THE DRG STYLE INDEX: VOGUE.COM, RICK OWENS, POP MAGAZINE, KAREN MILLEN
Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…
1. US VOGUE.COM GETS BLOG-IFIED
The New York Times ran a story last week ahead of the revamp of Vogue.com. It pointed out that The Cut gets four million monthly unique visitors against Vogue’s 3.3 million. Cue last Wednesday’s big reveal for the newly redesigned Vogue.com. The result? It feels younger, pacier and as Manrepeller pointed out, more bloggy. If it wants more page views I think it will get them, but I hope it doesn’t just blend into the sea of ‘Twelve Ways To Get Blahblahblah’s that’s already out there…
2) RICK OWENS’ SELFRIDGES TAKEOVER
Tomorrow sees the unveiling of ‘The World Of Rick Owens‘ as part of Selfridges’ ‘The Masters’ celebration of the most iconic names in fashion. As well as a curated Wonder Room dedicated to Owens and exclusive destination areas of menwear and womenswear, there will be a 25-foot flame-carrying Rick Owens torso presiding over the entrance of the store. Just a small tribute then…
3) POP WILL EAT ITSELF
Pop (culture) really is eating itself this month. Pop magazine featured Grimes on a zeitgeisty Instagram-style cover for its autumn issue, designed by Richard Prince no less. Opinion has been divided on The Fashion Spot. Some said it was lazy and “verging on gimmicky”, others said the “idea of parodying Instagram is so good,” and one said, “this constant pandering to 14-year-olds … is really saddening”. Ah well, I guess pop art is supposed to provoke…
4) KAREN MILLEN GROWS UP
Interesting times for Karen Millen (also known as ‘Sharon Millen’ in some quarters). The once-cheesy destination for bodycon dresses and naff heels has gradually undergone a Victoria Beckham-like transformation and arrived at its sophisticated conclusion. (I admit I was surprised to discover Chloe-esque pieces like this on a recent visit.) To mark the turning point there’s a new face of the brand, and a new service. Head to the Brompton Road flagship this week and you can try the ‘Tailored in London’ service, a customisation service that lets you build tailored pieces from personalised components. It’s a way to highlight the brand’s British heritage and especially the fact that these products are designed, cut and finished in the Shoreditch studio. And to promote all that, Game of Throne’s Sophie Turner has been unveiled as the face of the brand in a very watchable video by Glen Luchford. Not bad Karen Millen…