This week is all about couture but did you know that alongside the gowns, there’s also the haute joaillerie to be wowed by? Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Boucheron, Chanel and the rest all showcase their top-tier diamonds, pearls and rubies; quite frankly, the frocks are small fry compared to this finery. (more…)
The fashionisation of beauty is rolling along at a jolly pace isn’t it? Following both Chanel and Dior with their standalone luxury beauty stores comes Burberry and its all-singing-all-dancing Beauty Box. The store opened yesterday in Covent Garden’s King Street selling make-up, perfume and accessories.
From the entry-level nail polishes and perfumes plus associated sunnies, scarves and bags, it’s but a short jump to the coveted trench or coat. And thus (the mega-brands hope) a loyal customer for life.
Naturally, a Burberry store isn’t a Burberry store without some digital wizardry at play. So if you haven’t time for a mini mani, try the Digital Runway Nail Bar instead. This ‘playful virtual experience’ lets you try the latest Burberry runway shades by placing the polish onto a radio-frequency identification-enabled platform to match your skin tone to the required colour.
OK, I’m not actually sure what a radio-frequency identification-enabled platform is but it sounds sufficiently snazzy enough for me to seek it out next time I’m in WC2…
Trending for ss14: the intersection between art and fashion. Oh yes, I’m well up for this. Ok, art and fashion have always been rampant bedfellows, but from here on in, I think we’re going to see a lot more fash-art hook-ups. Sorry purists but art just got fashionable.
To whet our appetites, we’ve had the Dior-Warhol collab for Aw13 and the art-inspired collection from Prada for ss14. Not to mention Chanel’s art gallery-themed ss14 show and the Chanel Bond Street store that’s practically an art gallery in itself.
And hot on the heels of Paris Fashion Week we have… FRIEZE! (more…)
On the nail front, the general consensus is that nude nails are in, and that includes the so-out-it’s-now-in French mani. I haven’t had a French manicure for years but I did go through a phase of having an American (the more subtle version) at Topshop every week. For doing it yourself though, it’s all a bit of a faff. The lazy-girl option could be Dior’s new, one-step clear Nail Glow. According to Vogue, it enhances white tips with one sweep of the brush. (more…)
