Quote of the day: Raf Simons



Raf Simons Self Service

“The way I dressed at that time was extreme for the environment I came from. My friend Elke would walk through the village and there was not one person who was not going into shock. A very beautiful, very tall woman, she would save up for all the really extreme Margiela stuff, like a knit in five parts bound around the body with ribbons, or a floor-length skirt and Tabi boots. We’re talking 91, 92, and people were shocked.”
Raf Simons, Self Service (via BOF)

Love this nostalgic nugget from Raf Simons in a conversation with Pieter Mulier and Tim Blanks, talking about fashion beginnings, influences and the quiet ‘perverse’ power of Belgian creatives.

WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla
IMAGE: Pieter Mulier and Raf Simons/Self Service
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Trend report: what to wear for AW25



Wales Bonner aw25

Here’s my theory. The 2020s hasn’t actually started properly because the first five years were stalled due to Covid and its after effects. Fashion-wise, could we be at the turning point now, with all the big runway debuts ringing in major changes (we hope)? Let’s see. For now, I’m still in my classics era, so I’m spotlighting the people and brands doing that really well, including the labels to target for the best pieces at non-crazy prices. Plus, a 90s shoe revival, some beauty updates and what’s on my culture wish list… (more…)



Random Recs: Uniqlo’s secret sauce, Studio Nicholson, craft influencers, a secret Negroni Salon



Fantastic Man Autumn 25

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

1/ Craft influencers. In a backlash to flattening algorithms and A.I. slop, young creatives are finding value in the imperfect qualities of analogue, tactile pastimes. Vogue Business reports on the craft creators transforming niche hobbies like scrapbooking (hi!) and journalling into fledgling brands and media platforms. (more…)



Not your mother’s Versace



Versace SS26 by Dario Vitale

Oh, the Medusa head medallion-clutching at Versace SS26!

It was the most polarising Fashion Month debut so far and I get it. But in a way, polarising is good.

Let’s break it down.

After a few very campy Instagram teasers, the show itself (the first from new creative director Dario Vitale) was a much younger, messier, some say Miu Miu-coded affair. (more…)