The DRG Style Index: Marques’Almeida X Topshop, Louis Vuitton, J. Crew, Farfetch Discover, Shinola, Christopher Kane X NARS

The DRG STYLE INDEX has been on hiatus for a couple of weeks while Fashion Month took over. But it’s back with this week’s round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…

1. ON YOUR MARKS FOR MARQUES’ALMEIDA X TOPSHOP

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Roll on October 9th. Marques’Almeida’s 68-piece collection for Topshop is looking pretty good, with all the M’A hallmarks intact. Shredded denim, delicious true-blue washes, an overall rough-n-ready aesthetic…watch this one fly. (P.S, if you’re eyeing up the parka, be fast, it’s predicted to go first…)


2. LOUIS VUITTON LAUNCHES ‘THE BOOK’

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Content-meets-commerce continues to thrive. In the last couple of weeks I’ve raved about the in-house print magazines that Matchesfashion.com and Hermes produce – beautifully and expensively executed tomes that are mailed free to customers (or deposited in stores). This autumn Louis Vuitton is joining the fray with ‘The Book’, its own biannual glossy. LVMH also runs Nowness.com, the online content site, so has clearly seen that content publishing is a viable marketing tool. By the same token, Nicolas Ghesquiere has taken over the Louis Vuitton Instagram account in the run-up to the SS15 show on Wednesday to give us a sneaky hint of what to expect. You can see it here


J. CREW JOINS LONDON’S LITTLE MANHATTAN

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J. Crew is slowly but steadily making its presence felt in London. This month has seen the launch of a new store in Sloane Square (fast becoming Little Manhattan with Club Monaco, Rag & Bone, Tiffany and Kate Spade nicely settled), as well as two J. Crew fragrances. If you find the womenswear a little girly (all those statement necklaces!), then my advice is to head for the men’s knitwear and boys’ blazers. Of the Arquiste For J. Crew fragrances, No 31 is the fruity one and No 57 is the unisex, woody one. (Guess which I chose…?)


4. FARFETCH FOR RETAIL TOURISTS

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I’m liking this new physical-meets-digital app from fashion aggregator Farfetch. Capitalising on its global network of independent boutiques, the Farfetch Discover app lets you in on the go-to places recommended by its cache of well-travelled style influencers. Discover the Templehofer Feld Park in Berlin (recommended by The Style Traveller’s Bonnie Rakhit) or the vegan Gratitude Cafe in Los Angeles (suggested by Decades’ Cameron Silver), then click on the map to find out which Farfetch boutique is nearby for a spot of retail tourism.


5. SHINOLA OPENS IN NEWBURGH STREET

Shinola-Newburgh-street-London-October-2014

Barely a week goes by that Shinola doesn’t get a mention on this site. This week’s news is a biggie – Shinola is opening its first store outside the US right here in London. In Newburgh Street to be precise, where the two-floor store will slot nicely alongside LVC and Redwing, in what’s known as London’s ‘heritage quarter’. For a brand that’s only three years old, Shinola is making impressive progress with its robust Detroit-built watches, leathergoods, journals and bikes. The store will open at 13 Newburgh Street next month.


6. CHRISTOPHER KANE X NARS

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The Christopher Kane commerce machine is cranking up nicely. Following this season’s handbag launch, next up is make-up. Coming next May, we’ll see a full colour collection produced by NARS, although what to expect is anyone’s guess as the SS15 collection was decidedly colour-free. But then, Mr Kane is known for his unpredictable surprises…