Our take on what’s cool, trending and fashionable
Beat the Bullies
Standing behind the cyber anti-bullying movement ‘Be Cool Be Nice’, Dsquared2 debuts a dedicated capsule collection. The colourful and bold line-up of ready-to-wear and accessories by Dean and Dan Caten supports the new initiative to stop online bullying of young adults and children.
The initiative is a global movement sparked by one teen’s struggle with bullying and flamed by the staggering fact that one in five young people will be a victim of cyber bullying.
The designers say: “Online bullying is a powerful and scary issue that can have a lasting, negative impact on young people’s lives. We were bullied as kids and we understand how destructive it is. We got behind ‘Be Cool Be Nice’ immediately because it’s important to give kids and teenagers, who are forming their personalities, space to discover themselves without judgement, criticism and hate. We designed the capsule with this idea in mind; we wanted to make clothes and accessories with an attitude of strength, confidence and positivity.”
Balenciaga Tops Lyst
The fashion brand that gave us platform Crocs and the infamous IKEA tote, priced at a cool USD2,145, has knocked Gucci off the coveted top spot in the highest performing fashion brands official global rankings, prepared by Lyst and The Business of Fashion (BoF).
According to the latest data analysed by BoF in partnership with search platform Lyst — which tracks 4.5 million data points per hour from over 65 million annual consumers, five million products and 12,000 brands — the Demna Gvasalia-designed brand climbed two places to top the hottest brand ranking in the third quarter of 2017.
Foodie Fashion
In a move that’s got the worlds of both food and fashion asking “Why?” design duo Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbano have followed up the carrot- and cannoli-printed outfits sent down the runway in their SS18 collection by launching a limited edition range of pasta. The pair have partnered with much-loved Italian maker Pastificio di Martino to produce just 5,000 packs of pasta (original recipe unchanged) which will come with a D&G apron at a reported USD120. Why indeed!
New Face at Weill
Parisian fashion house Weill is taking a new direction with the appointment of Mathilde Castello Branco at the head of its design studio.
The Franco-Brazilian designer studied fashion in Paris before beginning her career at the Hermès ready-to-wear studio under the aegis of Martin Margiela. She then spent 10 years with Lanvin working with Alber Elbaz before being put in charge of the art direction of the Azzaro brand.
She brings the promise of new inspiration to the house’s ready-to-wear collections. Her signature is a feminine, delicate fashion with a subtle ability to break with convention. “I like surprises: the unexpected detail, the original reinvention in the cut of a garment, surprising inventive mixes that give character to the silhouette,” says Mathilde. All of this is achieved with subtleness: “I defend the notion of a style which shakes convention without disrupting it.”
A Glittering Secret
As has been customary almost every year since 2001, Victoria’s Secret has unveiled a new Fantasy Bra by world-renowned luxury jeweller Mouawad. This year’s piece, the Champagne Nights Fantasy Bra, will be worn by stunning Brazilian Angel Lais Ribeiro at the brand’s fashion show in Shanghai.
For this year’s all-new design, Mouawad, which was founded in Lebanon more than 100 years ago, combined contrasting gemstones in an enchanting and timelessly glowing lingerie suite that pays tribute to beauty, love and glamour, inspired by history’s most beautiful Greek goddesses.
Valued at USD2 million, the bra and matching belt took more than 350 hours of labour to be handset with nearly 6,000 white diamonds, yellow sapphires, and blue topazes totalling over 640 carats, all set in 18-karat yellow gold. Complementing the bedazzling lingerie suite are a matching bracelet and earrings, set with 75 carats of diamonds, sapphires and topazes.
Posen in the Kitchen
Speaking of fashion designers and food, Zac Posen has turned his hand to the culinary arts with a new book Cooking With Zac, which promises recipes from rustic to refined. He may be better known for his red carpet gowns, but the designer says he was chopping, kneading dough and simmering veggies in his parents’ kitchen long before he took to sketching and stitching. The Project Runway star judge offers a selection of dishes from gourmet to more simple and, not surprisingly, the volume looks beautiful.
