designers

Single or stack?



Cartier Trinity bracelet by Chitose Abe Sacai

Cartier has been in the news a lot in the last 12 months. Mostly for its watches (this was the latest release and this guy seems to be its most high profile collector), but this month for a new jewellery drop (above).

The Cartier x Chitose Abé (of Sacai fame) collab is perfectly in sync for the two design leaders. The Cartier Trinity ring was initially created in 1924 by Louis Cartier and was a favourite of Jean Cocteau. Its three intertwining bands of yellow gold, rose gold and white gold have been deconstructed by Abé into new distorted shapes in a collection of two rings, a bracelet, a necklace and a hybrid earring-ring. (more…)



R.I.P Vivienne Westwood



Vivienne Westwood 1987 by Michael Roberts for Vogue

A truly sad end of an era for fashion. Our most inspiring guiding light has left the building and I don’t have anything to say other than thank you for all you taught us about fashion, art, style, humility and humanity. (Because fashion is never just about clothes.)

Vivienne Westwood was endlessly misunderstood and frequently ridiculed but she stuck to what she believed. She was full of contradictions, but I admired her for her self-belief, incredible tenacity and rebellious spirit. (more…)



Hedi Slimane’s ‘age of indieness’ returns for Celine AW23



Celine AW23

“You can only be lucky enough to have one style, a style of your own that becomes a caricature of you, your own ‘sound. I’m probably synonymous [with] punk rock and indieness in fashion, beside being known for my androgynous models. I have been precisely this in fashion for more than 20 years. This is the caricature I gladly own.”
Hedi Slimane

Proof that if you just stand still and do your thing, fashion eventually catches up with you, Hedi Slimane is once again haute stuff. With revenue doubled since his arrival, Slimane’s recent LA Celine AW23 show (part fashion show, part ‘indie sleaze’ rock concert) unapologetically brought his own greatest hits front and centre. (more…)



Raf Simons is quitting his label



Raf Simons

Oof, I wasn’t expecting that. With a lone post on his IG, Raf Simons announced that after 27 years, he’s quitting his own label.

Say it ain’t so!

No concrete explanation has been given and responses have been varied, from “finally – because no one was buying it” to an outpouring of crying emojis (mine).

Of course, he’s continuing as co-creative director of Prada, which has led to some speculation that Raf is being groomed as Miuccia’s successor should she decide to retire. Others suggested maybe there’s a ‘second act’ to come. After all, his note ends on, “Forward always”. (more…)