Design

See this: Blusher: Makeup, Art and Materiality



Blusher exhibition Leicester

Do I need a trip to Leicester? Yes, yes, I think I do!

Cathy Lomax has curated this beautiful exhibition, Blusher: Makeup, Art and Materiality at Leicester Gallery, De Montfort University (until 6 September).

Featuring work by artists including Cary Kwok, Lisa Milroy and Rose Wylie, alongside Mary Modha’s ‘Glossy Monsters’ lipstick sculptures and Stacey Greene’s familiar photographs of worn lipstick bullets (below), it aims to look at make-up through an art lens instead of the frivolous, consumerist one we’re used to. (more…)



Michael Rider’s Celine Spring 26: first impressions are in



Celine Spring 26 by Michael Rider

Sunday saw quite the buzz around the New New Celine show – the debut by Michael Rider, a well-liked alumnus of Phoebe Philo’s Celine, Nicholas Ghesquiere’s Balenciaga and Polo Ralph Lauren.

The result was – quelle surprise! – an amalgam of Ralph, Phoebe’s Celine and Hedi’s Celine. What does that look like? Classic Ralph-like preppy-isms (camel coats, primary colours, blazers and rugby shirts), Phoebe-era scarves and bags, and Hedi’s cool factor in the skinny pants (hated those!) and indie-Oxbridge haircuts. (more…)



On Willy Chavarria SS26, refined subversion and a menswear succession moment



Willy Chavarria SS26

“I’m not interested in luxury as a symbol of privilege. I’m interested in luxury as a symbol of truth in one’s own character. Exquisite tailoring and craftsmanship worn to elevate one’s personal intent — that’s power. That’s fashion.” Willy Chavarria, SS26

Boy, was I fortunate to see this quote in action last Friday, from my Paris menswear front row seat at Salle Pleyel. From the sober-but-powerful opening scene (to José Feliciano’s California Dreamin’) of 35 men in long white tees, shorts and socks, referencing the recent dehumanisation of U.S immigrants in Salvadoran prisons, the collection then went on to exuberantly reflect Chavarria’s personal exploration of identity, resistance and “refined subversion”. (more…)



Me+Em’s Goop-style glow-up



Me+Em Marylebone

Has Me+Em had a secret Goop-tinged glow-up without me realising?

The successful British brand is going from strength to strength, catering for a mid-tier busy working mum customer with a contemporary edge. But stopping by its new-ish Marylebone store, it suddenly felt less ‘Marylebone mom’ and more LA-London luxury-lite-core.

The store itself does a lot of heavy lifting. It’s beautiful; light-filled, spacious and fabulously merchandised. But the product also looks really good. (more…)