Bally

The Bally formula



Bally SS25

“Dadaism was about a sense of play, and gentle subversion. What I’m looking for is finding equilibrium between rationality and whimsy.”

Bally was one of my MFW SS25 highlights. This is a masterclass in brand coding, when the pieces themselves are twisted classics rather than wholly avant-garde. Simone Bellotti knows the formula – simple pieces can be given romance, decadence, edginess etc with interesting casting, unexpected hair or makeup, memorable music (Bellotti worked with Swiss artist Aisha Devi on a bespoke soundtrack) and a clever incorporation of house codes.

Thus his new motif, the Swiss cowbell has become a recurring decorative feature on shoes and bags, he is building a recognisable colour palette of cool primaries with neutrals (black, brown), he is owning the Mary Jane, and the leather coat is becoming a new Bally wardrobe staple. (more…)



Trend report: what to wear for SS24



Bally SS24

Spring is properly here, so it’s off with the coats and on with the T-shirts. LOL April Fool! Alas no, it’s still pretty chilly in NW10, so my Spring trend report is leaning a little towards knits and waterproofs for another few weeks. But amongst the leather outerwear and aristo-inspired Barbours and barn jackets, there are skin-baring T-bar shoes, shiny, happy tinted lip oils and molto pops of primary colour (the Italians do it better). (more…)



THE DRG STYLE INDEX: American Apparel, Blouse, Connolly, Crabtree & Evelyn and more!



Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands and industry stories currently buzzing on my radar…

1. AMERICAN APPAREL VS LOS ANGLES APPAREL

Los Angeles Apparel from Dov Charney
So American Apparel has relaunched, following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy last November. Now owned by Canadian manufacturer Gildan, the website secretly relaunched last week, although not everything is made in the U.S.A. And just to confuse things, former AA owner Dov Charney has also launched his new brand. (more…)



Buy it now: Bally AW15



Bally aw15

Bally has moved on a little from its grown-up sobriety of a couple of seasons ago (which I loved) to something more tactile and playful (which I love even more). Preston of Keep It Chic alerted me to the above shot from Paris Vogue, featuring Bally’s retro fur coat and my favorite Corner bag. The retro theme extends to its ad campaign, with bubble gum pink accessories, squat, square heels and sixties ‘Factory Girl’ styling…

Bally aw15

Bally aw15

Bally aw15

SHOP THE POST BELOW…

WORDS: Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl
IMAGES: Bally; Paris Vogue