THE DRG STYLE INDEX: MARC JACOBS, MAC, H&M, DKNY, ARMANI
Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…
1. SOFIA COPPOLA FOR MARC JACOBS AW15
Gasp, Juergen teller didn’t shoot the latest Marc Jacobs campaign. That’s a shame because I loved all the Juergen campaigns, but I can’t complain too much about this shot of Sofia Coppola shot by David Sims. It shows her looking more dramatic than usual, plus how magnificent is that profile..!
2. MAC’S MANHATTAN MAKE-UP STUDIO
MAC is opening a 950 square foot makeup studio in Manhattan for those who want to get their make-up done on the go and learn the how-tos of make-up application. The seven-days-a-week, by-appointment service opens in two weeks with an a la carte menu of services and lessons including winged liner or a full contoured face. In London we now have quite a few drop-in beauty parlours where a quick blow dry or make-up zhuzh can be enjoyed in a glamorous, fun setting. This feels like an extention of that – a million miles away from the hard sell department store experience. New York Times has the story here and you can make an appointment at MACCosmetics.com/MACMAKEUPSTUDIO.
3. H&M‘S EAST LONDON POP-UP
The big news of the week is that H&M is cooking up a top secret new brand. The other news is that H&M is opening an experiential pop-up in Brick Lane to target its younger, cooler customers. Over six weeks from July 23rd, the store will sell H&M’s Divided collection, accompanied by various events, workshops and music-related activity. There will be free nail art, jewellery-designing, music pods, late night lock ins and DJ sets, all designed, I imagine to attract the next-gen H&M customers and keep them there.
4. DONNA KARAN EXITS
It’s the end of an era as Donna Karan steps down from her brand. The mainline brand was always a bit too luxe and grown up for me but DKNY was such a symbol of New York dynamism back in the 90s. I’ll never forget my first time in Manhattan seeing that gigantic DKNY mural, realised by the brand’s identity creator, Peter Arnell. Read the story on Luxury Daily.
5. ARMANI EMBRACES THE NEW NORMAL
What to make of the ‘New Normal’ Armani line? The collection and pics are lovely enough, but I wonder if Armani needs another sub-brand (especially when so many others are consolidating theirs into their main lines). Plus, does Armani’s customer really aspire to be normal? I’m intrigued.
WORDS: Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl
IMAGES: Marc Jacobs; MAC; H&M; DKNY via Rob Smith/Flickr; Armani
