19 January 2024 |
Plus a must-see Deborah Turbeville exhibit.
While last week was dominated by Lunar New Year campaigns, this week sees everything from yes, more Year of the Dragon collections to spring campaigns to an upcoming exhibit in Amsterdam worth visiting for any fashion fan. For the likes of Fendi and Loewe, just in time for the menswear shows, they launched their spring ads with their respective brand ambassadors. Speaking of celebrity faces, Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch make another Prada reappearance as they front the Re-Nylon campaign. For those in the mood to shop, Louis Vuitton has a new sneaker while Gentle Monster offers up playful sunglasses. And finally, if you happen to be traveling to the Netherlands between March and June, take an afternoon to check out the Deborah Turbeville exhibit at the Huis Marseille.
Read more on what you may have missed this week below.
Fendi Launches Their Spring Campaign
Their fall 2024 menswear show may have just wrapped in Milan but Fendi has spring on their mind. The Italian luxury house launched their spring campaign featuring the likes of Chinese actor and singer Kuanghan Hsu, American actor Jeremy Pope, and Italian actor Massimiliano Caiazzo. Clad in the season’s best, the pieces serve as an ode to the Fendi Factory, a hub outside of Florence that’s dedicated to leather goods. Naturally accessories play a key role in the ads, with the likes of the Peekaboo and Baguette bags making an appearance. Also seen in the images are pieces from the Fendi Kengo Kuma project as well as the Chiodo backpack and messenger styles.
Loewe Continues On With Jamie Dornan and Omar Apollo
Earlier this month Loewe named Jamie Dornan as one of their global brand ambassadors, releasing the spring 2024 ad campaign in tandem with the news. Centering on the act of performance, the David Sims photographs show Dornan seated in a nondescript environment, as if he were at an audition. Also featured is singer Omar Apollo, perched on a stage with a microphone in hand. Highlighting a series of leathers, knits, and glitter as well as key accessories like the Screen sunglasses, Puzzle Fold tote, and Puzzle bag, the images are meant to capture the energy of being in the spotlight.
Tiffany & Co. Celebrates the Lunar New Year
Last week saw plenty of Lunar New Year campaign drops and the latest to add to the festive atmosphere is Tiffany & Co. While their signature blue isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, the images also feature plenty of red, an auspicious color. Designed to convey prosperity and togetherness, you’ll find the brand’s greatest hits in the mix ranging from the Tiffany Lock to the HardWear collections and beyond. And really, isn’t starting out the Year of the Dragon with a chic piece of jewelry the best way to ensure an especially lucky 2024?
Hublot’s Year of the Dragon Watch
Prefer a more in-your-face celebration of the Year of the Dragon? Hublot’s Lunar New Year watch is just that. The latest iteration of their Big Bang watch, called the Spirit of Big Bang Titanium, takes inspiration from the traditional Chinese art of paper cutting. By layering hands, wheels, and H-shaped screws, a three-dimensional silhouette of a dragon takes center stage on the watch’s face. To complete the design, the rubber strap is reminiscent of scales. Made in conjunction with Chinese artist Chen Fenwan, there are only 88 of these in the world — an auspicious number meant to signify fortune and prosperity.
Louis Vuitton Launches the LV Rush Sneaker
Nicolas Ghesquière is no stranger to a hit sneaker — remember the chokehold that the Louis Vuitton ArchLights had over everyone circa 2018 to 2019? Well, the successor to that style has arrived and it’s called the LV Rush. First seen during their cruise presentation in Isola Bella, the design draws inspiration from vintage boxing boots and contemporary trail shoes. Available as a boot that extends above the ankle as well as a classic high-top and a low-top in shades of red, white, and black, they’re lightweight and flexible for everyday wear. With their sporty meets luxurious take on kicks, consider them a sign that high-end gorpcore is a trend that’s here to stay.
Gentle Monster’s Sugar Rush
Spend any time on TikTok the last week or so and you might have noticed influencers unboxing giant bags of gummies. Inside however, isn’t candy, but a cleverly designed package for Gentle Monster’s latest collection. Called Gentle Jelly, the sporty sunglasses feature wrap around silhouettes. Some have gradient frames while others are adorned with plastic recreation of candies at the temples. The best part of this branding? Starting from today, stores will feature larger than life recreations of the big bags, with jellies spilling out, making for a fun social media moment.
Prada Re-Nylon Returns
Since 2019, Prada’s Re-Nylon collection has made a Y2K-era staple for the brand a hot commodity. Besides the requisite pochettes, the fabric has been made into tops, skirts, outwear, and more, much to our delight. The latest campaign has added yet more items to the wishlist as Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch highlight new pieces including a very stylish barrel shaped handbag. But it’s not purely about what they’re wearing, as the ad sees them against a watery backdrop, as a reminder of Prada’s commitment with UNESCO for ocean preservation. By both gathering plastic waste to create the Re-Nylon as well as donating a portion of the proceeds to Sea Beyond, an educational program on sustainability, the brand is hoping to lessen their impact while still providing a luxury product.
A Must Visit Exhibit For Fashion Fans
Few female photographers have managed to capture the attention quite like Deborah Turbeville. Known for her images of women that have sinister, mysterious beauty that contrasted to the romantic notions popular at the time, Turbeville was a favorite among fashion brands and magazines alike up to her death in 2013. A sweeping exhibition at the Huis Marseille in Amsterdam, opening in March 24 and running through June 16, will feature her collages as well as never before seen works. Called Photocollage, it includes images from her most important series like Bathhouse, École des Beaux-Arts, Unseen Versailles, and Studio St. Petersburg. For fashion fans heading to the Netherlands this spring, it’s worth spending an afternoon immersing yourself in her world.
COS’ Artistic Ode to the Year of the Dragon
For a more eye-catching take on festive Lunar New Year dressing, COS is offering up a capsule collection full of graphic prints reminiscent of traditional Chinese woodblock prints or paper cutting. Featuring the requisite dragon as well as florals, you’ll find both mens and womens styles like crisp button ups, cozy cardigans, and a graphic miniskirt. While you’d think they’d go for the standard red, the brand opted for a neutral palette instead, as a way to make the pieces more wearable all year round.
Alexander McQueen Goes Floral
When you think of Year of the Dragon, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t necessarily a flower but for Alexander McQueen, that served as the jumping off point for their Lunar New Year collection. Inspired by the antirrhinum, better known as the snapdragon, the blooms in pink and red find themselves on everything from the interior of the small and mini Seal bags to adorning wallets, card holders, and other leather accessories. For those who prefer a more subtle take on the auspicious hues, the small Peak and mini Jeweled Satchel styles are available in red — ensuring good fortune in the upcoming 12 months.
