9 December 2023 |
Plus DKNY Tech has a ski capsule affnd Jaeger-LeCoultre launches a Year of the Dragon watch.
If it feels like half of your Instagram feed is in Miami right now, it’s because they probably are. Basel is back for another year and with it comes not just the collectors, but also the fashion brands setting up their events. For Louis Vuitton it marks the return of their collaboration with Frank Gehry while Fendi gets surreal with a Design Miami installation made with Bless, the avant-garde design studio. But not everything is centered around what’s going down in Florida, with the likes of Bottega Veneta releasing their pre-spring campaign starring A$AP Rocky and DKNY Tech launching their ski capsule. Read up on all of that plus what else you might have missed this week below.
DKNY Launches a Ski Capsule Collection
Trip to the slopes planned over the holidays? If you still haven’t sorted your gear perhaps DKNY Tech’s capsule has what you’re looking for. A first for the brand, the 30 piece collection features a mix of technical and après-friendly styles. You’ll find ski pants that have fleece backing for extra warmth while graphic merino wool sweaters bring to mind vintage styles from the seventies and eighties. For those seeking a jolt of color, outerwear and leggings feature print inspired by the northern lights. To round it out there are snow boots, googles, and eyewear. Shop it here.
A$AP Rocky Stars in Bottega Veneta’s Latest Ads
When you’re half of one of the world’s most photographed couples, navigating the paparazzi becomes second nature. And given how many photos exist, why not make the best of it? That’s the creative inspiration behind Bottega Veneta’s pre-spring campaign, which features images of A$AP Rocky shot by the likes of Getty and Backgrid. Featuring the rapper dressed in the collection, you’ll see him going about mundane activities like exiting cars, going for strolls, and picking up flowers.
Cartier’s Time Unlimited Exhibit Hits Miami
While the art world is down in Miami for Basel, the other luxury brands are also making their presence known. For Cartier it’s the perfect chance to bring their Time Unlimited exhibit to North America, namely in Miami’s Design District. Dedicated to the brand’s watch making legacy, there are four themes: Watchmaker of Shapes, Pioneering Spirit, Culture of Design, and Technique Serves Beauty. You’ll also see iconic timepieces such as the Santos de Cartier, Baignoire, Tank, and more as well as limited-edition styles from the Cartier Collection, that mark some of the earliest references to the brand’s most celebrated designs. Also on view is Time Project, a film produced with their global ambassador Jake Gyllenaal. It’ll be open daily from December 7th to the 22nd, except on Tuesdays. For more info, head over here or simply walk in, no reservations required.
Farfetch Has Early Access to Dolce & Gabbana’s Flower Power Collections
Spring might be several months away but for those heading to warmer climates for the holidays, a lightweight floral dress might be on your shopping list. If that sounds like you, then you’ll want to check out Farfetch, The retailer is offering exclusive early access to the Dolce & Gabbana Flower Power pre-spring collection from now until December 11th. The pieces feature roses, anemones, and other blooms, drawing inspiration from the iconic spirit of the 1960s. Ranging from satin sheaths to full-length gowns, the breezy pieces look equally at home on the beach as they do at a gala. To celebrate the two are throwing a bash at Basel. Not there to experience it IRL? Shop it here instead.
Frank Gehry is Back With Another Louis Vuitton Collection
As the art world descends on Basel, one noteworthy stop before entering the fair is the Louis Vuitton set-up, in honor of their continued collaboration with Frank Gehry. The booth, located in the lobby, highlights a limited handbag collection that combines the architect’s trademark aesthetic with the luxury house’s materials. Consisting of four themes – Architecture and Form, Material Exploration, Animals, and Twisted Box – the bags are juxtaposed against original artworks, trunks, preparatory sketches, and architectural models. Among the designs include a Capucines Mini Blossom that features glas-like resin petals as inspired by the brand’s perfume bottles as well as the Capucines MM Concrete Pockets, which feature 3-D cement-like screen printing. But the two noteworthy pieces not to be missed? A white crocodile Capucines bag featuring a fish design as well as a Bear With Us clutch, which is based upon Gehry’s 2014 Bear With Us sculpture. With only 10 of each made, it’s sure to be a collector’s item among collectors.
Bless and Fendi Go Behind the Scenes For Design Miami
For their latest Design Miami outing, Fendi tapped BLESS, a studio by Desiree Heiss and Ines Kaag in Paris and Berlin to create a hyperrealistic booth. Called Fendibackfrontals, and made in conjunction with Fendi Casa, the panels feature images directly taken from lesser seen areas within the luxury brand’s headquarters in Rome. You’ll find the entrance as well as the kitchen of a Fendi family member, and even a scene from the basement. It’s meant to be interactive, with the opposite side covered in wooden paneling, creating a different visual scenario. Scattered throughout are objects, including a Peekaboo bag inspired by the DHL slip from the box that Fendi sent to the Heiss and Kaag. Also noteworthy is their upcycling of fur scraps, being used for an intarsia blanket depicting an office space. These same scraps were also used to cover cleaning bottles or the cord of a power strip, highlighting mundane items that normally would be hidden away.
The 2024 Pirelli Calendar Has Arrived
Last week the 2024 Pirelli Calendar was released, with the theme being Timeless. As seen through the lens of Ghanaian visual artist Prince Gyasi, it marks the first time a Black and African photographer was asked to shoot the famous calendar. Featuring the likes of Angela Bassett, Naomi Campbell, Idris Elba, Amanda Gorman, and more, it’s a celebration of Black excellence. Gorman was quick to notice that the gathering bore a striking similarity to The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. “It takes poetry from the 18th century on across the African diaspora,” she said while Bassett vividly described her photoshoot as “holding the key and opening the door for more to follow.”
Jaeger-LeCoultre Celebrates the Year of the Dragon
If you thought 2023 was the year of the Jaeger-LeCoutre Reverso, as they brought their immersive exhibit to New York, well, wait for 2024. The luxury watchmaker just announced a new addition, the Tribute Enamel Dragon. As its name implies, it’s designed in honor of the Year of the Dragon, which officially starts on February 12th. Featuring the brand’s signature swiveling case it flips over to reveal a dragon surrounded by golden clouds engraved in gloss black Grand Feu enamel. The painstaking process requires 10 differently sized chisels to sculpt and the master engraver devoted 80 hours to create the piece. Considering how revered the dragon is in Chinese culture, this is the ultimate in auspicious purchases.
Marni and SSENSE Launch a Miami Capsule
Given Francesco Risso penchant for fun colors and prints, it only seemed a matter of time before the Creative Director of Marni would create a Miami-inspired capsule. The best timing? Naturally Art Basel, as the brand along with SSENSE, their exclusive retail partner, hosted a party at Soho House’s Miami Pool House to celebrate Once Upon a Time in Miami. The collection, based in the whimsical world of storytelling is full of prints, vibrant hues, and a smattering of faux fur across a range of unisex styles. With the likes of Jordyn Woods, SAINt JHN, Selah Marley, and The Clermont twins at the bash, it looks like it’ll be a surefire hit when it launches on the site on Monday, December 11th.
Birkenstock Celebrates 10 Years With Heritage Retail Brand Concepts
Speaking of bright launches, everyone’s favorite warm weather shoe brand Birkenstock naturally got into the Art Basel fray. Along with Concepts, a heritage retail brand, the two celebrated their ten years of collaboration with a collection inspired by Miami and the Art Deco movement. Featuring limited edition styles including long-haired cowhide, you’ll find their iconic Arizona two-strap sandals in bold hues like pink, mauve, lime green, and orange. And should you be at Design Miami this weekend, don’t forget to stop by their booth, where they’ll be offering popsicles and foot rubs – a welcome treat in the Florida heat. Rather just get the slides? Shop it here.
