4 August, 2021

Sounds of summer

I have three uplifting music recs to make this summer.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the cinema for the first time in over a year and it was so worth it. (It was also pretty empty.) We saw Summer of Soul, a wonderfully observed documentary revisiting the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Never heard of it? That’s because it was completely overshadowed by Woodstock. TV producer Hal Tulchin’s 40 hours of footage were relegated to a dusty basement for 50 years until Summer of Soul’s director Ahmir Thompson (aka Questlove) decided it was time to edit, update and air them.

Wow. Everything about it is fantastic – the clothes, the music, the performances, not to mention the emotional recollections from people who were there. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Films, Music, News films, Gary Crowley, Mahalia Jackson, music, news, Nina Simone, Questlove, Sparks, Summer of Soul

6 February, 2021

Pieter Mulier to Maison Alaïa

Pieter Mulier creative director Alaïa ss22

Some exciting news on the designer front. Pieter Mulier, the one-time secret weapon of Raf Simons (who can forget his stand out supporting role in Dior & I?) has been appointed creative director at Alaïa.

This sounds like an excellent appointment, with Mulier promising to retain Azzedine Alaïa’s “legacy of celebrating femininity and placing women at the heart of creation”, hopefully with a modern hand. I imagine Richemont will expect a big ROI with fulsome collections of clothes, accessories (and maybe even beauty?) but hopefully they can also find a way to imbue some of the slower pace Alaïa was known for with his ‘it comes when it comes’ schedules. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 2 Comments Brands, Business of fashion, Design, Designers, Films, News Azzedine Alaia, Business of Fashion, designers, Dior & I, films, luxury, Pieter Mulier, Raf Simons, Richemont

25 November, 2020

Covid curveball: Gen Z is craving Wall Street style

Yasmin le Bon channelling Wall Street style in Elle France

Can’t say I saw this coming. But maybe I should have.

Apparently, we’re about to see a wave of ironic yuppie dressing In the form of nostalgic backward glances to 80s power dressing via the wardrobe departments of The Crown, American Psycho and Wall Street.

While lockdown 1.0 had everyone (but me) wearing sweats and Birkenstocks, it seems young people are feeling deprived of the corporate armour they may never get to experience. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 3 Comments Films, News, Shopping, Trends American Psycho, Covid-19, Donna Karan, films, shopping, The Crown, trends, Wall Street, Yasmin Le Bon

15 November, 2020

The culture of fashion: Steve McQueen Small Axe series

Scene from Steve McQueen Small Axe series for the BBC

I can’t wait for Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series telling the Black British experience story, which starts on BBC tonight at 9pm. As a born and bred West London girl, I’m always interested to learn more about local history and this series hopes to be an important social history lesson for everyone.

Serious business aside, I will also be watching avidly for the style and music references. McQueen talks about some of them as part of his brilliant Observer New Review takeover. (more…)