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…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Designers, Films, News, Photography Bottega Veneta, brands, Business of Fashion, Chanel, Douglas Keeve, films, Hans Feurer, Helmut Newton, John Galliano, Louise Trotter, Matthieu Blazy, news, photography, Polly Mellen, Ron Galella

10 December, 2024

Rumoured: Louise Trotter to Bottega?

Carven SS25 by Louise Trotter

I’m exhausted and a bit bored by the designer merry-go-round rumour mill, are you?

But please indulge these few updates as they’re personally of interest to me. First, it sounds like Bottega Veneta’s Matthieu Blazy is about to be named as the new artistic director of Chanel. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Design, Designers, News Bottega Veneta, Business of Fashion, Carven, designers, fashion news, Louise Trotter, Matthieu Blazy

6 December, 2024

Quote of the day: Sophie Calle

“I am both very much about oversharing but, at the same time, not at all. I am not on social media; I don’t have Instagram or Facebook. So, I am saying a lot less than anyone who is writing about what they had for dinner last night, or where, or with whom. There are a lot of people who think that they know me, but that is completely false. In fact, I choose a moment, but it is just a moment—I don’t tell what happened before or after. I have been with the same man for 20 years, and I have never written one line about him or shown one photo of him. For 20 years, no one has known how I really live my life.”
Sophie Calle, W Magazine (more…)