THE DRG STYLE INDEX: Christopher Kane, Net-a-Porter, Nowhere, Hermes
Here’s the latest weekly DRG STYLE INDEX ranking, a round-up of the brands currently buzzing on my radar…
1) CHRISTOPHER KANE HAS A PROPER WEBSITE!
This really is shaping up to be a big year for fashion and tech. From Chanel’s move into ecommerce, to Apple’s positioning of Apple Watch as a luxury fashion item, tech has never been more fashionable. And to top it off, here’s Christopher Kane’s new website – very cool and a little bit futuristic. No e-com yet, but it’s a start…
2) WILL YOU JOIN THE NET SET?
Another fashion inspo shopping community? Yes, but this one’s different. Net-a-Porter is determined to crack the social shopping nut with the launch of The NET SET, an app available soon on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch (sorry Android users, you can’t sit with NET SET, yet). It’s an update on 2013’s Net Book app that lets the customer play curator while allowing brands to manage a dialogue with Net-a-Porter’s “affluent and engaged global fashion consumer.” And of course, it’s shoppable. Think then, a sort of hybrid of existing community-based apps – ASAP 54, Lyst, Spring, Like To Know It and Instagram – but powered by NAP. The pros: Net-a-Porter does have a passionately engaged network of cash-rich fashion consumers, with more than 4 million fans across nine social channels. And there is huge trust in the brand. If you’re a style blogger you’d be wise to claim a profile to help boost awareness of your ‘brand’ globally. The cons: the market is a little saturated with these types of communities, so if it doesn’t catch on instantly, its users could get bored quickly. The NET SET launches with an invite code to a select community on 13th May, but you can sign up here in the meantime.
3) MAN FROM NOWHERE
It’s not often you get a concept store with a real concept behind it. Nowhere, Dublin’s new menswear destination aims to explore clothing, culture and masculinity and sits somewhere between The LNCC, Jones of Floral Street (London’s beautiful 80s menswear mecca) and, maybe Arena Homme Plus. It’s a menswear store with an online presence that sets out to unpick what masculinity means today. So that means a buy that places Matthew Miller and Craig Green alongside A.P.C and Stutterheim, and an intelligent editorial strategy that includes an email newsletter, online interviews and a monthly podcast called A Nowhere Man.
4. HERMES PUTS FEET FIRST
The Hermes press day is a ‘can’t miss’ in my schedule and this season there was a whole lot more attention being given to the shoes. For AW15, Hermes shoes are just slightly more fashion-forward, in a subtle but extremely desirable way. In particular, fantastic loafers in endless permutations of luxury skins and these rather special studded boots. Hermes is obviously known for its It bags, but with a woman at the creative helm, it looks like it’s just as keen to cultivate an It shoe.
WORDS: Navaz Batliwalla/Disneyrollergirl
