21 February, 2023

The art of fashion in the Instagram age

There’s definitely a synergy between a certain type of upscale American designer and stores that think they’re art galleries. We’ve seen it from The Row, we saw it (briefly) from Raf-era Calvin Klein, and now it’s the turn of Khaite, whose first store opened last week in SoHo.

Think minimalist concrete walls, even minimalist-er merchandising (a lone dress on a rail), contemporary art touches and a general air of austere intimidation. Reader, I love it. (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 2 Comments Art, Brands, Business of fashion, Design, Designers, News, Retail concepts, Shopping, Trends art, Calvin Klein, Camilla Nickerson, Donald Judd, Hermes, Khaite, Proenza Schouler, retail concepts, shopping, The Row

9 February, 2023

Into this: Bottega Veneta banal luxury

The new Bottega Veneta SS23 campaign just landed and I love it.

There’s a soothing video by Massimiliano Bomba shot in a slow-mo Milan streetscape serving everyday city life in the most fabulously chic way. (It’s a little bit Lemaire and a little bit Thomas Maier!)

The stills are also beautiful – elegant yet casual, styled by Alastair McKimm with the leather ‘denim’ jeans and white ultra-luxe vests centre stage, accessorised with slouchy Andiamo totes*. The no-make-up-make-up and minimally styled hair give the campaign a timeless quality and I’m glad that they resisted the urge to include obvious props like a Starbucks coffee or phone. (Wait, do Italians even drink Starbs?) In this case, less it more. Superbo! (more…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Ad campaigns, Beauty, Brands, Business of fashion, Design, News, Photography, Shopping, Trends ad campaigns, Alastair McKimm, Bottega Veneta, brands, Matthieu Blazy, photography, shopping, SS23, trends

18 January, 2023

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…)

Disneyrollergirl 0 Comments Brands, Design, Designers, Photography, Shopping, Trends Aligh, Alighieri, All Blues, Audrey Hepburn, Cartier, Chitose Abe, design, designers, Diana Vreeland, Elsa Peretti, Hermes, Jean Cocteau, jewellery, Saint Laurent, Selfridges, shopping, Tiffany, trends, Tyler the Creator

30 December, 2022

In case you missed it – 2022 edition

Miu Miu chinos ss22

While newsletters may be the new blogs, I still have a solid reader base and for that I thank the regulars who revisit and even subscribe. You know who you are! (Reminder: you can subscribe here to receive my weekly blog digest.) But in case you missed any, here are a few of my favourite posts from 2022…

The trend round-ups are always popular. 2022 was the year of Miu Miu chinos, designer water bottle holders, Mary Jane shoes and Khaite everything. Revisit the reports here and here. (This month I also chimed in on the Miu Miu micro-mini craze for BBC Culture.) (more…)