14 November, 2022

On my radar: Abask, your new design destination

Heads-up: there’s a fab new e-commerce platform getting a lot of attention right now.

As fashion and beauty online retail have become saturated, as well as an overall fatigue with trends in consuming, it makes sense that some are shifting interests to interiors, a somewhat slower pace of taste signalling – for now.

Abask is the brainchild of Matchesfashion co-founder Tom Chapman and former ecommerce director Nicolas Pickaerts. Its premise is room-themed edits of lovingly-crafted artisanal pieces – whether new, vintage or antique. I’m all about the Study*, where desk-destined Murano glass paperweights* sit alongside Carl Auböck brass knick-knacks* and exquisite vintage fountain pens*. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 2 Comments Brands, Design, Designers, News, Online shopping, Retail concepts, Trends Abask, Carl Auböck, Couturelab, craft, design, Gio Ponti, retail concepts, The Garnered, The New Craftsmen

13 October, 2022

On Joopiter, style storytelling and investment dressing for the hype set

Joopiter by Pharrell Williams

Hot retail news of the month so far comes from Pharrell Williams’ new online auction platform, Joopiter. “Pioneering a modern collecting economy”, it’s a way to sell off his extensive (11-storage units worth) archive of cultural artefacts, while the site simultaneously serves as an online archive of the archive, complete with content to add cultural clout to the pieces.

The first sale goes live next week (but previews from today here) and will consist of one-off items such as an 18k gold Jacob & Co BlackBerry (est sale price $15k-$25k) and blinged-out Swarovski-ed Stan Smiths (est sale price $2,500-$3,500).

Why should we care? (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Art, Brands, Business of fashion, Design, News, Online shopping, Retail concepts, Trends Blackberry, Business of Fashion, Byronesque, Christie's, culture of fashion, Helmut Lang, Joopiter, Maison Margiela, Pharell Williams, Raf Simons, Sotheby's

8 September, 2022

Buy it now: Floopy sweaters

COS undyed cashmere sweater

After writing about ‘floopy Birkins‘ (tbh I’m still not sure if this was a typo and meant to say ‘floppy’ but I like ‘floopy‘). I just clocked this floopy, droopy sweater from COS* (above).

~~Slouchy~~ floopy sweaters are not as easy to come by as you think. It’s not always enough to just size up. Sometimes that means the neck is too wide and the sleeves are too long. A properly floopy sweater needs to be deliberately cut wide and ideally have a thick ribbed hem so you can tuck it in with enough extra to hang generously and ‘effortlessly’ (guess what – it’s never effortless) over the waistband. And sleeves that are roomy enough to push up with plentiful folds, especially when layered over a shirt. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Design, News, Online shopping, Shopping, Trends AW22, cashmere, COS, gentlewoman style, shopping, sustainability

22 August, 2022

Trend report: what to wear for AW22

Craig McDean British Vogue Aug 2022

As you know by now, my trend reports are utterly self-indulgent and reflect what’s ‘new’ through my own personal ‘gentlewoman style’ lens. So I’m glad to say that fifty shades of cappuccino, a Ralph Lauren revival, chunky gold chains and classic bags (with a twist) are all trending for AW22. Of course, the 90s is a major influence on fashion and culture. (more…)