli into lines, cuts, compositional gestures, involving each artist in a conversation on the dress itself. Each dress is the result of the confrontation of two creatives, the coming together of two distinct languages into a single dress. Valentino Des Ateliers is not just about creating a dialogue, but about listening to each other before pronouncing yourself.
www.valentino.com
Fashion
Montblanc: The Pink Dial Project
The world of luxury watches indeed operates on its own terms. It’s a very unique industry, which different to other luxury sectors, such as luxury fashion, has upheld its time-honored traditions and modus operandi and moves comparatively at a much slower pace. But when the world is changing, the watch sector will follow. Across all different market segments, customers and their mindsets have changed and the luxury watch clientele is by no means different. The notion of luxury is changing, it isn’t merely about showcasing wealth, but it now includes a new awareness regarding ethics, sustainability and humanitarianism. Luxury watch manufacturers have recognized their corporate responsibility and have incorporated this into who they are. For this reason, Wei Koh, founder of the Rake Magazine, has initiated the Pink Dial Project. The color pink might already indicate to most what this project is about. It’s a charity project supporting the fight against breast cancer. Montblanc is proud to partake in this initiative by donating the 1858 Geosphere Pink Dial Unique Piece, an addition to Montblanc’s eponymous key line. The watches’ stunning fuchsia pink dial is contrasted with a deep black titanium case. The dial is lacquered with a sunray finish making the timepiece stand out even more. It is powered by the renowned Manufacture Worldtime complication and movement which features two turning domed hemisphere globes that make a full rotation in 24 hours. They are surrounded by a scale with 24 time zones, along with a day/night indication for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. To give it the necessary female touch, it is noteworthy that Montblanc’s female watchmakers have assembled this unique piece. This very special watch will be up for auction in October 2021, the worldwide Break Cancer Awareness Month, with all the proceeds going to selected breast cancer charities all across the world. To put it in Wei Koh’s words, “Together we can rock 2021 from a horological but also ethical perspective.”
www.montblanc.com
Fashion
CHANEL Haute Couture FW2021/22
“There are dresses embroidered with water lilies, a jacket in a black tweed crafted from feathers with red and pink flowers. I was also thinking about English gardens. I like to mix a touch of England with a very French style. It’s like blending the masculine and the feminine, which is what I’ve done with this collection too. That twist is very much part of who I am.” This was what Chanel’s Creative Director Virginie Viard had to say about her latest Haute Couture FW2021/22 collection. The natural inspiration is reflected throughout the collection with is countless colorful hues, radiating a warmth perfect to brighten up the cold and grey winter days. Nevertheless, the collection reflects the house’s roots, more precisely its larger than life founder Gabrielle Chanel, which Viard had seen in old photographs dressed in throwback 19th century bustles and crinolines for some society balls in the 1930s. But the collections doesn’t just pick up on the natural and on Chanel herself, most prominently, the collection merges the worlds of fashion and art, acclaimed Impressionist Berthe Morisot and Cubist Marie Laurencin, whose influences can be felt throughout the collection. They are reflected in the lightness of touch and the masterful work of the great embroidery houses of Paris, the likes of Lesage, Cécile Henri, Atelier Emmanuelle Vernoux and Lemaire. The results are nothing short of magnificent, yet weightless, a dream made from embroidered tulle and chiffon. To bring it full circle, the show’s location the Palais Galliera fashion museum is currently hosting a remarkable exhibition Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto, creating a direct dialogue between Chanel’s originals and Viard’s new reinterpretations of the house’s codes.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Dunhill SS22
‘Identities’, the new Dunhill SS22 collection for Paris Fashion Week is s collision of style and identity, utility and extravagance feature throughout. Archetypal characters and clothing, cross-fertilised and collaged, show a sense of ease with elegant imperfection, all realised in precious-made-practical fabrics.“In this collection i wanted to look at certain identities. These are clothing archetypes, but also identities of britishness, of masculinity, of uniforms, as well as those of dunhill past and the new era archetypes that we have sought to establish here. It’s really about how character and clothing work together; the idiosyncratic combinations of personal style and identity in britain and dunhill, as well as a redefinition of them for the house.”, so Mark Weston, Creative Director of the house. From deco dandies to hi-vis handy men, encompassing traditional male archetypes in conventional uniforms to the purposely provocative effeminacy of ‘80s casuals along the way, British masculine identities are playfully reworked, as are elements of dunhill history, past and present. The abstract work of photographic artist Ellen Carey features as a print collaboration this season. Most frequently appearing on double bonded duchesse satin, this most haute couture of fabrics takes the place of a technical shell in canoe tops, jackets and hats. Carey’s prints also feature on leather goods, such as the new era Lock bag in a variety of forms this season.
www.dunhill.com
Fashion
Jil Sander SS22
For Jil Sander’s SS22 collection the attitude is freedom, the keywords autonomy, lightness and clarity. This is a sharp urban collection about the right, and duty, to individuality and imagination. About multicultural cities that lead us to appreciate and absorb diversity; to combine different things, different facets of ourselves, in ways that are unprecedented and effortless at the same time. We turn labor into play, blend day and night - and the other way around; we wear suits for leisure and utility garments to shine. Lucie and Luke Meier always find new forms to balance opposites. The relationships between materials, colours, shapes and volumes are flawless. Lines, movement, and touch are equalized. Every look is unique. Japanese wool jackets, shirt-jackets and coats are straight and voluminous. Overdyed cotton and linen flight suits, with removable sleeves, and comfortable utility trousers are worn under one-and-a-half breasted tailored overcoats.Strong colours, large pockets, contrasting copper zippers, a cheetah print on a brushed wool pullover, scarves in fleecy pure silk, and jewels - silver necklaces, brooches, ear cuffs, and earrings - give all looks - and us - extra personality and an edge.
www.jilsander.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Mens SS22
The Louis Vuitton SS22 Men’s Collection by Virgil Abloh, filmed by Amen Break, features GZA, Goldie, and Saul Williams alongside a wide cast of talent. Directed by Mahfuz Sultan, the film explores ideas of transmission: the act of passing something from one person to another, activating waves of change across generations, and impacting the lives of others. The story told in the show is an abstract interpretation of Lupe Fiasco, the American fine artist and rapper who grew up on the Southside of Chicago amid the gang turbulence of the 1970s and ‘80s. The story is about a father and son united by an unnamed loss, crossing a dream world to deliver a message to the other side. Along the way, adversaries conspire against the child, heroes emerge to guide him, and great sacrifices are made to get him across the divide. The collection introduces new headwear, the modern version of cylinder hats rounding off most of the looks. Accessories also take the forefront in the collection: bags, earmuffs, and gloves prepare the viewer for the cold season. The color range includes monochrome green and navy blue to black looks and color gradients from neon yellow to navy blue.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Jean Paul Gaultier Instagram
The official JPG Instagram account name has changed from jpgaultierofficial to jeanpaulgaultier.
www.instagram.com/jeanpaulgaultier/
Fashion
Fashion
FENDI Mens SS22
Ponderings on “watching the world from above” have inspired the FENDI Men’s SS22 collection, which forms a rich interplay of lightness and ease with a sharp focus on the future of luxury. A soft yet juxtaposed palette echoes spring flora and the transient skies of lemon and lime, ice blue, lavender, pistachio, and peony against mineral shades of travertine, chalk, graphite, and slate. The show was held in a location vital to FENDI’s history, inside the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, at the FENDI headquarters. The view illuminates a 360° vista towards the seven hills of Rome, the Apennine mountains, and glimpses of the Mediterranean Sea. Taken from the FENDI archives, an illustrated map of Rome becomes FENDI Land, a cartographic drawing of the city where the Palazzo Fendi springs up at its center, and the Tiber river flows through a labyrinth of buildings and streets adorned here and there with freehand FF logos. Distortion of scale plays a significant role in the collection, creating new tailoring volumes in the form of a summer suit, which is cropped at the torso, split with nylon organza, and peak lapel linen blazers are fitted with pen pockets and earpods compartments. The accessory collections additionally embody a playful escape from reality by reinterpreting everyday objects with high-end craftsmanship. From swimming goggles and caps in collaboration with ARENA, ping-pong racket bags to the Baguette bag, shrunk as a jewelry pouch on a fine waist chain, this collection sets a new precedent for the future luxury. An electronic composition by Alessandro Cortini accompanies the show.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA: ROME AND FORTE DEI MARMI STORES
Ermenegildo Zegna enhances its retail network in Italy with the opening of a new flagship store in Rome and a seasonal resort boutique in Forte dei Marmi. Zegna’s evolution from Tailoring to Luxury Leisurewear represents a leap forward for the brand and a new era in store design, too. The new flagship store in Rome, relocated within the historical Palazzo Maruscelli Lepri, launches a new retail design course, to reflect the brand zeitgeist. The new design features a sophisticated atmosphere, customised around the classical architectural references of the venue, framed by natural woods and serpentine marble inserts: a bold check pattern running along the entire ground floor. The coffered ceiling of the Made to Measure room, on the first floor, maintains the original decoration to provide a unique atmosphere where customers can personalise their wardrobe entirely. A modern library in rose gold finishing and an iconic sofa complete the furniture setting to conveying a luxurious home feeling with a bar area to welcome visitors as well as two video screens to convey the brand seasonal highlights. Transformed into a luxury retail space that occupies over 250 square meters and two floors, the new flagship store naturally blends history with modernity.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
Dior x Sacai
Dior collaborates with Sacai on a men’s capsule in which Kim Jones, Artistic Director of the house’s men’s lines, engages in a dialogue with Chitose Abe, founder of the Japanese label. The reinterpretation of the emblematic “Dior” signature embodies this creative exchange: the name Sacai figures within the ‘i’ in the Dior signature. The DNA of Sacai is hybrid: an idea that permeates a collection punctuated by a color palette primarily in black and white. Looks combine Dior tailoring and savoir-faire with the Japanese brand’s sportswear style and technicality. Denim enhances pieces fusing workwear cuts with functional details, finished with a refined couture touch. Dior symbols, such as supple berets designed by Stephen Jones, are revisited while iconic bags from the saddle universe are reinvented in vibrant shades of olive and orange, echoing Sacai’s essential bomber jacket. This capsule, called Dior and Sacai, illustrates a vision in motion, a captivating meeting of two artists. This new perspective on the two houses, framed by Dior heritage, may be discovered from November 2021.
www.sacai.jp www.doir.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton: Capucines bag
As a timeless feminine icon, the Capucines symbolises the quintessence of Louis Vuitton, its quest for excellence, creativity and craftsmanship. Named after Louis Vuitton’s very first store, which opened in 1854 on rue Neuve-des-Capucines in Paris, the Capucines has established itself as one of the Maison’s most iconic models. The Capucines is both versatile and an everyday companion. This summer, it will be available in three sizes, Mini, BB and MM, embracing the various styles, desires and moments of the day.The black and arizona Capucines with its textile strap featuring embroidered Monogram flowers is a casual chic bag, perfect for every day. It portrays an authentic allure in natural raffia and caramel calf leather, or a more mysterious character in playing with textures featuring intertwined embroidery and silkscreen-printed patterns that echo the 1854 Jacquard canvas.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
“ISSUE 02”: BOTTEGA VENETA’S QUARTERLY DIGITAL JOURNAL
Bottega Veneta swapped social media for a quarterly digital journal called Issue, of which it just released its Issue 002. The reveal of their journal explains why the Italian brand mysteriously vanished from all social platforms earlier this year. While other brands were launching Clubhouse accounts and joining platforms as TikTok, Bottega Veneta, one of the most popular labels of 2020, was making itself impossible to find. Daniel Lee, Bottega Veneta’s Creative Director, chose to get off the platform because it oversimplifies the creative process and believes it’s a homogenization of culture. The content that lives on the digital journal is a mixture of creative campaigns and features people like Travis Scott and Naomi Cambell. Content like that is supposed to make the audience sit with it as you would watch a movie. The mix of serious and playful content proves that Bottega Veneta is the perfect mixture of sophisticated and whimsical.
www.issuedbybottega.com
Fashion
SLIM D’HERMÈS - La Source de Pégase
A Pegasus with glowing wings emerges from the Slim d’Hermès watch, highlighted by the arts of miniature painting, straw marquetry and engraving. Created in 2015, the Slim d’Hermès watch is all about essentials: a simplicity mingling rigorous discipline with aesthetic balanced. The distinctive yet understated lines of its round case with angular lugs frame a transfigured dial. Graced with a combination of several miniature techniques, the Slim d’Hermès La Source de Pégase watch features a winged horse in brilliant colours, born of the virtuoso skills of the enamelling and engraving artists. This mythologically inspired symbol, reinterpreted through the use of artistic crafts, is drawn from the La Source de Pégase silk scarf designed by French artist Pierre Marie. The illustrator depicts the winged horse striking a rock with its hoof to create the Hippocrene spring on Mount Helicon. His narrative and decorative style composes a radiant Pegasus in a joyful fantasy universe. Transposed onto the slim dial of the Slim d’Hermès watch, the legendary creature expresses a new creative dimension.
www.hermes.com
Fashion
Tommy Hilfiger: Moving Forward Together
Tommy Hilfiger certainly belongs to one of those brands whose influence spans across the whole globe, with its countless stores and retail venues. In the German capital, along one of the city’s most famous and prestigious shopping avenues, Tommy Hilfiger now reopens a new and improved flagship store and a cafe called Tommy’s coffee. For this special occasion, the brand created the local “Moving Forward Together” campaign, especially created for Germany, featuring local Berlin talents from the world of film and music. The campaign was captured by photographer Alex de Brabant and videographer Viktor Sloth. In two iconic cultural Berlin locations, the Kino International and Columbia Halle, they capture the likeness of actor Kida Khodr Ramadan and Berlin-based DJ duo Lucia Luciano and Gizem Adiyaman, all three of them being deeply interconnected with the local communities and perfect embodiments of the campaign’s overarching message of inclusivity and togetherness. Luciano and Adiyaman are behind the community space Hoe_mies centred around women, non-binary and trans people. From May to June, Tommy Hilfiger offers its Club members the possibility to enter a raffle in order to win whether a movie night hosted by Ramadan or a private workshop around music production with Hoe_mies. Both events will be hosted once COVID-19 regulations permit. The new flagship store is set to open its doors to the public on July 1, 2021.
#MovingForwardTogether
www.tommy.com
Fashion
MIU MIU MARITIME
Miuccia Prada toys with characteristics of a nautical atmosphere -colours, insignias, attitudes - to create a Miu Miu Maritime collection, refracting these archetypal and classic sartorial gestures into unexpected new forms. Silhouetted against twin expanses of blue like the sky and the sea - the Miu Miu crew of feminine sailors are captured by Johnny Dufort, poised on the concrete ramparts of the Plage de Bon-Secours at Saint Malo, a bathing pool jutting into the sea. As ever, these Miu Miu women are part of a collective, a group - here, they are a fleet, an admiralty, their clothing unifying them, signifying their bond.The clothes are fresh, spirited, evocative of mariner attireyet exaggerated by the lens of fashion. Traditionally masculine gestures - the flap collar, wide shoulders, an air of utility - are abstracted to be fused with the inherently feminine, with softly rounded sleeves, lace detailing, ruffles, bows. The coastline is not the end of the land, but rather marks the start of something new.
www.miumiu.com
Creative direction by M/M (Paris), featuring Shin Hyeon Yi, Shade, Nina Pronk, Elisa Löhr and Topsy. Photographed by Johnny Dufort. Styling by Lotta Volkova.
Fashion
Longchamp Eyewear: Plant based Resin Capsule Collection
Plant-Based Resin is made from castor bean oil, a cleaner alternative to standard petroleum-based plastics; now used in the Longchamp capsule collection, featuring two sunglasses and two optical styles made from 40% Plant-Based Resin. With this collection, Longchamp eyewear draws inspiration from the brand’s iconic Voyageuse handbag, bringing a trendy and sophisticated interpretation of the brand’s signature pattern to the eyewear offering. All four styles are designed using Plant-Based Resin without sacrificing the quality and premium feel the brand is known for. The four styles feature vintage-inspired frame-fronts designed in modern and contemporary shapes, while the new LGP temple design has a tone-on-tone effect to the iconic monogram of the brand. All styles are offered in Black, Brown, Blue and Wine.
www.longchamp.com
Fashion
Bally Presents “My Craft, My Legacy”
Swiss luxury brand Bally honors its 170 - year shoemaking history as architects of leather with a new digital campaign, “My Craft, My Legacy,” featuring the company’s expert artisans. Based in the company’s state -of-the-art Shoe Factory in Caslano, Bally’s artisans undergo three years of rigorous training before utilizing a dedicated and proprietary approach to handcrafting iconic styles “Made in Switzerland,” including the men’s Scribe formal shoe, which was first designed in 1951 on the occasion of Bally’s centennial, and requires 240 artisanal techniques to complete. “My Craft, My Legacy” pays tribute to Bally’s team of 100 artisans whose passion and skill have continued the company’s heritage of craftsmanship and design for generations. They are celebrated through a series of intimate photographs by photographer Jackson Frederik, who captured their personal portraits alongside the instruments of their craft. These remarkable individuals champion the spirit of Bally and its founding, representing the ingenuity of the brand as well as its future, as standard bearers of quality and excellence since 1851. A spirit of community has always been an integral part of Bally, dating back to the company’s founding by Carl Franz Bally, who pioneered an employee benefit system such as an onsite canteen, children’s daycare and community park. This tradition lives on, demonstrated by the longstanding tenure of Bally’s craftspeople, many of whom have over 30 years of service to the brand. Today, Bally artisans craft between 150,000 - 200,000 pairs of shoes each year at the Caslano Shoe Factory, mastering a diverse range of roles including polisher, leather cutter, stitcher, finisher and shoemaker.
www.bally.com
Fashion
FENDI SS21 Capsule collection & FF Vertigo
Dominated by yellow and light blue tones, the Summer 2021 capsule, spans from sophisticated and eye-catching bags and accessories to compelling ready-to-wear for women, men and children. Seventies’ references and Nineties’ vibes fuse in a charming line-up, where FENDI’s outstanding craftsmanship and innovative, forward-thinking approach shine bright. As part of its Summer 2021 capsule, after the official launch at Design Miami, FENDI reiterates its collaboration with New York-based visual artist Sarah Coleman, known for her disruptive manipulation of designers’ materials that she employees to rethink and repurpose everyday objects with an ironic filter. Within the colorful and irresistible Summer 2021 Capsule Collection featuring ‘70s references and ‘90s vibes, FENDI presents a special collaboration with the iconic Polaroid brand, inventor of the first instant camera designed to capture community and individuality. Born from the idea to personalize the classic Vintage Polaroid OneStep Close-Up 600 camera with the FENDI DNA, this Polaroid camera combines the design of this renowned instant camera from the ‘90s with the multicolour FF Vertigo. The FF Vertigo motif—a new magnetic motif offering a twisted, turned version of the classic FF logo—and FF Fisheye motif—where the signature FF logo appears wavy and fluid, as it is seen through a fish-eye lens—are the results of the new collaboration between FENDI and the New York based artist Sarah Coleman who is known for her disruptive manipulation of designer’s materials that she employs to rethink and repurpose everyday objects with an ironic filter. FENDI collaborated with her in the Design Miami/ 2020 edition where she was commissioned to reinterpret the Miami Design District FENDI Boutique and create a series of one-of-a-kind design pieces. The FENDI and Vintage Polaroid OneStep Close-Up 600 instant camera will be available in FENDI Boutiques worldwide starting May 2021.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
All Things Loose
For the SS21 collection, Levi’s® puts a spin on the brand’s emblematic Levi’s® Red classics from the 90s – the last great era of the loose fit. Following the motto of ‘all things loose’, the collection draws on the exaggerated fits, wide hems and drop shoulders of the Levi’s® Red collections, first launched in the late 90s. The contemporary interpretation of the Levi’s® Red collection re-imagines the denim pieces following a sustainable and innovative approach. Men’s jeans include a looser fit version of the 502™ Taper, and a new 505™ Utility, both of which have irregular bartack stitching and a bigger and exaggerated double-stitch on the back pockets. For women, the Low Loose Workpant with a loose balloon leg and a super low rise is the centerpiece of the new collection. The loose silhouette-focus is re-emphasized in the line of denim jackets. Wide drop shoulder fits with mid-length hems and bold pocket and lining designs are their signature features. For fabrics, – in addition to the organic cotton in men’s pants – cottonized hemp is frequently used in select styles of the Levi’s® Red designs. The innovative fabric drives the brand's commitment to sustainability. It resembles cotton in look and feel, and is made with hemp which has been manufactured in a process, which requires less water and fewer chemicals than growing cotton does. The Levi’s® Red collection therefore simultaneously embodies a daring outlook into the future, as well as a nostalgic throwback with a range of unique pieces based on sustainable fabrics, modern shapes and the retro, signature Levi’s® style.
www.levis.com
Fashion
RIMOWA x Chaos
RIMOWA announces its debut collaboration with Chaos, the London based brand renowned for its coveted accessories - two brands for which both individualization and personalization play a big role. United by their common appreciation for luxurious design and innovative solutions, RIMOWA and Chaos have partnered on a limited-edition line of suitcases and tavel accessories. The special design, the striking color scheme, the colorful stickers, as well as the characteristic embroidered tags in three new shapes give the suitcases an instant recognition value. It's impossible to miss these suitcases when you're traveling with them. RIMOWA x CHAOS approach was to design products with excellent function and style, full of energy and high aspirations to improve daily life.
www.rimowa.com
Fashion
Alice Anderson at König Galerie
Alice Anderson - SPIRITUAL MACHINES SERIES, TOTEM 12
Alice Anderson at König Galerie Anglo-French artist Alice Anderson is to showcase her work “Hyperlinks – a solo exhibition – at KÖNIG GALERIE. Her works include sculptures, paintings and drawings generated through dance-performances, each with ritual at their essence. For this exhibition, Alice Anderson presents performative works created through repetitive gestures, some coupled with rapid breathing (the technique of hyperventilation), which gives her access to a state of modified consciousness. This pairing puts forward the body as a vehicle of humanity within the contemporary world propelling towards a technological-wholeness; and the ancestral culture of the Kogi people from Sierra Nevada in Colombia, who exist in cosmic harmony with their environment. Kogi concepts, rituals and ecologi-cal combats have framed Alice Anderson’s reflections upon this change in civilization. The challenge is not to decry these complex technologies but to continue to question the relation-ships between humans, the environment and the machine. One of my answers ‘goes’ through spirituality that expresses another definition of things and redefines a certain balance of what escapes us. In this sense, my performed rituals take on all their importance because they are a physical re-appropriation of what has been dematerialized” says Anderson.
www.koeniggalerie.com
ALICE ANDERSON - Random Chromatics Pixels N.64, 2021
Fashion
Summer Ease
For Furla’s SS21 collection following the motto #FUNFURLA, the brand celebrates optimism and lightness of spirit. Furla enhances its distinctly Italian DNA and communicates a cheerful lifestyle message. The campaign comprises images and a film, which represent a new chapter in terms of creativity and lust for life. The aesthetic of the collection channels this spirit, featuring loose and airy fits in a broad range of colors that embody the vibrancy of the season. Set against a dreamy, Mediterranean backdrop, the open sky and sparkling sea become #FUNFURLA’s setting. The visuals are an interplay of shadows and silhouettes, which is displayed mainly from the back and through body language of the models displaying the clothing. The soft color scheme of the clothing, shown in the photos with chromatic monochrome effects, further enhances the feeling of carefreeness. The joyous atmosphere of spring and summer, as well as Furla’s core values of heritage and beautiful Italian craftsmanship are conveyed through every image. The Furla SS21 collection invites the wearer to enter a summer daydream.
www.furla.com
Fashion
Abstract Femininity
After taking a maternity leave of absence, LARA KRUDE is back with her Spring Summer 2021 collection. The “Designer of Tomorrow” Award-winning designer worked closely with Stella McCartney for several years before launching her eponymous Slow Fashion Brand in 2017. Her latest collection is based on bold silhouettes and traditional craftsmanship while leaving space for the body and the natural fabrics. Androgynous silhouettes, natural colors, such as forest green and navy blue, combined with plaid and striped patterns reinvent the distinct LARA KRUDE look for the warm season. All of Krude’s collections are produced exclusively in Germany and Poland by small family-run manufacturers to guarantee the highest quality and protect the environment. LARA KRUDE stands for effortless elegance and abstract femininity, with the timeless pieces empowering women to feel their utmost best; strong, independent, and always curious.
www.larakrude.com
Fashion
Cartier: Tank Cintrée’s 100th birthday
The iconic Tank Cintrée watch turns 100 – to celebrate this Cartier will present a new limited edition model limited to 150 numbered pieces. Every single one of them has already been sold before the official launch. This creation exemplifies the successful reissues of legendary Cartier watch designs. The new Tank Cintrée draws heavily from the original model, venturing into the 21st century. Its sleek curved design, vertically oriented case, and the elegance of its "eggshell" dial make it perfect for lovers of stylish aesthetics. The watch gives the original Tank a more elongated shape and a curved case. The watch owes its name to the curvaceous shape for comfortable wearing. Thus, the watch gently nestles around the wrist. Even though the case height now measures 6.40 mm, it has lost none of its unmistakable features: rail decor, Roman numerals, apple-shaped hands, pearlized winding crown with sapphire cabochon and bracelet with pin buckle. This is the aesthetic signature of a great classic in the art of watchmaking, which has not changed since its introduction in 1921 and is now equipped with a manufacture hand-wound movement, caliber 9780 MC.
www.cartier.com
Fashion
CHANEL Cruise Collection 21/22
It was under the sign of Jean Cocteau that Creative Director Virginie Viard began to imagine the look of the CHANEL Cruise 2021/22 collection, she explains "Because Gabrielle Chanel was close to Cocteau, and I love the film Testament of Orpheus. In particular this magnificent scene: a man with a black horse's head descends into the Carrières de Lumières, his silhouette cut out against the very white walls". Destination: the Carrières de Lumières, in Les Baux-de-Provence, for a highly graphic show, "because the simplicity, the precision and the poetry of Cocteau's film made me want to create a very clean collection, with a very distinct two-tone, made up of bright white and deep black". Both influences for this show, Cocteau and Chanel, are embodies in the cruise collection by the strong yet faded contrast from radiant white and deep black. The combination of those colors manifest in pieces such as long white shirt-dresses, black macramé capes, and a white tweed jacket embroidered with lucky charms to a black dress in velvet and leather. "Echoing the extreme modernity of Cocteau's film, I wanted something quite rock. Lots of fringes, in leather, beads and sequins, t-shirts bearing the face of the model Lola Nicon like a rock star, worn with tweed suits trimmed with wide braids, and pointed silver Mary-Janes. A look that recalls as much the modernity of the sixties as that of punk...". so Virginie Viard.
www.chanel.com
Art
Gallery Weekend Berlin: Rebecca Horn at Thomas Schulte Galerie
Rebecca Horn presents the first solo exhibition at the Thomas Schulte Galerie since its inauguration in 1991. Horn and the gallery have collaborated many times during the past 30 years. Thomas Schulte Galerie featured the artist in the opening exhibition. On the 30th anniversary, Thomas Schulte Galerie is celebrating with a collection of one of Germany’s most important living female artists. Alongside Horn’s recent works, the gallery will be showing two of the artist’s seminal kinetic installations from the 1990s: Bee’s Planetary Map (1998) and Der Turm der Namenlosen (1994). The piece Bee’s Planetary Map (1998) captures the transformative power of bees: converting and repurposing natural materials to construct their habitats. Conceived in 1997, even before the flows of forcibly displaced millions from the Balkans, Bee’s Planetary Map captures themes of dislocation, uprootedness, and fractured movement. Empty beehives fill the space with the haunting buzz of a wandering swarm of bees. Honey-yellow light streams from the suspended baskets, reflecting circular rotating mirrors and projected across walls and ceilings. At regular intervals of two and a half minutes, a stone attached to a mechanical hoist falls from the ceiling and shatters one of the mirrors. Spinning splinters of mirror chase panicked scraps of light across the room. Struggling towards the center, searching for protection and security, fearing for freedom and belonging – these are the central human themes in Rebecca Horn’s work. Themes of flight and (up)rootedness are further visible in Der Turm der Namenlosen (1994). Rebecca Horn dedicated this piece to the thousands of Bosnian refugees who arrived in Vienna in the early-to-mid 1990s. Most arrived without passports and knowledge of the dominant language. Many would use the musical instruments they brought with them to express and perform their trauma.
Rebecca Horn’s work is exhibited at Thomas Schulte Galerie, Berlin, from 28 April - 26 June 2021.
www.gallery-weekend-berlin.de
Rebecca Horn, Bees Planetary Map, 1998. Installation view, Centre Pompidou-Metz, 2019, Photo: Jacqueline Trichard. © Rebecca Horn, VG Bildkunst, Bonn, 2021 Courtesy die Künstlerin und Galerie Thomas Schulte
Rebecca Horn, Die Neuerscheinung, 2019. Courtesy the artist and the gallery.
Fashion
Saint Laurent FW21 – Where the silver wind blows
Against the backdrop of hostile yet beautiful natural grounds, the FW21 collection by Anthony Vaccarello shakes up Saint Laurent’s bourgeois codes. Walking on black cliffs, black beaches, and endless fields of green. The collection is demonstrated in an ethereal way, swaying between fantasy and reality. Colors clash against the black scene - unshapely metal bodies come together with sixties tweed suits and fur hems, claiming their effortless nature. Nineties cult-musician Peaches inspired the glitzy imperfections taken from her wardrobe – embodied by the blur between cheesy and luxurious. Sharp metallic jersey bodysuits echo the gleaming cascades of fantasy jewelry, disguised as precious. The unnecessary is a featured performer, becoming necessary to revive the past. As designer Antony Vaccarello puts it, “Serious matters push you to take other things less seriously; finding the balance while staying on edge is a sophisticated aptitude.”
www.ysl.com
Fashion
DoDo x Tenaka
Environmental awareness is an important priority for the jewelry brand DoDo. With the Blue Forest campaign, DoDo is now becoming a part of another environmental project: Together with the non-profit organization Tenaka, DoDo is planting 3000 mangrove trees on two hectares of land on the coast of the Malaysian state of Sabah. With the support of twenty biologists and local organizers, residents and students of the region are also involved in the endeavor to raise awareness of the importance and preservation of this ecosystem. DoDo Blue Forest is a jewelry project with Tenaka, a social enterprise founded by Anne-Sophie Roux. DoDo and Tenaka are aware of the importance of renaturation measures, which aim to maintain the balance of nature through the reforestation and protection of mangrove forests, which are of fundamental importance to biodiversity. The symbol of the brand's environmental commitment is the Granelli bangle DoDo designed for Tenaka. It is made of plastic materials taken from the Mediterranean Sea by REVET, a company based in Pisa, Italy. The bracelet is transformed and dyed in shades of green to resemble the beauty of mangroves. The latest unique piece of jewelry is the emblem of DoDo's sustainability efforts and most recent Mangrove project.
Fashion
Giuseppe Zanotti FW21
Giuseppe Zanotti, an Italian luxury footwear and fashion designer, brought a certain sense of boldness to its FW21 footwear collection for both men and women. The women’s collection radiates confidence while including a pair of hot pink leather loafers, thigh-high glossy boots with chunky, futuristic soles, and strappy sandal in electric blue with a statement platform. The men’s collection pieces were updeated through new color and new material, such as the classic Chealsea boot in gold and a set of slide sandals in tan fur. Additionally, Guiseppe Zanotti debuted a futuristic unisex sneaker style, which includes a pair of oil slick material and a black style suede with thick white soles and gold detailing.
www.giuseppezanotti.com
Fashion
Canada Goose x Angel Chen
Following their highly acclaimed collaboration for SS21, Canada Goose unveils its second collection with guest designer Angel Chen during Shanghai Fashion Week FW21. Angel Chen is widely known for participating in Netflix’s “Next In Fashion” design competition show. She is also a Woolmark prize finalist and the first-ever Chinese designer to collaborate with H&M. For FW21; she was inspired by the traditional Snow Mantra Parka, combining her unique aesthetic with Canada Goose’s functional know-how. This season comes to life with new silhouettes and feminine details like peplums and belts. New bold colors and remarkable Chinese hand embroidery create a diverse visual effect. Angel Chen’s experimental approach to design and color, coupled with a fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics, has enticed the brand to work with her as their very first guest designer. The designer used Canada Goose’s heritage pieces to co-create a capsule collection based on an innovative design direction. Her experimental approach to color and proportion has not only made her a designer to watch, but a coveted person to collaborate with also. With a vision as unique as the clothes she conceives, she doesn’t just push a proverbial envelope open; she lights the whole thing on fire.
www.canadagoose.com
Art
Friedemann Vogel appointed Ambassador of International Dance Day
The International Theatre Institute (ITI) annually proclaims International Dance Day on April 29th. First established on the occasion of the great dance reformer Jean-George Noverre’s birthday by the ITI’s Dance Committee in 1982, the International Dance Day is a celebration of dance as a universal language of human expression in all its forms. Every year, an important personality from the dance world is chosen to compose a message for the occasion. This year, the renowned international ballet star, Principal Dancer and, “Kammertänzer” of the Stuttgarter Ballett Friedemann Vogel has been selected as Ambassador and Message Authore for International Dance Day. The Stuttgarter Ballet is proud to have a dance from its own ranks filling in this honorable position. In the face of the ongoing lockdown and closure of cultural institutions, it is especially important for artists to able to express themselves and uphold their passion for the arts. The International Dance Day provides a special platform for this. Thomas Detrich, Artistic Director of the Stuttgarter Ballett says in this regard: “I cannot imagine a better Message Author for International Dance Day than Friedemann Vogel. An exceptional dancer and artist who always wants to explore and expand his own boundaries, as well as those of his art form and is open to dance in all its facets.”
Fashion
MARNI presents FUSSBETT SABOT
For the women’s and men’s SS21 collection Marni gave the iconic Fussbett sandals a makeover, presenting a bolder version of the versatile version under MARNI FUSSBETT SABOT. Founded in Milan in 1994 by Swiss designer Consuelo Castiglioni, Marni has become internationally renowned for its experimental collections characterized by innovative prints and colors. Mixing practicality and sophistication, the SABOTS offer comfort and a dash of effortless glamour while working from home. They maintain the same approach in the streets, standing out for their contemporary, casual style, which creatively matches each outfit. The SABOTS are unisex and available in two textures: in grainy calf leather—in black and white tones—and bold, entirely covered in calf hair leather—in black and fuchsia colors. The calfskin version is enriched by the MARNI logo, which discreetly appears on the side. They will be available for spring 2021 on marni.com, in Marni boutiques, and selected multi-brand stores worldwide.
www.marni.com
Fashion
FENDI presents “Wild Untamed Naomi”
FENDI releases the #FendiPeekaboo video starring Noami Watts, the award winning actress presented in celebration of the opening of the new FENDI Queen’s Club flagship boutique in Sydney. The video is called ‘Wild Untamed Naomi’ and presents a private moment in Naomi Watt’s day within her apartment in New York, documenting her hidden and surprising side, accompanied by the FENDI Peekaboo ISeeU bag. What starts as an average and restless day slowly unveils Naomi’s untamed side as she escapes into her own world and discovers the joy of releasing stress and anxiety through a cathartic release of movement. Using the FENDI Peekaboo ISeeU bags, Naomi chanells the extraordinary in the ordinary. The video is a journey to self-love that plays with the FENDI values of creativity, craftsmanship and playful spirit, whilst celebrating the eternal narrative of the FENDI Peekaboo bag – the hidden beauty within. The iconic bags feature an accordion-frame shape, to open in a deep ‘smile’ featuring inside pockets which can be interchangeable in smooth leather or precious skins and personalised with one’s initials.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
BOSS x Russel Athletics
BOSS teams up with Russel Athletic to create a new capsule collection, uniting expert tailoring with the American icon's sportswear know-how. The new collaboration presents bold, off-court classics that combine relaxed fits, sporty details, and a retro-inspired colour palette for the next generation of men and women. To encapture the meeting place of two legendary sportswear and tailoring brands, the new campaign was filmed by renowned photographer Joshua Kissi and created in partnership with agency and publisher Highsnobiety. The campaign, which was digitally launched on all social media channels of BOSS celebrates team spirit, individual talent, and the power in lifting each other up. Part of the campaign is an all-star cast including Bella Hadid, Ashley Graham, Keith Powers, Lucky B Smith, and Taylor Hill bringing their winning energy to the bold, new capsule collection. Capturing this meeting place of sportswear and tailoring, the new campaign was lensed by renowned photographer Joshua Kissi and created in partnership with agency and publisher Highsnobiety. Russell Athletic is a legedary sportswear brand, its invention of the sweatshirt being a breakthrough moment for them all the way back in 1926. Fast forward to today, and this collaboration reimagines the American icon’s styles through the ages, with a BOSS lens. Think new elevated materials, inventive mixes of athletic wear and tailoring, or the BOSS suit, taken in a sportier direction than ever before.
www.boss.com
Fashion
COLMAR A.G.E. X Morteza Vaseghi
Colmar’s innovation-focused label A.G.E. (Advanced Garment Exploration) was initiated by the Italian outerwear brand three years ago with the experimental goal to collaborate with international artists and designers. A.G.E. stands for modern, contemporary design and reinvention of Colmar’s designs, which are historically rooted in ski-wear. For the third collection of A.G.E., which is an essential part of the FW21/22 collection, Colmar works with the internationally renowned designer Morteza Vaseghi. Mostly known as the co-founder of the magazines Recens Paper and Wallet along with Elis Olsen, Vaseghi transfers his fascination for printed pages in magazines to the design of clothing for the human body. As the Creative Director for Colmar’s newest A.G.E. collection Vaseghi introduces organic, futuristic forms that express his progressive ideas of unifying human beings with nature, reconnecting the idea of modernity with the natural environment in the context of fashion.
Fashion
Louis Vuitton FW21
For this year’s Louis Vuitton FW21 collection, traveling is essential, not in space but in time. To feel the perks of traveling, it’s enough to reach back to the Golden Age, an era that forged the essence of our civilization. Everything is expressed so purely in Greco-Roman antiquity, the acme of an aesthetic whose primacy is uncontested. More than a journey, Louis Vuitton embarks on an odyssey with a FW21 collection that incorporates fabulous drawings by Fornasetti, the delicate, fanciful engravings of an enduring era. His imaginative strokes explore, illustrate and impart style. The story of humankind is also a story of the conquest of the body, heart, and mind. In the center stands humanity, with all its functional elegance, intellectual dominance, and earthly seduction. The astonishment of age-old principles endures and continues to guide us. One of them is contrapposto, which first appeared in the 6th century BC and lent statues a dynamic allure. Countless couture poses have been reprised since and still denote a certain stylistic tension in fashion.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Versace SS21 Campaign: Summer Daze
For its SS21 campaign, Versace Jeans Couture embraces the memories of a simple outing with a group of friends on a fun summer night for a collection that celebrates escapism and fantasy and is directly inspired by the irreverent style and attitude of the 18th century French Court. The collection’s theatrical and exuberant designs are displayed in a contemporary take on French aristocracy in the form of street edge and youthful style. The fantasy mood is set with a pastel palette, Rococo-infused prints, and tongue-in-cheek graphics that add a pop of color to the dull everyday. For the Women’s collection, the brand has taken inspiration from its iconic archive and youth subcultures - skirts with sumptuous, voluminous silhouettes are paired with jean shirts and jackets - and channels romanticism. The Men’s collection, on the other hand, declassifies a sober military aesthetic by pairing classic camo patterns with bold and colorful logo accents. Tailoring winks to streetwear are found in cropped trousers or loose shorts worn with boxy, structured blazers. The campaign’s concept is based on a group of young friends who searches for thrills during a night out in an empty city during a hot summer night. Due to travel restrictions, they can view their city Milan in a new light by exploring secret gems such as the famous Villa Necchi, the Teatro Manzoni, to the Piscina Cozzi. With a touch of voyeurism, the stills were shot through a fisheye lens in a highly stylized way.
www.versace.com
Fashion
Maserati honors Maria Teresa de Filippis
In honor of International Women’s Day, Maserati celebrates Maria Teresa de Filippis, the first woman to qualify for a Formula 1 Grand Prix – driving a Maserati 250F. Five years after de Filippis death, Maserati releases a special video on the automobile brand’s social media that is dedicated to her groundbreaking career, driven by passion and courage. The female race driver managed to assert herself in an environment that had previously been exclusively male. She earned the respect and esteem of her rivals and brought values to the race-track that still guide Maserati today: Excellence, elegance and power. She won the ten-kilometer road race from Salerno to Cava de' Tirreni, which ignited her dedication to motorsport and led to several victorious competitions in the years following. The key year of her career was 1958: Maria Teresa de Filippis made her debut at the wheel of a Maserati 250F at the Syracuse Grand Prix and then took part in her first Formula 1 World Championship race in Belgium. Maserati and Maria Teresa de Filippis became a winning combination, driven by perseverance and audacity. The story embodies the desire and determination to face technical, physical and personal challenges and turn them into opportunities.
Fashion
VERSACE FW21
‘Models are like actors, they bring the designs to life, just like when a performer portrays a character. During the filming of this show I saw how important it is to give the models time to “feel” the clothes they wear on the runway’. This quote by Donatella Versace expresses her inspiration for the Versace FW21 collection. She envisions deceleration for the fashion industry, in pursuit of true connection with the designs and the people in this fast pace era. Creatively, the collection features a reinvention of the iconic Greca motif in the form of a dynamic and immersive 3D maze, that feels like you can step into it. The new Versace La Greca code illustrates the Greek Key along with the Versace logo in various sizes and color combinations. Power and self-confidence are entrenched in the geometric pattern with sharp angles and clean lines. The womenswear line comprises shapes reduced in volume with rounded shoulders, cinched waists and A-line skirts. The trousers are cropped simply cut, foregrounding the upgraded La Greca print. The new pattern decorates modern daywear, signature metal mesh dresses, sensual eveningwear, bold sheepskin outerwear and is embroidered on denim. Harnesses that cross the chest like armor and add sharp detail through embellishment and contrasting shades accentuate the fierceness of the collection. Menswear cuts are slim and refined with a twist. The tailoring emphasizes the body with sensual intimacy. La Greca reoccurs in different ways from all-over jacquard-suits, to small rubber patches on the chest like soccer badges. The finishes include shiny vinyl, as well as matte wool. The FW21 collection also introduces a graffiti Medusa smiley that plays with the brand’s sense of humor and rebellious, subversive tendencies. Considered a symbol of celebration, freedom and dancefloor communities, it is framed by La Greca patterned border and appears on foulards, men’s outerwear and women’s shirts.
Fashion
Emporio Armani FW21
In the mood for pop – Emporio Armani’s eclectic outlook is vividly expressed in the visuals shown in the online presentation and looks of the FW21/22 fashion show. The collection makes reference to Armani’s vocabulary of the 80s, while subtly updating the aesthetics of the iconic decade. Harmonic shapes and relaxed elegance are interpreted in a snappy, metropolitan way and highlighted with bright, vibrant colors. Armani invites to step into Armani/Teatro to watch the Emporio Armani FW21/22 men’s and women’s fashion show, that immerses the viewer in a mystical, energetic light show.
The collection creates a mirroring dialogue between male and female silhouettes. The feminine designs exhibit elongated, slender shapes with a high waist. Embedded in the Athletic-wear attitude are touches of graphic prints and surface embroiders, that lead to a military-like pragmatism in a glamorous light. Unexpected patchwork prints on velvet materials, alternating with knit wear provide movement and sophistication to the color palette in which bright notes of purple and pink stand out against a black base. For men, the interpretation of softness is translated into new shapes and functions. Following a flowing, deconstructed silhouette, the jackets are wide with drop shoulders and accentuated with hairy linings, in order to replace coats. The coats themselves are crafted from knitted or woven fabrics, adding stable, heavy pieces to the collection. The men’s counterpart of the collection also draws on athletic styles and military looks, making the mens and womenswear a harmonic whole.
Fashion
Alessandro Dell’Acqua FW21 x Elena MirÒ
Beyond clichés and against stereotypes. To compose an imagery in the name of this sentiment, Alessandro Dell’Acqua collaborates with Elena Mirò to narrate natural physicality in awe of femininity for his FW21/22 collection. The Capsule Collection proposes a fashion that renews its own language, to tell the story of women as they are and not as an expression of preconceptions. Dell’Acqua and Mirò refrain from defining static sizes and dimensions or conditioning the form: The silhouettes and proportions draw a figure that traces and follows the free and naturally curvilinear shape of the female body, from the waistline to the décolleté. In its deliberate versatility, the Alessandro Dell'Acqua X Elena Mirò Capsule Collection aligns variable solutions: dresses and skirts composed with ‘boiserie’ technique featuring lace and organza panels in shades of black and beige, that create an architectural effect.
Tweed – that is typical in men’s tailoring – reoccurs in the women’s jackets, skirts. Knitted slip dresses and a range of maxi and small cardigans are combined with accentuating pencil skirts. The nude sheath dress covered in black guipure lace is the key look of the collection and embodies the strong essence of female elegance underlying the aesthetics of the designs. Sudden shades of red and pink blending in with the base colors grey, black and crème and ergonomic shapes detailed with belts tightened and sinched at the waist add vibrancy and motion to the form language of the collection. The complimentary campaign featuring Dutch model and actress Lara Stone further interprets the physicality and personality of the woman who imagines the Alessandro Dell’Acquq x Elena Mirò Capsule Collection. The campaign reflects the attitudes and behaviors of the contemporary woman, who freely encompasses and radiates self-awareness and authentic personality.
www.alessandrodellacqua.com
Fashion
Aesop x RÆBURN
Aesop and RÆBURN, the pioneer of responsible fashion, have collaborated and developed a sustainable bag for hand care on the go. Whether commuting, traveling, or simply on the go, the Adventurer Roll Up bag makes it easy to carry everything you need. As part of this partnership aimed to be sustainable by using recycled materials, both brands committed to the ethos of the RÆMADEInitiative, which is leading the way in recycling waste materials into responsible designs. The Adventurer Roll Up bag is a 300 piece limited edition item made from 1960s aeronautical navigation charts.
These silk pieces were selected for their motifs, each of which depicts a part of the world that has been particularly damaged by environmental degradation, such as Borneo or the Aral Sea. The manufacturing avoids material waste by making four bags from one card. Each of these Roll Ups also comes with its own serial number and a certificate. To mark the product launch, Aesop has partnered with Hypebeast, the leading online destination for fashion and streetwear, for the sale of 300 limited edition RÆMADE Adventurer Roll Ups. The bags will be available on selected online stores from March 1st, 2021.
www.aesop.com
Fashion
Missoni FW21
Missoni’s FW21 collection is Angela Missoni’s ode to today’s women, dynamic and with effortless attitude, bringing a breath of freshness into the Missoni world. The more relaxed attitude to dressing that has become so much more important over the last year is blended with sport accents creating a collection that leaves its wearer total freedom to express themselves. A versatile collection allowing the wearer to mix and match according to the different needs of the modern, urban lifestyle. Despite the more relaxed nature, the collection strikes the perfect balance between elegance, sophisticated style without any constrictions. Knitted coats and trenches embellished with jewel-like resin embellishments reveal the silhouettes, sweatshirts and ponchos juxtaposed with culottes or slightly flared pants. The versatility of the collection is also epitomized in the choice of materials with wool or cashmere caftans combining languid elegance and practicality. The color palette of the collection is dedicated to solid tones, enriched with textures and details. It ranges from soft tones of warm shades of terracotta, cognac and beige to cold hues of gray and teal juxtaposed with bright pops of pink, yellow, orange and turquoise, as well as elegant black and white combinations.
www.missoni.com
Fashion
Salvatore Ferragamo F-Heel
The story of the F-shape heel is a very personal one for Salvatore Ferragamo. The idea for this counter-intuitive design stems from observing the curved stern of the ocean liner on which the founder steamed home to Italy from his days as shoemaker to Hollywood’s greatest stars in the US. The F-heel defies the eye’s perception of gravity, which leaves the foot seemingly suspended in space. Its uniqueness makes it one of Salvatore Ferragamo’s greatest inventions.
The 2021 F-heel is the modern sequel to Ferragamo’s timeless classic that adds new layers of sustainability and technical innovation to his original. The 2021 F-heel shoe shares the original’s curved heel shape that ingeniously appears to leave the wearer’s foot walking on air. It is crafted from leather, which takes its name after its origin, Napa California, in three vibrant colorways: Hedren green, Technicolor yellow, and black ornated with iridescent beads. Named after the classic ‘F’ in Ferragamo’s cursive signature, this 2021 update is also keeping up with Salvatore’s commitment to innovation. Each fabrication is entirely monotone, which is a first for the model; the upper, lining, and sole edge and the sole and rubber heel lift are presented in seamless nappa Technicolor hues or black.
www.ferragamo.com
Fashion
Prada: Linea Rossa Eyewear
Prada presents the second chapter of the Prada Linea Rossa Eyewear campaign in collaboration with the Prada Cup winner, the sailors of the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team. In the campaign images, the sailors’ subject viewpoint leads the spectator to the most ambitious goal, the conquest of the America’s Cup. Blending a contemporary aesthetic with technological excellence, the new glasses from the Linea Rossa Impavid collection take inspiration from the world of sailing.
They are engineered to offer functionality and high performance in any weather conditions. The Prada collection includes two new sunglasses (SPS03X, SPS02X) and an optical frame (VPS04N). The sunglasses set themselves apart with their dynamic wraparound design, which features the signature red detail on the front bar and the rubber inserted inside the temples on the frame. This feature guarantees adherence to the face in a comfortable manner. The optical frame speaks of modernity and technical innovation with its clean design featuring sharp profiles and rubber details, combined with perforated temples.
www.prada.com
Art
Brussels Gallery Weekend presents ‘Candle Up!’
In collaboration with Quintessence Lab the Brussels Gallery Weekend presents the candle collection ‘Candle Up!’. All benefits go entirely to the non-profit organization Feed The Culture. The cultural initiative Feed The Culture gathers a group of volunteers that weekly get together to hand out free food parcels to people working in the cultural sector. Facing the Covid Crisis several actors, dancers and other creatives established Feed The Culture during the first lockdown with the objective to support their colleagues from the art world that had found themselves in precarious situations, due to the cultural sector being shut down entirely. The Brussels Gallery Weekend as a cultural organization that was still partially able to operate and plan events digitally corporates with Quintessence Lab to contribute to initiatives within the creative industry that, like Feed The Culture are in need. Together with artists Lionel Esteve, Sanam Khatibi and Pieter Vermeersch Quintessence Lab produced a collection of candles that are launched via Brussels Art Weekend. ‘Candle Up!’ is a sophisticated, creative line of candles with a story, designed from the creative professionals for professionals.
wwww.brusselsgalleryweekend.com
Fashion
Jimmy Choo x Marine Serre SS21
Jimmy Choo and Marine Serre have collaborated to create a capsule collection fusing their values of comfort and iconic designs. The capsule collection helps delineate the narrative of Marine Serre’s Spring Summer 2021 collection and accompanying film, created in collaboration with directors Sacha Barbin and Ryan Doubiago. The six key styles of the collection each allude to a different character- a distinct identity, a new facet of a wearer, underscoring each total look they are designed to be an integral part. Inspired by the pivotal moment in 2019 when Jimmy Choo’s Creative Director Sandra Cho first met Marine Serre and the latter was wearing vintage Jimmy Choo’s, the designers searched deep in Jimmy Choo’s archives from Autumn/Winter 2000.
The ease of sportswear was also a significant influence on the collection. Marine Serre reinvented the traditional Kung- Fu shoe into the MOON BOXING KATO SNEAKER. Functionality meets vintage in the capsule collection, which is most clearly visible in the reinterpretation of the classic Mary Jane shoe into the SWIRL RUBBER MOON KITTEN HEEL PUMP. The collection combines the iconic prints of Marine Serre, as well as the contour cut of Jimmy Choo. All styles feature Marine Serre’s leitmotif crescent logo on recycled jersey. Inherently feminine, the styles are also dynamic, designed to be practical for today’s fast paced modern life.
www.jimmychoo.com
Images Courtesy of Jimmy Choo shot by Quentin Jones
Fashion
Louis Vuitton SS21 Campaign
Louis Vuitton presents its Spring Summer 2021 campaign creatively directed and shot by Nicolas Ghesquière. Ghesquièr, the House’s Artistic Director, embraces his role as a photographer once again to showcase the latest Louis Vuitton collection on the brands’ ambassadors and friends. For this endeavor, the Artistic Director handpicked athletes, models, actors, and musicians for their personality and uniqueness to represent the new generation of Louis Vuitton. The talent includes Grammy Award-nominated singing duo Halle and Chloé Bailey, Oscar-winning actresses Jennifer Connelly and Emma Stone, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, and Sophie Turner, Cody Fern, Laura Harrier, Carolyn Murphy, and Jaden Smith, to name a few. Stars of the campaign are leather bags “the Coussin” and “the Rendez-vous”, to which the idols pay tribute. Both bags can be worn in various ways and challenge both the bounds of style and gender. Icons of the Louis Vuitton’s leather world, the Capucines, and the Twist are also featured by actress Liu Yifei and the model Carolyn Murphy.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Salvatore Ferragamo: Chinese New Year & Valentine’s Day
Salvatore Ferragamo has collaborated with five young international creatives to develop a series of special projects during 2021, the first two chapters of which are called “Chinese New Year” and “Valentine’s Day.” For the Chinese New Year (February 12th), Ferragamo has collaborated with London-based illustrator Charlotte Mei in a digital project that celebrates the year of the Ox (pronounced “Niu” in Chinese). The digital campaign is called “What makes you Niu” and consists of a series of photographic collages and illustrations. With celebratory aesthetics of the year of the Ox, the campaign conveys the NIU! message with a series of big-impact editorial images and artwork that highlights the exclusive selection of CNY products. For Valentine’s Day (February 14th), Ferragamo has called on artists Davide Ronco, Charlotte Mei, Johanna Goodman, the Mert Keskin, and Ruth van Beek to create a series of multimedia artworks that will feature in the “Patchwork of Love” campaign. “The Patchwork of Love” campaign highlights itself with contrasting colors and the concept of creating a new whole from crashing elements. All collages, animation, illustrations, photos, videos, and sculptures are featuring Ferragamo elements such as the Gancini logo and articles from the Ferragamo selection for Valentine’s Day.
www.ferragamo.com
Fashion
TAG Heuer x Porsche: Carrera Chronograph Collection
TAG Heuer joined forces with Porsche to set a new standard of brand collaboration. The Swiss luxury watchmaker and the German sportscar manufacturer have created the TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph watch collection, a love child of the two companies’ rich and successful history in the racing sport. The name Carerra came as a natural choice for its first innovative product collaboration since it has been associated with TAG Heuer and Porsche for generations. In 1963, Edouard Heuer’s great-grandson Jack had created the first Heuer Carrera chronograph, designed to let race track drivers tell the time at a glance in the heat of action. Porsche’s history with the name comes from a class win in the Carrera Panamericana race of 1954, in honor of which Porsche started calling its most powerful engine ‘Carrera’. The TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph collection unites the brands in the spirit of the ‘Carrera’ (or ‘race’), which embodies ambition, speed, and technical excellence. The collection’s watches either come on a soft strap in calf leather with stitching that echoes the Porsche interior or on an interlocking bracelet. They feature the iconic Porsche logo and come in bespoke packaging, padded with the red Porsche interior lining.
www.tagheuer.com
Fashion
DIOR MEN SS21: Amoako Boafo
Kim Jones muse for the latest DIOR Men’s campaign is Ghanaian painter Amoako Boafo, whose big-scale portraits of Black subjects using a finger-painting technique have skyrocketed in popularity the past year. The collaboration marks the first African artist to develop a line with the French Maison to date. According to DIOR’s Artistic Director Kim Jones, the fashion line celebrates Boafo’s intricate and vibrant portraiture, reflecting in the collection’s powerful energy. Inspired by Boafo’s expression, which entails flat color portraits complemented by vibrant backgrounds, the campaign incorporated his portraits into the collection and added textures, prints, and colors inspired by his paintings. Through careful styling and close collaboration with the artist, the fashion house was able to bring the images back to life by incorporating DIOR essentials such as the Oblique Motif, Dior Atlas sandals, Maxi saddlebag, and the artists’ dynamic color palette ranging from pink to fluorescent yellow. The pieces are quintessentially vibrant and celebrate freedom, diversity, and the many facets of the contemporary man.
www.dior.com
Fashion
CHANEL – The Haute Couture Salons
In collaboration with the Parisian interior designer Jacques Grange CHANEL open its new Haute Couture Salons at an emblematic address in Paris, the birth city of CHANEL Haute Couture. 31 Rue Chambon is home to the CHANEL boutique, the Haute Couture Salons, Gabrielle Chanel's private apartment, the Creation studio as well as various atelier spaces, and represents CHANEL’s prestigious legacy as the oldest Parisian Haute Couture House.
The new interior design of The Haute Couture Salons is inspired by the photographic archives entrusted to the decorator by the House and created in dedication to Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard. Unifying the past and the present, Grange incorporates characteristic elements of the space from Gabrielle Chanel’s times, like the play on reflection through the installment of mirrors and glass elements. Centered around the House’s iconic Art Deco staircase, the rooms have been restored in a very feminine and Parisian spirit. The color scheme based on shades of black, grey and white with touches of gold is selected carefully in accordance with the signature artistic vocabulary of the House. Overall, Grange brought a sophisticated and personal interpretation into being, enriching the aesthetic codes of CHANEL with his own conception of the décor.
www.chanel.com
Art
Jonathan Meese x TVLG_Chamber
Tim Van Laere Gallery inaugurates an additional exhibition space featuring a series of ceramic masks by Jonathan Meese. The artist combines elements of painting and sculpture, in line with the creative, grotesque expressiveness he is known for, in his new exhibition. The dynamic, performative aesthetics of the ceramic and bronze masks illustrate the antagonistic relationship between good and evil, inspired by ancient times, history, and contemporary popular culture in form and color. Meese’s artistic language represents the experimental outlook of the new TVLG_Chamber that is set to co-exist with the main exhibition area of the renowned Antwerp gallery. The exhibition, titled ERZCERAMICS DE LARGE (ABER BITTE MIT SAHNE), will be displayed from February 4th to March 6th, 2021 at Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp.
www.timvanlaeregallery.com
JONATHAN MEESE, ZARDOZ SCHREIT DICH!, 2020. Ceramic, 32,5 x 31 x 7 cm. Courtesy Tim Van Laere Gallery, Antwerp
Fashion
Furla SS21
In the spirit of joy and optimism, Furla is welcoming all to enjoy the moment with its SS21 collection. Diving deeper into its roots as an Italian family-owned brand, the core DNA is expressed in the film by Lorenzo Gironi with the Creative Direction of Macsiotti. The motto of freedom, a joy in elegance and close friendships fuels this collection. A dreamy Mediterranean meeting of sky and sea reflects the simple pleasures evident in nature, simple pleasures people can share, evoke the core values of Furla for its SS21 collection. With a soundtrack by Cyril Giroux, photos by Dario Catellani and styling by Vittoria Cerciello, the seasons of joy conjure up feelings of long Summer days that in turn become warm, carefree and unforgettable Summer nights.
Italy’s coastline was the chosen setting, a panoramic and incredibly beautiful way of telling the next chapter of the Furla brand story. A soft palette of products, shown with chromatic ton-sur-ton effects contrasts against one another, carefree, wild. A balancing of volumes both in color and in shape are tailored with signature Furla details, an institutional manifesto of sorts, marking a new chapter.
#FUNFURLA
Fashion
Marcell von Berlin SS21
Marcell von Berlin, the brand by Designer Marcell Pustul, with flagship stores in both Los Angeles and Berlin, has released its SS21 collection. The collection is built on the idea of celebrating the cosmopolitan woman who is filled with a yearning and desire to follow her inner path through life with sensuality, joy and fulfilment.
This same feeling is expressed with extravagant prints, flame printed sweatshirts, minimalistic denim jumpsuits, clean lines and noteworthy inspiration from the 70s. In this SS21 collection a range of new handbags are premiered. Made with impeccable craftsmanship, the ‘BERLIN’ bag are made from imitation crocodile leather, the ‘M-R1’ bag and the ‘MM Cargo’ are also versatile accompaniments to each daring and colorful look in this new collection. A hand-painted abstract flame design was scanned and then printed onto the fabrics of this collection, prints that speak to the core DNA of the brand.
The 70s play a pivotal role in the Marcell von Berlin SS21 collection due to that particular decade’s history of women’s empowerment and liberation movements. “While working on this collection I was constantly visualizing women that inspire me,” says Pustul, “women that have that fire and inner drive inside, women who are brave enough to not hide their emotions and live their lives to the fullest. These women are passionate, independent and play by their own rules, therefore the flame seemed like the best representation for them”, declares Pustul.
As Marcell Pustul puts it “times are changing; therefore, the brand needs to evolve and adjust to the new climate in the fashion industry.”
The collection will be available at the flagship stores in Berlin and Los Angeles as well as wholesale partners across Europe and the US from January 2021 onwards.
Fashion
DIOR Haute Couture SS21
With the presentation of the Dior SS21 Haute Couture Collection, the onlooker finds themselves transported into a magical realm to which Tarot cards are the key. Maria Grazia Chiuri immediately felt a connection with the imaginary worlds that they contain and their power to entice us to explore the unknown while fearlessly looking deep inside ourselves. Grazia Chiuri uses the cards’ visual language, the rich symbolic lexicon as well as the complex and fascinating characters and translates it into a series of extraordinary evening gowns, a testimony to Dior’s excellence in craftsmanship and garment construction. Matteo Garrone, one of Italy’s most high-profile directors, is responsible for the presentation of the haute couture creations. He also draws inspiration from Tarot cards, more precisely drawing on the visual force of the Visconti-Sforza tarot, a collection commissioned by the Duke of Milan in the 15th century. This deck is defined by its splendid and luxuriously decorated cards and their impressive yet enigmatic presence.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Hermès Men's FW21
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the physical fashion show has disappeared. Due to ongoing restrictions and social distancing measures, fashion houses have been forced to switch to the digital realm. For this Hermès menswear show, Veronique Nichanian in collaboration with Cyril Teste decided to re-create the closest possible thing to a real physical show. The viewers were able to follow the show through a seven-section split screen format, recreating the eye’s freedom to roam during a real show, revealing different details and angles. For the FW21 collection, Hermès beautifully blends casual and elegant. The world is changing and this is reflected in our clothing. Véronique Nichanian, in charge of the menswear collection since 1988, recognised this, 'Our approach to clothing is currently undergoing a transformation, and my job is to come up with propositions.' The collection brings together luxury, ease and excellent craftsmanship, bringing together the natural, baby lambskin, with the engineered technical canvas. The divisions between work and home were softened through the loose-panted suiting complementing elevated workwear-inspired pieces. Zesty colored sneakers were a great visual juxtaposition to the muted and earthy color palette of lambskin of pants and cardigans.
www.hermes.com
Fashion
Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME FW21/22
On January 21st, Yohji Yamamoto unveiled his Menswear FW21 collection. For this, Yohji Yamamoto has teamed up a second time with Japanese photographer TAKAY to create a video collaboration that captures the dark and punk atmosphere of Yohji’s vision of the world today. The collection itself follows Yamamoto’s DNA and design language prominently featuring deconstructed and oversized shapes and different layers from several fabrics, such as cotton, silk, linen, wool gabardine and synthetic fabrics, a nod reminiscent of the Yamamoto’s 90s design.
A keen observer of what is happening in the world, Yohji-san processes all in this collection, whether it be global warming that will unquestionably change how we dress or the ongoing regulations caused by a global pandemic. The masks were a definite indicator of the latter. Included in the collection, they are a representation of Yamamoto’s reflection on how people are wearing masks nowadays, some people do, others don’t and some wear them in a very personal way. This is not to cast judgment, rather an observation of what is happening in the streets. To underline his statement about today’s world, the garments wear messages, personal feelings and anger expressed in a poetic way and once more eluding to the different themes that gave inspiration, human rights, social movements, sanitary emergencies and animal protection.
www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Art
ULAY: From Berlin to Paris
A new online exhibition curated by Hana Ostan Ožbolt for Saltoun Gallery focuses on the work of the late performance artist Ulay (1943-2020). The exhibition is titled ‘Ulay: From Berlin to Paris’ as part of the gallery’s series ‘Soultan Online’.
Two of the artist’s important works, ‘Relation in Movement’ (1977) and ‘Irritation - There is a Criminal Touch to Art’ (1976). The latter is regarded as one of the most outlandish art displayed in a public space in art history, in which the artist staged the ‘art theft’ of Carl Spitzweg’s painting ‘The Poor Poet’ from its home at the Neue Nationalgalerie and navigated its relocation to the living room of a family of immigrants.
‘Relation in Movement’ (1977), like other works in the ‘Relation’ series by Ulay and collaborator, Marina Abramovic, challenges the physical limits perceived by the mind and the body. These two iconic works of art by Ulay will be shown alongside exclusive video clips that translate how these radical actions still resonate and can be likened in a direct dialogue with current societal issues.
This exhibition by Saltoun Online is held in conjunction with Ulay’s critically acclaimed and largest-ever retrospective ‘ULAY WAS HERE’ at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
The exhibition can be viewed online at the gallery’s website.
LES HOMMES FW21: 'FEMME'
Designers Tom Notte and Bart Vandebosch have created a FW21 collection for Les Hommes that reflects the brand’s core DNA. The collection consists of unique pieces built with a fusion of classic tailoring methods and sportswear sensibilities. The unification of opposites is the key to this collection, hybrid pieces bring together two seemingly opposite worlds. Signature leather, knitwear and nylon inserts fused with classic tailoring and sportswear makes for an elegant yet powerful silhouette. Hand-knitted knitwear is a key feature of the Les Hommes world. As such there is a big emphasis on creative and unique knitwear. The new essentials for the Les Hommes man are filled with energy and a bold sense of creativity.
Contemporary elegance, the lifeblood of Les Hommes, plays a vital role in the FW21 collection. The Les Hommes ‘Femme’ collection is just that; a fusion of considered, impeccable tailoring and ultra femenine party wear. The unique collision of these two worlds makes for a collection with glamour, femininity and a touch of masculine influence. Strength and confidence are the voices that speak to Les Hommes ‘Femme’. The color pallet is exclusively black, with the exception of cobalt and camel details. The variety rests in the collection’s materials, which bring a subtle yet noticeable depth to the clothing. The indulgent use of velvet, sequins, leather and patent leather unify to create an architectural silhouette. The shape of strong shoulders, couture inspired sleeves and more masculine elements contrast with ultra feminine shapes and champagne colored hardware to create the Les Hommes ‘Femme’ silhouette.
Fashion
Etro Men's FW21/22
Etro has released their FW21 collection, an unconventional and personable message of hope and faith for a life-affirming collection of Menswear. The Creative Director behind the collection, Kean Etro, embraces an upbeat mood for his FW21/22 collection, marking the beginning of a new chapter at the family-managed Italian fashion house. Juxtaposing casual and elegant, the playful and ironic, blazers with cadet details and robe coats rich in fabrication are layers on color-blocked anoraks decorated with paisley patterns. In a time when a sense of freedom is so coveted, Etro is blurring boundaries and breaking established rules to bring joy into otherwise ordinary materials. Denim utility pants splashed with cashmere motifs are balanced out by sartorial elements, the sophistication of camel coats and double-breasted suits which feature deconstructed fluid silhouettes.
A sense of street-savvy interplays with pyjama inspired piping which details the shirts. Quilted jackets made from vintage upholstery textiles. The Pegaso logo appears enlarged on bomber jackets and oversized hoodies, to layer with maxi sweaters made from recycled wool and shirt collars made from an archival silk lining. Contrasts define the selection of footwear in this FW2122 collection, patchwork sneakers with neon laces, paisley and mandala patterns display a knowledge of classic and contemporary on a range of highly functional backpacks, pouches and cross-body bags. The collection also features special genderless vests made from a blend of wool and mohair, see now-buy now capsule collection putting the beauty of the androgynous in full focus.
Fashion
Prada Men's FW21
With the first collection co-created by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons focused in on the human body, its freedom and the increasing wish for contact, the need to feel. The collection was defined by its tactility, a veritable panoply of different surface textures and textiles. Jacquard knits and leather find themselves combined with re-nylon and wool suiting in both traditional and unanticipated colors. Apart from the rich colors and textures, the garments were defined by a reduced and minimalized structure. The collection was presented in a space created by Rem Koolhaas. The models navigated through the varying spaces of different interplaying materials and textures, mirroring the rich tactile nature of the collection itself, a space inviting and seductive, hard and soft, warm and cold, simultaneously both and neither. The garments were a feast for the senses. Color and patterns excite the eyes whereas the rich materials and surfaces entice touch. After the show, both Creative Directors answered questions from students from all around the world. This exchange once again highlight the though behind the collection, the human need to exchange and relate to others. During their exchanges, they shared how they work together, the importance and meaning of situational design, the challenges arising for fashion with the increasing digitalization and the importance of fashion and clothes as tools for self-expression.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Acqua di Parma: Barbiere
Embracing every morning, the routine and the time that we take in the early hours of each day is important. Keeping the skin hydrated and healthy all year round is something that many men struggle with, Acqua di Parma has released two new formulas specially for men’s skin. A delicate sensory texture and vivacious fragrance of Colonia establish the character of these new products in the Barbiere universe. For shaving, after-shave, beard trimming, hair care, styling and facial care, the multi-action face cream hydrates and smooths; replenishing the skin and protecting against harmful blue light which can age the skin prematurely.
Strange and harsh weather conditions coupled with pollution and toxicities in the air demand the implementation of the new Acqua di Parma Revitalizing Face Cream. When met with water the face cream transforms into a foam and continues to cleanse and remove toxins from the pores of skin without drying it out. Tailored to a modern man’s needs, a luxurious Italian-style ritual that Acqua di Parma is so known for presents a morning of pleasantries and a level of care that gives the skin a renewed buoyancy against the elements.
In alignment with Acqua di Parma Futura, the company’s sustainability manifesto, all packaging is environmentally friendly.
The Multi-Action Face Cream and Revitalizing Face Cream will be available from February 15.
Burro Studio x Moose Knuckles Gives a Fu*k
Moose Knuckles, the international luxury outwear brand founded in Canada by Noah Stern in 2009, has released a capsule collection with Milan-based Burro Studio. Known for innovative practices in Graphic Design, Burro Studio has also developed a reputation for being a champion of inclusion and diversity to foster ideals of community with their designs for some time now. Having worked with Miu Miu, Nike and Leica, Burro Studio has a contemporary vision and streetwear sensibility.
‘Burro Studio x Moose Knuckles Gives a Fu*k’ intends to reach and care for at-risk communities. For every item sold Moose Knuckles will donate one jacket to charity organization Diakonie Hamburg, supporting its local community. The capsule collection features a range of unisex hoodies, long sleeves and T-shirts each made from high-grade organic and ethically sourced cotton produced with as little impact to the environment as possible. Burro Studio have laced each garment with graphics executed using screen printing and CAD-CUT ® Premium Plus heat transfer for a lightweight feel, the look taking cues from graffiti culture.
The capsule collection, ‘Burro Studio x Moose Knuckles Gives a Fu*k’, is the next stage in an ongoing charity effort from Moose Knuckles which began in May of last year. To offer vulnerable people access to quality clothing. The capsule’s appearance takes cues from cities all across the European continent, including Amsterdam, Stockholm, London, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. This appreciation for global cities continues Moose Knuckles’ ‘Milano Addosso’ capsule, which was dedicated to the city of Milan, inspired by the architectural sophistication of Barona, Paolo Sarpo, Porta Venezia and Soupra districts.
The capsule collection is currently available exclusively at braun-hamburg.com and at a Moose Knuckles Pop-up store in Hamburg arriving in the city this month.
FENDI: Women's and Men's SS21
Perceiving the world outside from the indoors, the world outside calls back with an unmistakable Italian charm and cadence; Rome, the home of Fendi. In the new Women’s and Men’s SS21 campaign a digital window is projected onto the wall, through the window is a view of the globally renowned maison’s headquarters in Rome; Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana.
The campaign is shot by acclaimed British photographer, Nick Knight, in his London studio. The set is dressed with curtains that fill with a Summer’s breeze and float as if there is a hidden mysticism in the air. Modelling the Women’s SS21 collection Mariacarla Boscono, Estelle Chen and Jill Kortleve are styled by Chaos Fashion, while Chun Soot and Henry Kitcher are styled for the Men’s collection by Julian Ganio.
Designed by Silvia Fenturini Fendi, the Women’s and Men’s SS21 collection are color coordinated with the sparsely furnished set to reflect the different tones and shades of both collections. A palette of naturally occurring colors including honey, milk and wheat are accentuated by carefully placed notes of cardinal red and sky blue to complete the overall look. To complement the looks, iconic Fendi bags PeekabooISeeU augmented by the modern Fendi x Chaos tech accessories. Featured alongside the iconic Baguette bag for women and the Peekaboo Essential for men, new shapes and designs such as the Moonlight satchel bag and a new Fendi Eyewear collection are introduced.
Shadows visually stretch across the room to signify the ease and relaxation of Summer peaking its rosey fingers through the curtains. Familiar domestic touches like a bed or a wooden chair give the impression that the relationship between indoors and outdoors is at its most casual, seamless and enjoyable in Summer.
Étoile Filante by Louis Vuitton
Étoile Filante by Louis Vuitton Inspired by the striking imagery and boundless inspiration caused by a shooting star of comet glimpsed in the night sky, Maître Parfumeur Louis Vuitton Jacques Cavaller Belletrud, created the new fragrance ‘Étoile Filante’ or ‘Shooting Star’.
In his father’s laboratory in Grasse, an eleven year old Jacques discovered osmanthus absolute. “It immediately fascinated me”, he recalled, years later on the master perfumer’s journey through China he would happen upon a combination of exquisite magnolia and osmanthus dancing on the cool night air at the flower market, swooning him into a heady dream. Adding a touch of Jasmine from Grasse obtained using CO2 extraction, a technique exclusive to Louis Vuitton, the floral harmonies of the scent combined with light notes of sun-ripened strawberry are amplified.
On the olfactory composition of Étoile Filante, Belletrud calls it “A perfect illustration of floral freshness that is vibrant and rich in contrast, with marvellous tenacity”, speaking openly about jasmine’s effect on the fragrance, he says simply “it’s an ingredient that makes you smile” says Belletrud. Stars dancing in the sky, racing unthinkably fast to wherever their journey takes them, if only to remind us there is an energetic and restless light out there in the dark.
This latest fragrance from Parfums Louis Vuitton, is an ode to the pure and simple joys that remind us our natural world and place in the cosmos can still reignite an undeniable sense of wonder and hope to pierce through the fog of uncertainty and doubt.
As of January 28, 2021, Étoile Filante will be available at select Louis Vuitton stores and online.
Art
Foscarini Sun-Light of Love
No identifiable beginning or end, an ever changing shape refusing to be defined by the human eye; the sun is a muse for Foscarini in their new Sun-Light of Love spherical lamp. Made up of 390 metal rays that have been grafted to the central body, the lamp is suspended in midair much like the sun is suspended in space, as opposed to a more conventional lamp being fixed into a wall or bound to a supporting beam. The Sun-Light of Love directs its light softly diffused upward as well as a stronger and more direct beam of light downward in order to create ambiance for a table setting as well as more focussed lighting for reading or inspecting objects. Foscarini has made the lamp available in two finishes, one in gold which brings its proud and regal star-light quality to the room and another finish in white for more minimalist settings that require statement pieces that also play to a room with innate subtlety. Its charm and vivacious personality are well purposed to neutral spaces that otherwise lack an edge; reception areas, hotel entrances or retail facilities. Dutch designer, Tord Boontje, showcased in MoMA, New York, is renowned for implementing a sense of romanticism and whimsy in his work. Sun-Light of Love is his first design for Foscarini. This highly decorative, impactful sphere of hundreds and hundreds of metal spokes conjures to mind that which is felt more than defined. Like the welcome heat and bright light of our Earth’s sun is felt, while staring directly into the sun will only add to its enigma.
Fashion
Fendi 'The Baguette Dance'
Iconic Roman fashion house, Fendi, continues their ‘Baguette Friends Forever’ series with a stirring emotional performance by a troupe of five skilled gymnasts from The Paris Centre. The Fendi Baguette is invigorated for The Baguette Dance, wearing the renowned FF logo embossed in a hypersoft leather that appears in five colors including black, pink, bright blue, yellow and red. The dancers grace a ballet ballroom with poise, vigour and an unparalleled energy spurred on by an uptempo synth pop beat. The Baguette changes hands between each dancer in tandem with the flow of their highly coordinated routine. The same playful spirit of ‘Baguette Friends Forever’ is enhanced and the first time the Baguette finds its soul and denotes friendship that is youthful and exists outside of the limitations of time in this quintet of ‘FFriends!’ from Fendi.
Dedicated to the joy that dancers evoke and the same feeling that strong friendships create; the fearlessness and energy of dancers deeply in their element follow a similar path to the curves, edges and accents essential to the DNA of the Fendi Baguette. The Baguette Dance not only pays homage to the overall beauty of the bag’s design but it presents the world in which this bag was created; one of unrelenting joy and comradery. The exceptional dancers at The Paris Centre translate in movement a feeling which cannot be expressed in words.
Conceptualized by the minds at Fendi, the Baguette Dance is not simply an homage to the Baguette design, it represents the Baguette in its purest form.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Prada honoured with Creativity Fashion Awards 2020
Prada is the new recipient of the 2020 Fashion Awards, presented by the esteemed British Fashion Council under the creativity category of this annual event. The Creativity category was set up to provide recognition to individuals and brands that have realized global impact through creativity in design, campaigns and collaborations, in addition to the massive task of shaping global fashion through innovation. Prada has and continues to fuse creativity and social responsibility making the house a worthy winner of such a monumental award. With the Prada Linea Rossa FW20 campaign, their substantial support of Italy in the Covid crisis, the Tools of Memory campaign in partnership with Sotheby's that donated its proceeds to Unesco, educational projects just to name a few, Prada has done a huge amount of good in such a bleak and uncertain time. Co-Creative Directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons were selected for the positive change they made this year within the fashion industry, a testament to the power of creativity.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Support Our Future
With the bold hashtag “Support Our Future”, Aqua di Parma proudly presents their new charity campaign. From December all UK profits from their Colonia Futura will be donated to The Prince’s Trust, to help support young people, who are facing an increasingly bleak and unpredictable future. In keeping with it #StayAtHome solidarity campaign in reaction to the Covid crisis in Italy earlier this year, Acqua di Parma continues in its global support of those in need. The Prince's Trust remains the Uk’s leasing youth charity, first set up by the Prince of Wales in 1976. With this stoic history behind it the charity continues to make huge strides to bring positive change to many young people’s lives. Acqua di Parma’s new campaign is a strong reflection of a brand dedicated to using their influence and platform for good.
www.acquadiparma.com
Fashion
Zegna X Leica
The indomitable pairing of fashion and photography are realized brilliantly in an exciting new collaboration between Zegna and Leica Camera. Both legends in their own field, it feels a long awaited union, the iconic German camera manufacturer moving into the world of fashion with a distinctive collection of high-end camera accessories. First seen in the January on the runway, the modern photographer is gifted with an array of accessories all made extra special by their handmade craftsmanship. Consisting of PELLETESSUTATM camera holsters for Leica Q2 and Leica M cameras; PELLETESSUTATM protectors for Leica Q2 and Leica M cameras; functional crossbody bags called Insta-Pack and the Leica CL with the 18mm ‘pancake’ Leica lens; carrying and wrist straps; Leica keyrings and round wallets (both for coins or the Leica Q2 lens cap) this collaboration caters to every photographer’s need. Zegna’s Artistic Director, Alessandro Sartori is himself a photography enthusiast not to mention a Leica lover, and this unrivalled passion is clear in the collaboration that is a celebration of both photography and fashion alike.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
Star Service
Orveda announces Orveda concierge, an amazing new service, allowing clients to get tailor-made advice for their skin. Investing in the right skin care requires both industry knowledge as well as an acute understanding of one’s own personal makeup. This 5 day a week, 5 star concierge amalgamates the two, providing a bespoke “Chat with our Healer” live service. With a detailed plan of the right products and Orveda regimen for your skin, customers are treated to a truly personal service that centers the client and equips them with the knowledge they need to make their skin the very best. At a time when self care has never been more important, Orveda delivers, entrusting their clients in the hands of their team of expert advisors, ready to tackle the ominous landscape of skincare.
www.orveda.com
Fashion
Night Mode
Louis Vuitton presents perhaps its most daring watch to date, the new Tambour Damier Graphite Race, fusing energy and creativity together in an exciting bold design. This time piece combines sporty-chic with a sleek sophisticated aesthetic, creating a wearable and versatile accessory. The accents of fluorescent green against the dark gray of the graphite PVD coated steel case exudes a real sense of daring and adventure whilst also fitting into an urban aesthetic. Subtly incorporates the V for Vuitton into the design, the Maison erects an architectural dial in the shape of this significant letter, a truly patriotic detail. Despite its modern feel, age old craftsmanship forms the very essence of the Tambour Damier Graphite Race, its smoked-grey sapphire glass caseback cleverly revealing a traditional mechanism. Available in two versions, customers can choose from the 41.5mm diameter automatic model and the extreme 46 mm diameter chronograph. Both designs have the capacity to have an interchangeable strap, black or fluorescent green depending on the wearer’s mood, outfit or preference. Louis Vuitton crafts utter magic with this watch, a striking graphic design that makes a statement.
www.louisvuitton.com
Art
Architects of Air
Designed by Alan Parkinson, the luminarium changes the way we interact with light and space, curating a sense of the sublime through an immersive experience. Influenced by the awe inspiring structures created in the Islamic and Gothic architectural tradition, Parkinson engages a contemporary aesthetic, creating for his audiences a unique and spectacular interplay of light and space. Light in fact, is simply a product of the daylight which seeps through the luminarium’s fabric, employing a wonderful symbiosis with the natural world and connecting each experience to a specific locational context. Shown in a diverse range of contexts, from corporate events to festivals, the luminaria are accessible in their instinctive appeal and versatility. Since there creation more than 3 million people in over 40 countries have been able to experience their transformative and arresting effects. On arrival visitors are asked to take off their shoes before passing through an airlock. Inside visitors are given a map to freely explore the installation comprising multi-colored pods, labyrinth tunnels and domes, as such each experience is defined by the audience who are as much a part of the luminarium as the structure itself.
www.architects-of-air.com
Travel
Parkhotel de Wiemsel
The Kunstgalerie Parkhotel de Wiemsel is simply every art lover’s dream, offering its guests a diverse collection of art, all within the realms of a delightful residence. Deceiving in its historic facade, the quaint country house is home to an extraordinary array of contemporary pieces, covering paintings, graphics and sculpture. Stemming from its owner Henning J. Classen’s 40 years of experience collecting art, which includes the Galerie im Alten Kaufhaus which he founded in his home town Lüneburg 10 years ago, Classen now opens up his collection, inviting his hotel guests to share in his enjoyment over his most treasured pieces in the uniquely private atmosphere of the hotel. A wonderful mix of emerging and established artists, the collection is home to works by the likes of internationally acclaimed artists, such as Ackermann, Christo Giacometti and even Warhol. The gallery holds exclusive hours and on entrance, welcomes the hotel guests with a glass of champagne and other tantalizing nibbles. The luxury does not end here, as the hotel also boasts a decadent spa and heated pools (both inside and out), perfect for a relaxing retreat. Great food and wine are the finishing touches to a truly perfect experience, treating its customers to a truly well-rounded stay. Close to the German Dutch border, food lovers, art connoisseurs and those in need of utter peace and harmony can come together in a hotel that caters to the very best life has to offer.
www.parkhotel-dewiemsel.com
Fashion
The Joys of Gifting
Gifting is imbued with real love and consideration in Cartier’s new collection of objects, that bring moments of joy to everyday life. With everything from music boxes to writing papers, Cartier continues its long established tradition of adding sparkle and intrigue to the most mundane aspects of day to day life. Since 1880 the Maison has been invested in small objects, such as powder compacts, inkwells and other quaint pieces of stationery, and this long fascination is injected with real contemporary flair. Curating 4 collections of objects, all connected to one another by their emblematic codes: the panther, Double C and the menagerie, Cartier show the small unsuspecting power of gifting. From stationery to small silver cups, each object is a show of affection and thought, Cartier preparing for a holiday season like no other.
www.cartier.com
Fashion
10SOUL
The Seoul Design Foundation set up the 10Soul Project in order to champion Korean design on an international platform. Selecting these designers at Seoul Fashion week, 10 emerging talents were chosen to take part in a pop-up installation at Berlin’s iconic Voo Store. Amongst this creative group was Yoon Seok-Woon with his brand SEOKWOONYOON. Seok-Woon takes many of his references from modern art, and is particularly drawn to Trompe l'oeil, creating sculptural illusory elements on his garments. Moving from ready-to-wear to more conceptual looks, Seok-Woon is definitely one to watch. Another 2 members of the Soul project, Lee Moo-Yeol and Kim Min-Hee with their brand YOUSER, have since had their looks shown at Milan’s 2020 runway. Clever sartorial design meets sports luxe, meets uniform in YOUSER, where unique layering gives way to exciting and surprising garments and looks. Voo store proudly showcases these designs amongst many others in an installation that fuses art and fashion.
www.vooberlin.com
Fashion
Story Time
Rooting their Holiday 2020 campaign in the literary imagination of best-selling author Candice Carty-Williams, Prada’s accessories, jewelry and leather goods tell a mysterious and captivating tale. With Steven Meisel as photographer, Williams’ story is given visceral depth, the aesthetic of a film noir providing a cinematic edge to the author’s words. Multiple perspectives, angles and cuts revolve around 5 characters, familiar faces in the Prada’s universe - Freja Beha Maty Fall, Mai Xiaoxing, Rudolfs Valbergs and Merlijne Schorren. Situated in the Villa Gnutti, an isolated residence in rural Italy well known through its association to Helmut Newton’s 1981 shoot, Meisel’s black and white photography recalls vintage cinema, the idyllic mediterranean backdrop creating a beautiful mise en scene. The photograph stills taken from the campaign act as portals into a glamorous world, framing with acute attention the new Prada Cleo Handbag, which debuted in the Multiple Views spring summer 2021 show. The Cleo is a wonderful hybrid, a synthesis of Prada’s archives with futuristic ambition. Alongside the Cleo, the Prada triangle is reinterpreted, the iconic emblem appearing as an array of necklaces, lariats and chandelier earrings. Luxury and decadence run throughout the holiday 2020 campaign, where emotion, intrigue and desire run rife.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Vessels of Light
Aesop channels other worldly wonderment, in its new set of Aromatique Candles created with seasoned collaborator, Barnabé Fillion. Each of the three candles in the collection are named after an ancient astronomer: Aganice, Callippus and Ptolemy, referencing the early pioneers of discovery. The night sky framed as an infinite source of inspiration. Detailing the concept behind the collection, Dr Kate Forbes, Aesop’s Director of Innovation simply put the new collection as “candles as stars”, a warming indictment of the brand’s notion of vision. With exquisitely subtle, nuanced scents, the candles are a welcomed addition to any cosy interior setting, designed to ease the stresses of everyday life through calming fragrances. The Aganise Aromatique Candle is rich with Cardamom, Clove, Mimosa and slight notes of Tobacco, the Callippus Aromatique Candle offers Frankincense, Guaiacwood and shiso and the Ptolemy Aromatique Candle is light with a smokiness of cedar, Cypress and notes of Vetiver. Fillion delights in this collaboration, where candles centre the home as a place of serenity and sanctuary, basking its inhabitants in the soft glow of a beautifully scented candle.
www.aesop.com
Fashion
Adrian Ghenie
Presenting the fifth solo exhibition of Adrian Ghenie, the Tim Van Laere Gallery are proud to present nine new paintings and three new charcoal drawings by the Romanian born artist. Born in 1977 in the city of Baia Mare, Ghenie graduated from the Art and Design University of Cluj-Napoca and now works between Berlin and Cluj. Engaging with a unique and illusionistic spatial arrangement, Ghenie’s work is characterized by distinct pictorial motifs that are at once hedonistic and radical. Transposing his extensive knowledge of history on to his eclectic and diverse subjects, Nazi Germany and Greek Mythology appear in narrative form in many of his works. Referencing the genre of history painting, classic techniques such ad chiaroscuro, reveal a real and genuine connection with traditional practices. Known for his emotional investment in his practice, feelings of vulnerability and frustration come to the surface, challenging the viewer’s own collective memory through the stories he presents. Adrian Ghenie will be exhibiting at the Tim Van Laere Gallery from 15 October until 28 November 2020.
www.timvanlaeregallery.com
Fashion
Echoes of The Unseen
Gerhard Hofland announces its international group exhibition, “Echoes of the Unseen”. Moving beyond the realms of tangible and visual experience, through a narrative of figurative and abstracted forms, artists: Johan Tahon (Belgium, 1965), Janine Van Oene (The Netherlands, 1998), Damien Cadio (France, 1975) and Robert Seidel (Germany 1983) come together to showcase meaningful reflections on these uncharted spaces. Gestures and marks are enlivened by the discovery of a space neglected by the subconscious, landscapes shaped by subjective others. With a distinctly haunting offering, Johan Tahon curates an emotional display, his timeless works guided by a quiet wisdom. Rooted in the artworks of ancient mythology, Tahon’s works are composed of a series of thoughtful and meticulous interventions, all alluding to a higher truth. In Janine Van Oene’s presentation, she challenges the very possibilities of abstraction, her vocabulary spirited by an affinity with color-mixing and and calligraphic strokes, Motionless forms are given a new lease of life, channeling the nostalgic paradox of plastic flowers and vernacular curtain patterns. Damien Cadio, re-articulates the canvas in his contribution, gathering exciting momentum from the parameters of his pieces. In curating disorienting encounters with his subjects, Cadio produces works that toes the line between the physical and historical, a tension, unnerving in its capacity to affect the viewer. With this state of flux in Mind, German artist Robert Seidel is an artist whose practice is underpinned by the notion of perpetual reconstruction. Magnetized by the present, the past is a skin that is continually shed, the infinite role of transformation, tantalizing in the constant promise of unpredictable change. Immersing us in this cycle, Seidel’s thorough interrogation of architecture and scenery, uses observation as a means to engage the viewer in their own locality, their own sense of being.
image credits:Johan Tahon, Glacier Monk, 2019, 185 x 38 x 65 cm, Stoneware
www.gerhardhofland.com
Fashion
LOEWE Spring Summer 2021
Loewe Spring Summer 2021 “Show-on-the-Wall derived from this idea that this entire collection was done remotely. I was looking back I think like a lot of people were doing in this moment of kind of rethinking of models of fashion and how we approach things”. For Loewe Spring Summer 2021 Jonathan Anderson created Show-on -the-Wall exploring the possibilities of a paper show at a 1:1 scale, fully embracing the idea of actively involving the viewer in an experience that is radically different from the traditional fashion show. Coming in the form of an oversized artist’s portfolio, it holds sixteen bus-stand size folded posters, each one depicting a different character wearing a look from the collection, and one poster featuring a still life arrangement of accessories silkscreen printed with fluorescent, phosphorescent and metallic inks. The portfolio is accompanied by a number of tools including a roll of wallpaper borders depicting all the looks from the collection, wallpaper glue, a brush, scissors, a ceramic disc infused with Beetroot scent and a catalogue raisonné, and a unique roll of wallpaper designed by Anthea Hamilton, “When we worked with the artist Anthea Hmilton for the Duveens at the Tate Britain, for me it was a very seminal work. Just before the Summer I was thinking how we can contextualize fashion in this moment and I thought it was nice to work with her again on the wallpaper” . Jonathan Anderson speaks about the wish to create a place where the viewers are put into the position they are forced to be creative, to interact. The images feature a vast cross section of ages, gender and body types: Adam Bainbridge, Alice, , Elise, Hilary Lloyd, Holly, Jadé Fadojutimi, Jewel, Kristina de Coninck, Laurence Kleinknecht, Louis, Mona, Rinke, Rosie, Sunny Suits, Vittoria and the artist Anthea Hamilton herself, “When we were working on how we were going to put this collection together I liked this idea that we would really delve into exploring the art of fashion. This collection glorifies the hand embroidered, hand woven, hand made”. Spiraling flaps. Balloon sleeves, balloon skirts. Crinolines. Neckerchief hems. Hoops. Tulle as an encasing outer layer. Giant knots made of sequins on knitted fabrics catching and releasing the movement. Curves, folds, flaps. Ballerina hints. Festoons. Jonathan Anderson embraces escapism in his own way, using historical research as an experimental tool: how boning can be taken out of context and can be used to create an unexpected structured fluidity. The collection plays between fantasy and reality, taking the wearer to another place, to a different dimension, where to escape in these difficult times.
www.loewe.com
Fashion
CHANEL Spring Summer 2021
On the occasion of the Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear photographers duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot a series of videos and images for the ritual press kit accompanying the show – previously shot by the late Karl Lagerfeld himself. Four recurring cinematic situations, four settings, four different worlds. They speak about the special relationship this iconic French house nurtured with actresses over the years. Here Rianne Van Rompaey, Mica Argañaraz and Louise de Chevigny play different declinations of the quintessential Chanel‘s woman, her cool seductive elegance, each in their own dimension. As Inez & Vinoodh described – “together [they] represent what we feel is Chanel’s way of fitting into the lives of every woman with a cool and easy allure." Launched just before the show, Inez & Vinoodh also created a captivating video teaser where extracts from films by legendary French cineastes – Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Deray, Louis Malle – revived celebrated scenes: Romy Schneider’s swim in ‘La Piscine’ (1969), Anna Karina’s scissors close up in ‘Pierrot le Fou’ (1965) , Jeanne Moreau’s walk in the streets of Paris in ‘Ascenseur pour l'échafaud’ (1958) . Woven with archival footage of a young Jean-Luc Godard behind the camera, a bird view of the Hollywood hills where “CHANEL” has replaced the iconic letters. A magic cinematic world where everything is possible Imagined by Virginie Viard, the Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear collection is a tribute to these muses, the great actresses that are part of its historical heritage, but also all the ones that have been dressed since the beginning by the Maison. Gabrielle Chanel, beckoned to Hollywood in 1931 by Sam Goldwyn, dressing Gloria Swanson in ‘Tonight or Never’, and Joan Blondell in ‘The Greeks Had a Word for Them’ a year after. Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich, were among the other Hollywood stars who became admirers or Mademoiselle Chanel. A legacy continued throughout Karl Lagerfeld’s tenure, both on screen and on the red-carpet. “I was thinking about actresses at the photocall, on the red carpet, that moment when they’re being called to by the photographers: their faces a little distracted, their attitude a little out of sync with the outfits they’re wearing. And then there are the fans waiting for them behind the barriers, this very lively side to cinema that happens beyond cinema, that’s what I like”. Virginie Viard merged the Maison’s signature black and white palette with a splash of vibrant hues: jeans in fluorescent colors, fluid dresses and t-shirts printed with the letters of CHANEL like neon-lights, pale pink capri pants, embroidered looks with sequins, vibrant three pieces bermuda suits. A declination of micro-bags in several colors, worn as belt, charms, jewelry confer the collection an fresh joyful allure, far from any vintage citation.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Balenciaga Spring Summer 2021
The pandemic has given each of us a chance to reflect, and clearly something has happened to Demna Gvasalia. After his apocalyptic show last season and in face of a slightly different dystopia at the moment, Gvasalia returns with an almost optimistic attitude. With the ongoing pandemic, Gvasalia abandons the classic runway show, as many others have done, and reimagines the collection presentation as a music video. The models are strutting in a purposeful step through an abandoned Paris at night to the 80s track Sunglasses At Night, because, to put it in Gvalsalia’s words, “Is there anything more absurdly fashion than that?” His tribe of night time people embodies a sense of modern glamour, representing the type of people who turn heads after dark. In his typical fashion, Gvasalia continues to fuse couture with comfort, applying the Balenciaga DNA to everyday pieces. The standout of the collection was not a single piece, rather the story behind. 93.5% of the plain materials used are either certified sustainable or upcycled. Conscious about the environmental impact that the industry has, Gvasalia show commitment to change, “It became very obvious to try to do garments that are unisex, uni-size, uni-everything—or whatever we want to call it. It drastically reduced the number of cuts and fits we had to make. Also, I like the fact that according to who wears it, the silhouette changes, but whoever wears it, it looks good.”
www.balenciaga.com
Fashion
"Spend More Time With The Great Outdoors"
RSF has released an original buffalo check overshirt in an exclusive purple colorway, the brand’s signature color as part of a second collaboration with Woolrich. Building upon an initial summer drop, where Woolrich and RSF released a collection of sunglasses, the two brands have teamed up once again, this time using the vast beauty of the outdoors as their inspiration. Creating a mini documentary, Milan-based creative Massimilliano Bomba, has created a pure set of visuals, inviting the viewer to venture out of the home and connect with the natural world. The mission statement “Spend More Time With The Great Outdoors” is boldly presented in yellow across the back of the shirt, a graphic and striking addition to the purple and black buffalo check pattern. The Buffalo Overshirt is now available through both Retrosuperfurture and Woolrich channels and at selected retailers worldwide.
www.retrosuperfuture.com
www.woolrich.com
Fashion
Chloé Spring Summer 2021
A soft wind brushing between the hair. Taking pictures of the Seine. Strolling on a quiet day in the city, then stopping for a moment to contemplate the serenity of everydaylife, of a simple gesture, of a day like any other. Chloé Spring Summer 2021 collection was presented through a set of cameras following models, merged together, overlapping. Natacha Ramsay-Levi has built her Chloé by exploring the female gaze, its strength, its fragility, and that unconventional emotional and intimate gesture. Over the years Ramsay-Levi has reached out to great female artists and activists, bringing their work into Chloé, creating a debate over these exceptional visionaries. This season the collection feature a selection of print created by American artist Corita Kent also known as Sister Mary Corita. Born in 1918 at the age of 18 years old she became a sister under the Immaculate Heart order in Los Angeles known for being very progressive and nurturing artistic sensibility. She developed a great interest in art and after obtaining her master degree in Art History at University of Southern California, Corita became the head of the art department at Immaculate Heart College in 1964. Her teaching method was so revolutionary that great artists like Charles and Ray Eames, Alfred Hitchcock, Buckminster Fuller were invited as guest speakers. Corita often mentioned how Charles Eames played an important role in her artistic vision. A self–taught serigrapher, she became interested in the potentials of the medium creating several hundreds different works, that over the years became increasingly political. When in 1968 she was accused of blasphemy for her continuous activism against war and female discrimination, Corita returned to secular life and became a prolific artist and openly civil rights activist, until her death in 1986. For Chloé Spring Summer 2021 collection, Natacha Ramsay-Levi featured several of Corita’s artworks: ‘hope’ (1965), ‘give the gang our best’ (1966), ‘i can handle it’ (1966), ‘for emergency use soft shoulder’ (1966), and ‘viva’ (1967). It’s interesting how the apparent delicacy of text and words related to Christian fait actually disclose the incredible strength of the artist’s activism. Celebrating Corita’s work, the house of Chloé, will also donate part of proceeds from the Spring Summer 2021 collaboration to the Corita Art Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving her legacy.
www.chloe.com
Fashion
Kenzo Spring Summer 2021
“How can one draw conclusions from a situation that is far from ending and in which the consequences are impossible to grasp? The world is ill, the world is bleeding, but it is still alive. And, as long as there is life there is hope.[…] Going p laces… a mirage of dreams, hope, excitement and discovery. We will not give that up. Clothes that transform themselves to adapt to all situations. The fully covered and protected becomes fragile and naked, daring danger and rules”. Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s words speaks about his reflection and reaction to today’s challenge. Baptista’s first collection for the iconic brand was shown just few days before the World declared state of emergency. The Portuguese designer has always experimented around the idea of versatility, a youthful and contemporary silhouettes around what he often called ‘post-sportswear’ Last year in a press release marking Baptista’s appointment, Kenzo’s CEO, Sylvie Colin, said: “His innovative and modern creative vision and well-rounded artistic approach will enable Kenzo to reach its full potential while respecting its unique heritage.” For Spring Summer 2021 Baptista created a raw youthful and daring sensibility. Clothes for nomads, to explore and create a new world, were contrasting elements recall the dichotomies of our current life, the paradox of our times. Flowers, bees, nature. Archival Kenzo poppies and hortensias were given a digital crying effect. From flowers the primal feeling of protection and cocooning came an ode to the bees, one of the most important insect for the survival of human species. Recently populations of bumblebees have steeply declined in many places, largely because of insecticide and global warming. Some species are now even listed as endangered species. If all of the world's bees died, there would be a major rippling effect throughout the ecosystem, and although it would not likely lead to famine, it would dramatically alter human food systems. But for Baptista bees and the beekeepers with their mesmerizing clothing and hats also strongly echo “the fragility and distance imposed and needed today”. The collection features a series of sheer beekeepers hats a ttimes elongated along the body and worn over. Deconstructed, draped, twisted, cut out garments: floating and grounded, transparent and solid, romantic and utilitarian. Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s vision for Kenzo is whispered through his small handwritten note printed inside the pamphlet that served as invitation to the show, and voicing this celebration of life: “There are no norms. All people are exceptions to a rule that doesn’t exist."
www.kenzo.com
Fashion
Stone Island x Persol
Both Persol as well as Stone Island are two brands looking back on a rich heritage having contributed to the rich Italian design language as well as continuing to do so with their devotion to craftsmanship and the new technologies. For the first time, both companies now come together to combine their visions in a new pair of sunglasses. The inspiration for the Pilot Frame comes out of Persol’s archive, more precisely the 1970s, evoking the exclusive style so connected with the brand. Produced with the same machines as back in the days, the new frame has been made with special attention to details, showcasing the full technical and stylistic capabilities of both brands. The classic shape of the classes is accentuated with technical details, visible screws, hand brushed metal providing a matt finish which constitute the visual counterpart of the shiny glasses. With a commitment to innovation and unafraid to engage in experimentation, without losing that distinct elegance, Stone Island and Persol show us what ‘Made in Italy’ can and should be in the 21st century.
www.stoneisland.com
www.persol.com
Fashion
Marni Spring Summer 2021
In keeping with this surreal time, Marni’s SS21 collection rejects the runway entirely, its collection of models formed by everyday city dwellers inhabiting day to day life. In a climate where normality has slipped between our fingers, Marni embraces the vernacular habits and intricacies of our lives, the trip to the shops, the comings and goings of traffic, playing with pets and other mundane yet entirely profound highlights, anchoring its collection in the remnants of familiar life. Marni creates a video archive, documenting beautifully the simple pleasures of life that for many were inaccessible for the last few months, chronicling the clothes and their wearers as they move through the city, the home, singing, dancing, cycling. In the spontaneity that animates each shot, the clothes are brought to life by each person, seamlessly fitting into specific contexts, matching and playing off the personalities of its eclectic subjects. Togetherness is depicted conversely through isolated lenses, a true and honest depiction of a time, where the screen has been perhaps one of our only opportunities for human connection. Cropped coats, graphic stripes and tank top hybrids, make a nod to Basquiat in their eccentric urban character. Cotton, leather, gauze and flowers add wonderful textures and layers to the looks, reflective of the bricolage that is city life. Marni defies all expectations with this offering, showing incredible versatility in the face of such a spectacular unknown.
www.marni.com
Fashion
ETRO Spring Summer 2021
Over the last months we have rediscovered the joy that simple gestures, like traveling, reuniting with your loved ones. For many, the places that were once familiar became distant, inaccessible. We became overwhelmed with longing for our native territories, like Ulysses for his Ithaca. For Spring Summer 2021 Veronica Etro, creative director of ETRO Womenswear, explored the enchanting Italian summer landscape, the flora and motives found in Italian Riviera: marine chains, anchors, seashells, nautical rope, summer stripes, sailboats, green foliage, together with the brand’s signature Paisley now proposed in monochrome color ways. The collection also presented archival foulard prints - Bandiere da Parata (1992), Albero delle Meraviglie (1993), Trionfi e Soffitti (1994) and Palais Jamais (1995), reminiscent of sumptuous frescos of Italian palazzos. Playful and uncomplicated with shirt knotted at the waist, knotted scarf’s worn under blazers as tops, denim and micro shorts paired with fluid tunics, bustier long dresses worn with rope lace-up flat sandals. Straw basket bags, chokers in gold rope, high-heeled sandals with silk ties wrapping around the ankles. It’s a collection celebrating the outstanding beauty of Italian life and ETRO’s roots. With its rich prints and summer color palette in Sicilian lemon yellow, lavender, mint, orange, turquoise, and lavish silk, floating as the models walked to the beat of 90s music hits.
www.etro.com
Fashion
Re-writing the Space
Putting on an optimistic front, Furla commits itself to enhancing its retail experience, announcing significant investment into this area of the brand. Targeting its key stores worldwide, the Italian accessories brand has united with renowned firm David Chipperfield Architects Milan, to introduce a new concept to its most popular locations, transforming their customers’ experience in the process. Making its debut in Milan’s flagship store, located on Piazza Duomo, this revamp will be fittingly taking place during Milan Fashion Week, the two storey space enlivened through fluid and artistic design. A sculptural staircase will now connect the two floors, a new adjacent space added to accommodate special events and pop-up displays. Classic arched doorways frame the space sumptuously, always bringing the focus back to the core elements of the space, the accessories. A natural palette and tactile textures also guide the customer’s gaze back to the products, a subtle and effective backdrop to Furla’s iconic accessories. Speaking about the collaboration David Chipperfield reflects fondly and proudly, “together we have sought to interpret its heritage while developing a story around the core product – the bag –within a new built space.”
www.furla.com
Fashion
Prada Spring Summer 2021
The most awaited fashion moment just took place: Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons first collection as Prada’s co-creative directors. Presented through a digital event followed by a conversation where the two venerated designers answered questions submitted by Prada-devotees. What is the meaning of “New”, of “Prada-ness”, of “Uniform”? A dialogue, emblematic of the modus operandi of two of the most intelligent fashion designers. “I have been always interested in the metaphor of “uniform”. The show was very much about that. Muccia’s uniforms, how Miuccia dresses, her own uniforms were an instant and important inspiration for the collection”, Raf Simons spoke about his take on uniforms and how it radically inspired the show “It is interesting if you know you can find clothing that you feel good in, and you know you can express what you want to express through them, without being too much about a very specific fashion item. A uniform needs to express something timeless rather than a specific seasonal piece. It’s almost a base”. Prada Spring Summer 2021 touches on a multitude of interpretations around this notion of uniform, - a visual representation of identity, of shared and embraced values, a way of thinking. Garments are pared-back, refined, focused: shell tops, straight pants, overcoats in industrial re-nylon, constructed using couture techniques, suits executed in fleece. “New is the nightmare of every single designer. But I think that “New” for the sake of the “new” probably it is not relevant anymore - Miuccia Prada has always stressed how in her vision fashion is a deep understanding of reality, of people’s lives at an exact historical moment. “For us is very important reacting to reality, to what is happening now. I always thought that fashion is part of creating people ‘s change, it is part of what is happening in the world. A fashion designer is not an abstract job. The people with my clothes need to feel better, clothes need help define your personality, they are an instrument for people’s life” The collection is both reflection of and reaction to our current time, where the mediation between technology and humanity has become vital and the inevitable restrictions we are all facing. Miuccia Prada’s very own longstanding research on the question of technology, and its now indispensable presence in our daily life has led to a fundamental examination in the collection. Artworks created by Raf Simons’ long-term collaborator and friend Peter de Potter, are used to interrupt and disrupt the surfaces - as graphic tools of contrast, sometimes laid over archival Prada print, emblematic of worlds and aesthetic discourses coming together, exploring ideas of thoughts, processes, dialogues, exchanging ideas. Different fabrications are presented throughout the entire collection: t-shirt jersey, fleece, re-nylon, embroidered duchesse satin, taffeta, connected to simple gestures - garments are drawn around the body and held steadily by the hand - quintessential of both designers’ signature, a shared language. Miuccia Prada has always worked with the juxtapositions of historical references, of elements, approaches, at times in apparent dichotomy, but paradoxically harmonious. Lastly what is the essence of Prada, the Prada-ness? In Raf Simons words: “For many years I have always seen it as a community that has a very specific attitude and aesthetic. You cannot really define it but it clearly IS. For me this is very important. And that “-ness “ is exactly what a brand needs to have for me to love it”.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Herno Spring Summer 2021: Fifties Fun
Herno dives into its archives for its Milan Fashion Week 2020 Presentation, bringing the carefree spirit of the ‘50s strikingly into the contemporary moment. Returning to its roots, stock footage is spliced with visuals of their SS21 collection, showing the brand’s integrity and history to be an essential part of their creative DNA. Beginning with the Iconic Herno Monogram collection, the wonderfully recognizable canvas with the emblematic H pattern, is reworked as an essential accessory. To be worn in the hair, tied as a top and cynching in the waist of their cotton raincoats. The laughter, fun and freedom of a girls trip is recreated, as they drive down italian vistas, culminating in a trip to the factory, where we are reminded once more of Herno’s prestigious craftsmanship. In this italian extravaganza, silk scarves blow in the breeze, inducing each outfit with a joyous sense of drama and excitement. The H pattern adorns the timeless outerwear, cotton raincoats and down jackets made of ultralight nylon. In taking a trip down memory lane, Herno remembers its history with pride, its SS21 collection made even more special, elevated by this charming sentiment of nostalgia.
www.herno.com
Fashion
Musc Ravageur
Maurice Roucel’s perfume Musc Ravageur has attracted global acclaim, after receiving the prestigious Fragrance of the Year Hall of Fame Award. Released in 2000, Musc Ravageur sent waves through the perfumer industry celebrated as a pinnacle of the Amber Oriental tradition. Heralded as an unapologetically sensuous perfume, the scent enhances natural musk, with amber, vanilla, patchouli and sandalwood. Reflecting on the award, Frédéric Malle “could not have dreamed of anything better to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Editions de Parfums”. Roucel, who started his career as a chemist in 1973 then transitioned into becoming a self-taught perfumer, characterized most commonly by his creation of opulent and distinctly sexy scents. Musc Ravageur’s wide reaching appeal shows Roucel to have monopoly over the perfume industry in his ability to curate timeless scents that transcend trends.
www.fredericmalle.com
Fashion
Seen in Venice
Choosing the glitz and glamor of Venice’s International Film Festival as the venue for its big reveal, Etro used the seasoned cultural event to announce its GIANVITO ROSSI for ETRO capsule collection. American supermodel Taylor Hill premiered the Gianvito pumps on the red carpet, a huge statement for the brand. Using a distinctly ETRO lens to reinterpret GIANVITO ROSSI’s most beloved shoes, ballerina flats, pumps and boots comprise a modest yet bold collection- the pumps coming in either 8.5cm or 10 cm heels. All 4 models are characterized by red and blue paisley prints also used for ETRO’s Fall Winter 2021 trench coats. The GIANVITO ROSS for ETRO COLLECTION will be available for purchase at both ETRO and GIANVITO ROSSI boutiques, as well as on their respective e-stores and in selected international retailers.
www.etro.com
www.gianvitorossi.com
Fashion
Roll the Dice
20 years since its launch the J12 returns as the J12 Paradoxe, uniting its previous black and white models in a sleek and bold design. Originally heralded as the first watch icon of the 21st century, CHANEL sustains its prominence, creating a completely new and fresh aesthetic. Appealing to both day and night, the J12 Paradoxe feels one of CHANEL’s most versatile watches to date. Crafted from scratch-resistant ceramic and manufactured in Switzerland, the watch is a masterclass in elegance and detail, fusing the two colours together to showcase creative and rebellious spirit. Two-tone elements also detail the dial and the bezel, ensuring this opposition created by the combination of black and white runs cohesively throughout the watch creating unrivalled harmony. J12 Paradoxe is a dynamic accessory, building upon the success of both the black and white J12s that came before it. www.chanel.com
Fashion
To Travel
Louis Vuitton has long celebrated the luxury and freedom of travel, its suitcases an iconic part of the House since its establishment in 1854. As part of this appreciation the House will be adding 2 new photography books to its series Fashion Eye. Greece by François Halard and Ukraine by Synchrodogs. Each work portrays a country, region, city or a destination through the unique gaze of a fashion photographer. For the Greece edition the French Photographer captures his own personal journey and experiences whereas the Ukraine edition is taken by a photographic duo that intersects land art with nude photography. Fashion Eye is a tailor-made series whose intimate editorial process creates books that are akin to art, artisanal in their craftsmanship. Large-format photographs sit alongside biographical information and critical essays are interchangeable with interviews from the relevant photographer. Each book uses an intertextual lens to curate a picture of a place that is reflective and thoughtful, giving way to an understanding of the photographer also.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
The Golden Age
L’età dell’oro translated as “The Golden Age”, is the title of Fabrizio Plessi’s new exhibition sponsored by the House of Dior. A pioneering name in Video art, the Italian artist has reached global acclaim, exhibiting internationally across the world’s most prestigious museums and galleries. Scheduled to open just before the Venice Film Festival, whose date has now moved due to current circumstances, his exhibition will continue. The exhibition will be held on the façade of the Correr Museum, a historic site in the city’s iconic Piazza San Marco. Plessi’s exhibition defiantly intersects nature and artifice, the traditional and futuristic and primitive and technological, making him somewhat of an alchemist in his melding together of unexpected and contradictory elements. Golden sculptures also pay tribute to Serenissima, a beloved city of the artist. In its support of the exhibition, Dior continues its commitment to culture, supporting iconic talent such as the likes of Plessi and his new and exciting exhibition.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Peekaboo I See You
Fendi honors its iconic bag, the Peekaboo, in its first ever global video and image campaign. Starring Zoey Deutch, the actress and producer is shot embracing her Peekaboo in an intimate gesture communicative of the beloved status of the bag, as well as granting us a rare insight into the celebrity’s authentic innerself. Deutch’s personality is revealed, as she struts confidently across a street, performs in front of paparazzi and twirls around uninhibited in her own dreamscape to the soundtrack I See You by The Horrors. As seen in February in the FENDI Fall Winter 2020-21 Collection, the new Peekaboo has an accordion-frame shape, featuring inside pockets which can be made out of smooth leather or precious skins and even personalized with the wearer’s initials. The Peekaboo is a constantly evolving motif of the Maison, subjected to limitless change through the House’s creative depth and flair.
www.fendi.com
Art
Sensitive Euro Man, Friedrich Kunath
Returning to Germany after eight years, Friedrich Kunath’s solo show, ‘Sensitive Euro Man’ will be featured at KÖNIG GALERIE in the NAVE of St. Agnes. Opening on 15 August 2020, Kunath will be showing a collection of previously unseen works; spanning painting and sculpture with a notably large sculptural work to centre the exhibition.
Kunath aptly references German romanticism in this collection, in an abstracted ode to his homeland, but not as one might expect. A sense of the sublime and the awe-inspiring presence of nature, though tangible is undone by Kunath, reimagined through a Californian rear-view mirror. Interweaving his life in LA with this prolific genre, sarcasm, bar humour and beloved lyrics intersperse his works, subverting a genre well known for its earnest sincerity. This exhibition showcases Kunath’s unmatched sensitivity as an artist, where balance and timing come together perfectly to produce works that feel organic, if not refreshing in their charismatic lightness. Kunath teases the viewer in this set of works enticing them in with colour to be met with a sharp tongue. This is Kunath at his best.
www.koeniggalerie.com
Fashion
THE DIOR MAISON SUMMER COLLECTIONS
THE DIOR MAISON SUMMER COLLECTIONS distills the essence of summer into a new exquisite line of objects, thoughtfully designed by Cordelia de Castellane. The pineapple becomes muse in this new collection, its texture and colour sensitively curated in Italian blown glass, showing off the extraordinary craftsmanship of the House and its infinite creative talent. Subtle reliefs add another dimension to the transparent objects, giving them an added sense of intrigue, in their ability to create moments of dynamism in such fragile and delicate forms. Carafes, vases and decorative bubbles are an ode to a tropical summer uniquely told in glass. Christian Dior would seat guests on elegant Napoleon III-style chairs with seats decorated in canework, a graphic code that has become an iconic House emblem. As with the pineapple, the canework pattern has become imaginatively reinterpreted by Cordelia de Castellane, portrayed in new and expressive dimensions and proportions. Entertaining guests is imbued with a sense of real celebration, with DIOR taking centre stage.
www.dior.com
Fashion
dunhill Fall Winter 2020, The New Wave
The multiplicity of the modern man is celebrated in Dunhill’s Fall Winter 2020 Campaign, through its nostalgic revival of the prolific Blitz Club and the colourful characters who frequented it. Stating his complete fascination with the scene, Mark Weston, Dunhill’s Creative director, references Homer Syke’s photography of the unique space, where young people partied against a bleak political landscape of economic turmoil. Amongst this youthful audaciousness ‘The New Wave’ announces the House’s continued evolution, interrogating cultural niches and moments that have been formative to our understanding of contemporary masculinity. Embracing both the old guard and the avant-garde, luxurious leather outerwear gives way to rigorous and sensuous tailoring, pegged trousers providing yet another historical reference, this time to the New Romantic Scene. Dominating the campaign are the House’s newest additions to footwear and leather goods, the Axis Runner and the Lock Bag, both symbolic of the House’s impeccable balance of heritage and contemporary elegance. ‘The New Wave’ champions the man who is. “a cross between … the establishment and the anti-establishment”.
www.dunhill.com
Fashion
Miu Miu Wonder Woman 2020
Miu Miu serves us retro empowerment in its new capsule celebrating the legendary superhero, Wonder Woman. Said to have been crafted in clay by her mother Queen Hippolyta and endowed with magical powers by the Greek gods, Wonder woman, known to loyal fans as Princess Diana of Themyscira, is a pioneering figure of female strength and adversity.
Her timeless appeal animates three t-shirts for the collection, each treated with a vintage effect, giving the designs an irresistible sentiment of nostalgia. Illustrated in classic athletic poses, Wonder Woman assumes an air of defiance whilst also referencing the much loved pin up girl. These t-shirts are the perfect throw on for a casual look, or can even be dressed up for an evening out.
The Miu Miu Wonder Woman t-shirts capsule is available now online and in stores.
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
Dior Cruise 2021
Set in Lecce, a city imbued with heritage and craftsmanship in the Puglia region, Dior Cruise 2021 collection highlights the excellence of these priceless skills, and many creative dialogues between the House of Dior and Lecce that began long before the health crisis and the confinement. Paying homage to Nature and the region’s unique landscapes, as a land that has always been close to Maria Grazia Chiuri’s heart. “During this period, I sought to give collective efforts a new dimension. Despite the disadvantages of distance, bringing a different perspective to our daily lives has given us strength and imagination”, Maria Grazia Chiuri supports and showcases the virtuosity of these artisans and artists: from the architectures of the Luminarie, dazzling light structures that have been illuminating local streets and palaces for the feast of the patron saints, to the essential role of dance performed by the dancers of Notte Della Taranta Foundation, a foundation promoting local culture, and reinventing traditional Italian music and dance. For Dior Cruise 2021 show in Lecce, choreographer Sharon Eyal created a timeless choreographic performance that re-engages anew with the profound meaning and symbols of these powerful Puglian rituals around the Pizzica, the iconic folkloristic dance from the region. The dancers performed on the music created and directed by Paolo Buonvino. Buonvino: an exclusive composition especially for this show, a captivating reinterpretation of traditional Puglian melodies. The beauty of the gestures, emotion and poetry of the performance resonate in the exquisite craftsmanship celebrated in the collection: delicate weaves of Le Constantine Foundation displayed on various pieces, with the atelier’s motto «Amando e Cantando» embroidered on a series of skirts; the Tombolo, an extremely delicate style of lace, born in Italy in the 15th century and spread throughout Europe during the 16th century, is created for the collection in collaboration with Marilena Sparasci, one of the last remaining embroiderers to practice and teach this technique; the waving of Tessitura Calabrese, a family business located in the heart of Italy’s Puglia region, perpetuating traditional weaving techniques of fine threads intertwining craftsmanship and technology. “We rise by lifting others”; “On peut souvent créer des révolutions sans les avoir cherchées”; “La differenza per le donne sono millenni di assenza dalla storia”; “A wish is revolutionary because it seeks what cannot be seen”. Phrases chosen by the artist and activist Marinella Senatore, interwoven with her scenography of Luminarie for the show, are an ode to women’s empowerment and to local communities, reaffirming Maria Grazia Chuiri’s ongoing celebration of women and the role of heritage.
www.dior.com
Fashion
Salvatore Ferragamo Pre-Spring 2021
Certain events undoubtedly leave a mark for the better or for the worse. The current global pandemic is certainly one of them as it brings with it a set of challenges for each individual and every business. The fashion industry is by no means an exception, neither is the Italian house of Salvatore Ferragamo. As the house’s Creative Director has put it himself, ‘This collection was made in exceptional times, under exceptional conditions, through which we were all obliged to adapt and innovate.’ Despite all the challenges, Ferragamo’s Pre-Spring 2021 collection can be presented with pride. A distillation of necessity and passionate craftsmanship, the garments combine natural shapes with design structure. The clean and minimal lines and softly tailored silhouettes are contrasted with the print of the season, a hybrid of giraffe and leopard patterns. The print itself derives from Andrew’s deep dive into the archives, more precisely a scarf first seen in 1970. In continuation of the house’s ongoing initiative to increase environmental mindfulness, materials and fabrics are largely sourced responsibly. Various fabrics, cashmere and leather were upcycled, nylons were recycled and the cottons were produced organically. Inspired by functionalism and nature, the collection features minimal construction and only very few ornaments, representing Andrew and Ferragamo’s successful attempt to turn the limitations of the period into positives by focusing on what is most essential.
www.ferragamo.com
Fashion
Prada Men’s and Women’s Spring Summer 2021
The show that never happened. With her signature witty approach, Miuccia Prada orchestrated a series of multiple views on Prada Spring Summer 2021 collection for both Men and Women. Terence Nance, Joanna Piotrowska, Martine Syms, Juergen Teller and Willy Vanderperre, Five different artists, five different takes on Miuccia Prada’s vision through videos, a medium the Italian designer has explored and supported over the years. They tell the story of a house beyond the collection. These are stories within a story. Multiple facets of Prada’s own curiosity. The collection dives back to the origins of the house in the 90s, when the minimal and innovative approach created the renowned Prada aesthetic, speaking a language that continuously evolved through the years, and became imbued of that idiosyncratic approach to fashion codes we have known Prada for. Both Men and Women for Spring Summer 2021 explore technologically innovative fabrications of Prada nylon and stretch materials juxtaposed with traditional suiting: if for Men silhouettes are sharp and fitted, for women they transform into couture volumes and treatments. Taffeta, cotton, nylon. Lingerie, sportswear, couture. Voicing fragility, gender fluidity, and nowness. History and futurism coexist in Prada’s quintessential paradox
www.prada.com
Fashion
Hermès Men’s Spring Summer 2021
The house of Hermès, with its savoir-faire and distinctive history, has always explored boundaries beyond fashion, actively cultivating authenticity and diversity through Fondation d’entreprise Hermès. Paying particularly close attention to works on stage at the crossroads of performing and visual art, the New Settings program was created in 2011 and has supported since a great number of artists experimenting the boundaries of dance, performance, theatre. The Fondation’s long-term commitment to artists supported through the years reflects Hermès’s integrity. The singular work of director Cyril Teste has found voice at Fondation d’entreprise Hermès since the very beginning. Hermès’ Menswear Creative director Véronique Nichanian’ collaboration with Teste for the Spring Summer 2021 collection takes the shape of a live performance. A dialogue between moving bodies and the process of creation, where multiple character – film crew, stylist, assistants, models – and real-life motion explore the boundaries of perceptions. Off-camera becomes the center of attention, spontaneity and improvisation play with the definition of performing arts language. Far from a “making of”. As Véronique Nichanian’ pointed out: “I feel like the current situation is one from which we can all extract new wisdom, and a new momentum”. The collection dives into form, material, and color in Nichanian’s signature carefree expression and simplicity. Striped shirts gain linings, panels and double closure and transform into the lines of a blouson. Mediterranean blue, storm blue, almond green and fluorescent yellow are among the colors inhabiting the collection where leather – deerskin, metis goatskin and technical calfskin – reveal all their sensuality and timeless casualness.
www.hermes.com
Fashion
Celebrating Twenty Years of Editions de Parfums
Frédéric Malle was always destined to enter the world of perfume, grandson to the renowned founder of Parfums Christian Dior, Malle’s affinity and connoisseurship feels intuitive of a descendent to perfume royalty. Establishing Editions de Parfums in 2000, Malle was fuelled by a desire to transform the way perfume was seen. Malle gives his perfume intellectual status, tantamount to a classic novel or a vintage bottle of wine, all whilst paying homage to the essence of its craft: its creators, its ingredients and above all the creative process.
Using his platform as one of the greatest perfumers in the world, Malle has created something of an open brief, entrusting an unparalleled amount of freedom to his chosen perfumers. Bereft of any marketing brief, specified products and perhaps most remarkably time schedule, Malle is the epitome of blue sky thinking.
In an ode to the Parisian culture that has been so formative to Malle’s identity as a perfumer, the finished perfumes will be encased in a neutral bottle, its packaging referencing the iconic book covers of the admired French publishing House, Gallimard. Each scent sold in his boutiques are ‘published’, emphasizing the quality and standard at which he works. Embellishing upon his literary semantics, each perfume will be accompanied by elaborate titles, continuing the theatre of Malle’s unique creative process. ‘Portrait of a Lady bath Foam’, is one of Malle’s newest examples of this theme. A luxuriously scented bath foam whose decadence is matched in name alone.
There is an intimacy to Malle’s brand that feels counterintuitive to its position as a world renowned perfume house. Despite its loyal and vast customer base, personalization and authenticity still remain at the heart of the business, and are undoubtedly what has claimed its success over the last two decades. Each store places the customer at the centre of the experience, staffing each boutique with a team of Perfume Experts ready to perform Malle’s personalized consultations committed to finding the perfect scent for each and every one of his customers. It is these encounters that birthed the hybrid concept behind each boutique, a seamless blend of laboratory and Parisian interior.
2020 is a prolific year for the house, marking twenty years of audacious and rule-breaking creativity. To mark this anniversary Malle will be embarking on a series of international events to commemorate and share his passion for perfumer worldwide.
www.fredericmalle.com
Fashion
LOEWE Munich Flagship
Under the guidance of Creative Director Jonathan Anderson, LOEWE has reinvented themselves as a house focused on craft and culture, shown clearly in their intellectual yet playful approach to fashion and lifestyle. Taking after Casa Loewe HQ in Madrid, the Spanish brand has just opened a new flagship store in Munich that harmonizes all aspects of the brand’s repertoire.
Inside the two-storey standalone store on Munich’s Maximilianstraße, Anderson has re-orientated the retail space into a dynamic space that showcases the highlight talents in art and design, core constituents of the maison’s craft-centered identity. LOEWE products are interspersed with art and design objects curated by Anderson himself. Furthering their relationship with the arts, LOEWE features work from artists linked to the brand. This includes Japanese ceramist Takuro Kuwata whose work is shown alongside an impressive basket by Irish weaver Joe Hogan. The space is also inhabited by contemporary furniture including recliners by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld and a stone table by Axel Vervoordt. The classical interior is left intact, but elevated with quality materials such as Campaspero limestone and smooth concrete which can be seen on the walls, floors and structural furniture of the store.
www.loewe.com
Fashion
Boden FW20
Unlike many of their counterparts, British retailer Boden welcomes Fall with a refreshing collection that steps away from the typical muted, autumnal colors that have populated FW selections this year. Rather than neutral colors often associated with the season, Boden has issued a Fall collection that revels in bright contrasts, eccentric patterns and color blocking. The usual tan, walnut, or hickory coats and cardigans are all replaced with spirited fuschia trousers, coral pullovers and olympic blue trench coats. The preview features wildflower printed dresses and pumps, contrasted with the vibrant 60’s inspired patterns that litter blouses and skirts. Although the collection isn’t only pop-colors and quirky patterns, true to Boden’s nature the brand supplies options for the everyday, including a wide range of neutrals, essential for any wardrobe. Making up for a Summer spent indoors, Boden’s FW20 collection is optimistic for the upcoming season.
www.boden.eu
Fashion
An Extended Summer
As many countries are easing out of lockdown and restrictions seem to be relaxed with every day that passes, some of us may be finding it difficult to grapple with the realities of the new normal. The anxiety of re-joining society after a challenging few months can be hard to deal with, and many of us are already planning a much-needed vacation. The new Herno Resort collection for FW20 is designed with this sensibility in mind, an inter-season selection inspired by the dream of travel, designed for those with summer and leisure still fresh in their minds. The collection is dedicated to free time, proclaiming it as the true luxury left in this world. Both men and women are featured in the range, with core silhouettes of a man’s wardrobe reinterpreted with a leisurely accent. Peacoats, blazers and duffels are matched with a selection of parkas, bombers and sweatshirt styles. While women’s silhouettes are enveloping, intended for those not ready to leave the lightness of summer behind, yet the designs are still full of comfort and warmth. The collection is enhanced with a sense of lightness and is completed with Herno’s usual attention to detail and high-quality materials. Wool highlights in the menswear includes a sophisticated herringbone pattern as well as the lingering cashmere, luxurious corded cotton velvet is edged in a bi-colour knit, whilst suede treated with water-resistant tools rounds off the selection of luxury styles. Fabrics in the womenswear suggest a sense of relaxed softness, seeing ultralight nylon with a silky effect matched with tone-on-tone velvet and combined with soft knitwear in a mix of wool, alpaca and viscose to further extend the soft and delicate sense of the diverse selection.
www.herno.it
Fashion
Cartier Women's Initiative
When Cartier launched the Cartier Women’s Initiative in 2006, they made a commitment to helping women in reaching their full potential. Open to women-run and women-owned businesses that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and environmental impact. The names of the 7 laureates of the Cartier Women’s Initiative were announced virtually this week after being selected by an international jury committee. This year’s laureates include Adriana Luna Diaz, Stephanie Benedetto, Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, Temie Giwa-Tubosun, Nadia Gamal El Din, Chunguang (Charlotte) Wang and Joanne Howarth. They will each receive $100,000 in grant, while runner-ups will receive $30,000. The 7 laureates and 14 finalists will all receive support on strategic financial thinking, one-on-one strategy mentoring, media visibility and international networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to join an education programme on scaling social impact. Now, with the addition of a new award, the programme is expanding. starting from the 2021 edition. Three more women impact entrepreneurs will be recognized thanks to the Science & Technology Pioneer Award, to support women impact entrepreneurs at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. Applications for the 2021 edition of the Cartier Women’s Initiative are now open until July 31.
www.cartierwomensinitiative.com
Fashion
Chanel Cruise Collection
Take a trip around the Mediterranean with Chanel’s latest collection. Refined simplicity and rich in fluidity, the collection was conceived for those who travel light. Consisting of several easy to wear, multipurpose items that work perfectly mixed and matched for an ideal and stress-free holiday wardrobe. “Initially I had Capri in mind, where the show was supposed to take place, but didn’t happen in the end because of lockdown,” says Virginie Viard, “So we had to adapt: not only did we decide to use fabrics that we already had, but the collection, more generally, evolved towards a trip around the Mediterranean… The islands, the scent of the eucalyptus, the pink shades of the bougainvillea.” And a free, laid-back allure inspired by the legendary actresses of the 1960s when they would holiday on the Italian and the French Riviera. Discover the ‘Balade en Méditerranée on chanel.com.
#CHANELCruise
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Acta Non Verba
Peter Do launched his eponymous New York-based brand in 2018 to much acclaim. Since then, the designer has proved consistent yet surprising, making more than just a uniform for the modern woman. It all started with a flurry of sketches during his high school years in Philadelphia. These days, since he was granted the LVMH Graduate Award, Do has taken the temperature of women’s desire and and locked it into each of his designs. After returning from Paris, where he studied under the expertise of Phoebe Philo at Celine, Do amassed relationships with nine stockists, designing out of his friend’s apartment, where he showed his SS19 collection . Philo herself once said, “there is absolutely a gap in the market for 30-something women and, the more I look at it, the more I feel there needs to be a sense of ease and choice.” Do clearly didn’t take that lightly. With Do’s SS20 collection, color trumps all. Textures with an enigmatic opacity do a lot to display the relationship between shape and tone, evoking the modern masters that made America their home: Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still and Ellsworth Kelly. It can be said that Rothko explored the spectrum of single shades like no other, and the designer deftly conjures this fascination for SS20. The restraint and care taken by Do in his latest collection builds on the wardrobe of a contemporary metropolis, while serving the sensitive demands of the modern woman from New York to the world over.
www.peterdo.net
Fashion
Selling Sunset
After spending months in isolation, for many of us lucky people, this time has been spent dreaming of where we would go once things got back to what we know as ‘normal’. The desire to travel is embedded in many of us, and even more so in our instagram-saturated world that lets us peek into the furthest corners of the world from our own home. This glimpse of different places is enough to spark the drive to explore in the physical world. Louis Vuittons Jacques Cavallier Belletrud has embodied such desire and created a scent that captures a place, triggering memories or creating desire or even triggering an emotion to whomever has the pleasure of breathing it in. Part of an enchanting tryptic, California Dream portrays the enchantment of a sunset, a moment that prolongs the happiness of a summer’s day. The new Cologne Perfume is light and citrusy, cloaking the skin with all the emotion of a beautiful sunset. “My starting point was to create warmth that envelops coolness,” explains Jacques Cavallier Belletrud as he does so using notes of citrus, mandarin, musk and floral aspects the master perfumer creates a blend that embodies the warmth, earthy and fresh sense that comes with a sunset.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
Savoir Faire
Meaning to possess the ability to act appropriately, to be able to adapt and knowing what to do in any situation, Savoir Faire is an appropriate phrase to use when referring to Fendi’s iconic Peekaboo bag. The Italian house has just released a new video that exalts the adaptable nature of the bag, showing three different takes on the accessory. The male and female universes collide in this fendi-scape which presents the Peekaboo X-Lite for Men with laser-cut workmanship, the Peekaboo for men where Selleria stitching is combined with the intarsio fur and the Women’s Peekaboo, in different sizes, with leather interlacing. The fil rouge of the video is the Roman maison’s trademark yellow, while the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana shows impressive architectural perspectives rounding together the video’s purpose of highlighting the Italian houses creativity and unparalleled craft.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Equine excellence
In a celebration of the classic Arceau watch designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, Hermès presents a new expression of the French maisons’ creativity and expertise. Imagined by artist Gianpaolo Pagni, the “Cheval Cosmique” composition combines graphic undulations with the silhouette of a horse from Émile Hermès’ private collection. Produced in two limited series of 24 each, the watch is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement which, like the dial, case and bracelet, is developed in the Hermès Horloger workshops. Renowned for its unparalleled craftsmanship, Hermès dazzles on the dial of the Arceau Cheval Cosmique, adorned with a sculpted equine silhouette and waves in engraved gold, highlighted with a dash of black lacquer, set against an aventurine or mother-of pearl and enamel background beautifully paired with an abyss blue or Chantilly alligator strap.
www.hermes.com
Fashion
Big Bang One Click Marc Ferrero
The work of French artist Marc Ferrero has been a source of inspiration for many, being one of the most distinguished representatives of Storytelling Art. Swiss watch brand Hublot has once again been inspired by Ferrero’s emblematic work, ‘Lipstick’ for their second collaboration that pays homage to 21st-century women. This time, the artist known for his typically colourful palette tells a story in black and white, in the form of two limited-edition numbered models in a run of 100 pieces. “I love the power of black and white. Shade and light. Yin and Yang. One is profound, unclassifiable, eternal. The other is subtle, ethereal, timeless. They symbolise antitheses and complementarity. Choosing black and white means getting straight to the point without an excess of tonalities. The black and white make ‘Lipstick’ even more graphic and its red lipstick—more magnetic” - Marc Ferrero
www.hublot.com
Fashion
Inside Chanel
In light of the sudden surge in traffic amongst the online sphere, people are searching for new content to keep us entertained in this strange time. Chanel has launched its new series to remedy such want, Inside Chanel. The microsite aims to educate viewers about the maison’s exciting history and heritage through a series of short film and media content. The latest chapter of the series delves into fashion and film, exploring the French designer’s impact on screen, in a time when fashion and film were both finding their footing in the 20th century. As newcomers to the artistic sphere of the 20th century, the paths of cinema and Gabrielle Chanel's extraordinary career crossed in a continuous creative dialogue and is reflected in this condensed picture. The short films have so far reflected on the brand’s history and its founder’s legacy, with testimonies and quotes from icons such as the late Karl Lagerfeld.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Brands Giving Back: BOSS
Fashion sales, like much of the world, is right now at a standstill. As we wait for things to return to normality, private sector companies are stepping into the fight in whatever way they can through manufacturing life-saving masks and gowns, funding or raising awareness. Boss is among those helping out as shortages in equipment increase. Manufacturing 180,000 masks, converting its clothing production site in Metzingen and repurposing conference rooms into workshops, the brand also began making protective clothing and hand sanitizers. All items produced will be donated to public facilities where it’s needed most.
www.hugoboss.com
Fashion
Brands Giving Back: Fendi
In support for their country and it’s healthcare system, Italian maison Fendi has donated €250,000 to the organizations in the Regione Lombardia and donated masks to health professionals in Regione Toscana. The Carla Fendi Foundation, established in 2007 to aid the preservation of cultural heritage, also made a €100,000 donation to support the intensive care unit at the Presidio Sanitario Columbus in Rome. In a recent post on instagram Fendi expressed a message of positivity and hope, “Aware of the difficult moments that the world is going through, we are committed to designing the best way to start again, stronger than ever, supporting Fendi’s production ecosystem and its values.”
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Virtual Arts #Rijksmuseum
In light of museum closures, the national museum of the Netherlands has launched ten ways to experience the museum and its works from the comfort of your own home. Presenting online tours, educational videos and research information, the gallery successfully utilises the online sphere to educate its patrons in this time of crisis. Launched in 2012, the Rijksstudio has been a great resource since its inception, allowing users to create their own collection with over 700,000 high resolution artworks available. While the Gallery of Honor has reopened via an online platform, Rijksmuseum Masterpieces Up Close, showing an adjacent look at classics such as Vermeer’s Milkmaid or Rembrandt’s The Night Watch. On top of all this the Rijksmuseum hosts Rijkstube and Rijkscreative, as well as bundles of social media content for education and entertainment.
www.rijksmuseum.nl
Fashion
Rimowa #NewHorizons Project
These are exceptional times, the hustle and bustle of 21st-century life has been paused and for now we are grounded, waiting for the future to unfold before us. “Right now, as we stand in solidarity with everyone from the confines of our homes, we can't help but imagine all the places we've once explored and the new horizons we long to discover. With our movement so unnaturally restricted, many of us have entered a suspended state of longing, hoping, and dreaming.” says Emilie de Vitis CMO Rimowa. For now, we’re reflecting on where we’ve been, dreaming of where we’ll someday go, and who we’ll share it with when we get there. Rimowa’s #NewHorizons series joins forces with talented photographers from across the globe, reflecting the destinations of past travels and those closer to home that have inspired and captured our imaginations. We dream of sunny holidays and live vicariously through Austin Leis dreamlike imagery in sun-drenched Spain whilst Marie Dehe takes us on a tour of southern England in her pastel- filled images. Each week Rimowa will unveil a selection of intimate travel diaries to remind us of the world beyond our everyday. Evocative and immersive, the visually rich series aims to transform our present moment in the way that exceptional art always has.
www.rimowa.com
Fashion
Prada Possible Conversations
Now, in the digital age people have never been more connected. Thanks to the internet we have a constant resource for communication and entertainment. Yet during this time of isolation we are reminded that we are a global community, one that is economically, socially, and politically interdependent. As we stay in isolation we note the benefits of the internet and how lucky we are to be able to stay connected even when we must stay apart. Prada now debuts Prada Possible Conversations, a series of live dialogues between thinkers, cultural arbiters and fashion figures from across the globe in an effort to bring people together during this surreal time.
The talks will start off on 14 April at 6pm CET with author and curator Pamela Golbin and Alexander Fury, features director and critic. The two will discuss the topic ‘Fashion in Times of Crises’, and their dialogue will be broadcasted via Prada’s instagram, allowing the audience to pose questions to the speakers. For each conversation Prada will donate to UNESCO, whose work during the COVID-19 pandemic focuses on the importance of culture, creativity, and education for over 1.5 billion students affected by the crisis.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Z Zegna presents TECHMERINOTM and TECHMERINOTM WASH&GO for SS20
Zegna: A Conscious Lifestyle Zegna has been at the forefront in developing reforestation and environment preservation for over eighty years with successful results on the outstanding Oasi Zegna in Biella, Valdilana Region. Therefore it’s no surprise that Artistic Director Alessandro Sartori utilised the concept of desertification for the SS20 collection. A theme that embraces an ethical and conscious lifestyle, the collection features a new generation of technical garments with innovative fabrics and functional construction. Loose outwear styles such as windbreakers, anoraks and bombers feature mix and matching textures that are paired with pants cut in slim, cargos and carrots. While the crease-free merino natural wool shines with tactile effects, the striking colors are reminiscent of a desert at sunset. Nocturnal indigo is refreshed with off-white and orange shades, while desert and khaki neutrals are paired with the neon boldness of lime green and pink red for added modernity.
Driving the choice of materials and techniques, the range is derived from up-cycled and recycled fibers using water-friendly treatments and washing processes, as well as fiber blends.The deconstructed silhouettes, ultra-lightness, high-performance and unquestionable style of the collection are synonymous of the esteemed Italian label.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
#PomellatoForWomen
Although most of us may be struggling with the new reality with work and events cancelled and in reality, life seems to be on hold. In reality, we are blessed that we get to stay safe indoors, doing our part by flattening the curve. Not everyone has the luxury of feeling safe in their own home, for victims of domestic violence, most commonly women, their reality has been warped far worse than most. Suddenly victims are isolating with their abuser, with very little options to seek help. In a measure to battle against this crisis, brands are scrambling to help in whatever way they can, Italian jewelry brand Pometallo is no different. Founded in Milan during a revolutionary time for women’s emancipation, Pomellato jewelry was created with independent women in mind and in 2017 they launched the #PomellatoForWomen campaign for Pometallo’s 50th anniversary. Building on this, Pomellato along with sister brand Dodo have now launched an awareness campaign and crowdfunding initiative to support women victims of domestic violence. Sabina Belli, Pomellato Group CEO has said, “We were alarmed to learn of the resurgence of domestic and sexual abuse against women, directly related to the restraints and pressures of confinement. Pomellato will always act decisively to support womenkind, and we want women victims to know they are not alone.”
#YOUARENOTALONE
www.pomellato.com
Fashion
Longchamp Roseau Bag
Back in September, Longchamp’s Sophie Delafontaine had guests refreshed and excited as she presented a line for SS20 that stepped away from the brands preceding rock chick aesthetic and cruised in a new direction. A sporty, feminine revamp. Athleisure has become a part of fashion as brands shift and adapt to the needs of the modern woman. Longchamp is no different. The line featured a selection of bags that caught eyes as well as the house’s long-time favorite Roseau bag, but with a new look. In keeping with the sportswear trend, Longchamp has also created a new version of the Roseau in luxuriously soft lambskin leather. The bag itself stays true to the ever-so-loved design with a bamboo-shaped closure that in this version slides onto a leather cord. Bamboo inspired toggle and handles are enlarged, while a more graphic look is gifted from the clean-cut leather edges. This chic minimalist line is available in four sizes and three timeless colors.
www.longchamp.com
Fashion
AGL Mystery Collection
Nothing says femininity more than a high heel. The unwelded power that some extra height can give is unmatched. Confidence and sensuality go hand in hand with a little lift. As we know, fashion and comfort don’t always coexist, though they have begun to shake hands with the outbreak and rise of athleisure, streetwear and non-gendered clothing. The person who wears heels today is different than those of the past, they do it with agency, not because society says they can or cannot. Now the high heel has become a tool for liberation and like all fashion and footwear, an expression of personality. The new MYSTERY series by Italian brand AGL employs sensual details and high quality craftsmanship to create lace-up ankle boots and décolleté characterized by a play of transparencies using micro mesh, combined with a patent leather finish that offers a touch of glamor. Reminiscent of victorian-style boots the series is available in two color options of nude and black diversifying the range for the most casual outfit to one for grand soirées.
www.agl.com
Fashion
Prada Linea Rossa SS20
Back in 1997 Miuccia Prada struck gold in 1995 where, alongside Neil Barrett they debuted Prads’s first menswear collection solidifying the minimalist yet high-tech aesthetic that became the backbone of Prada Linea Rossa when it launched two years later in 1997. The sports-infused aesthetic was so influential that it had become an emblem that diversified the image of the brand itself. After relaunching the familiar red rubber strip in 2018, Prada now presents a new digital campaign coinciding with the reintroduction of Linea Rossa. Taking inspiration from morse code, the Italian maison translates the hyper technical code into an entirely new alphabet for the everyday. The collection itself draws inspiration from uniforms, yet avoids uniformity and presents timeless designs that are genderless, created with innovative fabrics. The classic sahariana jacket is reimagined with new finishes and modern proportions The sporty line takes inspiration from sports such as skiing and dashes of urban streetwear as well as the abstract notion of exploration. Ingrained into the language of fashion, the word athleisure is long-favoured for its gender-neutral and easy-going approach to dressing which is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s society.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Miu Miu SS20 Campaign 'Casa Corberó'
The late artist Xavier Corberó has been considered by many to be the most significant Catalan artist since Gaudí and is best known for his monumental public sculptures that can right now be seen in galleries all over the world. Back in 1967 Corberó acquired a plot of land on the outskirts of Barcelona where he began devoting his time into developing the estate until his death in 2017. The property now stands as a labyrinthine cabinet of curiosities concealed by a heavy medieval stone fence. The surrealist style of Corberó’s friend, Salvador Dali is seen throughout the nine buildings largely devoted to hosting artists-in-residence and exhibition spaces that hold a number of Corbeó’s own sculptures. Now, the estate takes a new identity as it becomes the scene of the Spring-Summer 2020 Miu Miu campaign as ‘Casa Sublim’ part stage set, part installation, part gallery, part home. The campaign envisions an all-female artist colony where creative freedom and expression – at times spattered and hand-painted, with mismatched buttons and ‘collaged’ ruffles is contrasted with the discipline of form, silhouette and utility found in workwear and uniform. Utilising multiple, contrasting viewpoints and styles, still and moving imagery, black and white and vivid colour the campaign ultimately contrasts female and male gazes as well as challenging notions of subject and object as well as the real and surreal.
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
The New Chanel 19 Handbag
A new era for Chanel has begun and as strange and unfamiliar as it seems, the fashion house is finally finding its footing in the post-Lagerfeld era. In homage to the 2.55 bag designed by Coco Chanel herself in 1955, Chanel’s Artistic Director Virginie Viard has brought us the 19 bag, a wonderful nod to the brand’s memorable past. The campaign, imagined by Sofia Coppola in collaboration with Virginie Viard features a trio of muses with actors Margaret Qualley, Taylor Russel and Marine Vacth each as distinct as the last. The playful campaign leans on the women’s individual personalities representing the diverse nature of the bag. “I wanted to show how Chanel is so classic it can work with many personalities, and is great to show on different women,” says Coppola. Embodying the spirit of the brand the 19 bag is swathed in large diamond quilting and embellished with an oversized CC clasp. Available in a number of variations the accessory allows each individual to express themselves in their own way, with the Chanel mark exuding a sensual and timeless sense of beauty.
www.chanel.com
Fashion
Moose Knuckles SS20 Campaign
On a voyage of discovery Captain George Vancouver met with King Kamehameha I and soon confirmed their friendship by saluting each other with a touch of their noses, as is Hawaiian custom. As a parting gift, Vancouver gave five long horned cattle to King Kamehameha who then made it kapu (off-limits) to harm or possess the cattle. Decades later the people of Hawaii discovered that these animals had to be tamed and so the hawaiian cowboy tradition was born. Canadian outerwear brand Moose Knuckles embodies this relationship and shared culture and beliefs in their new SS20 campaign titled, Surf Rodeo. Since 2013 the brand has been embodying a message of family, and community using honest materials and premium hardware that highlight the Moose Knuckles values. Designed and directed by the Hawaiian creative, Taylor Okata, the storyline of the campaign video embodies the Hawaiian way of life, portraying a group of friends on an adventure that leads them to a beautiful horse ranch and ending the day with a sunset surf session. Combining modern silhouettes with traditional western aesthetics, the collection consists of lightweight, padded jackets, parkas, fitted down jackets and high-end, country-inspired pieces - all in a color palette inspired by the grasslands of the Canadian Prairies. Featuring graphic prints, fringe silhouettes and custom python and kangaroo cowboy boots made by the Alberta Boot Company the western sensibility is celebrated throughout the collection. Shot on the North Shore of Hawaii by photographer Alana Spencer, the video combined cowboy vibes with more metropolitan influences for the Spring / Summer 2020 collection and featured siblings Evan and Alika Mock resulting in an authentic and warm sense of Ohana or ‘family feeling’.
www.mooseknucklescanada.com
Fashion
Milan Fashion Week Women's - Recap
MONCLER
Not one for staying in one lane Moncler presented its third edition of the spectacle that is Moncler Genius in Milan last week. Inside a warehouse it displayed 12 installations each with their own vision with the newest addition being JW Anderson who presented an “inflatable archive” of his signature looks reimagined in down material. Going even further past the boundaries of fashion the event also showcased two surprising new members of collective, luggage brand RIMOWA and electric vehicle brand MATE.BIKE furthermore pushing Moncler to new heights for creative innovation.
www.moncler.com
FURLA
Full of glamour, fantasy and palpable sense of excitement a night at the theatre is always one to remember. Furla launched their Fall/Winter 2020 it-bag with this theme in mind as they invited guests to Milan’s Teatro Gerolamo where they were met with mirrors, neon lights, holograms and a kaleidoscope of colors. Guests strolled through the rooms discovering the rest of the color variations and materials for the bag. The psychedelic setup was in celebration of the Italian brands foundation and presented the Furla 1927.
www.furla.com
HERNO
Italy has been the epicentre of design excellence and manufacturing since the industrial revolution known for their unrivalled innovation and attention to detail. Today that innovative mindset is pushed further as sustainability becomes the main topic of conversation. Presented in Milan, Herno introduced their six projects for their AW 2020 ‘Green focus’ collection under the name Herno Globe. From biodegradable bombers to recycled parkas, the ethical label has redefined functionality in clothing. Not only does it have to look good but it also must in a way do some good.
www.herno.it
Fashion
Together for Change
Cartier joins forces with The Lion’s Share Fund, an award-winning initiative that tackles the climate crisis through a fresh new approach. Uniting brands, conservationists and consumers, The Lion’s Fund cites change as a shared effort, breaking down the usual boundaries that exist between these three groups, in a plight to create shared and achievable goals. With the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and a coalition of Businesses and UN Partners as leaders, the fund has its sights set on $100 million per year within the next five years in oder to halt biodiversity loss and ensure habitats are protected. As part of this target brand are asked to contribute 0.5% of their media spend every time an animal is featured in their advertisements. Speaking on this important new move for Cartier, the luxury Maision’s president and Chief Executive Officer Cyrille Vigneron said “The beauty of the natural world has always been a source of inspiration and creativity for Cartier’s timeless pieces” in bringing about real and tangible change from this unique symbiosis, Cartier commits itself to a more positive and hopeful future.
www.cartier.com
www.thelionssharefund.com
Fashion
News from the Top
It was last spring that the Swiss house Bally set a clear sign to its continued commitment to environmental protection, more precisely the protection of the mountains, so intertwined with its Swiss origins and mountaineering heritage. After a more than successful first-ever Mount Everest cleaning expedition, Bally now proactively establishes long-term commitment, in the form of the Bally Peak Outlook Foundation, to the protection of these extreme environments, threatened by increasing numbers of tourists and the garbage they leave behind. With the help of the local communities, Bally’s future efforts will by no means focus solely on Mount Everest. The Himalaya features a multitude of peaks towering far over 8000m, which all will become subjects of the Bally cleaning expeditions. Besides a second Mount Everest expedition this year, Bally has confirmed efforts on four further peaks in 2020 as well as more plans for the upcoming year 2021. As put by Nicolas Girotto, Bally CEO, ‘This is a long-term mission and it is only the beginning.’
www.bally.com
Fashion
Paris Fashion Week 2020 - Yohji Yamamoto Men's Fall/Winter
Yohji Yamamoto is a master of humor. “Naughty Yohji” “100 ways to forget Yohji” are all sentences marking the back of coats for his Fall Winter 2020/21, shown at the historical headquarters in rue Saint Martin few steps away from Centre Pompidou. A bitter-sweet humor. Yohji-san played with his usual high craftsmanship - at times whispered gestures that only a close look can return the appreciation they deserves – together with his irony towards the meaning of death, of disappearance and resistance. See the coats with multiple chains or the hand painted heavy knitted sweaters with a ripped, raw edge placed on top of coats. Like an armor ripped by a battle. It’s an homage to the French resistance during World War II. To the women partisans who are often forgotten. We see the portrait of one of them in the show invite. She is a very young woman, standing proud with a basque and the typical armband partisans used to wear. She is the embodiment of hope and of unconditional strength against oppression. Yohji Yamamoto has been always working around the meaning of freedom with great coherence and poetry while delivering an exquisite men’s collection true to his aesthetic.
www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Fashion
Milan Fashion Week 2020 - Ermenegildo Zegna Men's Fall/Winter
Against the backdrop of shivering ribbons of fabrics, all sourced from the surplus of the 6 previous collections, Alessandro Sartori presents his newest collection at Ermenegildo Zegna. Conceived by American Ann Patterson, it visualizes the huge waste of materials at a house like Zegna and sets a signal of the house’s pledge to improve the efficacy of their ways of production. Entitled ‘Art for Earth’, the intentions behind the collection become clear in an instant, reminding us that in Sartori’s own word, ‘art should always respect the earth. That’s our mission, as humans and fashion-makers.’ Once again, Sartori proves to be the ideal person to showcase all of Zegna’s craftsmanship and mastery of tailoring. Breaking down boundaries, he takes Italian tradition into new hybrid directions in a constant morphing of evolving shapes, such as blazer-parka hybrids, voluminous coats with deep black pleats and shirts that double as short-sleeved blousons. In collaboration with German camera manufacturer Leica, the collection features a series of camera bags, straps and holders, as part of a broader dialogue between the two brands.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
Whitney
In 2015, the Whitney Museum of Modern Art found a new home in the futuristic Renzo Piano designed building in New York. For the special occasion of this reopening, Max Mara teamed up with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop to create the now iconic Whitney bag, with its design being inspired by the architecture of the new museum building itself. For the fifth anniversary of its original unveiling, Max Mara revives the bag in a special edition, dedicated to American painter Florine Stettheimer, whose avant-garde paintings represent a major part of the Whitney Museum's collection. Her acclaimed work 'Sun', dating back to 1931, becomes the main inspiration for the bag's five new colorways and the floral design of the inside lining. Indeed a anniversary issue, or better yet five, each variation of the Whitney bag is to be desired and collected like a piece art.
www.maxmara.com
Fashion
Art of Gardening
There are some months passing between a collection being first revealed on the catwalk and it actually becoming available in store. During this time, the world of fashion does not stop, but continues to move forward with new projects or capsule collections being presented one after another. For this reason, it becomes even more important to follow up the strong first impressions from the initial shows with advertising campaigns that revive the spirit of the collection. Shot en plein air in a natural and classic Italian scenery, the FENDI campaign reflects the gardening and bucolic aspects of the collection with the locations flawlessly merging with the earthy and muted color palette of beige, green and brown. The collection, from sartorial workwear pieces, including overalls, to shirts and suits, is completed with matching accessories in a further nod to the art of gardening, with the house's classic pieces appearing in new variations with carefully selected and combined materials. As with the collection, Silvia Venturini Fendi invited Italian movie director Luca Guadagnino to help her realize her vision of the relationship between man and nature. The resulting visuals will break in worldwide magazines in January 2020.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
SUICOKE: a unique approach to innovation
We have been looking at SUICOKE's bold creative approach for a while: challenging creative development and utilizing only the highest quality materials. Founded in 2006 Suicoke introduced its original Sandal equipped with SUICOKE ORIGINAL EVA Footbed in 2012, adding and unique comfort to footwear. These are shoes made for walking. In 2014 SUICOKE went a step further when they found great unification with the likeminded Vibram® - known for being the best sole producer in the world - working together a sandal equipped with an original Vibram® sole. The two brands went on to create one of the greatest products on the market – the Vibram® Morflex. An industry first, its function and high quality of design gained quickly global recognition. SUICOKE is continuously in motion developing footwear that showcases the brand's relevance within the fashion world.
www.suicoke.com
Fashion
Acqua di Parma: Signatures of the Sun
For more than a century Acqua di Parma has been capturing a sense of lively and inspiring fragrances, bottling them in small yet artful glass bottles and distributing them far and wide. Now, with the help of Italian instant-visual artist Maurizio Galimberti, to evoke an adventurous collection of ten perfumes. ‘Signatures of the Sun’ favors more delicate olfactory elements like the sparkling citric notes of mandarin, flowering notes of neroli or osmanthus, a special flower that blooms commonly in the sunlight of south-east asia.
Their perfume, ‘Sakura’, is a flower of rebirth that comes from Japanese cherry blossoms. The floweing of the sakura is celebrated every year all over Japan, it is a symbol of new energy. With a long-lasting spice and a counterpart of sambac jasmine rest on a sophistocated musk base note. Each of these fragrances embodies the retainance of newfound energy, like dawn’s first light opens one’s eyes the sensations evoked in Acqua di Parma’s latest collection are just as subtle and sweet. Galimberti’s kaleidescopic works bring to mind the many ways in which sunlight is reflected and enhanced, each fragrance’s glasswork also captures this joyous and ephemeral beauty.
Fashion
Miu Miu SS20
The freedom of dressing, of moving in your own personality, “Something raw, simple, naive, not a big deal: I am suggesting a way of dressing to people where they are free to do their own thing” Miuccia Prada told to the group of journalist who gathered around her to warmly congratulate after the show. The collection was intelligent and naturally appealing, simple and playful, as only Miuccia Prada is capable of. When a fellow journalist asked why of the relevant difference with Prada Spring Summer 2020 collection, the nonchalant Mrs Prada underlined how when designing Miu Miu there is “more spirit, more lightness and lot of enthusiasm”. And there it was, the lightness: canvasses created from artist’s toile freely painted or adorned with knotted gestures.
In contrast silk duchesse pleated pinafores paired with mohair boiled-wool-like cropped cardigans worn underneath. With the generously long crimped hair it reminisced of Romy Schneider’s look portraying Empress Elisabeth in Sissi trilogy and later in the ambitious and beautiful Luchino Visconti’s “Ludwig”. The structured and austere elements coupled with the light-hearted and youthful: ruffled fabric just directly collaged on the garments. Flowers and oversized buttons as if in a DIY gesture, to underline that simplicity and spontaneous attitude Mrs Prada mentioned backstage: “reflected in the wood, the set, like theatres where people used to improvise.”
AMO’s set design played with the austerity of the magnificent Auguste Perret’s reinforced concrete Palais d’Iena and its monumental Salle Hypostyle. AMO’s space-inside-the-space in OCB wood resulted in a strong juxtaposition with Perret’s original design: its mono-materiality and bas relief created almost a fictional space as out of a computer drawing, a pure simplicity, a “un-palace”.
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
Woolrich x N.Hoolywood
In collaboration with N.Hoolywood, Woolrich has allied with a contemporary counterpart. With salvaged vintage apparel being one of Obana’s career staples, N.Hoolywood’s creative director utilizes camouflage patterns to mix a sleek urbanity with Woolrich’s tried and true materials. With Woolrich transitioning from the more traditional side of clothing to a more contemporary aesthetic it is safe to say this collaboration has been mutually beneficial. Both brands went into this project with the same intention, to create garments that retained their style and comfort over a substantial period of time.
Their collection comprizes of four unique styles that juxtapose Woolrich’s signature check pattern with camouflage print, resulting in an all-over motif in shades of forrest green and steel grey. An oversized bomber jacket is a sure highlight from their fruitful collaboration, with deep pockets and neon mesh detail the look is as bold as its functionality. Classic Woolrich style is also readily apparent in a wool shirt reminiscent of their famous ‘Chief Petty Officer’ shirt worn by the US Navy, straying from conservatism for a new generation this iteration arrives in a multi-color palette. Complete with water-repellent down-vest, parka and nylon track pants; there is little left to be desired in weather-ready street-style.
Of the collection, released today, Obana was pleased with the outcome, saying “it was an experiment to see what happens if you combine the strength of weak points, the result was a beautiful pattern that I had never seen before.”
www.woolrich.com
Fashion
Celine SS20
A constellation of lights. The humongous installation designed by Hedi Slimane himself moved slowly with his monstrous arms covered in millions of lights.
Slimane continued his poetic staying true to his vision for Celine Spring Summer 2020. Denim trousers, skirts and a-line culottes, paired with silk shirts, fedoras hats and cropped jackets.
This season Slimane explored the powerful allure of the early 70s. These girls love to wear floating silk dresses with an attitude. Printed with floral or with geometric motives, pleated at the skirt and at times richly embroidered, worn with suede high-knee boots and cropped sleeveless shearling jacket – almost as gilet. The color hues stayed naturals exploring earthy tomes: cream, hazel, taupe, grey, caramel.
The accessories as always played a big role: new variations of the Triomphe and Triomphe chain bags. The latter beautifully declined in wicker, python and in suede with fringes. The original soundtrack “Calling it” by Automatic permeated in the space at Place Vauban creating a positive energy . The band’s guitar-less experimentations and minimal sound provided a perfect setting for the collection, where model literally stormed in.
Arriving backstage to congratulate Hedi Slimane, we felt a air of ease and joy. This iconic French maison is treating the designer with outmost respect and we cannot wait to see the future of this collaboration.
www.celine.com
Fashion
10 Years of Kaviar Gauche
In celebration of ten years since launching their bridal line, and fifteen years in the industry, Kaviar Gauche proved beyond doubt that modern German glamour is alive and well. When Kaviar Gauche first stepped on the scene in 2004 they were hosting a guerrilla fashion show on the doorstep of high-end Parisian department store, Colette. In those days the German design duo were finishing up their studies at Esmond University for Art and Fashion in Berlin. Since then Alexandra Roehler and Johanna Kühl, have caused a stir and paved the way for dreamy bridal wear and graceful ready to wear dresses.
Since its inception Kaviar Gauche has designed with great care and attention to detail. Icon, Heidi Klum turned heads in Kaviar Gauche as she walked the isle of her own wedding earlier this year. Their Paris Fashion Week Runway ’10 Years of Bridal Couture’ displays their effervescent signature, a downplayed glamour with tasteful hints of German design intuition and couture influence. With 24 looks, the show was a spectacle of German design prowess keeping their affinity for fine materials with delicate and uplifting tailoring in full focus. With metallic floral embroidery, silk organza and crystal fabrics every look spoke to the Gauche history and foreshadowed a bright future.
Fashion
Alex Thomson’s new Yacht by BOSS
British sailor, Alex Thomson, is the face of modern greatness in sailing. Thomson is the youngest sailor in history to claim first place in circumnavigation. In doing so Thomson shattered three world recor¬¬ds and reinforced his reputation by placing second in the 2016/17 Vendée Globe. For next year’s Vendée Globe Thomson will race in a yacht built by BOSS. BOSS, along with friends, international guests and acclaimed celebrities baptised their new yacht on London’s historic Thames river. The ship was in development for two years, worked on tirelessly by Karim Rashid, known for his use of bright colors, painted the boat a neon pink. The yacht will be the first boat of its kind to feature neon pink accents, approved by the IMOCA or ‘International Monohull Open Class Association’. The yacht will be entered into the Vendé Globe in November 2020, helmed by Alex Thomson for his team ‘Alex Thomson Racing’. Poppy Delvingne would be the lucky one to break a champagne bottle on the ship’s bow, thus christening the racing yacht.
The race is both physically and mentally exhaustive and requires the upmost endurance. It is a test of courage and technical prowess in boating, the Vendée Globe is a single-handed non-stop yacht race around the world without any assistance. Thomson’s ‘BOSS’ yacht features solar panels that charge the ship’s battery, as well as its communication and navigation tools. With savvy engineering the panels will also remain functional in the Southern Ocean where direct sunlight is scarce. The ‘BOSS’ logo plays a structurally important role on the yacht’s light carbon fiber body, the foils on the yacht are also redesigned in a first for single-handed off-shore sailing. The wings on the exterior of the yacht’s bilge create the effect of flying or gliding over the ocean for maximum speed. With an immolating desire to reach his absolute potential and the right yacht to claim his victory with there isn’t much in this world that can stop Alex Thomson now.
Fashion
Olivier Theyskens Pop-Up in Verso Antwerp
Verso, a restored 16th century mansion in Antwerp is where Olivier Theyskens (CFDA 2016 winner, formerly designer at Rochas, Nina Ricci and Theory) has chosen to open a pop-up for his FW19 collection. A dark cloud filled with rolling thunder, a rogue that strays far from the conventional herd, Theyskens’ women’s collection is as decadent as it is bold. Haute Couture is plunged into a future full of cascading butterfly lace dresses and ice pink satin offset by gothic jewellery and moiré linen. Theyskens’ own lambskin leather jackets and pleated trousers are soft to the touch yet visceral to the eye.
It comes as no surprise Theyskens has a fondness for Antwerp after the fashion museum, MoMu, unveiled a comprehensive retrospective of his career in 2017. Later, in early 2018 a monograph spanning Theyskens’ 20 year career was penned by MoMu’s head conservator Wim Mertens in collaboration with a range of experts including the New York Times’ chief fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman and two curators from Antwerp’s ModeMuseum. The book, published through Rizzoli was titled ‘Olivier Theyskens: She Walks in Beauty’. There is a home for world-class style, and as the old adage goes, home is where the heart is. Theyskens’ heart rests not in Paris, not in Milan but in the fashion mecca of Belgium, Verso.
The Pop Up embraces Antwerp just as it has embraced him, the FW19 release party will be held on Wednesday the 18th of September.
www.oliviertheyskens.com
Fashion
NYFW: Michael Kors Spring 2020
At 10am on September the 11th spirits were high at Brooklyn’s sun drenched Duggal Greenhouse. All-American optimism was the theme that Michael Kors sought to evoke with his Spring 2020 collection. Is there anything more reassuring of a bright future than the voices of children singing? With performances from the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, which aims to bring music into children’s lives no matter their circumstances, the theme of a typically unified New York could not have been stronger. Of the show Kors said “I am a native New Yorker and I wanted this show to highlight the strength and optimism and can-do attitude of our city – it is a celebration of the diversity of American style and beauty”. Guests were able to have their photo taken at a highly decorative showpiece picnic set before catching the show.
Collisions like preppy versus punk, luxury meeting relaxed nonchalance, all with precise tailoring so that nothing looks out of place. A midnight blue cotton pinstripe blazer effortlessly conveys a sense of formality while the white pick-stitches indicate fashion conscious craftsmanship to diffuse the stiffness of the conventional suit for a more relaxed demeanour. The women’s Spring 2020 collection shined, in particular a crimson crepe sablé dress glistened with silver star sequin embroidery, a taut waist seam and straight shoulder line postured the dress to be as elegant as it is commanding. An elusive and ineffable sense of hope for the future found a place to grow in that Brooklyn greenhouse
Fashion
NYFW: Longchamp SS20
Only a handful of days ago creative director of Longchamp, Sophie Delafontaine, envisioned and presented a sunburst of retro elegance with her SS20 Runway during New York Fashion Week. An artist adored by Los Angeles, Judy Chicago, is the easel this art rests on. The colors brought out in this collection encourage the same freedoms that entice on late Summer afternoons when the sun has not yet fallen on a hot day. Sky blues and dreamy yellows that reminds you of the first small flower to push through the grass, the truest colors of Summer can be found in Delafontaine’s collection. New York was privelleged to host some fine Paris tailoring and Longchamp delivered.
The classic Roseau bag returns in new contortions, the Le Pliage bag, originally designed by Philippe Cassegrain in ’93, is dramatically downsized, appearing in ‘mini’ and ‘nano’ variations. Putting the right foot forward, Longchamp takes on footwear from contemporary boots to classic laced designs. Lots of rosey faces were in attendance including Kate Moss, Victoria Swarovski, Flaviana Matata, Kendall Jenner and Julianne Moore. All looks appear unquestionably complete as they burned up the runway. Along with nylon crop tops with transparent skirts, floral appliqués and high-cut shorts, this show was for the women that make the very most of Summer. A plateau of different colors and fabrics flowed as the models walked for New York, each step seemingly bringing Summer closer and closer until you could practically hear crickets singing from their warm blanket of Earth beneath the runway.
Art
Osservatorio Fondazione Prada: “Training Humans”
Fondazione Prada will host the first major photography exhibition dedicated to bettering our understanding of the images gathered and used to train A.I. technologies. Artificial Intelligence is talked about frequently and superstitions surrounding new tech are mounting. Two highly contemplative and knowledgeable scholars will host “Training Humans”, held at Galleria Vittorio II in Milan. Kate Crawford, distinguished New York University professor and widely published A.I. researcher, along with artist, futurist, and researcher Trevor Paglen who has been exhibited from the Smithsonian to the Guggenheim. Their exhibition is an interrogation of the training practices used to categorically define the human race through the eyes of artificial intelligence.
When the CIA first conducted facial recognition experiments, in 1963, they compiled a total of 14,126 images with which to set a benchmark for machine learning. “Training Humans” explores two issues fundamental to humanity and its freedoms. The photography on display will expose to human eyes how humans are represented, interpreted and how technological systems harvest, label and use this material. The intention of “Training Humans” is not to imagine some not-too-distant dystopia; it is to specify to a concerned public exactly which images are chosen to teach A.I. Because of the Internet and the integration of social media into our every day the AI researchers moved from using government-owned collections, such as FBI mug shots of dead criminals, to sourcing photos from anywhere they chose to.
In our infinite complexities, authorities seem desperate to teach machines how to understand us in simple terms. The moral quandary of this is how far they will go to put humanity in a box, to remove the unpredictable, the wild, the life we share that machines cannot yet understand.
“Training Humans” is open to the public from September 12th to the 24th of February 2020
www.fondazioneprada.org
Fashion
MARNI FW19: ‘Banana’ Sneakers
In a nod to Warhol’s pop art banana, Marni has crafted summer sneakers without complicating the design process, allowing playful and contemporary shape to guide them. Marni’s Fall/Winter 2019 riffs on the chunky sole shoe, adding a lightweight upper in polyester making the fit less restrictive. The Italian brand founded in ’94, showing no sign of slowing down, has opened up flagship stores this year in Tokyo and Munich to further align themselves with the styles of both cities.
Marni has contributed to emergent trends in a light-hearted way sure to catch passing eyes amid Fall/Winter festivities. The ‘Banana’ sneaker has plenty to like, putting a fresh twist on a familiar favourite with its thick rubber sole, pull-tab and minimalist features. Classic contrast and sparse amounts of color allow for this shoe to be worn with shorts, trousers, jeans or suit pants effortlessly. Marni continues its love affair with the world of the avant-garde while standing its ground in the realm of luxury.
The words quirky and elegant rarely find themselves next to one another, as odd as it sounds “quirky” and “elegant” fit the description of their ‘Banana’ shoe. Under the creative direction of Francesco Risso, Marni has not let its imagination outweigh its sensibilities. Their ‘Banana’ shoe makes for a valiant attempt to capture the essence of the unattainable, that which surprises at a glance time and time again. This shoe treads the line between standing out and fitting in to suit demand for smart-casual sneakers.
www.marni.com
Art
Lovingly Renovated: The Cranford Collection
The Cranford Collection is the most prized collection of art in Europe; nearly 700 works of fine art live in a residential building in Regent’s Park, London. The collection rotates every 18 months under the expert curatorship of Anne Pontégnie, who has been the guiding force behind the collection since 2011. The Cranford Collection exemplifies how art might be seen with fresh eyes in an intimate setting undistracted by any impinging tones set by the impossibly high glass ceilings and large slabs of bedrock found in most other museums. Architecture has a profound effect on the way art is viewed; The Cranford Collection explores the notion that all artworks are at the mercy of the placid walls they adorn.
The Cranford Collection is home to masterpieces by Bruce Nauman, Louis Bourgeois, Alice Neel and many others. The residential location at Gloucester Gate is fresh off the heels of its recent renovation by London based architect, David Chipperfield. The original building was designed by John Nash, one of Great Britain’s foremost architects responsible for the lasting neo-classical elements of England’s Regency and Georgian eras. The essential style of the building has been retained while the space itself has expanded to suit the needs of artists in pursuit of bettering their work. MFA students can now attend talks and discussions, school groups can tour by appointment and the esteemed residential gallery will host film screenings. The Cranford Collection’s collaboration with the Camden Arts Centre ensures artists can apply for residency or publishing of art books. The private gallery has been lovingly expanded to make up and coming artists feel right at home.
The museum will reopen its doors November 2019.
www.cranfordarts.org
Fashion
Messika: Precious Wanderlust
A campfire under the starry night sky surrounded by nothing but the vastness of the desert plains. A red carpet event with thousands of photographers and fans screaming for your attention. The Wild West and fine jewelry really are worlds apart. Nonetheless, Valérie Messika finds inspiration in North America’s endless desert landscapes and injects her newfound desire for escape and a sense of wanderlust into the Haute Joaillerie collection.
Named after the famous 1969 song “Born to Be Wild,” the collection is a tribute to the iconic Route 66 and the love of adventure as celebrated in the film Easy Rider. Carefree American attitude meets French glamour and sophistication in a dazzling display of diamonds and Maison Messika’s excellent craftsmanship.
Suited for queens of the desert, Messika second opus of Born to Be Wild presents its vision of modern jewelry: ultra-feminine and elegant, yet organic and natural in shape, drawing inspiration from Wild West motifs such as cactus flowers, lassos or shooting stars.
Even in Haute Joaillerie, taste never stands still as new generations of customers demand novelty objects and new creations. For the first time, Valérie Messika introduces more unconventional pieces into her collection, such as the mask entirely set in diamonds, each stone in the Maison’s signature feather setting, or the two-in-one nose- and single earring.
Born to Be Wild represents the perfect synergy of French luxury and vast American wilderness, celebrating and combining the glamour of Haute Joaillerie with the Wild West’s longing for freedom and adventure.
www.messika.com
Fashion
Missoni: Casual Finesse
If there is one trend that stands out and has dominated fashion over the last few seasons, it has to be streetwear. Streetwear staples, such as hoodies and sneakers, have become absolute must-have items and they have been elevated, at one point or the other, into the realm of luxury ready-to-wear at every fashion houses. The trend pendulum keeps swinging ceaselessly, so even last seasons’ streetwear aesthetic will be replaced eventually. Maybe sooner than we think.
Missoni’s new Menswear FW19 collection might be the first precursor, as it perfectly illustrates a new sense of formality this season. Reminiscent of ‘70s glamour, the Italian brand dives into the realm of evening wear, reconstructing classic pieces with the signature Missoni finesse. The collection is defined by the narrow and elongated silhouette of smartly tailored pieces: high-waisted, tapered trousers are paired with blazers or caban coats – belted double-breasted or reversible, which softly envelop the body.
In signature Missoni fashion, the collection demonstrates the house’s long-established expertise and heritage in knit and weaving. Using a variety of finely knitted materials for their garment construction, some of the standouts are definitely the tuxedos in woven or lamé flecked loom-knit fabrics, alongside the house’s luxuriously soft basic knitwear staples in cashmere, mohair and fleecy wool.
The color palette of the FW19 collection features soft and refined gradients of earthy tones and radiant hues, inspired by the tonal dégradés of the Swedish-Chilean artist Anton Alvarez’s work. Textural, abstract and boldly colored, Alvarez’s work has resonated with Angela Missoni and inspired this season’s collaboration. The resulting pieces, two distinctive cable knits, play on different patterns and textures, perfectly merging the artist’s eclecticism with Missoni heritage.
This season’s style for the Missoni man is more soigné, proving that informality does not have to come at the expense of elegance.
www.missoni.com
Fashion
BOSS x MEISSEN
With their joint capsule collection, two of Germany’s most prestigious brands come together. HUGO BOSS is a global player in the luxury fashion scene, whereas MEISSEN has enjoyed a premier status amongst the world’s porcelain manufacturers. Both houses have, since their foundations, unceasingly stood as embodiment of the German values of quality and innovative design and exported them all around the globe.
These shared core values have laid the foundation for the collaboration. The starting point for the unique capsule collection were MEISSEN’s Big Five figurines. Inspired by the angular style of traditional wooden African sculptures, they depict the continent’s rich wildlife in form of the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo
These majestic creatures appear as motifs in embroidered, jacquard and printed form on BOSS’ casual and formal pieces. The monochrome palette of black and white, heavily reminiscent of the porcelain aesthetic, is a direct visual reference to MEISSEN and its rich heritage, fused with HUGO BOSS’ signature craftsmanship and experience in garment construction.
Alongside the garments, the collection features a series of five limited-edition porcelain mugs featuring the same aesthetic. In recognition of the underlying theme, HUGO BOSS pledges a donation to Elephants for Africa, a charity focussing on the conservation of the iconic species.
The capsule collection of BOSS Mens and Womenswear will be available in BOSS and MEISSEN stores around the globe.
www.boss.com
www.meissen.com
Fashion
CARRIE and IVA: Maison Héroïne for Work and Play
Since 2016 Maison Héroïne has created bags for all settings, bridging the gaps between work and play, fashion and function. Working with the finest Italian leathers the Milanese designer, Marta Vitali, has created the new norm for professional women the world over. Maison Héroïne has a polished simplicity and elegance about their design that can be viewed as a statement piece or a means of convenient organization poised for greatness in a workplace setting.
The forms and shapes of Maison Héroïne’s designs keep tablets and notebooks in mind, the modern woman carries both and should not have to compromise her elegance for either. The sleek design and care that IVA encapsulates throws the focus back on the wearer, if less is more then IVA does the most, in Italian brick red suede or sleek black leather, even an expressive gold it does what other bags cannot and does it with spectacular ease. CARRIE, on the other hand is sure to be everywhere in offices from New York to Paris just in time for Summer. Worn as a cross-body, belt-bag or clutch, coloured in ‘deep berry prugna’ among others, CARRIE is at the cutting edge of women’s workwear.
www.maisonheroine.com
Fashion
Panthère de Cartier
The days of the wristwatch as functional items are over. Wearing a watch is not about being able to tell the time, it is a statement, an essential part of your accessories, especially if it comes from the Parisian house Cartier.
The French house keeps redefining and reinventing its products, iconic models are instilled with new energy through creativity and innovative design in an ever-evolving stream of ideas. Ultra-feminine in spirit, the two new interpretations of the Panthère de Cartier celebrate the essence of Cartier, a daring and triumphant elegance.
Inspired by the original, both the styles are a play on proportion, combining signature features, such as the Roman numerals or the iconic soft square shape with a new and contemporary housing. The Manchette accentuates the flowing bracelet of the watch. The dial is set slightly off-centered in a bracelet-styled, open-worked chain to create a casual yet stylish piece. As the name suggests, the Mini Watch is kept very close to the original. Smaller in size, the watch keeps the original’s elegant appearance, making it a well-suited pairing for several bracelets.
The new Panthère de Cartier models will be available from September.
www.cartier.com
Travel
Mindspace's Office Revolution
With the progression of time, it is natural that certain things are bound to change. Letters, typewriters and CDs are just a few examples of objects that have all fallen victim to the changing times and the traditional office space might be the next on the list to disappear.
Flexibility is key in all the facets of today’s work environment. Staff is moving around the office space freely changing between different teams and projects, freelancers and outside contributors come and go and different yet congenial businesses are working alongside each other to enhance each other’s expertise and network. The traditional lease model for office space just does not seems to suitable to fit these new requirements.
Mindspace has become the leading ‘office-as-service’ provider in the world, with almost thirty locations in major global cities. They revolutionized the modern office, creating high-end, yet affordable and flexible shared workspaces, comfortable lounges and efficient conference rooms, enabling creative businesses to work alongside each other and thrive from within the same building. Mindspace’s commitment to a new and vibrant workspace extends beyond the premises, offering its tenants a range of in house wellness-, lifestyle- and professional programs for an efficient yet pleasant work environment.
By opening more locations worldwide and with 8 different locations within the Netherlands, Mindspace continues to support businesses so they can continue to grow and thrive within their industries.
www.mindspace.me
Fashion
New DIOR Boutique on the Champs-Elysées
For a brand of DIOR’s magnitude, it is a question of prestige to have a presence in certain select locations worldwide. This becomes even more important if said location happens to be the birthplace of the house. With the majestic display of its new boutique on the world’s most beautiful avenue, the Champs Elysées, the house of DIOR pays homage to the French capital and its special bond city.
The three-story space is a reflection of core DIOR values, a testament to the house’s savoir-faire and a journey to the heart of the House’s modernity and heritage. In a tribute to the DIOR’s iconic address, the façade of 30 Avenue Montaigne is reprised on an immense, entirely handmade drape at the heart of the Champs-Elysées.
Inside the store, a staircase unfurls like a ribbon in an ode to the curves so loved by its founder, whilst pristine white toiles usually locked away in the DIOR ateliers compose a poetic fresco.
The new boutique adorned with symbols of Christian Dior offers a timeless and contemporary atmosphere for its customers to discover the houses Men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as jewelry and footwear, fragrances and Dior Maison designs. Additionally, the store features an in-store workshop offering a broad range of new personalization services, completed on the spot within an hour. Animated with new launches and pop-ups, DIOR presents an immersive and innovative concept of luxury.
For the opening of its new boutique, DIOR presents an exclusive preview of the Check’N’Dior collection with two exclusive variations of the DiorCamp and a silk scarf in tropical toile de Jouy specially designed for the Paris address.
www.dior.com
Art
Implicit Tensions: Mapplethrope Now
Robert Mapplethrope counts amongst the most critically acclaimed artists of the late twentieth century. Most notably, Mapplethrope is known for his black-and-white portrait photography and his documentation of New York’s S&M scene in the late 70s. His provocative images were never created with the purpose to shock, but out of a curiosity to explore and showcase the unknown. For the 30th anniversary of his passing, the Guggenheim Museum dedicates a yearlong, two-part exhibition to Mapplethorpe’s groundbreaking work, which deliberately kept challenging the social norms of the time.
Whereas the first phase of Explicit Tensions showcased the Guggenheim’s large collection of Mapplethrope’s work, the second part is focussed on the artist’s lasting legacy. In the ensuing decades, Mapplethorpe’s treatment of under-represented communities and homoerotic desire have raised questions about the agency of the photographic subject and initiated complex conversations about the fine line separating representation and objectification.
To honor Mapplethorpe’s critical contributions, the Guggenheim showcases the work of six artists, that engage various approaches of exploring identity through the medium of photography. The six chosen artists were Lyle Ashton Harris, Glenn Ligon, Zanele Muholi, Catherine Opie and Paul Mpagi Sepuya.
The second part of Implicit Tensions: Mapplethrope Now will be open to the public from July 24, 2019 until January 5, 2020.
www.guggenheim.org
Fashion
SCHUELLER DE WAAL Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2019
Dutch Design studio SCHUELLER DE WAAL continues to unfold their story of ‘Fashion Therapy’ and opts once again for a different kind of presentation during Paris Haute Couture 2019/2020. In collaboration with Pik Pik Environnement, they present the first Collaborative Cleaning Initiative named ‘Litter’.
Rather than changing a location to be able to accommodate a fashion show, SDW Studio created an initiative that has a positive effect on the location itself. Dressed in an eclectic range of cleaning uniforms, a group of 50 models, cool kids and volunteers started picking up trash in the public square in front of the town-hall in an upbeat cleansing fashion performance.
The workwear inspired overalls pick up on the concept of re-purposing. They are made from patchworks of leftover fabrics and past collection pieces in an effort to avoid the unnecessary waste of resources. The collection is a clashing combination of couture and workwear, recontextualizing past pieces whilst supplementing the insufficient samples and leftovers of luxurious fabrics with re-creations made from office-and household materials.
Most of the cleaning uniforms were finished off by safety shoes by the Dutch brand EMMA Safety Footwear, chosen for its Corporate Social Responsibility mission.
www.schuellerdewaal.com
Fashion
Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2020
Thom Browne is a master in creating a dream-like surreal mise en scène. For Spring/Summer 2020 he imagined a garden as out of Marie Antoinette’s summer residence. At our arrival at the spectacular Ècole des Beaux-Arts we saw what looked like full-scale statues standing on small podiums, at its center a adorable cherub fountain jetting seersucker gush instead of water. The statues, wearing 2D visualization of garments — that we will later discover — we’re no other than part of the collection looks soon to be unveiled. Coming to a closer look to discern the intricacy of the composition, we all realized they were actually real models. Part of the fantasy — one of the principal of the American Ballet Theater — is James Whiteside, dancing magnificently as the models walked in.
The signature Thom Browne fabric, seersucker, is declined in pastel colors: light blue, aqua, pink, yellow, but also in navy and red. At times flower embroideries blossomed, recalling the summer garden we were merged in.
The silhouettes at time reinventing the XVIII century gowns: dilated hips, achieved by panniers, the corseted waist well below the natural waistline, the deep décolletage, the drapery-parted opening of the skirt to reveal underskirts, petticoats, or a dress. Elements that Oriole Cullen - Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department, Victoria and Albert Muse address as a measure of eighteenth-century theatricality and sensuality.
In Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2020 all these elements are transformed and reinvented: the décolletage is turned in a graphic representation of blazers lapels, the underskirt in exaggerated culottes, the petticoat is rendered only by its naked structure. In classic Thom Browne fashion, he has always loved to merge couture elements in his work.
A whimsical collection as a refreshing dive into a dream-like world, like the breathtaking James Whiteside’s grand jeté.
www.thombrowne.com
Fashion
Yohji Yamamoto Men's Spring Summer 2020
Yohji Yamamoto has the power to fill us all with emotions no matter what. The languid sound of voice and guitar accompanying the slow pace walk of the models. I actually dreamed of an even slower motion walk, just to capture better the passionate handwritten notes, verses, all over the collection. At times I could reach one - if lucky few - words. They felt like notes of protest, a reminder to take action. Visceral and poetic.
Sometimes I would spot ghostly figures by artist Suzume Uchida. With whom Yamamoto collaborated already for Men’s Spring Summer 2018.
Powerful brush stokes by Yohji himself all over, hand painted faces at the back of coats and jackets. And images of what it looked like a sunset. Or was it a hellish landscape?
The artwork is by Yuuka Asakura who has collaborated with Yohji Yamamoto since 2016.
Don’t ask Yohji the reason why he used these elements, he might answer: “just because”. He doesn’t like the overly explained commentaries of what he creates, the fashion journalism that is obsessed to ask “why” without feeling his clothes. He might let you believe it was just an aesthetic gesture on a whim.
The truth is that Yohji Yamamoto has been reflecting on the meaning of our existence and on the future of our planet since a while. Breaking the boundaries of gender already since decades. He is one of the greatest poets of our time. Although he will tell you he is just a dressmaker.
www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
Fashion
Berluti Spring Summer 2020
The iconic Alessandro shoes have been a source of inspiration since the beginning for Kris Van Assche at Berluti. The headquarters marble table in Ferrara where the shoes receive the special patina, and its coloured stains were rendered on suits already for the Fall Winter 2019 debut collection at the house. For Berluti Spring Summer 2020 Kris Van Assche intensifies the same colour palette with more brilliant hues channelling the rebellious spirit we are acquainted with: intense violet, cobalt blue, fluo orange, yellow.
During last season’s debut collection Van Assche talked about carefully finding the new codes for Berluti in beautiful excellent crafted clothes but with a new energy and seductive allure.
For Spring Summer 2020 Van Assche adds little by little new elements together with confirming what already proposed, building up a language made of details, where heritage meets modernity, also declined in Women’s looks. Like the zip at the bottom of tailored pants to underline the presence of the shoes Alessandro in the version Diamond already available for Fall and the new design with a sneaker sole - Alessandro Edge. Or the house’s legendary scritto motif – a 19th century old manuscript from Berluti’s archive – printed on jacquard suits, shirts and leather pieces.
Kris Van Assche also expands Berluti silhouettes: suits jackets are often sleeveless or paired with bermuda. If we see motocross pants added to Berluti’s vocabulary - further driving in the direction of Van Assche love for New Wave rock - the women’s suits counterpart are declined with ostrich feathers, channelling a delicate femininity, a game of contrasts.
We applaud to the brave spirit of Van Assche and we are already looking forward to next season’s new staples.
www.berluti.com
Fashion
Miu Miu Jockey Club
Each year, Europe’s luxury houses travel in style to a chosen destination for the presentation of their Resort collection. Whereas Prada invited its guests to New York earlier this year, the selection for the sister label Miu Miu fell on the picturesque Hippodrome d’Auteuil race track on the outskirt of Paris.
Fitting to the chosen venue, Miuccia Prada unveils an upbeat collection reminiscent of a day at the races. Aware of the current political situation, Prada confronts conservatism in her designs and presents her personal and playful take of ‘conservative’ occasion wear.
Throughout the collection, fairly straight shapes are shown alongside Forties and Seventies references in form of recurring Chelsea collars, crystal-embroidered pouf-sleeves and high-waisted shorts. Despite many conservative staples, the retro-looking collection gets a distinctly youthful and sporty flair through its accessories. The silhouettes are finished off with clunky platform sneakers and a variety of layered hats, combining classic styles, such as cloches and wide-brimmed sunhats with modern baseball caps.
Fitting for the venue and to underline racing’s tradition as a social occasion, the runway show was completed with a horse race and an exclusive party.
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
Fifty Years Proud
Most of the world’s heritage fashion houses share a special bond to the city they are located in. Having remained within its confines for generations, their stories began to intertwine and the brands have become an intricate part of the fabric that set is apart. They become a visual embodiment of the city’s spirit, taking its aesthetic and lifestyle into the world.
Coach shares a special bond with the city of New York. For almost 80 years, they have witnessed some crucial social movements that started in the city and later changed the whole world. With Fifty Years Proud, Coach celebrates the LGBTQ+ community; its history, culture and determined pursuit of recognition and acceptance.
In honor of WorldPrideNYC and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, Coach releases a film project dedicated to the five decades of the struggle endured by the LGBTQ+ community. Through a combination of dance, archival footage of past Pride celebrations and interviews with key figures from each decade of the movement, Coach promotes inclusion and freedom of self-expression, two of New York’s trademark features. To create the film, Coach collaborated with a diverse team of internationally recognized artists, including the director Kevin Calero, choreographer Tanisha Scott, stylist Chris Campbell, makeup artists Jace Bowman and Tiffany The Artist and hairstylist Yusef Williams.
The struggle against sexual discrimination has come a long way but is far from being done. With Fifty Years Proud, Coach expresses its continued active support for the LGBTQ+ community and fortifies its multi-year commitment in support of the Hetrick-Martin Institute.
www.coach.com
Fashion
Karl For Ever
On June 20th, the houses of Chanel, Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld came together to pay homage to an extraordinary career and the man behind it. As much as Karl Lagerfeld lived in the moment and refused to look back into the past, nobody could possibly begrudge the industry for taking a moment to dwell on the lasting memory Lagerfeld left behind.
In the Grand Palais in Paris, over 2500 guests came together to witness a spectacle staged by Robert Carsen in Lagerfeld’s honor. Countless celebrities from film, fashion and music alike took the time out of their busy schedules to take part in this event.
Through testimonials and compelling videos, shot throughout his life, and portraits, from some of the most famous photographers, we get a last impression of this multi-faceted man, who refused to be defined by anyone. Alongside performances by world-renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang and American artist Pharrell Williams, the actresses and close personal friends Tilda Swinton, Fanny Ardant, Cara Delavingne and Helen Miren recited and read excerpts from his favorite authors, Virginia Woolf, Stéphane Mallarmé and Edith Sitwell.
In an exceptional moment, the industry says its last farewell to a man of incredible talent, who has undeniably left a lasting mark in an inherently fast-paced and ephemeral industry.
Fashion
Marcelo Burlon County of Milan Spring/Summer 2020
Italian fashion has a certain inherently elegant quality that has been established by its grand houses and their rich tradition. Marcelo Burlon does not fit this mold of Italian fashion. Traditional Italian elegance is replaced with a gritty urban aesthetic, closer to streetwear than couture. Marcelo Burlon takes a techno-approach for his new season, starting with his choice of materials. Modern fibers, such as iridescent coated nylon and paper-like resin tech cotton are crafted into garments suited for the hyper-accelerated needs of a contemporary lifestyle.
Throughout his collection, sometimes evoking references to ‘90s acid culture, Marcelo Burton continues to refuse the pre-set rules and lets extremes collide, showcasing them side-by-side. Technical cycling garments, do not just inject an element of body consciousness, but also infuse traditional tailoring techniques for an eclectic hyper-modern look. To underline his techno-approach, Edoardo Tresoldi build a modern and impressive wire mesh cathedral as a runway for the show.
Additionally, Marcelo Burlon used his platform to denounce Italy’s increasingly xenophobic political climate. In an effort to give back to the community and in support of tolerance, Marcelo Burlon sets a sign by casting a considerable number of first-generation Italians of African descent and inviting 300 local kids to the show.
www.marceloburlon.eu
Fashion
ETRO x Star Wars Capsule Collection & Spring/Summer 2020
Italian brand ETRO does not only showcase one, but two collections at their Spring 2020 Menswear presentation. Throughout the show, the SS20 collection was complemented by ETRO’s upcoming capsule collection based on the hugely successful movie franchise Star Wars.
As long term fan of the movies, it was Kean Etro’s wish to produce this unisex collection, including a range of urban staples, such as hoodies, sweatshirts and T-shirts, all carrying a variety of Star Wars prints. The images of all the famous characters are sourced from the original movies, released in the late ‘70s and ‘80s.
Human decorative traditions are in the focus of the main SS20 collection. Kean Etro celebrates the brand’s adventurous and traveling spirit, by presenting an eclectic collection, imbued with references to artisanal craft from cultures all over the globe.
Italian sartorial tradition is revisited and freshly interpreted, resulting in a line-up, defined by light construction and relaxed, sometimes even generous silhouettes. Combined with tribal motifs and quintessential nomadic staples, such as the poncho, they create a nomadic vibe reinterpreted in a modern urban context.
The ETRO x Star Wars capsule collection will be available online and in ETRO international stores from July 1st.
www.etro.com
Fashion
NET SUSTAIN: An Edit of Considered Fashion
The mentality of the modern consumer has undeniably changed over the last few years. Whereas a few years ago the main incentive was to blindly satisfy the desire for luxury and consumption, the focus has shifted towards a more informed way of shopping. Important notions of environmental protection and sustainability never before had such a strong impact on our ways of consumption.
By launching NET SUSTAIN, NET-A-PORTER creates a platform dedicated to brands and designers that meet the business’ criteria for sustainability. Hailed as an important milestone in the business’ sustainability journey, this new section will allow the customers to make informed choices while at the same time highlighting brands that are truly making positive changes.
Initially launching with 26 brands, the 500 qualified products all meet one or more of the five key attributes set by NET-A-PORTER. Each attribute takes a different aspect into consideration, covering everything from waste reduction to human, animal and environmental welfare, whilst also aligning with internationally recognized best practices in the fashion and beauty industries. Over time, they hope to include more and more brands, including the addition of beauty within the next year.
NET-A-PORTER sets out on a mission to inspire positive change by showcasing that sustainability and designer fashion can go hand-in-hand. The changes also extend onto the conglomerate itself, which implements a reduction of travel and a strict no-plastics policy into its shoot programming.
NET SUSTAIN will launch on June 18th.
www.net-a-porter.com
Fashion
Christian Louboutin: The Exhibition
On a global level, fashion exhibitions have gained immense popularity over the last decade. As the exhibitions’ curation becomes more and more elaborate, the visitor numbers reach record-breaking levels. Following the major success of two exhibitions, “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” and “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams”, solely focussing on just one designer’s work and vision, iconic shoe designer Christian Louboutin is the next in line whose work is celebrated with a major exhibition.
Under the curation of Olivier Gabet, the Palais de la Porte Dorée dedicates a whole exhibition to the Parisian’s rich creativity and varying sources of inspiration. The designer’s vision and creative processes are explored in every facet through a selection of his most precious works from his personal collections and loans from public collections.
This exhibition presents one of the most complete collections of shoes, showcasing previously unseen historic and artistic pieces alongside a number of exclusive collaborations, which pay tribute to Louboutin’s admiration for craftsmanship and know-how.
For the first time, we are offered a full insight into one of fashion’s most outstanding minds and we will be able to follow what shaped the Parisian’s designs throughout his stellar career. The Palais de la Porte Dorée from which the French designer was fascinated and borrowed a whole repertoire of forms and motifs for his first designs, unquestionably underlines the exhibition’s personal touch and immersion into Louboutin’s creative spirit.
The exhibition will be open to the public from February 25th 2020 to July 28th 2020 in the Musée de la Porte Dorée in Paris.
www.christianlouboutin.com
www.palais-portedoree.fr
Fashion
CELINE: New Paris Boutique
When Hedi Slimane took over Parisian brand CELINE, he succeeded the likes of Phoebe Philo, whose tenure at the house lasted for the whole previous decade. This change at the top of the house brought in a fresh breeze. This new direction would unquestionably trickle down to affect CELINE in its entirety. After announcing a makeover of the house’s logo in September 2018, Hedi Slimane continues to leave his mark by re-envisioning the brand’s retail space.
The new Paris CELINE store opens its doors in the First District of Paris. The creative director’s architectural vision offers the perfect mise-en-scène to present CELINE’s Men’s and Women’s collections. The new boutique’s concept is rounded out with the help of five perfectly integrated artworks by renowned, international artists Deyson Gilbert, Rochelle Goldberg, Katinka Bock, Hu Xiao and Georgia Dickie.
The new CELINE store is located at 4, rue Duphot in the First District of Paris.
www.celine.com
Fashion
Max Mara Resort 2020
Over the last thirty years, ever since the fall of the Berlin wall, the German capital has experienced a period of renaissance. Countless creatives and visionaries have left their mark upon the city to shape it as one of Europe’s true hubs for art, architecture and design. All the recent contributions to contemporary culture revive the avant-garde spirit established a century ago by the radically modern Bauhaus movement. No other city seems more adequate to mark a new beginning.
His fascination with the German capital has influenced creative director Ian Griffiths’ selection of Berlin as the Max Mara Resort 2020 destination. Both of his Berlin idols, Marlene Dietrich and David Bowie are everpresent throughout the show. They become eponymous with Max Mara’s new brand spirit, defying imposed conventions, being classic not conservative. Max Mara presents itself edgy and refreshed by employing hand-made looking fabrics and using the idea of frayed selvages as fringes.
The Neue Museum Berlin, with its priceless artifacts, offered the perfect scenery for this tribute to Berlin, as it syncs with the collection’s sandy and earthy color palette and gave inspiration for the first Max Mara jewelry collection designed by Reema Pachachi. Expertly crafted pieces, such as the pure white Berlin coat, a tribute to Meissen porcelain, were rounded out with a selection of sculpted bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
With the selection of this historical location and the Marlene Dietrich-inspired performance of German singer Ute Lemper, Max Mara pays homage to the past. The collection itself acts as a springboard into the future and modernity, redefining Max Mara’s effortless chic for a new generation.
www.maxmara.com
Art
Holland Festival
Art is an essential and indispensable part of life. The value of art oftentimes exceeds creative expression and broadens our horizons by influencing and enriching our world view. Artists take a central role in today's society, crossing borders, collaborating worldwide across many disciplines and never shying away from sensitive subjects or deep messages.
The 72nd edition of the Holland Festival transforms the city of Amsterdam into an international cultural hub, celebrating the diversity of artists and their work all around the city. Perhaps more than before, a platform is provided to the artists, coming from Chile, Colombia, Germany and the United States among others, to bring pleasure to a broad audience, just as diverse as themselves. For the first time, this year a special focus is on associate artists, South African artist William Kentridge and Congolese Faustin Linyekula. Throughout the festival special prominence is given to their new works, exploring the inspiration, themes and ambitions.
The program includes a number of disciplines from the visual arts to theater and opera.
The Holland Festival, taking place all across Amsterdam, starts today and will last until June 23th.
www.hollandfestival.nl/
Fashion
The New Essential
Certain occasions require more than just a simple party. In honor of their 120th anniversary, German luggage manufacturer overworks its visual identity and embarks on a whole year of celebrations. The aim is to remind people of who they are and what they stand for.
The reimagination of their staple RIMOWA Essential is just a first step of this transformation. RIMOWA recognizes the traveler’s needs to make a statement even when traveling and revives the Essential in four distinct hues. As expected from RIMOWA, the colors were not chosen at random, but are reminiscent of the journey, often forgotten behind the focus on the destination. Each color is inspired by the fleeting impressions of the places in between, often only to be seen from the ariel view. The new colorways of the freshly monochrome Essential include Coral, Slate, Sage and Saffron yellow.
The RIMOWA Essential will be available in three sizes starting June 6th at RIMOWA stores and online.
www.rimowa.com
Fashion
Furla Flagship Munich
Family-owned Italian accessory label Furla opens a brand-new flagship store in the centre of Munich. With their new boutique in Theaterlinienstraße 33, designed in a modern and elegant fashion, Furla brings a piece of the comemporary Italian lifestyle into the centre of Munich.
This newly minimal and elegant interior, dominated by clear lines, offers the ideal background setting for the brand’s men’s and women’s lines. Some of their more colourful bags become a visual focal point in the otherwise creme and champagne-coloured interior.
Furla embraces the opportunity to offer its customers an improved shopping experience as upscale as its expertly crafted leather goods and accessories. The remodelled store radiates an ambience fit for a 92-year old house, looking back on a tradition of expert craftsmanship, quality and innovative design.
The two-storey store opened on Theaterstraße 33 in Munich.
www.furla.com
Art
About Future: Architecture, Cities, Environment. Models and Visions
With the creation of Armani/Silos, Giorgio Armani has continuously supported young creatives to realise their visions and ideas. After initiatives in the fields of fashion, cinema and photography, the focus has shifted towards architecture, deemed to be a crucial discipline in our reflections tackling pressing questions of sustainability and social equality in a rapidly changing world. In the run-up to Milano Arch Week 2019, the ‘About Future’ project is launched in collaboration with the School of Architecture, Urban Planning and Construction Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Milan. This exhibition features the work, in form of drawings and models, of around 50 of its brightest students, working on new ways and innovative visions to redefine the balance between the artificial and natural. The presented projects are a mixture of proposed modifications or extensions of existing features or the creation of
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Cruise Collection 2020
Nicolas Ghesquière once more stunned with his 2020 Louis Vuitton Cruise Collection. Quite suitable to a house, which started as a trunk manufacturer, this year’s theme was the joy of discovery. This does not only include the physical departure to new places, but also the comprised spark of personal growth. TWA Flight Centre at John F. Kennedy International airport offered the perfect scenery for this collection, with is architecture reminiscent of the Jet Age, a time where the world started to become as never before, and the invited guests resembling the waiting crowds at an airport’s terminal.
No other city in the world quite captures this spirit than the chosen destination, New York. This cultural melting pot is ever-changing, due the thousands of people arriving and leaving the city everyday. Everybody enriches the canvas that is New York City, leaves a part of oneself behind, but in return receives much back.
The collection captures the spirit of the city, the legendary buildings transposed as sophisticated prints, the bright colour accents in homage of the city’s bright lights and the suave brocade and embroideries, reminiscent of the city’s glam.
Just like the city of New York, Louis Vuitton blends cultures, the French tradition and the American spirit, to form a sartorial expression, enriched by one another.
www.louisvuittion.com
Fashion
Carhartt Urban Book Release
When thinking about the expressions of urban youth cultures, cities standing at the forefront of seismic cultural shift, such as New York or London, pop in most people’s heads. Amsterdam is often overlooked, despite being at the forefront of one of the street’s most visible artistic embodiments, graffiti culture. Before the influences from across the Atlantic reached and popularised this visual urban language across Europe, Amsterdam had its own home-grown graffiti culture. Punks, hooligans and other rebellious movements alike, spread their message on the city’s walls. Their styles were as varied as their messages, creating graffiti unlike any others.
In collaboration with Carhartt WIP, FRESHCOTTON releases Amsterdam On Tour by grafiti artist Again, to investigate the early roots of this phenomenon. They focus on the city’s original scene starting from the 70s, lasting until 1985. 30 different artists offer a glimpse into this insane scene, dominated by the fully tagged tunnels, benches and trams, in an unique collection of words and images.
In addition to this publication, Carhartt x FRESHCOTTON also releases a limited edition capsule collection, perfectly capturing the spirit of the scene, available only at selected Carhartt stores and freshcotton.com
Art
ES Exhibition - JOHAN TAHON, TILL LINDEMANN, SANDOR LUBBE
‘The collective unconscious consists of the sum of the instincts and their correlates, the archetypes. Just as everybody possesses instincts, so he also possesses a stock of archetypal images.’
- CARL GUSTAV JUNG
Following on from the mighty success of the 2018 retrospective exhibition at the Bonnefanten Museum in the Netherlands ‘Wir uberleben das Licht’, which documented Belgium visual artist Johan Tahon’s career exploring the physical and the philosophical through the art form of sculpting, New York now hosts ES.
From 29th March through to the 18th May 2019, a unique opportunity to experience the work of Johan Tahon and his collaborations presents itself to the public. Sculpture, poetry and photography all coalesce to form an immersive, united exhibition.
Sharing the same sensibilities and sentiments as Johan Tahon, German frontman Till Lindermann of Rammstein has specifically written poems to accompany the exhibition. Our editor-in-chief Sandor Lubbe’s photography also plays a part alongside Tahon’s pieces, the culmination from which ES has developed.
Wednesday to Saturday 18:00-20:00 at 87 Rivington Street, New York, the exhibition at 'Empirical Nonsense' runs from 29th – 18th May 2019.
Music
NAO At Paradiso
The effect of NAO’s sound, songwriting and stage presence can be firstly be described as physically impactful. Soul-splitting, heart-wrenching lyrics paired with a vocal ability on par with the R&B greats leave an unexpected bodily impression that hits you direct in the gut. Bold and boundless, NAO taps into all shades of the human experience in a honest, exposing way that escapes any risks of pretension or disingenuinity.
NAO very much takes the reigns of the show at Paradiso, Amsterdam, ensuring that the experience is truly a shared one, not merely a screen projected for the audience to neutrally detach from. Riffing with the crowd, she guides them through a full orbit of emotions, through every peak and trough, celebrating all the experiences symptomatic of the human condition. ‘A Life Like This’ and ‘Another Lifetime’ are particularly striking, stop you in your tracks and capture your heart.
This intensity would most certainly be too overwhelming if it were not for the dam-like burst of unrelenting joy in ‘Get To Know Ya’, ‘If You Ever’ and ‘Inhale/Exhale’ as NAO joyously bounces around the stage, actively engaging the audience to the point where you catch your unwitting grin begin to ache. ‘Drive and Disconnect’ is just effortlessly cool. This ability as a performer is only supported by an exemplary sense of musicality, phrasing and rhythm. Her vocal acrobatics are nothing short of impressive, particularly in the melismatic stretching from the piercingly high then dipping into a resounding, hearty register.
There is no sense of censorship or false cultivation. NAO genuinely feels like a passion artist, writing and singing for the sheer love of and need for it, relishing in the live experience and exhibiting a colorful, refreshing force of unshackled expression as she does so.
NAO is a English musician from East-London currently touring her second studio album around Europe, ‘Saturn’, the follow up to her debut ‘For All We Know’. Her style is self-described as ‘wonky funk’ fusing the electronic with the soulful. Having performed with the likes of Bon Iver, Lauryn Hill and Nile Rodgers to date, she has very early on established herself as a promising musician to look out for.
www.thisnao.com
Fashion
Louis Vuitton Womenswear Fall 2019/2020
Not many knows that when in 1977 the iconic Centre Pompidou opened its doors the Parisians were so shocked that the museum had to arrange clowns and jugglers playing in front of its doors to loosen up the mood and invite more visitors in. The citizen didn’t like the radical architecture designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers – at the time partners – featuring a stile later defined “Bowellism”, where the cable and pipe systems usually kept inside a building were infact exposed.
When entering the Louvre’s Pyramid, slowly approaching Louis Vuitton’s show venue Cour Carrée, we saw a humongous blue pipe running across the courtyard. Little we knew that inside the temporary structure built for the show we would find all the elements and colors of Centre Pompidou’s façade, more pipes, hundreds of them, as set for the show. A Museum in the Museum.
Nicolas Ghesquiere mentioned the beauty of controversy as his inspiration, the need to address colliding elements and the famous Pompidou colors came back in the clothes: the yellow, blue, red, all together.
The collection had a strong 80s references, with its graphic ruffled shoulders and dresses, the ankles boots worn with tights, the silver and glitters, the high-waist carrot shaped trousers and frill skirts. The iconic damier motif was presented in skirts and leather caps.
A bit 80s disco, a bit punk, a bit 80s power feminism. Ghesquiere presented the modern thirst for diversity and an eclectic look far from a put-together one.
The accessories presented some interesting novelties hinting to architectural references and a classic attire: like the flat large bag appearing in look 9 in grey and declined in brown in look 16, apparently Ghesquiere’s favourite bag of the season.
It was a daring collection and we are looking forward to see Louis Vuitton’s client picking and mixing elements.
www.louisvuitton.com
Fashion
CELINE Fall/Winter 2019
At the Winter 2019 show in Paris, Hedi Slimane premieres his winter collection for Celine. Whilst distancing himself from his predecessor, Slimane still manages to meet the brand’s iconic style somewhere aptly in the middle. A solid and stable collection displays a wearable collection of blazers, jeans, sweaters and skirts with a consistent thread of colour and fabric throughout.
It would be hard to miss the references to the 70s. The palette is unmistakably so, camels outer-layers are naturally paired with browns. Creams and denims all tie together with thick knee-high boots. Scrunchy leather boots, wide lapel blazers and aviators play up to this feel also.
Although Slimane’s typical staple is largely subverted by virtue of not having included his characteristic tight and short style, his touch is palpable and present. Leather jackets, the occasional dash of sequins and soft trimmings are identifiable and for a first collection, it is harmonious and marks a strong, clear foundation for evolution in the brand.
Fashion
Boggi ’s Conscientious Collection for the Casual and Sophisticated
Boggi’s SS19 collection firmly repudiates a common misconception that elegance is a necessary sacrifice in favour of practicality. The collection asserts that sophistication can be achieved in one’s leisure time, featuring lightweight pieces with crease-proof properties. Promoting versatility, breathability and comfort, two strong marks of the brand’s identity – simplicity and class – are neatly woven throughout the collection with vintage designs in wool, linen, soft knitwear and silk.
An exciting aspect of the collection demanding mention is the eco-sustainable fabrics. Garment dyed jackets and flowing long-sleeved shirts are exceptionally made from biodegradable fibers extracted from eucalyptus trees targeting the environmentally conscious Boggi Milano man and offering a newfangled language and approach to fashion.
In the formal-casual line, the completely unlined pinstripe suit is made from bouclé fabric, interweaving red and navy blue yarn. Other suits come in sienna red earth and ice grey. The highly popular bestseller polo-shirt is available in an updated range of colours and fibers. Another highlight is the reversible raincoat: one side, high-tech water-repellent and windproof fabric and the other wool. This use of hybrid elements is replicated in the exceptionally lightweight Aria jacket-shirt. Textured printed jerseys atop jackets add a third dimension to the piece, and monochromatic, warm, earthy colours are split up with detailed, decorative patterns.
Designed with a sense of practicality and understated class, the collection is ideal for Spring weekends of outdoor exploration and urban travel.
www.boggi.com
Fashion
Illuminated Forms
“It was the night /A giant saved me / Changed me into a love machine / I can’t take this hell, i a not your prisoner / i was a love machine /soft and hard” SebastiAN’s original track created for Anthony Vaccarello’s Saint Laurent Fall 2019 channels the spirit of the collection: the 80s nightlife, the enchanting Betty Catroux, Bianca Jagger (monsieur Yves Saint Laurent’s own muses), the time when the clubs were the place where designers, artists, socialites and most of the creative crowd would meet.
Anthony Vaccarello presented a strong vision for Saint Laurent gradually evolved season after season into an enchanting identity celebrating the Maison’s historical codes and imbued of Vaccarello’s own signature. The first looks already set the mood: long wool coats, dazzling tuxedo blazer with boxy sculptural shoulders, beautifully tailored. Anthony Vaccarello calls it the “couture blazer”. And it channels that famous masculine look Monsieur Yves himself merged in the Woman’s wardrobe.
But the collection also featured the vertiginously short minidresses Vaccarello is known for in the last looks that stormed in the catwalk as a totally different happening hinting the most deepest night ahead: fluorescents with matching shoes. Looking at their silhouette you can see a reinterpretation of some lines from the iconic 1971 collection by Yves Saint Laurent, clearly addressed by Vaccarello who has been constantly researching the archives. The light installation inside the venue between Matrix and the Tour Eiffel light spectacle – the latter usually accompanying the show during summer time – was a magnificent set for a magnificent collection.
Fashion
A Final Inheritance of Karl Lagerfeld
The Fendi Women's Fall / Winter 2019-2020 collection contains Karl Lagerfeld's last creations. Karl started his career as a design consultant for Fendi in 1965. He developed a special bond with the brand, which is characterized through unprecedented perseverance. Karl gave everything to his collections, whether it was Balmain, Valentino, Chloe, Stella McCartney, Chanel, Fendi or his own brand Karl Lagerfeld. For Lagerfeld, fashion was an endless thought about the expression of wealth and beauty, thoughts that will always live with Fendi, according to creative director Silvia Venturini Fendi.
The collection embodies the extremely creative, romantic track that Karl was always on. His work was a form of personal expression. In his career, Karl was always deeply engaged with the simplicity of the silhouette. Trompe l'oeil - a lasting signature – one he defined in this collection with dreamy and luxuriant scenes in contrast with the sharp geometric forms that were irresistibly illuminated. A beautiful game is played with neutral tones that are highlighted by counterparts such as light ivory tulle, warm cognac patent and terracotta calfskin, alternated with sublime shades such as sea green, mandarin and azure.
Cloque, organza and satin are leading. To compensate for these soft textures, large buttons, double zippers and extra large floating snare straps are added. Karl's own signature is also subtly processed; the collar of the pointy shirt is high and combined with fully pleated trousers, jacket pockets and asymmetrical revers. The geometry contains playful shifting lines that refer to sharp diamond shapes.
A nice detail is Karl's curling 'Karligraphy' FF logo monogram, which Karl designed in 1981 and is depicted on the cabochon buttons. The accompanying accessory collection is a wonderful addition. The classic baguette is available in pillow patent, topstitched vegetal leather with a multi-strap utility harness. There is also a spacious metal frame tote executed in shiny calf. Shoes include flat heels or pointed heels with high heels and contrast soles in shiny neoprene.
A collection that is almost a true blueprint of Karl's artistic heritage.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Crystallized Flamboyance
The magical, pure rays of the Northern Lights are an intrinsic source of inspiration for Byblos's creative director Manuel Facchini. The pristine polar areas that have hardly been affected by humanity are an example of dedication to a more sustainable life. The colors that come together through the interaction of light, ice and temperature on the Aurora Borealis create a natural, flamboyant atmosphere.
Facchini’s aim in this Fall Winter collection is a more sustainable luxury life; plastic recycled bottles are reused by being turned into magical eco-friendly pearls that pursue the same aesthetics of the durable ice crystals and mountain diamonds. By imitating luxurious flamboyance in recycled plastic, Facchini shows that this graceful lifestyle does not only have exist at the expense of our fragile living environment.
Byblos's signature is characterized by all sorts of sports. Elegance and sportiness come effortlessly together in ergonomic constructions from cozy buffers to tight streamlined dresses, all embellished with classic 3D sport protection. Structured silhouettes alternate origami-styled suits with molecular ice structures that seem to melt slowly. Coconbomber jackets, hoodies and crystallized parkas are lined with beautiful graphic and geometric motifs, all are inspired by our own natural, nothern atemporal cosmos. The forms of the prints in this collection are copied from the effects of the Aurora borealis; collisions between electrically charged particles produced by the sun that slowly penetrate the earth's atmosphere. Footwear is characterized by sturdy, cool "cocoon" sneakers, eco-furry booties and hockey-inspired over-the-knee boots.
This new collection is a kaleidoscopic range of practical natural wonders with an inventive, sustainable, extravagant flair. By re-using materials and resemble terrestrial sources, a new challenge arises to save this planet and still live in luxury.
Fashion
Infinite Creativity
Hugo Boss, NY Fashion week Fall/Winter 2019
New York is the city where all sorts of cultural influences come together; art, design, architecture, and fashion. Disciplines fuse here faster than anywhere else. This visionary New York culture has been the starting point for Hugo Boss's new women and men’s collection.
The collection was presented in the gallery district of Chelsea, the heart of the Manhattan art scene. Boss’ decent and modest spirit aims to pursue formality, which has evolved in this collection into a more sporty identity that wants to stand out.
Long, custom made coats and voluptuous capes are made out of luxurious alpaca wool and double-faced cashmere. Edited patchworks are interspersed with graphic stripe constructions and sturdy quilts. Him and her are in contrast with the combination of extremely elegant flowing dresses and slouchy knitwear sweaters.
Traditional craftsmanship has been incorporated in this collection in high-end fabrics to refine the noble identity in a refined, creative way. The volumes of the designs have also been given unexpected proportions with raw-edge finishes and stitch details. Boss is nodding here to the great variety of architectural influences that New York richly possesses.
The basic colors have remained true to the roots. Subdued colors camel, mélange gray, biscuit and winter white are connected to extremes like cool yellow, bright blue and dark pink.
The diverse artistic references reflected in the details make the collection individual and quirky. The new designs from Boss invite you to watch twice - and then again; the unexpected is combined with the expected.
www.hugoboss.com
Fashion
Flooded in News
Jeremy Scott, NY Fashion week Fall/Winter 2019
Jeremy Scott thinks that we are guided by the order of the day: the news cycle. Sensational and earth-shaking headlines keep us in their grips, a trap that is hard to escape. Scott wants to make people aware of this issue and designed this collection together with artist Aleksandra Mir, who does not hesitate about mapping the present in a confrontational way.
The endless news cycle does not only make us spectators but also witnesses, victims and perpetrators of an event, something that does not only affect our view on politics, but also pop-culture. Scott’s Autumn / Winter collection 2019 forms therefore a declaration on this tendency.
Mir brought the New York Post and the New York Daily news to life by enlarging the blown-up headlines into large graphic expressions, which are displayed large on the clothing. The collective obsession with salubrious headlines, false scenarios and click-bait drama causes unnecessary tension and divides societies into different groups, something that according to Scott is an unnecessary pattern and must be broken. His designs reflect the latest news that penetrates our lives so uninvitedly. Only black and white have been used to emphasize the contrast and to get into the graphic atmosphere.
Fabrics such as soft and liquid vinyl printed with blazing headlines formed in geometric dresses with a full zoom give the headlines a new context. Denim and leather also dominate and are embellished with a precious counterpart: Swarovski crystals.
Preformed bustiers are interspersed with layered feather-light tulle skirts - again transparency and layering play an important role. Today's catastrophes are covered in chiffon, the scandals of tomorrow in sequins, silk and tulle to express the horror and displeasure of this time.
By placing the powerful images in a different context, another meaning is created and that is exactly what Scott wants to give us.
www.jeremyscott.com
Art
Hate Speech
Aggression and Intimacy
Hate Speech is a collaborated art project with artists: Thomas Baumann, Candice Breitz, Elena Aya Bundurakis, Tony Cokes, Petra Cortright, Folkert de Jong, Verena Dengler, Ryan Gander, Yuri Pattison, Signe Pierce, Jim Shaw, Gunther Skreiner, Markus Sworcik, Amalia Ulman, Martha Wilson, Joseph Zehrer. Presented until 18 April 2019 in the Künstlerhaus, Halle für Kunst & Medien (KM-) in Graz, Austria. The exhibition addresses the function of the institution as a place for societal, free debate and democratic discussion.
Free speech and freedom of public expression are an ever returning and essential element in human life. In order to live alongside each other, it is always necessary to keep searching for a way to live next to each other. Interacting means developing. By “picking” interactions as a human being, you choose to connect, which means blending yourself with the public and private.
This artwork was developed in response to current relationships between politics and multi-media. Communication contains so many layers today, layers within which humanity needs to wonder whether there is still real freedom of speech within the use and especially abuse of media.
The individual partakes in the interaction process, subconsciously searching for individual meaning and with that, the possible connotations of their own personal intimacy. Interaction arises from people responding to the social and political happenings around them, becoming more sensitive and their psyche becoming more aware.
The way people are connected to online social channels today and how they interact to one another is a tendency that determines a whole new order in communication. Users develop an extraordinary urge for connection, which often seems to be in conflict with their personal boundaries. Questions about identity arise and create an inner intimate crisis. The media has been a dominant middleman for a long time, and has become even more powerful due to the rise of social media platforms. These channels do not only report and interpret the news. Interaction is unfiltered and not viewed in light of context. This creates a solid breeding ground for fake-news and the manipulation of public opinion resulting in an overly sensitive personal psyche.
Online communication results in a contrasting combat between dedication and discarding, visibility and anonymity. The collective reaction to this has resulted in people challenging each other in a hostile manner. Users dare not express their real desires in this uncertain, undetermined environment where only roles are adopted, instead of real personalities. “Intimacy” is central in this collection; it conveys a need for demarcation from outside space and ‘The Other’, for retreat and silence, so as to be able to recognize and describe one’s own personal self.
www.km-k.at
Fashion
TECHMERINO™ Wash&Go by Z Zegna starring Alexander Zverev
Today Z Zegna introduces the new TECHMERINO™ Wash&Go collection tested and presented by the youngest tennis winner of the ATP Finals and face of Z Zegna, Alexander Zverev. During playing, Zverev can fully count on high quality performance-capable material, encompassing lightweight comfort and sustained flexibility.
Zegna has an unprecedented passion for tennis and designed the TECHMERINO™ Wash&Go wardrobe with this obsession in mind. This assemblage includes suits, jackets, bombers, t-shirts, and pants, all with a fast-drying wool fabric for optimal comfort and performance. This collection contains best of both worlds; elegance and ultimate convenience. This can be seen in the variety of fabrics: maxi meshes playing with transparency executed in an inspiring spring color palette. This apparel shows how the limits of active wear can be re-interpreted with innovative techniques that lead into a sophisticated look.
TECHMERINO™ Wash&Go breathes well by offering a continuing thermo regulation that keeps the body on a constant temperature in both heat and cold. All the pieces are made out of the natural fabric; pure Merino wool treated with special finishing techniques so that it will be easy to wash and maintains its rich quality.
www.zegna.com
Fashion
Sacai Fall 2019 Menswear / Pre-Sacai Fall 2019 Menswear
When the morning of the yellow vest protests we all tried to arrive on time for Sacai held at the Grand Palais, Paris seemed a ghost city, lost in space and time. With the Grand Palais in the middle of the restricted area and dozens of police’s special forces at every single corner surrounding the area it was surreal. In 2 hours the people fighting for their future would march those streets.
Feeling blessed to have succeeded to arrive on time at the show after several attempt to enter the area, as we saw this beautiful collection full of all Sacai’s signature traits playing with the construction of silhouettes and juxtaposition of materials: the deconstructed pleated asymmetrical skirts, performance fabrics hybridizing formal garments, coats where the liner becomes a pumped up outer layer, a sweater traditionally worn under a jacket instead becomes its outer shell.
Chitose Abe mentioned a “cultural melting pot”, in her show notes and the importance of feeling “the freedom to be different, to be an individual”. Symbolized by the iconic London’s Bar Italia collaboration for t-shits and hoodies, where Abe spent time as student.
www.sacai.jp
Fashion
Hermès Fall 2019 Men
French pioneer of modern architecture Auguste Perret and his spectacular reinforced concrete aesthetic welcomed us at the Hermès show last Saturday, after a difficult day for France with the Yellow Vest protest that fired across the city.
When arriving at the venue, housing the Mobilier National - the French national supplier of furniture to the royal family first and every official building – the guests were thrown into an ecstatic moment of appreciation: the show was set in the storeroom where all the magnificent armchair and sofas from Art Deco to Louis XIV were laid one after the other.
This landscape of emotion created the perfect setting for Véronique Nichanian’s collection. As magnificently as the upholstery in the background, Nichanian created a modern and extremely sharp Menswear both in the silhouettes and in the intentions.
It is rare today to see a Fashion house not to be tempted to create pieces draw from the current need for the extreme. Admirably Véronique Nichanian stays true to her aesthetic creating a collection made of refined gestures that doesn’t renounce to address a smart and young audience.
Take the beautiful leather carrot pants declined in all colours, from blue to caramel. Combined with knitwear or with leather bomber jackets with geometric contrasting elements. Or the oversized shearling and leather trench in a splendid burgundy tone.
Suits appeared sharp and worn with them with a roll-neck or zip-neck jumper in iridescent colourful hues underneath, giving a smart take on suiting.
It was fun to see a dragon silhouette on bags reminiscent of the Chinese Zodiac
The alluring power of heritage once again flame in this iconic Frech maison
www.hermes.com
Fashion
Yohji Yamamoto Fall 2019 Mens
When not long ago Yohji Yamamoto himself held a live concert in Tokyo playing his beloved guitar we couldn’t help but be extremely excited. The reserved - at times almost introvert – Japanese maestro performing his music on a real stage!
For us who love his poetic and admire him unconditionally it was a natural gesture. We all wanted to be there. And when the sound of his soft voice pervaded the show venue for his Fall 2019 Menswear a soft melancholy, recalling that iconic moment surfaced embracing the whole collection.
The same soft melancholy of the silk thread on blazers and coats, the layered volumes signature of Yamamoto’s poetic: fluid large pants tucked in laced boots, coats on jackets approaching and slowly – in the Yamamoto’s signature models pace – as out of a majestic army.
It is not a stretch to feel the pathos recalling the uniform of the late Hijikata Toshiz? in Shinsengumi’s final battle in 1868.
Backstage Yamamoto playfully stated to some journalists the reason of the floating treads was due to having forgotten to cut them away, but we know his extreme humble nature drives miles away from the fashion circus where every gesture needs to be overly hyped.
Once again Yohji Yamamoto stays true to his integrity.
www.yohjiyamamoto.com
Fashion
Off-White Fall 2019 Mens / Pre-fall 2019 Womens
Spontaneous vegetation growing in hostile conditions, around abandoned industrial landscapes, resurfacing lacerated concrete, fading away from one place to blossom in another corner meters further. It’s the interstitial landscape in Gilles Clément’s “Manifeste du Tiers-Paysage” where plants serve as aid to observe the space with all its social, political, urban connotations.
Virgil Abloh’s setting for Off White is imbued with this rich fragmentary landscape, suspended, in constant evolution and change. Like Abloh’s creative ambition and know-how.
Moving into this residual landscape - constructed as a huge green-screen noddig to the 80’s and 90s “Pubblic Television” - Off-White new collection for Fall 2019 stormed in , with all its codes where the formal clothing and the attention to tailoring surfaced amongst Off-White’s repertoire confirmed Virgil Abloh’s voice and personal baggage starting his adventure at Louis Vuitton.
www.off---white.com
Fashion
Colmar to Protect Against the Elements
Colmar shows off their carefully cultivated experience and expertise that have been trialed and tested over the course of almost a century, catering clothing for the most challenging of open air sports. The Spring/Summer 2019 collection showcases exceedingly technical pieces, conscious of the multifarious challenges and restrictions that are thrust upon the active sport enthusiast facing disparate and at times harsh climates and conditions. The pieces are fit for function and ensure reliable elemental protection and safety, proving the garments up to the task presented by even the most demanding of sports.
Colmar consistently demonstrates its close connection to and understanding of the needs facing athletes and enthusiasts through regular, self-reflective frugal research and development. No more is this evident in this collection than in the slim, compressible jackets occupying only minimal space, ideal for seamless slipping into your backpack. All stretch pieces are created using anti-bacterial and anti-odour fabrics allowing for uninhibited and carefree movement. Other additional details include hoods, breathing inserts and glowing, reflective prints heightening visibility in the darkness. Polartec Alpha technology allows for thermo-regulation in one piece, managing the body heat produced alongside the circulation of air it comes into contact with. Wadding-filled sleeve and sleeveless outerwear have high absorption capacities combating wind, water and cold. All these essential functions are paired with a look that is simultaneously bright, bold and vibrant; so you can look, feel and be the part. The women’s jacket line is decorated with punctilious woven shoulder strap details and prints and the collection is cleanly rounded off with a wide selection of men’s swimwear.
Colmar’s Spring/Summer collection is skilfully crafted and harmoniously structured offering colour combinations that can be playfully layered together. The balance of the functional properties demonstrates Colmar’s sheer commitment to change in the pursuit of high quality, accommodating for both the athlete and the part-time sport enthusiast.
Fashion
Mr Porter Collaborates with Off-White
In a partnership with Off-White and under the direction of founder Mr Virgil Abloh, Mr Porter premieres an exclusively available 44-piece capsule collection ‘Modern Office.’ As indicated by the title, the collection revises traditional sportswear dress codes, synthesises them with the game-changing luxury Italian streetwear of Off-White, all the while underpinned by a refreshing exploration of modernity inspired by an upcoming generation of workers and their environments.
Bold and intrepid yet comfortable and minimalist. The skate sub-culture is retained through the individualistic, personalized style items and that sense of independent-minded, carefree disregard subsequently permeates the collection. Flux is revealed through the utilisation of a synergy of wool, felt, heavy canvas and cotton highlighted by muted, tonal colors and graphic visuals.
Mr Porter will debut the collection ‘Modern Office’ on 21st January 2019 as part of a thrilling collaboration available only at Mr Porter.
www.mrporter.com
Fashion
Pop-Up Store In Berlin
Another Berlin-based label, Nobi Talai, took the opportunity to launch it's pop-up store at KadeWe during Berlin Fashion Week. The store will be open to the public until February 16th. Designer Nobieh Talaei - inspired by the aesthetics of the Danish designer Finn Juhl - found inspiration in his famous designs such as the Circle Rug or the Pelican Chair for her S/S 19 collection that is being sold at the pop-up. As with all her designs she is forging a link between tradition and modernity, creating a collection for the urban explorers of today.
www.nobitalai.com
Fashion
Roman Nonchalance
Brioni showed in Milan its Fall/Winter 2019 collection presenting a masculine wardrobe repertoire with a tailoring formality. On the other hand they simultaneously exhibit a sense of informality making the collection one open to personal interpretation. Brioni’s authentic tailoring and precision is shaped again in a niche way, in an item called the primo suit. This slim-fit silhouette expresses a confident and exceptional, social spirited character.
An identity that embodies the idea of Roman nonchalance; an attitude that is characterized by pieces that move smoothly and lightly over the body made out of precious, refined materials with interesting details. This philosophy is central due to the representation of a man who instinctively follows his whims. An elegant gent with a well considered wardrobe, which obeys a special repertoire of style codes.
The collection indicates a mix of traditional and trending items: From trench coats to blousons, from morning suits to tailored or military pants. The items are released in materials such as cashmere, camel, wool, silk, leather, crocodile leather, velvet and knits with a fused color palette of neutral tones, whites, greys with touches of light blue and accents of rusted notes.
www.brioni.com
Art
Ulay's Exhibition at Richard Saltoun, London
The very nature of Ulay’s art inadvertently resists all attempts at classification and defies categorisation. A self-proclaimed anarchist, Ulay’s work spans multiple platforms and offers a stark exploration of the dichotomy between the masculine and the feminine, exploring the fluidity of the self and the constant potential for transformation and experimentation with new identities. Ulay is one of our long-time favourite artists with whom we have previously had the incredible honour to work with on two separate projects.
From an early affection for the fleeting, transient and instantaneous process of the Polaroid to a traceable crossover in utilising the physical form through performance and body art, it is strikingly evident that the single common thread of Ulay’s work is awareness — in the obvious performative, physical sense of course but also in his social commentary.
Ulay’s unyielding lifetime commitment to dismantling and subverting the roots of complex themes of identity, particularly gender, by tackling the harmful human conflicts that arise from externally enforced notions of identity through his unprecedented format, are what have comfortably established his status as a true icon of polaroid photography and as the father of performance art.
From 11th January – 23 February 2019, the Richard Saltoun Gallery in London will host its first solo exhibition of Ulay’s work dating back to the 1970s and progressing right through to new works exhibited in public for the first time.
www.richardsaltoun.com
Fashion
FENDI: ART & CULTURE
“My work is dealing with volumes shaped by lights and shadows, highlighting the forms with light, creating visual relations between projection and the use of lights and stroboscopes. The light is something smooth, untouchable, soft”.
Laslzo Bordos, the internationally renowned Hungarian artist, considered a pioneer of digital arts and architectural mapping, created “Lux Formae”, a visual installation supported by FENDI and produced by Solid Light Festival within Videocittà series of Events in the city of Rome. Using Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana - home of the roman maison FENDI- as its canvas he created a spectacular 3d projection on the building triggering new perceptions and symbolism of this iconic Italian architecture: “The building is a massive, heavy construction. I would like to create the illusion of the lights "holding" the building, bringing a contradictory situation where the lights become solid and the concrete becomes a floating element, supported by lights”- Bordos explained.
Having its deep roots already in the work of legendary artists like Laszlo Moholy-Nagy or George Kepes, Light Art had incredibly developed in the last decades, taking shape into the new forms of Light Projection on building using 3D mapping, where the urban and architectural environment is completely reproduced virtually in 3D to create an extremely precise and three-dimensional installation. When the projection is performed in situ on the building, its visual power derails the viewers customary schemes of perception and observation, creating a new reality, where the boundary of what is real and what is seen become blurry.
With the support of Fendi and its cutting edge approach to art, the video mapping projection by Laslzo Bordos took shape and brought a new meaning to Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, one of the most fascinating contemporary architectures in Roma.
Fashion
Dries van Noten Spring Summer 2018
Dries Van Noten has been synonymous of effortless since the beginning, more than 25 years ago. We have tasted surely during his 100th show where pieces of all past collection where carefully selected and carefully re-arranged together. The Spring Summer 2019, the first Womenswear show after the news of the recent majority acquisition by Spanish conglomerate Puig, was set at Palais the Tokyo and its clean environment. Many saw it as a symbol of a new start, a new beginning.
But the collection proved that Dries van Noten aesthetic is as strong as ever.
That relaxed attitude, that playful side to mix prints and certainly the ability to wear masculine oversized cotton suits in white or black with anything borrowed from eveningwear like sheer knits and maxi sequins in aqua green, yellow and Yves Klein’s blue, one of Dries favorite references. The blue splashed a great part of the collection also adorning a couple of models’ head in form of feathers swim caps.
As the collection developed into evening dresses we all felt the mastery of Dries’ cut and ability to create couture-like dresses without feeling too Haute.
The workwear jumpsuit with the upper part pulled down at the waist and work as a decorative bow belt felt the quintessential Dries van Noten: infinitively savoir-faire.
www.driesvannoten.com
Fashion
Moose Knuckles AW18 Collection features a Horror movie
In slang, Moose Knuckles defines the splitting of one’s bean bag as a result of pants that are hiked too high. In the realm of outerwear, Moose Knuckles sounds alarms as the benchmark of style for those who live in the cold.
To mark the release of their Fall Winter 2018 campaign, the moose tribe created a short, campy horror movie – Shady Maple Motel. Toronto’s own four-time MTV video award nominee, Kid. Studio directed the short, taking inspiration from the hyper-real sexually charged photography of Steven Klein. With previous high-profile clients Big Sean and the Weekend to his name Kid, employed the cream of Toronto’s crop for the stylish, sarcastic and gory short.
The leanest, toughest and most luxurious outerwear brand consciously pounds the path less travelled. Playing it safe has never been in Moose Knuckles DNA, and never will be. The contemporary Canadian counter-culture prefers to be known for its grit, dexterity and heritage. Creative Director Steph Hoff prides the brand on an instinctive, organic ethos.
‘If I wasn’t making a campy horror trailer with my friends for Moose Knuckles, I would probably be making campy horror movies with my friends for fun. Like everything we do at Moose Knuckles, it was completely natural to create a campaign around my lifelong love of cheesy drive-in movies, in my home town.’
Fall Winter 2018 includes an array of shearling jackets, transitional coats; combat pieces and over-the-top colorful fur-trimmed parkas, sweatshirts, oversized knits and draped football scarves. To really put the knife in, the collection increases the seminal core of Moose Knuckles with new Army Green, Redwood and Driftwood colorways. Canada to its core Moose Knuckles lives to innovate - to lead.
www.mooseknucklescanada.com
Fashion
Highlights from Milan Fashion Week
Jil Sander Spring 2019
Was the outside inside or inside outside? Who knows? What is for sure is that Lucie and Luke Meier made another lasting impression with the Spring 2019 collection for Jil Sander.
Enter centre stage: the former beloved Milanese Panettone factory. Traditional white tiles adorn the now forlorn walls; operational buttons and levers exist as relics of the past. This was a setting that conveyed function, sense and a certain pragmatism that epitomizes Jil Sander.
Chiseled, sharp, asymmetric two-pieces began the carousel. As time transpired the looks grew in their femininity - sharp minimalism developed an asymmetric funk before evolving angelically into loose, airy ensembles. Rich greens and deep milk chocolate brown rose to crisp innocent white and luxurious caramel tones.
A common trend for Spring 2019 will undoubtedly be the ever-trusty pocket, which infiltrated another runway here in Northern Milan.
www.jilsander.com
Byblos Spring 2019
The regeneration of Byblos is here. Manuel Facchini made a welcome return to the Fashion week circuit in Milan this week with an incredible collection that twisted space atmosphere into something sporty.
Self-expression community experiment Burning Man influenced the Byblos Spring 2019 collection - the annual gathering in north-west Nevada’s, Black Rock Desert dedicates itself to anti-consumerism, communal effort, radical inclusion and leaving no trace.
These influences have birthed a special utilitarian collection that creates a sexy survival atmosphere by translating the colorful Nevada horizons into a playful and ironic space hippie typical of the desert melting pot.
Bonus points for the speculation of an active-wear collaboration.
www.byblos.it
Fashion
Breathing Change: Highlights from NYFW
The Row Spring 2019
Calm, free, fresh, angelic. The Row. In 2019 so much attention is fostered toward creating originality in fashion. So much so that this very idea often breeds stale, unoriginal, regenerated mush. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are the antithesis of this very process. Allowing their serene collection to speak for itself as guests interact solely with their collection directly, quietly and intimately.
www.therow.com
Eckhaus Latta Spring 2019
Eckhaus Latta push new limits. Together Mike and Zoe fuse cool with raw. Spring 2019 combines digital prints, fluttery plaid dresses with dip dyed and tie dyed pastels on gimmick free, real, authentic models that live the brand. Eckhaus Latta is growing up.
www.eckhauslatta.com
Sies Marjan Spring 2019
Sander Lak’s sixth Sies Marjan collection is his most mature to date (at least according to his stepdad). Cargo elements and nautical stripes pay homage to memories of his father with a bold variety of textures that echo Sander’s journeyman child hood. The intense emotional occasion reached a crescendo as Sanders’ mother took to the runway with a smile.
www.siesmarjan.com
Coach 1941 Spring 2019
Leather goods may be Coach 1941’s main bag but that hasn’t stopped Stuart Vevers’ from using spring 2019 to playfully modernize their practical approach. Iron Dinosaurs, gritty ground, and Disney motifs New York 2018 was not a typical Coach runway show.
www.coach.com
Fashion
Prada opens a new boutique at Via della Spiga, Milan
Italian fashion house Prada is pleased to announce its opening of the new clothing boutique at Via della Spiga in Milan. The new 400 sq m corner store, designed according to Prada’s aesthetics, showcases a large, beautiful and fresh interior with large windows, inserted in the stone frame of the building. All display elements are made exclusively for Prada by Osvaldo Borsani and Giò Ponti.
While the first floor is dedicated to leather goods, accessories and footwear collections, the second floor will stock the clothing collections. To celebrate the opening of the Via della Spiga store, from the 10th of September on, the Italian fashion brand will offer the Prada Sidonie bag — from the Prada Resort 2019 collection — in two styles, made of city calf leather in a different range of colors.
www.prada.com
Fashion
Joey Fung and her mother Kam in new Fendi campaign
Joey Yung is one of the most popular singers and actressas in Asia at this moment. She became one of the most best selling Asian female singers of the 21st Century after she released her debut IEP in 1999. Joey Fung won numerous music awards and released almost 40 albums. In 2013 she proudly performed at the Royal Albert hall in London, becoming the first Chinese singer to perform on that stage. Joey Fung was ranked 63rd on the 2014 Forbes China Celebrity 100, making her the most influential Hong Kong-based female singer that year.
She participated in the Hong Kong Peekaboo Project and customized the Peekaboo, which pays homage to her mother Kam Fung. Kam Fung is not a public figure and did not appear on TV shows or TVC, but made an exception for this special Fendi project.
www.fendi.com
Fashion
Back to the 80's
In the new Fall/Winter 2018 Advertising Campaign Italian fashion House Miu Miu presented a series of pictures with British fashion model Adwoa Aboah, Georgia May Jagger, Kesewa Aboah, Ariel Nicholson, Zoe Thaets — all of them shot by British photographer Alasdair McLellan.
The starlets company was joined by Hollywood’s renegade spirit Raffey Cassidy, Rowan Blanchard and Elle Fanning. All of them posing in iconic clothes from the season: denim total-look, drape coats, polka dot dresses and shoes with socks.
The reference comes from the 80’s and hairstyles of famous singer Cindy Lauper and Bonnie Tyler. In the movie "Steel Magnolia" Dolly Parton explains: ‘The higher the hair, the closer to God’. But what if she was wrong? There is something devilish about the exploration of the contemporary beehive. What if bad girls want to wear high hair too?
www.miumiu.com
Fashion
Suitcase with the secret: Off-White&Rimowa Collaboration
The king of collaboration Virgil Abloh — founder of the Off-White brand and Creative Director of the men's line of French fashion house Louis Vuitton — continues his cooperation with German brand Rimowa.
After the Off-White fashion show for Men's Spring/Summer 2019 at Paris Fashion Week, the two companies officially launched their partnership. Virgil Abloh presented a new transparent case with a ribbed surface, calling it a new level of design. " It’s like 3.0 of personalisation.
It’s not just putting your initials on it but allowing another layer to come in play.’’ — said Virgin. From July 2nd everyone has the opportunity to buy the limited-edition case online and at selected RIMOWA and OFF-WHITE stores in the US and Asia.
www.rimowa.com
Fashion
Breathing Change: Highlights from PFW
Creativity, newness and powerful vibes of change. This is the fresh air anyone could breath if looking from the Tour Eiffel during the Paris Fashion Week, which has celebrated masculine elegance as well as the debut of several designers at the lead of iconic brands.
Maintaining a structured and industrial look that runs over wide denim trousers and T-shirts, Virgil Abloh’s personal brand Off-White brings flashes of American pop and underground culture. Particularly, the use of graphics ornamentations pays homage to graffiti of iconic artist Dondi as well as The Simpsons prints underline the statement of a subversive yet relaxed contemporary appeal.
New Louis Vuitton’s Creative Director makes a great debut, defining a precise and sophisticated new vocabulary for the brand. A bright (off-)white palette spreads into an extended prism of colours, prints and graphics.
From red poppy flowers taking over anoraks to the renovation of zoot-suit monochromatic looks, Virgil Abloh presents a collection that clearly speaks the language of Millennials, without compromising the distinctive notion of masculine elegance.
On the other way around, Belgian designer Walter van Beirendonck irradiating collection playfully works on structures and subversive imaginaries. On the one hand sparkling primary colours, graphics and patterns run over oversized sweaters and outerwear staples, underlining the label’s eclectic identity. On the other hand, a fetish-like abundance of leather marks the rebellious outlines of blue electric jackets and black pants.
A free dialogue of lines, shapes and drawings introduces to the fluid collection presented by Hermes for Fall 2018. Working on textiles such as cotton poplin or technical calfskin and a colour palette that includes monochromatic staples in pop orange, english green and greyish tones, the proposals define a sober yet self confident masculinity.
Inspired by Hawaii, travelling and island living, Yoon Ahn’s label Ambush creates a collection focusing on natural materials, such as cotton, wool and linen. Moreover, the jewellery range unveils literal pearls of wisdom on earrings, bracelets and rings, keeping in mind the ebb and flow of waves that mirror the motions of life experience.
Another promising beginning has been signed by Dior’s runway. With Kim Jones interpreting the codes of Monsieur Dior himself, the collection is a dual tribute to fantasy and Dior’s creativity. Both urban and soft, finding a balance between floral motifs, embroideries, delicate colours and streetwear structures, Jones spaces between the House iconic past, Dior’s personal life and celebrate the birth of a new out-look.
Fashion
Diesel's Red Tag Project by Glenn Martens
On the 16th June 2018, Diesel presented its second instalment of the Red Tag Project by designer Glenn Martens of the label Y/Project.
This platform aims to host international designers that will create exclusive capsule collections, then distributed by selected retailers. According to Renzo Rosso, founder of Diesel: “Glenn comes from Belgian training, so he has this practical-yet-surreal, Margiela-like sense.
But then he’s young and modern, and knows how to appeal to a global, educated consumer, while simultaneously being able to experiment with denim”. Showcased on a stairway at Milan’s Fabbrica del Vapore, the Red Tag Project collection will be distributed and curated by Tomorrow Ltd.
Fashion
Automotive masterpieces with Idris Elba
This September, Grand Basel, the show for automotive masterpieces that presents vehicles in combination with art, design and architecture, is starting a global tour. Therefor, actor Idris Elba is looking for answers about what gives cars their soul in a new film he’s starring in made for Grand Basel.
The new film features four of the event’s exhibitions that reflect the past, present and future. Exceptional automobiles will be presented in extraordinary settings during the contemporary exhibition concept where sophisticated culture, aesthetics and technology engage with international audiences.
The Grand Basel show will be from 6 to 9 September 2018 in Basel, Switzerland. After that the show will be in Miami Beach from 22 to 24 February and Hong Kong 2019.
www.grandbasel.com
Fashion
Karl Lagerfeld first flagship store opening in New York City
Sited at 420 W. Broadway in New York in the heart of SoHo shopping district, KARL LAGERFELD celebrates the opening of their new flagship store, the first one in the United States.
The open feel of the boutique is best intensified by its 3230 square feet, where the overall interior design takes inspiration from Karl Lagerfeld’s private home and studio. Marble finishes, velvet chairs and vintage mirrors create a unique atmosphere, while others elements, such as the red border around the carpet’s edges, tell little stories about the wide imagery of the iconic designer.
The New York boutique will include KARL LAGERFELD and KARL LAGERFELD PARIS ready-to-wear collections for both men and women, as well as accessories and footwear.
In addition to that, Karl Ikonik, the playful collection featuring Karl Lagerfeld and Choupette graphics is also presented. Yet besides clothing, the boutique will also introduce a collection of cosmetics, realised in collaboration with Australian Beauty brand ModelCo.
Keeping the eye focused on future initiatives, the house will surprise customers with the launch of the special collection KARL LAGERFELD x Kaia, which will be available from September 2018.
As Paolo Righi, CEO of the brand, declared: “Opening the first KARL LAGERFELD store in the United States is an exciting milestone in our brand’s continued growth. […] New York is an international fashion capital with a modern spirit and energy that make it ideal setting for our new flagship.”
Innovative, timeless, contemporary. The World of Karl is an open invitation to observe how the future of high-end retail experience looks like.
Fashion
FEIT for TOOGOOD // TOOGOOD for FEIT Collection 02
FEIT founder Tull Price and British design duo Faye and Erica Toogood team up for the second time to launch the unisex Suede Artist Shoe and Suede Artist Boot, as a pure tribute to craftmanship.
The two versions readapt the design from an original desert boot and are made by hand from one-piece upper, which is consequently sewn by hand to the midsole.
With their innovative approach to sustainable solutions, the two models feature a biodegradable and non-irritant veg