Designers

Indie boy wars: Saint Laurent or Burberry?



I don’t take much notice of male pop stars or what they’re wearing. The only time I pay the slightest attention is when Burberry emails me to tell me who wore what at one of its snazzy events and that’s only a nanosecond before I press the delete button (sorry Burbs, I just don’t do celebs). (more…)



New Russian talent at Avenue32



It’s been around for less than eighteen months but Avenue32 is powering along in its quest for etail market share. It prides itself on scouting new talent, not least from further afield than St Martin’s London, New York and Paris. This is an interesting video spotlighting three of its Russian designers – Vika Gazinskaya, Vassilisa and Vilshenko (The sound quality’s not great but stick with it). (more…)



Lacroix! Zanini! Schiaparelli!



Oh the suspense! As rumours continue to bounce around about exactly who will be wielding the golden shears at Schiaparelli, I’m happy about the latest nugget of info: Christian Lacroix will design a one-off couture collection of 15 pieces to be unveiled at Place Vendôme in July.

Genius move!

Other than designing delicious posh stationery and working with Camilla Morton on a fairy story, I’m not really sure what Mr Lacroix has been busying himself with since his house went into administration in 2009. But I’m totally ready to see what ravishing beauty will emerge from his imagination in homage to Elsa Schiaparelli. Coincidentally (or not?), the latest name in the frame for the main Schiaparelli creative director gig is one Marco Zanini of Rochas. Zanini is another favourite of mine with an eye for the historical who also embraces modernity. I love the story Zanini told Lula magazine, that at the age of 16, he started sending letters and sketches to Lacroix who wrote back with encouraging words. How sweet is that? And how spooky!