THE DRG STYLE INDEX: VALEXTRA, CHANEL, FACONNABLE, STORM

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


1) ALVARO GONZALEZ EXITS VALEXTRA

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Triennale bag from @valextra. Deceptively simple #valextra #alvaro

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What next for Valextra? It’s a shame Design Director Alvaro Gonzalez has left the building, I thought things were going so well. It’s still one of my favourite artisanal luxury brands though – any guesses who’s in next?


2) THIS IS NOT A CHANEL JACKET

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In case you hadn’t noticed, Chanel’s SS15 show was all about the public protest. And Chanel had a protest of its own going on last week, when it placed this warning in WWD. That’s right, your cheap-ass 2.55 knock-off or Zara tweed boucle jacket is not ‘Chanel for now’, describe it as such and there could be tears…


3) FACONNABLE X JEAN COCTEAU

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Façonnable isn’t a brand that appears on my radar very often but I’m loving this collaboration for next Spring. With the help of Pierre Bergé, (who holds the exclusive rights to Jean Cocteau’s oeuvre – who knew?), Façonnable has produced a capsule line of products featuring Cocteau’s much-loved line drawings on sweatshirts, jackets, espadrilles and a tote.


4) STORM SEGUES INTO TALENT MANAGEMENT WITH STORM ARTISTS

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I just saw the news that Storm is ramping up its representation of digital-influencers-slash-models such as Essie Button (above) and Ella Catliff. I think this is so interesting as it seems the logical way forward. Model agencies have been pretty slow on the digital front (why on earth are models’ social feeds not linked on agency websites?) and this is a sign to me that bloggers/vloggers/digital influencers are the new celebrities when it comes to brand endorsement partnerships. Alas, some may invite the same hate as C-list celebs who snatch campaigns from full time models, that is, a ‘celebrity’ needs to be celebrated for something meaningful if they’re to have any real credibility with consumers. And the same goes for bloggers who front commercial campaigns. I hope model agencies and brands will bear relevance and brand fit in mind (as opposed to just follower numbers) when casting their influencer campaigns.

WORDS: NAVAZ BATLIWALLA/DISNEYROLLERGIRL
IMAGES: INSTAGRAM; WWD; ESSIE BUTTON