Happy one year of Fashion Report! So, in this month's report, there's a lot of news regarding brands collaborations and partnerships. One of the collaborations features an exciting new collision between Haute Couture and sportswear.

1. Jacquemus collaborates with Nike on a capsule collection:

  The collection "reinterprets athletic women's sportswear in a minimal way". It is a natural blend of Jacquemus' style and Nike's performance.

  The collection will feature apparel as well as footwear. Pieces will be available by the start of summer 2022.

2. Jelenew collaborates with Stephane Rolland:

  American female cycling brand Jelenew has unveiled a sportswear collaboration with French  Haute Couture  designer Stephane Rolland.

  The collection aims to apply the art of couture to sportswear, combining structure, technology and classic fashion art.

  Taking inspiration from "Goddess of Victory" artwork in the Louvre Museum.

  The pieces will showcase the application of new technology in textiles such as silicone broderie.

3. Prada partners with artist Cassius Hirst on a sneaker collaboration:

  Prada has teamed up with artist Cassius Hirst to reinvent its iconic Prada America's Cup sneakers. 

The collaboration features 4 styles with 22 colorways and variables. The 4 styles: ATT4CK, D3CAY, SUST4IN, and REL3ASE, takes name from music.

  All pieces are hand-worked in Italy by Prada.

4. Balenciaga's destroyed sneaker causes controversy:

  Balenciaga's latest limited edition "Paris sneaker " has caused a debate all over social media. The sneaker is made of destroyed rubber and cotton, it resembles Converse All Stars

  The shoe is retailed for 1850$ and is intentionally made to look distressed and worn out. The Paris sneaker is meant to be worn a lifetime, states Balenciaga. So they exaggerated the worn-in aspect in marketing campaigns.

5. Adidas x Gucci:  

  The highly anticipated collaboration is due to launch on June 27. The collection, which contains the  two labels' most recognizable codes,  was first showcased during Milan Fashion Week back in February.

  The collaboration recalls retro sportswear silhouettes with a fun color palette, jn addition to committing to both brands' sustainable goals.

6. Jean Paul Gaultier capsule collection by Lotta Volkova:

  Jean Paul Gaultier unveiled a ready-to-wear capsule collection designed by stylist Lotta Volkova. The collection pays tribute to the fashion house's archives. It offers edited and re-edited iconic symbolic pieces of Jean Paul Gaultier's world, such as corseted lingerie, deconstructed tailoring, babydoll dresses...

Today's post will be a breif report of some of the fashion news that caught my eye this month.

1. LoveShackFancy collaborates with Sophia Webster:

  Womenswear brand LoveShackFancy has unveiled a collaboration with footwear brand Sophia Webster. 

  The collection, launching on April 14, features romantic floral prints and adroned with Sophia Webster's signature butterfly wings, crystal buckles and hand-worked leather flowers.

2. Stella McCartney launches Disney Collection:

  British fashion designer Stella McCartney has launched a Disney collection featuring psychedelic clothing inspired by the classic Walt Disney 1940 film "Fantasia".

  The capsule collection is made in parallel with the brand's ethos; made from 78% eco- friendly materials and vegan leather.

3. Off-White launches first beauty collection:

  US streetwear label Off-White has launched its first line of beauty products under ghe name "Paperwork".

  The beauty line is meant to be a universal toolkit for self-expression, it's genderless and consists of 3 categories:  Fragrances under the name "Solutions",  pigment crayons "Imprint", and nail polish.

4. Michael Kors launched first childrenswear collection:

  Michael Kors launched their first ever collection for children in partnership with the French luxury group Children Worldwide Fashion (CWF).

  The line consists of clothing and accessories for girls aged 4 to 14.

5. Church's collaborates with Off-White:

   British footwear brand Church's had launched a capsule collection with Off-White which was personally designed by the passing designer Virgil Ablo

  The collection is genderless. It combines Abloh's philosophy "Question Everything" along with the artisian tradition and stylistic history of Church's footwear.

6. H&M uses conscious materials for latest "Innovation Strory":

  For the 5th edition of its "Innovation Strory" , H&M uses plant based leather and recycled materials. 

  The collection is about love and its many guises ; romantic, tough, passionate...

 1.Chanel dedicates AW22 collection to "Tweed":

  Tweed, a heritage fabric known in the French fashion house "Chanel", was the star of the show in their recent Autumn/ Winter 22 collection.

The show took the guests on a journey along the River "Tweed", which is wgat the fabric was named after. Those walks were taken by founder Gabrielle Chanel in Scotland.

  Coco Chanel's love affair with the fabric tweed started when she borrowed her 1st tweed jacket frome Duke of Westminster in 1920's, which later inspired Chanel's iconic tweed skirt suit.

2. Elie Saab launches in the Metaverse:

  Elie Saab launched in the Metaverse as the luxury brand opens a virtual boutique, offering a new experience for customers.

  The fashion house is delving into the future and embracing the digital innovation.

  The luxury fashion house will participate in the upcoming first edition of Decentraland Metaverse Fashion Week, the world's first digital Metaverse fashion week. 

3. Cadbury unveils Creme Egg inspired fashion collection:

  Chocolate company 'Cadbury' has teamed up with emerging sustainable designer, Charlotte Kirkham, to design a limited edition fashion collection inspired by its famous product, the Creme Egg.

  The 3-piece collection has been handmade using pre-loved materials. Designed in the Creme Egg color palette; gold, purple and crimson.

4. Manolo Blahnik and Birkinstock shoe collaboration:

  Luxury footwear label Manolo Blahnikis teaming up with Birkinstock on a capsule collection.

  The collection is all about the classic birkenstock style with the regal design embellishments that Manolo Blahnik is known for. The collection launched on March 24.

 

5. Veja × Merni Collaboration:

  Sustainable sneaker brand, Veja, has collaborated with the luxury Italian fashion house, Marni.

  The sneaker featured in the chollaboration, will be have colourful, Din-inspired motifs and will reflect Marni's playful approach to design.

  Veja has invested in sustainable manufacturing and materials since its inception in 2005.

6. Mango enters the Metaverse:

  Mango is entering the metaverse through art by launching 3 unique works, created by crypto-artist Farka.

   The highstreet brand will also exhibit the pieces "Mango Metagirl", "Mango Ad Astra" and "Hanna in the Clouds" for a month. In addition to launching it's first wearables with a virtual reproduction of the Lupi dress.

 

 It's a snowy cold day here where I live, but that's not going to stop me from looking forward to spring and the warmer days when we can have more fun with the clothes we wear. Today's post is a fun one, listing the fashion trends for SS2022.

1. Bold Colors:

  Think highlighter yellow and hot pink. Especially neon yellows which are set to be one of the hottest hues next summer.  This trend is definitely for all the daring hirls out there.

  Spotted at: Prada, Versace, Halpern, Valentino.

2. Micro/Mini Skirts:

  Micro skirts are all the rage in the upcoming season. Inspired by 90's supermodels and the 1960's where mini skirts first took its popularity.

  Spotted at: Dior, Versace, Prada, Moschino, Max Mara.

3.Big Bags:

  Remember how micro bags were the hottest item, now it's the complete opposite. Ultra big bags are in for Spring with various finishes and textures.

  Spotted at: Khaite, Tory Burch, Marni..

4. Super Sheer:

  Sheer fabrics can be layered with blazers and jackets to be more wearable. Think fabrics like tulle, mesh and organza. 

  Spotted at: Simone Rocha, David Koma, Yuhan Wang, Harris Reed, 16 Arlington..

5. Underwear as Outerwear:

  This trend have already paved its way the past year. Can be layered with open blazers, waistcoats, shirts, or on top of white shirts for more of a modest look.

  Spotted at: Tom Ford, Fendi, Coach, Michael Kors, Ganni.

6. Fresh and Clean (All White):

  My favorite trend this season, a minimalistic white worn from head-to-toe. A monochromatic look always looks very elegant and chic.

  Spotted at: Hermes, Valentino, Chloe', Fendi.

7. Fringes:

  Designers showcased this trend on the runway,  this trend givesca hint of bohemian style and adds a bit of fun to an outfit.

  Spotted at: Chloe', Altuzarra, Jonathan Simkai, Proenza Schouler..

8. Pleated Skirts:

  Another favorite and a very wearable one. Pleated skirts, especially midi length, are very elegant and appropriate for the summer. A very nice trend that works all year around. 

  Spotted at: COS, Erdem, Sandy Liang, Rejina Pyo..

9. Low waist:

  The return of the 2000's is here with low waist and mini skirts. To be honest I don't think this trend works for everyone,  as it's not the most flattering and comfortable.

  Spotted at: Versace, Tom Ford, Soulland, Staud..

10. Cutouts and Straps:

  Strapped accents have been gaining popularity recently as well as cut outs. It can appear as top with multi-straps, waistbands, crisscross..

  Spotted at: Elleme, Altuzarra, Rjina Pyo, Michael Kors,  David Koma...

 It is the month of Fall/Winter 2022 Ready-to-wear Fashion Week. But let's leave this subject for now and think of spring and summer already. 

In today's post, I will share top fashion news of February that caught my attention.

1. Chanel's Cruise Show will be Held in Monaco:

The fashion luxury brand will be off to Monaco for Cruise 2023. The collection, designed by creative director Virginie Viard, will take  place on May 5. It will be the 1st collection with a live audience since May 2019.

Chanel and Monaco have a long standing relationship, as Coco Chanel used to have a villa at La Pausa in Monaco in 1929.

2. Stella McCartney Designs Pantsuit for Minnie Mouse:

Minnie Mouse will swap her traditional red polka dot dress with custom made Stella McCartney blue polka dot pantsuit from responsibly sourced fabrics. This new take on her signature polka dots, make a symbol of progress for a new generation.

Disney and Stella McCartney will also collaborate on a unique Minnie Mouse T-shirt which will be available on March 8.

3. Louis Vuitton Set to Rise Price Tags:

After Chanel raised their prices, Louis Vuitton followed. LVMH announced the raise of prices globally citing increased manufacturing and transportation costs.

This move will affect leather goods, fashion accessories and perfume making Louis Vuitton one the first big labels to rise prices widely this year as costs roar.

4. Dolce and Gabbana is the Latest Luxury Label to Ditch Fur:

The Italian fashion house announced it's to discontinue the use of animal fur in all its collections starting in 2022.

Dolce and Gabbana is working towards a more sustainable future that can't contemplate the use of animal fur.

5. Gucci x Adidas:

On Feb.26, Gucci confirmed the collaboration with leading sportswear brand Adidas. 

The collection is already providing to be one of the hottest collaborations of the year.

Pieces will include Gucci's retro-chic aesthetic and Adidas logos, in addition to co-branded monogram.

 Dior Couture house has always stood for glamour, elegance and luxury. Although Monsieur Christian Dior spent only 10 years designing and directing his brand, it was enough time for him to create history in fashion and present something glamorous, with his NewLook, after the dark days of the war.

Dior's legacy was masterful cuts and tailoring, celebrating the female form, exotic and historical influences and lastly theatrical presentation.

A Brief History

Christian Dior opened his own fashion house in 1947 while Paris was still under the Nazi occupation.

As a child, he had a passion for flowers, which influenced his work as a designer later in life.

He studied a political science course and then pursued his passion for arts. He then studied music composition that lead him to develop his personal tastes. This whole influence by art lead him to anonymously open an art gallery where he traded artwork for Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Max Jacob...

He worked as a designer for Lucien Lelong, then for Robert Piguet. He also worked alongside Pierre Balmain.

Dior's Influence on Fashion 

 World War 2  lead to fabric rationing. Fashion and outfit silhouettes for women reflexted that time of regression. French fashion lost its glamour and glory due to the war. Dior then presented a collection "New Look" which contrasted the austerity of the war years, giving back the femininity and elegance to the women.

The New Look silhouette presented the shape of an inverted flower; accentuated curves,  nipped in waist and a full skirt with lots and lots of fabric.

His designs later became less extreme, more gentle and wearable. 

Designers after Dior 

Dior died after 10 years of heading hos house and other designers took over.

Yves Saint Laurent (1957-1960)

Yves Saint Laurent wotked for Dior since 1955 and took over the creative role after his death. He introduced the "Trapez" line and his creations were prescient. He was called to the military service and had to leave the fashion house.

Marc Bohan (1961-1989)

Bohan was deeply respectful of Dior's and haute couture traditions. He launched "Miss Dior" ready-to-wear line in 1967, in addition to "Baby Dior" and "Dior Homme" fashion line. He provided a timeless elegance essential to the longevity of Dior.

Gianfranco Ferre (1989-1996)

He was Italian with a background in ready-to-wear,which is important since few women could afford haute couture. He stayed true to the New Look yet left his own mark with with exaggerated elements, flared sleeves and billowing skirts.

John Galliano (1996-2011)

His flamboyant feminine gowns were inspired by Dior's own love for the exaggerated female form. He even gave his own twist on Dior's beloved Belle Epoque.  Galliano created a truly remarkable variety of designs for the fashion house.

Bill Gaytten (2011-2012) 

Bill Gaytten worked alongside Galliano for 23 years,  he was only a temporary replacement. He wasn't treated very well by the fashion press. He used the New Look as a base for his designs as well as Galliano's style with the exaggerated silhouette.

Raf Simons (2012-2015)

Raf Simons recreated the simplicity of Dior's first collection.  He reconstructed the legacy of Dior, he brought energy to the label with precise cuts, use of brightly coloured materials and his inclination towards ergonomic shapes.

Maria Grazia Chiuri (2016-Present)

The first female creative director of Dior. Her moto is to create fashion that resembles the women of today, believing that clothes should answer the needs for being practical, aesthetic and political. Maria Grazia Chiuri took the brand from being 'feminine' to becoming 'feminist'.

Miss Dior and Lady Dior

There is a story behind these two famous names. The fragrance "Miss Dior" was inspired by Dior's love for flowers and his favourite sister Catherine, they were discussing names for the perfume when his sister walked into the room and someone said 'Look there's Miss Dior', so that's how they came up with the name.

The "Lady Dior" bag was named after Princess Diana because she used this style so much. Originally it was called "Chouchou" then "Princess".

 Happy New Year! So to I'm writing about some of the important fashion news that occurred through the first month of this year. January is usually quit and slow, but now that it's over, let's welcome the upcoming month in anticipation for a new fresh season.

1. Chanel's New Clean Beauty Line 'No.1 De Chanel' :

Chanel has launched a new beauty line 'No.1 De Chanel' which harnesses the benefits of the red camellia, a very important flower to the brand. The new product line has a holistic and an environmentally conscious approach, as the formula contains up to 97% of naturally derived ingredients and 76% of camellia ingredients. 

The French label also designed the beauty line to minimize the impact on the environment through its packaging.

2. Selfridges Steps into The Metaverse with 'Over The Counter' NFTs:

Selfridges steps into the metaverse as they announce selling of NFTs in their physical stores. The British department store chain says it is the first retailer in the world to sell fixed-price NFTs over the counter.

The NFTs will feature either artwork by OP art movement pioneer, Victor Vasarely or one of the first 12 iconic dresses ever created by Paco Rabanne called the "Unwearables".

The company will sell over 1800 NFTs at its London store's corner shop.

3. Valentino Launches Lunar New Year Collection:

Italian fashion house 'Valentino' is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a Valentino Tiger 1967 collection featuring ready-to-wear and accessories. 

As part of its Lunar New Year celebrations, the tiger motif has been reinterpreted on a selection of contemporary looks.

4. Maison Margiela x Reebok:

Both brands collaborated to launch the classic Leather Tabi Decortique low, which is a reinterpreted sneaker of Reebok's classic leather runner mixed with Maison Margiela's technique of decortique. This technique was developed by creative director John Galliano which describes the deconstruction of a garment or accessory to its core structure.

The low-top trainer will be available in tonal black, white and red leather as well as Maison Margiela's signature "bianchetto" technique which purposely chips with wear.

5. H&M Launches Virtual Fashion Collection in Collaboration with Dress-X:

H&M set to explore the virtual fashion world with the launch of a digital collection to release through a competition. The competition will be launched through H&M official website, where customers have the chance to win an exclusive look from the range. The virtual fashion collection was created with digital and virtual clothing platform, Dress-X.
In keeping with the brand's sustainability goals, the looks from the collection will be only available as a prize for the competition, they won't be sold nor manufactured.

6. Louis Vuitton Presented The Final Collection by Virgil Abloh:

Louis Vuitton presented the final collection directed by Virgil Abloh before his death later last year. The show was emotional to many people. The collection was 95% ready at the time of Abloh's death.

7. Hermès Calls for Removal of MetaBirkins from NFT Platforms:

Hermès is suing the NFT creator Mason Rothschild, who has seen viral success marketing a line of digital assets he calls “MetaBirkins.”

 Mason Rothschild created over 100 individual Birkin inspired NFTs, however the bags are not created by Hermes nor are real.

After the bags were for sale on OpenSea with a trading value of 1.1 million dollars, they were removed, since they infringed Hermes trademark, the design were neither licensed nor endorsed.

However, once an NFT is created, the entry can't be erased from the blockchain.

8. The Death of Thierry Mugler and Andre Leon:

  January brought another sad news for the industry with the death of 2 major influential names. 

  Thierry Mugler was a French fashion designer, known for his metamorphic silhouettes and avant-garde fashion. His brand was very influential in 1980s and 1990s.

  Andre Leon Tally was a fashion Journalist who worked at American Vogue for years.

9.Barbie x Balmain Clothing Collection and NFT Auction:

The duo have released a ready-to-wear collection of Barbie x Balmain-branded apparel and accessories, rendered almost exclusively in shades of pink.

The French maison is ushering Barbie into the metaverse with a partnership that straddles the physical and digital world.

Barbie manufacturer Mattel launched an NFT auction offering up three unique Barbie avatars clad in digital renditions of the physical collection. Highest bidders will also receive a physical set of doll-sized Balmain clothing.