Dior Hosts An Italian Ball For Venice’s 60th Biennale Celebrations
Dior held a spectacular ball this week, as part of this year’s Venice 60th Biennale celebrations.
The French luxury house co-hosted the evening with the Venetian Heritage Foundation in the heart of the Arsenale Vecchio. Entitled “Naumachia”, the theme for the ball was the spectacular aquatic re-enactments of naval battles that originated in the Roman Empire and were in vogue at European royal courts in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The evening was an unprecedented celebration of Dior’s eternal fascination with art, and the House’s ongoing desire to let culture and the many facets of creativity shine forth.
The exceptional event was in honour of raising funds for the preservation and promotion of the Serenissima (Republic of Venice) legacy, notably the restoration of the Arsenale’s Porta Magna, and that of the Ca’ d’Oro museum.
Discussing the event, the house said: “Through this extraordinary alliance, Venetian Heritage and Dior have strengthened the powerful historical dialogues forged between France and Italy, drawing a new bond between the two countries, in the name of inventiveness and solidarity.”
The 60th Venice Biennale will run until Sunday 24th November 2024.
Celine Announces New Perfume Collection Drop For June 2024
The French house of Celine has announced that it will release a brand-new scent in June.
Dubbed “ZouZou” the scent will join the now 12-piece Celine Haute Parfumerie collection. There are three evening scents and nine daytime perfumes in the lineup, with ZouZou falling under the latter category.
According to the house, the latest scent is inspired by the “slyph-like heroines of the 1960s.” In the notes which accompanied the announcement, Celine said the scent was influenced by “fresh-faced and mischievous-looking heroines with their short haircut framing delicate features and a smiling pout… ZouZou brushes the portrait of these heroines and their carefree lightheartedness.”
The new scent includes notes of benzoin, tonka bean, patchouli, labdanum, vanilline and musk. Discussing his inspiration for these olfactory choices, Hedi Slimane said “I wished to create a perfume about utopic adolescence, capturing an ideal of eternal youth. The recklessness of the young French writer Françoise Sagan, the ingenue boyishness of Jean Seberg filmed by Jean Luc Godard, the magnificent heroines of the Velvet Underground, together with the young woman I was able to photograph for more than 20 years.
The new scent will be available from June 2024.
A New Luxury Spa Is Launching At The H Dubai
This May a fabulous new spa is opening at The H Dubai Hotel.
The new launch is called Santai Spa by Mandara and is due to launch on the 8th of May.
The spa is inspired by Balinese culture with its name paying homage to the authentic treatments from the East Asian country that will be on offer.
The name “Santai” originates from the Indonesian language, meaning “relaxation” and “recuperation” in English.
According to the new spa, this pursuit of complete tranquillity serves as the cornerstone of Santai Spa by Mandara’s ethos, offering guests an authentic Balinese escape amidst the vibrant pulse of Dubai.
At the new spa, guests will be able to indulge in authentic massage treatments. Each experience will begin with a foot bath, setting the tone for the retreat, and concludes with a choice of traditional teas or nourishing homemade drinks, along with a hand-made tridhatu given as a parting gift, adding the perfect finishing touch to your holistic escape.
Signature treatments such as Balinese massage, Mandara Massage (a unique blend of five different massage styles performed by two therapists), and premium ELEMIS facials are all must-try options on the menu.
Within Santai Spa by Mandara lies a team of highly skilled Balinese therapists, meticulously trained and certified at their prestigious flagship location in Bali. Drawing from over 14 years of experience, these dedicated therapists bring the wisdom of ancient Balinese techniques to every therapy session, ensuring a realm of blissful rejuvenation awaits you.
At the heart of the spa’s treatments lie bespoke blends of essential oils and body scrubs, expertly crafted in-house. Experience the true soul of Bali through four exquisite body scrubs, such as Coffee and Clay, Coconut and Turmeric and Javanese Lulur, each tailored to address specific needs like exfoliation, sunburns, and skin renewal. Custom essential oil blends, such as the special Mandara blend for dry and sensitive skin, Island spice oil to soothe sore muscles, and Tranquillity massage oil to melt away stress, further elevate your spa journey.
How Artificial Intelligence And Blockchain Are Reinventing The Luxury Fashion Industry
Tracking and verification have always been an issue when it comes to luxury goods, but digital IDs are the key to the growth in the preloved market, writes Karl Escritt, CEO at Like Digital & Partners
The luxury market is experiencing a significant surge, propelled by the increasing spending power of Gen Z. However, this younger demographic is not merely seeking designer labels; they demand a deeper commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and the circular economy from brands to maintain engagement.
Pre-loved products have become highly coveted, prompting luxury labels like Gucci, Rolex, Chloe, and Alexander McQueen to initiate their own resale programs to cater to this demand. Yet, when purchasing from multi-brand platforms, authentication remains a challenge – how can buyers ensure they are not purchasing counterfeit goods?
In recent years, the popularity of digital IDs has soared. These IDs offer insights into a product’s supply chain, manufacturing process, and authenticity, addressing authentication concerns.
Authenticating luxury goods with AI, NFTs and blockchain
Non-fungible tokens aka NFTs were all the rage in 2021 but the bubble burst very quickly as the market became saturated and people realised that not all NFTs would retain their value or deliver the high returns they had promised. Set against the backdrop of higher inflation and interest rates, they were seen as a bit of a flop.
But NFTs have made a comeback because the technology at the heart of them can be used for digital identities, property rights in virtual worlds, and authenticating and monetising digital content for creators in music, literature, and the arts.
In 2021, Aura Blockchain Consortium was set up by LVMH, Mercedes-Benz, OTB, Prada Group and Cartier, on a mission to create the technological standard for the luxury sector and enhance the customer experience. Originally intended to serve as the public transaction ledger of the cryptocurrency bitcoin, blockchain has since evolved into an important form of digital identification which allows brands to put a tamper-proof digital stamp of authenticity on any product or component.
In the diamond industry, for example, proving ethical sourcing is key to sellers being able to maintain their reputation. With blockchain technology, dealers can record the entire journey of the mined diamond and provide transparency to the supply chain.
Imagine being able to take a series of photographs of a handbag and tell if it’s counterfeit. Entrupy, an artificial intelligence solution, promises a 99.1% accuracy rate in verification. A mobile app instructs you to take a series of images using the patented Entrupy device, which AI then evaluates against millions of records in its database and provides authentication.
Going beyond authentication
Many major luxury fashion houses have already begun investing in methods to track their products, and this trend is expected to continue growing in the coming years. Beyond offering consumers peace of mind through authentication, digital IDs also present an opportunity for brands to enhance transparency and share the unique stories behind each product.
Take British luxury brand Mulberry, for instance, which is leveraging digital IDs to revolutionise its customer connections. Each handbag is linked to an ID powered by EON, a leader in product digitisation. Customers can tap their smartphones to the NFC-enabled tag fitted to each bag, accessing a personalised digital experience. This includes information about their item, exclusive content, and services such as authentication, repair, and resale. Mulberry envisions this initiative fostering a direct and ongoing relationship between the label and its customers throughout the product’s lifecycle.
As luxury brands lead the charge on digital IDs, the high street is following suit. This technology represents more than just identification; it marks a significant step forward in the realm of circular fashion.
Buccellati Unveils Unique Exhibition During 60th Venice Biennale
As part of the Venice Biennale celebrations this month, Buccellati has unveiled a new exhibition called ‘The Prince of Goldsmiths, Rediscovering the Classics’.
The new exhibit will run until the 18th of June on Venice’s Giudecca Island and features a large display of curated jewellery and silverware by Alba Cappellieri.
The name for the new show is inspired by a phrase coined by one of Italy’s best-loved writers.
The Prince of Goldsmiths’ is how Gabriele d’Annunzio, one of the most influential Italian writers and poets of the 20th century, described Mario Buccellati in 1936.
From its birth in 1919 to the present day, Buccellati products have distinguished themselves for their ability to unite the dimensions of time – past, present and future – in creations that interpret the best traditional goldsmithing techniques with an elegance that is always contemporary. Buccellati, today as yesterday, rediscovers the value of the ‘classic’, understood as a taste capable of transcending temporal boundaries, conquering eternity through beauty and skill.
The theme of the exhibition is dedicated to the rediscovery of the classics, considering as ‘classics’ those objects which are capable, in every moment, of transmitting universal feelings of closeness, astonishment, wonder and passion. In this sense, Buccellati lives tradition as a pulsating matter, imbued with the passion that man has infused into his artefacts over time.
“The classics offer the pleasure of rediscovery, evoking timeless worlds of elegance, art and nature. Reinterpreting them means reinterpreting millennial traditions and forms with an always up-to-date look,” said Andrea Buccellati, Creative Director and Honorary President of the Maison. “This is the aim of the exhibition, which is an even more precious moment to us, as it is hosted in Venice. The classics are a bridge thrown between past and future, evidence of an original style to be perpetuated in the times to come”.
Rolls-Royce Unveils ‘Spirit of Expression’ Bespoke Editions
The iconic marque, Rolls-Royce, has unveiled several new bespoke automobiles this season.
The house announced commissions of its Ghost Extended, Phantom Extended and Spectre this week..
According to the house, the striking Bespoke creations will make their public debut at the 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2024), commencing on Thursday 25th April.
Ghost Extended Expressionism
Each exterior colourway captures a fleeting moment in time from a number of remarkable destinations around the world. These range from the vivid bloom of the Lantana flower in South America to the stunning sands of Sicily’s Cala Luna beach and the expansive sunsets witnessed on Boracay Island in the Western Visayas in the Philippines. Inside each ‘Spirit of Expression’ motor car, a recurring celestial motif celebrates the night sky above these extraordinary locations and the inspirational power of the stars.
Spectre Escapism
Each of these one-of-one commissions has been envisioned as part of a global creative collaboration between the marque’s designers in Goodwood and the Bespoke designer based permanently in the Rolls-Royce Private Office Shanghai.
Through the growing Private Office network – currently operating in Goodwood, Dubai and Shanghai, with further international launches planned for 2024 – RollsRoyce is immersing its talented creatives in luxury hubs around the world.
Phantom Extended Magnetism
Discussing the new creations, Chris Brownridge, CEO, of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars said: “These unique motor cars have been designed and crafted for our clients in China, who see the world as their home and rightfully demand super-luxury products that reflect their personal tastes through finishes, materials and contemporary crafts. Each Spirit of Expression commission tells its own story, inspired by locations around the world that resonate with our clients in the region — from the beaches of Sicily to the sunset on Boracay Island. Our artisans have brought these concepts to life with exquisite Bespoke craftsmanship, including a unique celestial-inspired motif created using embroidery and stainless steel. These individual motor cars exemplify the power of our Private Office strategy. By placing Bespoke designers in super-luxury centres around the world, they are even better placed to translate regional preferences and codes of luxury into fabulously personal and emotionally resonant Rolls-Royce motor cars, creating ever-more value for our clients.”
Ralph Lauren Celebrate SS24 With A Yacht Event In Dubai
Ralph Lauren hosted an exclusive yacht event at the Dubai Harbor, in celebration of the launch of the Spring/Summer 2024 collections.
Those aboard were welcomed with signature drinks and a performance by DJ Moana, while cruising around city landmarks from sunset until dusk.
The romance and artistry of Ralph Lauren’s timeless American style was at the centre of the summer experience.
Guests were transported into the world of Ralph Lauren upon stepping onto the yacht, which featured a curated assortment of signature fabrics and decorative accessories from the Ralph Lauren Home collection. The “World of Ralph Lauren” space was brought to life through vibrant guest looks with pieces from Ralph Lauren Collection, Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Polo Ralph Lauren ready-to-wear and swimwear.
The Spring/Summer 2024 Collection celebrates the freedom of personal style, reflecting the individuality of a woman who is timeless and modern, bold and romantic, sophisticated and vibrant – always grounded in a spirit of authenticity. The Collection is enhanced with Ralph Lauren’s newest bag, the RL 888, which complements the essence of the season.
With European craftsmanship as the central focus, Purple Label’s Spring/Summer 2024 collections find their inspiration in the romance of a sun-soaked holiday spent along the Amalfi Coast, where the timeless glamour of windswept views and centuries-old villas offers an idyllic backdrop for the enduring products that make up the world of Purple Label.
The men and women’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection is available in Ralph Lauren stores throughout the Middle East and on the Ralph Lauren website. The Ralph Lauren Home collection is available in Tanagra stores and on the Tanagra website and on the Ralph Lauren website.
Schiaparelli Launches Its First-Ever Sneaker Combining American And French Flare
For the first time, Daniel Roseberry has designed a “Made in Schiaparelli” sneaker that combines his American culture with Parisian style for the new season.
The new footwear combines a touch of streetwear with the Maison’s timeless codes.
Discussing the new piece, the designer said: “It’s the fantasy of couture made for the street. This sneaker is particularly meaningful to me because it symbolises what I am: an American in Paris. It embodies the meeting of two worlds: American comfort and the rigour of French chic.”
The highly original sneaker dresses down a sophisticated dress as much as it dresses up an effortless jeans-and-t-shirt look – and is perfect for the modern woman who’s in a hurry but always elegant.
Discussing the heritage of the new sneaker, the house pointed to 1927, when the house founder Elsa Schiaparelli launched her brand with a hand-knitted jumper decorated with a trompe-l’œil motif, which was an instant success around the world.
She then decided to launch a collection of hand-knitted jumpers, hand-knitted coats and hand-knitted skirts, which she called “Schiaparelli for sports”. For the designer, sportswear meant practical, casual and versatile styles that could be worn for social occasions once accessorized.
Almost a century later, Daniel Roseberry, Artistic Director of Schiaparelli, has no hesitation in revisiting this sportswear heritage with ever more daring and singular creations, of which the house’s sneaker is the latest.
JACQUEMUS Opens Its First-Ever Dubai Boutique In Dubai Mall’s Fashion Avenue
This month JACQUEMUS opened the doors to its first-ever permanent boutique in Dubai.
The first store of JACQUEMUS in the Middle East has taken up residence in the luxurious Fashion Avenue, within Dubai Mall.
Spanning 291 square metres, the boutique is a direct expression of the JACQUEMUS vision. The result is a warm monochromatic space anchored on a muted palette and natural textures that houses the latest collections of ready-to-wear, bags, shoes and accessories for men and women.
The signature JACQUEMUS silhouette defined by curvilinear forms and asymmetrical lines is portrayed throughout the store. Inviting you in with a claystone façade, the boutique takes its visitors on an exploration of its latest offerings.
Four distinct spaces are separated by broad arches, which begin with bags and conclude with an expansive discovery of women’s ready-to-wear. Undulating curves contrast with sharp lines to create essential fixtures, modular displays and seating accents crafted in natural travertine, wood and brushed steel.
JACQUEMUS punctuated the Dubai boutique with distinctive French artwork and décor, including the ‘Croisillon’ dining chair – a revival from French designer Jean Royère, and the ‘Vase Anduze’ handcrafted by Le Chêne Vert, a family-run workshop.
Tods Celebrates Italian Craftsmanship During The 60th Venice Biennale
The 60th Venice Biennale is currently underway in Italy’s famous canal city, and to mark the occasion Italian luxury house Tod’s hosted a unique evening in Venice celebrating “The Art of Craftsmanship.”
Hosted by Diego Della Valle, President & CEO and Andrea Della Valle, Vice President of the Tod’s Group, the dinner event took place in one of the most unique historical sites in Venice, Scuola Grande di San Rocco, most known for its collection of Tintoretto paintings.
Friends of the house enjoyed a curated menu inspired by the region and created by Michelin-acclaimed chef Massimiliano Alajmo.
Andrea Bocelli, Diego Della Valle and Andrea Della Valle
Following a welcome drink in the main hall, guests were then ushered to the Salone Maggiore where they dined under the breathtaking frescos of Tintoretto.
Internationally known maestro, Andrea Bocelli, then surprised the guests with a medley of songs from “Con Te Partirò” to “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
Nelson Tiberghien and Isabelle Chaput
Notable international guests from the worlds of fashion, art, music, and film gathered including Adrien Brody, Hayley Atwell, Zhang Ziyi, Keita Machida, Nancy Zhang, Pia Wurtzback, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Larsen Thompson, amongst others.
Giorgio Armani’s “VIBES” Womenswear Is Released For the New Season
The much-anticipated Giorgio Armani womenswear SS24 collection is now available. The collection – which was first unveiled in Milan last year – is titled “VIBES.”
Discussing the inspiration for the new collection in the notes which accompanied its release, the house said: “Everything vibrates: colours, sensations and feelings. This season, vibrations become visible. They run across entire surfaces in undulating movements and rippling weaves, they expand the chromatic scale to touch notes of bronze and silver and light up in precious greens and purples, only to arrive at a white that permeates the evenings.”
Similarly, the pieces in the collection are notably fluid, with shapes allowing space for the body and movement.
Meanwhile, accessories were kept simple – bags in the collection were spacious and large, while heels remained low.
In the notes which accompanied the collection, the house explained Armani’s vision for the new season: “Coherent and continuous by definition, Giorgio Armani’s vision refracts and mutates as though passing through a prism. It looks different yet remains unchanged, revealing the vibrations at the source of it all.”
Hermès Mixes New Designs With The House’s Archive For Milan Design Week
As part of Milan Design Week, the iconic French luxury house of Hermès is presenting its new homeware collection.
According to the house, the 2024 exhibit is inspired by “timeless and ageless” design, which plays on “the equivocation between what came before and what exists today.”
For this year’s exhibition, Hermès is showcasing its new collections in tandem with pieces from the house’s heritage. The house explains “This pairing plays on temporal ambiguity, demonstrating that Hermès objects are unaffected by time and passing trends”.
Raw materials play big in the exhibit, including brick, stone, slate, wood and compacted earth – depicting a jockey’s silk jersey.
Of course, craftsmanship – particularly for a house such as Hermès is also key. The house said “Virtuoso craftsmanship is also apparent on blankets in subtle, graduated shades and on large cashmere bedspreads in new sizes, enhanced with graphic lines which are woven, dyed, tailored or quilted and embroidered. The shape of the new Diapason d’Hermès lounge chair in leather and hammered aluminium is radical and elegant. Ethereal lamps inspired by the codes of equestrian vaulting and the delicate strokes of the Tressages équestres dinner service are the embodiment of lightness and refinement. All of which confirms Hermès’ original spirit of combining excellence with craftsmanship.”
La DoubleJ Reveals An Extraordinary Exhibit At Salone Del Mobile 2024
As part of the ongoing Salone del Mobile festivities in Milan, Italian-American luxury house La DoubleJ has revealed its brand-new collection “Solar” amid a striking retrospective of the brand’s entire homeware universe.
To amplify this extraordinary exhibition – the brand’s most significant to date – La DoubleJ has solicited the wild, imaginative eye of viral artist, filmmaker, and creative director, Max Siedentopf to create a one-of-a kind “Dancing Plates” installation, a machinated masterpiece of our high vibration homeware and his unique vision.
The “Dancing Plates” installation
Inspired by Eames’ ground-breaking “Solar Do Nothing” machine from 1957 – one of the first devices to convert solar energy into electricity – Max’s “Dancing Plates” plates installation uses 16 machines spinning in sync upon which are balanced over 50 pieces from the new Solar Collection. The moving, spinning, revolving shapes used in the original artwork are referenced here in Max’s machine, a joyful, gyrating ode to that iconically Italian passion for gathering loved ones around a table.
Surrounding this central art piece swirls La DoubleJ’s full constellation of homeware, with each wall serving as a canvas for the collections created over the past seven years. A giant solar mural in the central space houses the properties of the Divine Masculine, an energetic applicable to all genders rooted in the properties of power, visibility, confidence, boldness, forward motion, and protection. Visitors moving through the gallery are invited to contemplate how they can invite these properties inward, how they can be bolder, more brilliant, more assertive, and release that which no longer serves them. As with all of the brand’s endeavours, this experience is a manifestation of La DoubleJ’s mission to wrap the world in joy and create a space for its community to access a higher plane of consciousness, connection and creativity.
The Solar homeware collection
Inspired by the illuminating energy of the big bright star in our backyard – the sun – and by the unique properties it possesses, the “Solar” collection is La DoubleJ’s most complete homeware line to date. Featuring 36 pieces of porcelains with gold accents, hand-blown Murano glassware and Como-printed linens, each item is a celebration of traditional Italian craft delivered in vibrant, intended to elevate your entertaining state.
Delivered in an enveloping palette of warm terracotta, eggy yellow, and deep indigo, the collection features more serving platters than ever before, a reflection of the intention behind its design – to be shared amongst loved ones in moments of celebration and connection.
Giorgio Armani Reveals “Echos From The World” Collection At Salone Del Mobile 2024
To celebrate the Salone del Mobile 2024, Giorgio Armani is reopening the doors of Palazzo Orsini, the brand’s historic headquarters in Milan, to present the new Armani/Casa collection entitled “Echoes from the World”.
Discussing the new exhibition, Giorgio Armani explained his influence for this year’s Salone del Mobile, and the collection: “I would have liked to have been a director, and I basically fulfilled my dream: my view of style is comprehensive; it ranges from the rooms to the people that live in them. For this edition of the Salone del Mobile, I imagined a “cinematic” journey to the countries that have always inspired me: places and cultures that spark highly personal reworkings. This is why I wanted the furniture to converse with fashion, and why I wanted to exhibit everything in the Via Borgonuovo location. I like to present myself to the public in the most authentic and direct way possible”.
According to the house, the layout for the new exhibit was “conceived as a dialogue that flows between fashion and design”.
It unfolds through some of the rooms on the first floor of Palazzo Orsini, each corresponding to one of the geographical areas to which Giorgio Armani most often refers to including Europe, as well as Japan, China, Arabia and Morocco.
Following the trail of a golden ribbon on the floor leading to the grand staircase and then to the first floor, the spectator is immersed in the rooms of the piano nobile where the fine decor and 18th-century frescoes create the perfect setting for the collection. Punctuated by an abstract map design on the floor, the lands from which the designer draws inspiration take shape in his most beloved pieces and unique creations. In this imaginative layout, where diagonals disrupt the classic austerity of the building, a masterful mix of mirrors amplifies perspectives with nods to ever-new exoticisms.
During the festivities, the display windows of the Armani/Casa boutique at Corso Venezia 14 will complement the rooms of Palazzo Orsini.
Inside the boutique, laid out over three floors, new editions of iconic pieces will be on display, including the Logo Lamp – a point of origin for Armani/Casa – in its all-new version with a walnut wood and greige lacquered slatted lampshade. Among the new features on display is the greige-coloured bookcase made to contain a special edition of the Treccani Encyclopedia, in a limited and numbered series whose volumes are signed by Giorgio Armani. Alongside a spectacular array of pieces which traverse the house’s outdoor collection and more.
Nicolas Ghesquière Celebrates 10 Years At Louis Vuitton With Shanghai Pre-Fall 2024 Show
Last night in Shanghai Nicolas Ghesquière presented a Pre-Fall 2024 collection that marked ten years of creativity at Louis Vuitton.
At the “Voyager Show” there were echoes of earlier designs punctuating a decade in fashion, reflecting the roots of a noble French fashion House and the distinctive emblems that make it unique.
Today, they are renewed with unbridled freedom of tone and form. An exuberance of colour and joyfulness salutes the tremendous stylistic vitality of China’s youth, and for this collection, the House teamed up with the young contemporary artist Sun Yitian, whose charming, figurative bestiary enlivens contrasted silhouettes.
Short confronts long. At times they unite, conjoining refinement and audacity. Oppositional prints make for happy marriages. Classicism goes tangential, giving outfits a charming zeal. In this fast-paced collection, accessories punctuate the narrative, recounting in their own way the innovative saga behind the great trunk-maker.
The Petite Malle, the Twist, the OnTheGo, the Diane, the Loop, the Side Trunk, the Atlantis, the Noé, the Cannes, and the Camera Box — as well as the Capucines and the Dauphine — open fresh chapters and return in flexible versions. Meanwhile, the Slim Trunk joins the illustrious ranks of the Maison’s bags, timeless witnesses of a long history that continues to unfold.
The Pre-Fall 2024 collection was presented at the Long Museum, which was founded by husband-and-wife collectors Mr. Liu Yiqian and Ms. Wang Wei, and is named for its elongated funnel shape.
The largest private museum in China, it holds the country’s richest collection, including traditional, modern and contemporary Chinese art, Chinese revolutionary art, and contemporary works from Asia, Europe and the United States.
FENDI Celebrates Milan Design Week With FENDI Casa Collection
For Milan Design Week, FENDI Casa has unveiled a new chapter of its journey epitomising a continuous dialogue between design, the selection of raw materials and workmanship.
The FENDI Casa collection revolves around several of the house’s cornerstone designs including FF logo.
The new Home Accessories Collection is designed under the creative direction of Silvia Venturini Fendi and with a strong influence from the FENDI ready-to-wear and accessories universes.
FENDI codes such as the FF and O’Lock logos and Pequin stripes are reshaped into decorative motifs in line with the maison’s identity and highest craftsmanship.
Materials and workmanship are carefully selected to match the luxurious attitude of the collection, from inlaid natural wood to artisanal woven leather and silver and gold metals.
MCM Has Unveiled A New Exhibit At Milan Design Week
The luxury German house MCM has revealed a fabulous new collection as part of Milan Design Week.
The house is currently showcasing the pieces at the 17th-century Palazzo Cusani, offering a daring exploration of design, spotlighting the MCM Wearable Casa Collection conceived by Atelier Biagetti and curated by Maria Cristina Didero.
“The MCM Wearable Casa collection defines how we will live – physically and digitally together, in a more sustainable way,” explains Sung-joo Kim, Chairperson of the MCM Group.
“It’s a unique concept of wearing and dwelling that imparts multiple values to consumers, leading them toward a more sustainable and healthier way of living. We (MCM) have chosen Atelier Biagetti because of its unique disruptive attitude towards the world of design; its approach to creativity is nurtured by everyday life and our brand wants to talk about everyday life. Atelier Biagetti is far from the classic design studios, most of its projects deal with surprising performances, unpredictable videos, uncommon objects, which we really feel close to the MCM. ”, Kim continues.
Through the establishment of playful associations and thought-provoking visual short-circuits, MCM Wearable Casa Collection pioneers an unconventional reinterpretation of the zeitgeist diving into the house’s heritage as well as design references, to create objects fitting into our futuristic lifestyle.
Portable and multifunctional, the 7 pieces from MCM Wearable Casa Collection bring together the unruly approach of last century’s Bauhaus functionality and spirit to the contemporary nomadic attitude, perfectly fitting the German brand, originally founded in Munich, in 1976 – born out of a time of transition, in a place where traditions were being broken.
“The feeling we want to recreate is something you have never seen before, a place in between past, present and future. An experience to live and discover a new world in a subjective view like a videogame. The exhibition is conceived as a hybrid space, with two sides and ways to enter: reality and metaverse, so that you can enjoy the experience even remotely. It is an exhibition which lives out and after itself, making Palazzo Cusani’s rooms an extension to another world, where everything becomes magic and infinite, and where even avatars could wear the objects”, add Alberto Biagetti and Laura Baldassari of Atelier Biagetti.
This metaverse world, designed by Atelier Biagetti with Vitruvio Virtual Reality, is a place where each object of the collection becomes magic, changing its function, materials, and sizes and embracing the idea of no boundaries. Guests can virtually wear a total look by MCM and explore and interact with the environment in a sort of virtuoso game where it is possible also to understand the concept behind the design objects and follow unexpected paths discovering levels, and attachments to retrieve a special NFT exclusively dedicated to this experience and to those will become part of the MCM Wearable Casa community.
JW Anderson Announces “Days” Art Installation In Milan
JW Anderson is showcasing Patrick Carroll’s artworks as part of Salone del Mobile in Milan.
Patrick Carroll makes art by stretching textiles he has knitted onto stretcher bars as though they are paintings.
From his large collection of yarn, nearly all scavenged from yarn remainder shops that liquidate the fashion industry’s leftovers, Carroll forges compositions of varied texture, material, colour, and transparency, in primarily wool, linen, silk, cashmere, and mohair.
He makes each work by hand on a flatbed domestic knitting machine from the 1970s at his studio in Los Angeles.
Knitted into the works are bits of text. About half the works in this show bear a single word, usually a word that names a concept–music, abnegation, pity, voices, permanence.
Of the rest, some quote works of literature, some refer to already extant works of art, and some feature Carroll’s own phrases.
Carroll’s shows come together across the making of them, language accreting daily to form a modular chorus. It is only in the realization of a show that its aesthetic argument emerges.
The installation showcases 37 artworks that will be available for purchase at the JW Anderson Milan store.
Versace Unveils “If These Walls Could Talk” At The Salone Del Mobile In Milan
Versace has opened the doors to its original Milan home and design Atelier at Palazzo Versace, Via Gesù 12, to showcase the latest Versace Home collection during Salone del Mobile as part of Milan Design Week.
The new exhibition offers insight into some of the many rich cultural and design stories of the Palazzo via a bespoke audio experience titled, “Versace Home: If These Walls Could Talk”.
According to the house, Entering Palazzo Versace offers an “immersion into the full Versace lifestyle. Rooms are curated into living, dining, and sleeping areas, each fully decorated in the Versace Home 2024 collection”.
This then extends to the central courtyard where a glass house is erected with Versace Ceramics Gemstone flooring. The furniture collection, produced and distributed by Luxury Living Group, centres on Versace’s signature design codes. Now iconic symbols of the House, the Medusa, Barocco, and Greca were all designed and developed within the studios of Palazzo Versace, and many are seen for the first time at fashion shows taking place in the Palazzo’s central courtyard and are presented here across furniture, lighting, textiles and more.
The Medusa ’95 and Greca feature two rounded chairs and deep, expansive sofas crafted in options of leather or chenille featuring the Barocco motif. The Barocco carries through across designs including tableware from the Rosenthal meets Versace collection. Polished metal in the colour of Versace gold is treated to feel fluid as the backs and arms of chairs, or strong and solid as the bordering edge of coffee tables. The collection’s standout piece is the Medusa ’95 Conversation Sofa, a design that is unmistakably Versace in its exaggerated, lavish scale, and inviting comfort. Recalling a large bed, the sofa is an island of relaxation that features fine leather trim details, surrounding chenille Barocco reclining cushions, and options of indoor or outdoor leathers.
The exhibition runs from April 17 to 21 for Salone del Mobile and is open to the public through limited pre-registration at Versace.com.
Valentino Leads The Way In The Book Trend With International Booker Prize 2024 Sponsorship
From celebrity book clubs to must-have bookshop totes, the fashion world is currently having a literary moment.
Now, for the first time ever, Valentino has announced that it will sponsor the International Booker Prize 2024 ceremony.
The Booker Prize is as synonymous with writing as the Oscars are with film and the Grammys are with music. For over half a century, the International Booker Prize has been recognised as the most respected guide to the world’s best fiction.
It’s not the first time Valentino has made forays into the literary world, having previously worked with many authors nominated for the Booker Prizes, including Hanya Yanagihara, Leila Mottley, Elif Shafak and Mieko Kawakami.
This year’s ceremony will be held on the 21st of May in London. Discussing the new partnership, Gaby Wood, the Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation said “We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on such a meaningful collaboration with Valentino, and are hugely grateful for their support. Together, these two longstanding institutions will bring together imaginations without borders. The Valentino team’s energy and enthusiasm are inspiring, as is everything they’ve already done for, and with, great writers. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed discussing books with them – and discovering our shared love of many International Booker authors has been a particular thrill.”
The sponsorship by Valentino will also enable the donation of 500 sets of the International Booker Prize shortlist to libraries across the UK. Following the announcement, Jacopo Venturini, the CEO of Maison Valentino said “We are honoured to partner with the Booker Prize Foundation this year. This collaboration further strengthens our deep connection to the world of literature.”
The livestream of the International Booker Prize ceremony will hosted by YouTuber Jack Edwards, known as ‘the internet’s resident librarian’, and available on The Booker Prize’s YouTube channel.
Image credit: Valentino Eyewear x Akoni Group
Balenciaga Announces New Collaboration With American Artist Andrew J. Greene
Balenciaga is continuing its ongoing “Art in Stores” project through a new collaboration with American artist Andrew J. Greene.
The partnership will see eight original artworks from Greene’s Timeless Symbols series exhibited at Balenciaga’s Montenapoleone store in Milan.
The new announcement coincides with the 2024 Salone del Mobile (Milan Furniture Fair) which is currently running in the city. Following this, the works will travel to other Balenciaga stores worldwide.
Greene’s sculptures place familiar, manufactured objects atop stainless-steel stanchions. A concealed motor rotates each item slowly, mimicking traditional retail displays. Placed in a procession behind a glass storefront, the artworks dramatise their place within the viewer’s world.
Alongside a handheld mirror, a shrimp cocktail, a red rose, and a mapped globe are some of Balenciaga’s signature trompe-l’œil products: the reusable Coffee Cup, the shoe-like Knife Clutch, and two styles of the glossed-leather Chips Bag.
Andrew J. Greene is a conceptual artist who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. His work examines vernacular commodity culture, grafting ordinary and antique forms from Americana onto restrained frameworks to address taste, meaning, and ideology surrounding the lives of objects.
Emporio Armani Unveils Key Denim Staples For SS24
The much-anticipated Emporio Armani men’s and women’s SS24 denim collection is now available for the new season.
Discussing the new collection, the house said in the notes which accompanied the release “Denim – always treated as an innovative element in a free wardrobe – is part of the Emporio Armani metropolitan ethos.”
This season, the house presents “a dedicated selection of pieces designed to suit different moods and attitudes.”
The cotton denim selection for women includes shirts and shorts with contrasting all-over logos alongside jackets paired with wide-leg trousers embroidered with logos in white, dark blue or light blue.
For men, the selection offers sharply cut blazers in dark tones, sweatshirts, trousers and short jackets combined with wide-leg drawstring Bermuda shorts in denim-effect cotton jersey, suits in ultra-light blue denim, shirts and tapered trousers in colour-buffed leather.
The Denim collection is available now at Emporio Armani boutiques worldwide and online at Armani.com.
Chanel Opens Its First-Ever Boutique In Bahrain
French luxury house Chanel has unveiled its first boutique in Bahrain, in the city’s well-heeled Marassi Galleria mall.
The highly anticipated boutique spans 700 square metres on the mall’s first floor and is now home to the latest Chanel Ready-to-Wear collections by Creative Director Virginie Viard, as well as bags, shoes, eyewear and accessories.
There is also an area dedicated to the house’s watches and fine jewellery collections, including an exclusive selection of timepieces such as Première, J12 and BOY·FRIEND as well as fine jewellery creations including the iconic COCO CRUSH, N°5 and Camelia collections. In addition, a selection of Chanel’s high jewellery and haute horlogerie collections will also soon arrive at the new boutique.
Alongside these collections, the house will also showcase its fragrance and beauty products, including the house’s fragrance, make-up and skincare ranges, such as the LES EXCLUSIFS de CHANEL, SUBLIMAGE, and 31 LE ROUGE lines.
Upon entering this expansive and luminous boutique, visitors are immediately immersed in the world of accessories. Two dedicated salons showcase an array of iconic and novel handbags, complemented by a curated selection of shoes, costume jewellery, eyewear, scarves, and small leather goods. The journey unfolds into a generously spaced shoe department featuring elegant seating areas.
Continuing the House’s enduring dedication to the arts, a tradition traced back to Mademoiselle Chanel, the boutique’s decor is further enhanced with an artwork by Alicja Kwade as well as a sculptural urn by Johan Creten. Additionally, the salon’s fitting rooms feature two captivating artworks by Alastair Gordon.
The range of services extends to personalized one-on-one appointments, along with alteration, repair, and restoration services facilitated by the House’s dedicated centre in Dubai. Mall-provided valet parking adds a touch of convenience.
Celebrities Step Out In Dior For The House’s Pre-Fall 2024 RTW Show In New York City
Dior took its Pre-Fall 2024 ready-to-wear collection on the road this week, to the place which inspired the collection – New York City.
The show took place at the Brooklyn Museum – a favourite of the house – which also chosen the spot for the 2021 exhibition “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams.”
Celebrities and A-list friends of the house dressed in key looks by Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri for the occasion.
Scroll down for all the outfit details.
Violette d’Urso wore a Dior Spring-Summer 2024 black wool and silk jacket over a black silk dress. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Rosamund Pike wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 black wool jacket and skirt. She also wore a Dior bag, sunglasses, socks and shoes.
Rachel Zegler wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 green velvet jacket, vest and shorts. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Naomi Watts wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 white silk dress with Dior shoes.
Michelle Williams wore a Dior Haute Couture white silk suit. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Maria Frering wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 embroidered black wool and silk jacket with a black wool and silk skirt. She also wore a Dior bag, socks and shoes.
Lena Mahfouf wore a Dior Spring-Summer 2024 black silk long dress.
Laetitia Casta wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 black wool sweater with an embroidered black skirt. She also wore Dior shoes.
Karlie Kloss wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 grey wool and silk jacket and skirt with a black belt. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Ioanna Gika wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 embroidered black silk dress. She also wore Dior sunglasses, socks and shoes.
Haerin wore a Dior Spring-Summer 2024 black cotton asymetrical shirt with a printed black and white cotton skirt. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Diane Kruger wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 blue cotton jacket and pants with a white cotton shirt. She also wore a Dior tie, bag and shoes.
Charlize Theron wore a Dior Winter 2024-2025 black wool top with a printed beige cotton skirt. She also wore a Dior bag, sunglasses and shoes.
Carissa Moore wore a Dior white cotton shirt with black wool and silk pants. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Breanna Stewart wore a Dior printed silk and cotton coat with black wool and silk pants. She also wore a Dior bag.
Anya Taylor-Joy wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 black silk dress with a belt.
Antonia Gentry wore a Dior Spring-Summer 2024 black lace long dress. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Anna Diop wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 printed blue silk shirt and pants. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Alycia Debnam-Carey wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 black silk dress. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Alice Braga wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 grey wool suit with a Dior belt. She also wore a Dior bag.
Alexandra Shipp wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 black wool dress. She also wore a Dior belt, bag and shoes.
Alexandra Daddario wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 printed wool coat over a white printed silk dress. She also wore a Dior bag and shoes.
Alba Rohrwacher wore a Dior Pre Fall 2024 black wool and silk jacket with skirt and a white cotton shirt. She also wore Dior socks and shoes.
Carina Lau Wore A Striking Schiaparelli Surrealist-Inspired Look At The Hong Kong Film Festival 2024
The Schiaparelli Spring Summer 2024 collection took centre stage at the recent Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), with actress Carina Lau stepping out in key pieces from the collection.
The popular Asian festival sees some of the best films and creative talents in the industry gather for a 12-day celebration.
It is one of Asia’s oldest and most respected film festivals, first founded in 1976 and has since become a significant event in the global film calendar.
HKIFF features a wide variety of films, including international cinema, Asian cinema, independent films, documentaries, and retrospectives. It provides a platform for both established filmmakers and emerging talent to showcase their work to a discerning audience.
For the occasion, the actress wore a striking handmade gold lobster-inspired Surrealist necklace, a bi-material strapless dress with the impossible V neckline in black velvet and a draped skirt in tonal black satin.
Lau then paired the look with asymmetrical earrings in enamel, hammered gold-plated brass and rhinestones, all designed by Daniel Roseberry.
FENDI Launches New In-Store “Make Up Your Peekaboo” Bespoke Service
FENDI has announced a a new in-store special project showcasing the Maison’s savoir-faire and expertise in accessorising – in an exclusive FENDI way.
Starting with the arrival in store of the Women’s Spring/Summer 2024 Collection, FENDI is offering the possibility to dress-up one’s iconic Peekaboo bag with a wide, high-end selection of accessories, combining the Maison’s mastery in materials and playfulness with the clients’ utmost desire for luxury and exclusivity.
Clients will have the opportunity to create a bespoke design to express their personal style, giving new life to their favourite FENDI bag or choosing from the new Peekaboo bags: from the iconic FENDI Selleria 1925 with its beautiful, soft and sensual Cuoio Romano naturally grained leather with signature hand-made macro-stitching and sterling silver plaque, to the artisanal Raffia Interlace animation of the season – the distinctive interlace leather mignon workmanship reinterpreted for the Spring/Summer 2024 with a raffia yarn, resulting in an exquisite artisanal masterpiece.
The new service is available in selected FENDI boutiques worldwide and on fendi.com.
Dior Unveils Its Latest Boutique In Qatar
Dior has opened its latest boutique in the Middle East, situated in Qatar.
The new store is based in the heart of the South terminal of Hamad International Airport in the country.
According to the house, the new boutique is “dedicated to women’s creations by Maria Grazia Chiuri”.
The first collection to arrive in the new boutique is Dior’s spring-summer 2024 ready-to-wear collection, which offers a timeless modernity at the convergence of purity and sophistication.
From garments to accessories, via fine jewellery pieces and watches, this selection of irresistible objects of desire is revealed in a luminous decor sublimated by delicate shades of white, beige and grey.
Image credit: Jonathon Taylor
ZENITH Reveals The Long-Awaited Defy Skyline Chronograph At Watches & Wonders
The Swiss luxury watch maison, ZENITH, has revealed the latest addition to its DEFY Skyline constellation at Watches & Wonders in Geneva this week.
In the notes which accompanied the announcement, the house described the timepiece as a “ natural continuation and expansion of ZENITH’s edgy, all-occasions line”, adding that the new watch offered “a new vessel for the Manufacture’s latest iteration of the El Primero automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre, endowed with a 1/10th of a second chronograph function.”
Architectural, geometric and intricately faceted, the DEFY Skyline’s 42mm steel case offers an up-to-date take on the earliest DEFY’s octagonal case with a multi-sided bezel. Retaining the same DNA of robustness and durability as its predecessors while bringing an edgier and more contemporary aesthetic and proportions. In the DEFY Skyline Chronograph, the pushers follow the sharply drawn lines of the case, while the screw-down crown emblazoned with the star emblem helps ensure a water resistance of 100 metres (10ATM).
Available in metallic black, blue or silver, the DEFY Skyline Chronograph’s dial pairs the collection’s signature starry sky-patterned dial featuring engraved four-pointed stars with the traditional El Primero dial configuration. Three slightly oversized and overlapping counters show the elapsed seconds and minutes of the chronograph, as well as the constant running seconds. The date window – matching the colour of the dial – is positioned at 4:30, another El Primero signature. The flange ring with the 1/10th of a second scale has twelve facets, the form of the dodecagonal bezel and serves as extensions of the hour markers.
Just like in the DEFY Skyline automatic model and its skeleton counterpart, ZENITH continues to offer the 1/10th of a second function found, now in the form of a1/10th of a second chronograph in the DEFY Skyline Chronograph. This mechanical feat is the result of the El Primero 3600 calibre’s high-frequency rate of 5Hz (36’000 vibrations per hour), visible through the display back. Its open star-shaped oscillating weight with bidirectional winding efficiently provides a power reserve of 60 hours.
Another key highlight of the DEFY Skyline is its quick strap-change mechanism integrated directly into the case, allowing for effortless versatility without requiring any tools. With the simple push of a button, the three-link steel bracelet can be swapped with the supplied star-patterned rubber strap with a steel folding buckle.
The DEFY Skyline Chronograph is available from all ZENITH boutiques and authorized sellers.
Gigi Hadid Fronts New Suffragette-Inspired SS24 Miu Miu Bag Campaign
Miu Miu has revealed its new Spring Summer 2024 bag campaign starring Palestinian supermodel Gigi Hadid.
The new campaign is an ode to colour, femininity, and fashion and features Gigi with the iconic Wander and Arcadie bags photographed by Steven Meisel.
Discussing the new campaign, the house said it was inspired by the British Feminist and Suffragette interwar photographer Yveonde: “In a continuing championing of historic female creatives channelled through Miu Miu campaigns, inspiration is drawn from the stylized work of the pioneering British interwar photographer Yevonde. A feminist and suffragette, Yevonde’s career emblematizes freedom and independence – opening her own studio aged just 21 at a time when professions for women were limited if permitted at all, she signed her work using only her first name, asserting both her personal authorship and identity as a woman.
“Yevonde’s work of the 1930s is ground-breaking for its use of delicately nuanced and considered colour, creating surreally perfect arrangements of models and high society elites within utopian scopes of unreal props, drapery and foliage. Here, those images are echoed in a respectful homage – we find a similar composure in crafting the image, the same saturated hues set against porcelain-delicate dégradé pastel, yet with the spontaneous spirit of now. This campaign extols Yevonde’s hallmark fractured colour tones, in instinctive and joyful contrasts – an idea echoed through the new colourways of the Arcadie and Wander, where classic Caramel and Cognac hues are joined with bright orange and soleil. The contemplative poise of each image – fallen petals, a carefully-gestured hand, bags hugged, cradled, held – evokes that bygone age, yet Meisel’s images are injected with the bold attitudes of today.” the house continued.
On the choice of Gigi in the campaign, Miu Miu described here as the “perfect conduit” for re-awakening the work and inspiration of Yevonde.
Panerai Unveils Three New Nautical Inspired Timepieces At Watches&Wonders 2024
Panerai has revealed several new nautical-inspired timepieces at this year’s edition of Watches & Wonders.
Over recent years, the house has built on its ties with the sailing world, becoming the official partner of the prestigious America Cup competition in 2017 and the Official Sponsor of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli for the first time in 2019.
At this week’s watch fair, the house unveiled its new Submersible GMT Luna Rossa Titanio PAM01507, the Submersible Tourbillon GMT Luna Rossa Experience Edition and the house’s new Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-CeramitechTM.
The Submersible GMT Luna Rossa Titanio
Discussing the house’s relationship with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli, and the house’s investment in nautical sports, the CEO of Panerai, Jean-Marc Pontroué said:
“Our association with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team resonates deeply with Panerai’s maritime heritage and our pursuit of boundary-pushing performance. This partnership is a natural extension of our brand’s core values.”
The Submersible QuarantaQuattro Luna Rossa Ti-Ceramitech™
Meanwhile, commenting on the on-the-water relationship with the team, Max Sirena, the team’s Skipper and Director added: “The synergy with Panerai takes us on a shared journey in pushing the limits of performance, where precision, innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence are at the heart of our endeavours,”
