8 June, 2025

Random Recs: Sotheby’s, Jonathan Anderson, The Bitter End

UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

A few snippets of digital ephemera and IRL recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ UK AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT. Next Thursday (12th June) sees the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt go on display in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall, a combination of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels dedicated to approximately 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS in the UK. Alongside, there’s an hourly free screening of “There is a Light That Never Goes Out”, a recently rediscovered 50-minute documentary about the 1994 display of the quilt in Hyde Park. The quilt is on display at the Tate from 12-16 June; the film will be screened from 12-15 June. No booking required. Read more here. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Beauty, Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Events, Films, News, Trends beauty, Business of Fashion, collabs, designers, events, films, Isabella Rossellini, Jonathan Anderson, Sotheby's, Susanne Kaufmann, Tate Modern, The Bitter End, trends

19 April, 2025

Random Recs: HommeGirls store, COS fragrance

HommeGirls New York Chinatown store

A few snippets of digital ephemera and recommendations I’ve enjoyed lately…

1/ THAKOON PANICHGUL opens the first HommeGirls store in New York’s Chinatown next week (above). Those dry cleaning racks and infinity mirrors are sure to see plenty of footfall. (And yes, you can buy magazines there.) Read more in Vogue.

2/ COS has launched its first ever fragrance line. Consisting of four ‘unisex’ eau de parfums (£75 for 100ml, £35 for 15ml, or £19 for a discovery set*) ranging from woody, to spicy, to floral, and four candles (£45), the woody Mythe fragrance (green cardamom, ginger and vetiver notes) sounds most appealing. Buy it here*. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Beauty, Designers, Fashion shows, Films, Magazines, News, Retail concepts, Shopping Alexis Bittar, Bella Freud, COS, Dior, fragrance, Hanif Kureishi, Hommegirls, Kim Jones, Random Recs, Thakoon Panichgul

9 January, 2025

The culture of fashion: Alaïa for foodies and bibliophiles

Alaia Violet Cakes Bond Street London

Just after New Year I treated myself to a banana bread and coffee date at the new Violet Cakes cafe in the New Bond Street Alaïa store. Food and fashion have been forging an alliance for some time and I was reminded that Azzedine Alaïa was a natural instigator of this idea as far back as the 1980s.

Unlike other luxury fashion houses with their ultra brand-coded cakes and confectioneries (hello Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami cakes) this is a somewhat more wholesome approach. The food is consumed round an aluminium communal table nodding to the original spirit of Azzedine Alaïa himself, famous for inviting models, seamstresses, editors and even passing VIP clients to join the home-made feast at the studio table. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Books, Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Films, News, Retail concepts, Trends Alaïa, Azzedine Alaia, books, Business of Fashion, Claire de Rouen, culture of fashion, designers, Pieter Mulier, retail concepts, retail stores

13 December, 2024

Polly Mellen remembered

Polly Mellen

Thoughts and prayers to all the fashion journalists this week. I’m not sure what’s up with the planets but it’s been a whirlwind of arrivals, departures and confirmations.

The happy news is that Chanel has confirmed Matthieu Blazy as its next artistic director (following his successful three years at Bottega Veneta) and Bottega has confirmed Louise Trotter as Blazy’s replacement. Yes, I’m delighted!

The sad news is that John Galliano (AKA Johnny G – cute!) is departing Maison Margiela after ten years. Not sure where he goes next.

But very sad is the news that the incredible stylist and one of my fashion idols Polly Allen Mellen has died at the age of 100. (more…)