Breaking Fashion News: Sayonara Issey Miyake

August 10, 2022 by 1 Comment

Image courtesy of skynews.com

Iconic Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake has died.  Often thought of as the Asia designer who opened the proverbial fashion door for Asian designers, Miyake was known for his origami-like designers that featured pleated skirts, dresses and pants that facilitated more freedom of movement.

Issey Miyake was one of the first designers who thought of clothes as pieces of design art and from that conception he collaborated with many architects and photographers. Miyake was one of the first designers to appear on the cover of Art Forum, unheard in 1982 and do have in fashion designs in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. He was also the first Japanese designer to present a collection during Paris Fashion Week. And this showing in Paris opened the doors for other Japanese fashion designers, namely Yohji Yamamoto, Junka Watanabe, and Rei Kawakubo.

Image courtesy of bbc.com

Miyake is best known for his micro pleating which he began experimenting with around 1988. His micro pleating design aesthetic enjoyed a huge popularity among younger consumers and new consumers to this new direction in fashion.

His Pleats Please line, launched in 1993 contained garments that had no zippers, buttons, or snaps. There were no delineated waistlines or armholes and could be easily slipped into, requiring very few underpinnings. The garments ranged in color from blue, green and crimson—or fabrics printed with flowers or tattoos. Issey Miyake also used a proprietary heating system that facilitated his garments never losing their shape and never wrinkled.

Issey Miyake’s Bao Bao bag was also a very popular item. The Bao Bao bag is made from mesh fabric layered with small colorful triangles of polyvinyl, has long been an accessory of choice for creative industries. 

Image courtesy of torontostar.com

Issey Miyake was born in 1938 and walked with a noticeable limp, the result of being of radiation poisoning—that caused bone marrow disease—of the Hiroshima bombing in his hometown. He graduated with a degree in design from Tama Art University in Tokyo in 1963. While living in Paris he worked as an assistant to Guy La Roche and Hubert de Givenchy.

After working in New York, Miyake founded the Miyake Design Studio in Tokyo in 1970. Miyake did not see himself as a fashion designer because as he stated, “Anything that’s ‘in fashion’ goes out of style too quickly … I don’t make fashion. I make clothes.” 

Image courtesy of newyorktimes.com

“I am most interested in people and the human form,” Mr. Miyake told The Times in 2014. “Clothing is the closest thing to all humans.”

Issey Miyake died on August 9 of liver cancer.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: NYFW Spring 2023 Calendar, Supermodel Christy Turlington Burns’ New Gig, and Benetton’s New Creative Director

July 29, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of instyle.com

One thing about being a supermodel is that if you keep yourself in shape and your looks don’t fade, you can continue to work. Christy Turlington Burns has done just that.

Athleta’s new fall campaign focuses on togetherness and motherhood as the central themes to their fall 2022 campaign. Christy Turlington Burns is front and center in this campaign which stars the supermodels’ mom, sister, niece, and sister-in-law.

This fall 2022 campaign was photographed on the beach by Cass Bird. Christy Turlington Burns is the founder of Every Mother Counts, will also take part in an exclusive Q+A with Athleta’s platform AthletaWell which will go live on August 1.

Image courtesy of fashionista.com

NYFW spring 2023 calendar

The CFDA recently revealed the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) spring 2023 calendar. The six-day fashion event will begin on September 9, ending on September 14, 2022. Tom Ford will close NYFW and Proenza Schouler will open the fashion event.

This season’s calendar includes fashion brands that we are all familiar with—Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Jason Wu, Coach, Michael Kors, Altuzarra, and Prabal Gurung—with the return of Puma, Tommy Hilfiger, and Area. The spring 2023 calendar will include the debuts of AnOnlyChild, Ashlyn, Heron Preston, Foo and Foo, Midnight Studios, One/Of by Patricia Voto, and Tia Adeola, as well as international brands Fendi, Marni and Cos. 

“This year marks the 60th anniversary of the CFDA, and as the organizer of the official NYFW schedule, we are incredibly proud to release a lineup that reflects our founding principle: to promote American fashion on a global scale,” said CFDA CEO Steven Kolb. “We celebrate the collective excellence, diversity and resilience of our industry and look forward to a strong American collections season alongside our esteemed international guests,” as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

For this NYFW spring 2023 season, New York State Department of Health protocols are still in place. Some runway shows and presentations will continue to be presented digitally via Runway360, CFDA’s centralized digital hub and business tool to support American fashion brands’ collection releases year-round. 

Image courtesy of laprensa.com

Benetton’s new direction

Benetton has a new creative director. Andrea Incontri has been named the new creative director of Benetton’s women’s, men’s, and children’s collections.

“We take great pride in the fact that Andrea Incontri is joining the large Benetton ‘family’ because in him we have recognized the will, enthusiasm and research that will enable exceeding the goals that characterized the birth and history of our brand. Benetton is an industrial and creative enterprise that has contributed to increasing sensitivity towards fashion and raising awareness about many of the social issues facing Italy over the last 50 years. Incontri’s arrival will bring new energy to a success story, one of a company and brand that wish to make a generational change and guide Italian industry in these years in which a redefinition of the social role of fashion and clothing appears urgent,” comments Massimo Renon, chief executive officer of Benetton Group, as reported in prnewswire.com.

This month a new fall 2022 advertising campaign under Incontri’s leadership will launch on all of Benetton’s channels. Incontri’s first collection for Benetton will be presented during Milan Fashion Week for the spring/summer 2023 season.

“I am very honored to join Benetton,” says Incontri. “It is a company, a brand, a creative and product philosophy whose story has great meaning both to my personal and professional training and to the history of Italy as a whole, and not just in the fields of industry and fashion. I take great pride in accepting this appointment because it allows me to participate in a project of values that involves not only clothing, but a wide range of cultural issues concerning the variable aspects of modern humanism.”

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Halston’s New Creative Director, Yohji Yamamoto Launches Collaborative Brand, and Victoria Secret’s New Fragrance

July 21, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of fashionnetwork.com

Fashion collaborations are always a great way to expand a brand’s audience and reach. And in this age of acquisitions with fashion brands attempting to acquire as much fashion real estate, so to speak, as possible, fashion collaborations have become as common as spring/summer, fall/winter collections.

That said, Yohji Yamamoto has taken the concept of fashion collaborations even further. Yohji Yamamoto with fellow Japanese brands Needles, Noma td, Hysteric Glamour, Ambush, and Minedenim is launching a unisex collaborative brand, Wildside, which will only be available online.

Wildside will be available in Yohji Yamamoto’s signature color black and will include a wide range of disciplines including art, interior design, and lifestyle. The early collaborations will be more fashion focused.

As reported in fashionnetwork.com, “military, work, and sports” are the keywords for the brand with “elements extracted from the essence of Yohji Yamamoto reconstructed with a casual taste.” Wildside will also feature link ups with “galleries and artists who have a close affinity with Yohji Yamamoto Inc.”

Wildside will open its flagship store in Japan this coming fall.

  GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Ken Downing’s new gig

Effective August 1, Ken Downing will be the new creative director of luxury fashion at Halston. In his new role Downing will oversee the creative direction of Halston, as well as serving as the face and voice of the iconic brand. Downing will also host the brand’s livestream sessions.

Downing has previously served as the senior vice president and fashion director for Neiman Marcus and as the chief creative officer of international retail developer Triple Five Group Worldwide. At Triple Five Group, Downing helped launch American Dream, a revolutionary 3.3 million square foot shopping, dining and entertainment complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Halston brand was launched in the 1960s by Roy Halston Frowick, rising to prominence in the 1970s with signature materials such as jersey, cashmere, and suede (Ultra Suede) to reinvent the jumpsuit, the shirtdress, and the classic caftan. Roy Halston Frowick died in 1990.

Image courtesy of fragrantica.com

Victoria’s Secret’s new fine fragrance

It has been five years since Victoria’s Secret launched a fine fragrance. Well, the time is here for a new fine fragrance and that new fine fragrance launched on Tuesday.

Victoria’s Secret’s Bare Eau de Parfum adapts to every person’s body chemistry to create a scent that is unique to all who wear it. Bare Eau de Parfum uses Cryptosym technology, which can encrypt scent formulations and protects it from future replication. 

“Bare Eau de Parfum is our most intimate fragrance yet. It’s about a quiet confidence that comes from knowing your authentic self, and celebrates individuality in its most natural form,” said Kristen Lagoa, vice president of merchandising, beauty and accessories at Victoria’s Secret, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

“When creating this fragrance, we wanted to craft something completely different—something that unveils the signature scent everyone is looking for,” added master perfumers at Symrise, Nathalie Benareau and Carlos Vinals. “Comforting yet captivating, soft yet sensual. The idea was to accentuate the natural beauty of the wearer without covering up their unique scent and individuality.”

Bare Eau de Parfum launched with a women-led campaign featuring incredible women ranging from social advocates, herbalists, artists, and creatives. The Bare Eau de Parfum campaign was photographed by photographer Zoe Ghertner and styled by Camilla Nickerson. 

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Tom Ford Brand Looking for Buyers, Kate Moss’ New Gig, and Kate Hudson Collaborates with Juicy Beauty

July 8, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of desgnscene.net

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Tom Ford is considering a sale of his eponymous fashion brand. The brand is in talks with Goldman Sachs for the sale of the famous brand that could value the brand at several billion dollars and would give the new owners to option to work with Tom Ford.

 As reported in fashionnetwork.com, no decision has been made at this point and Tom Ford nor Goldman Sachs have commented on the Bloomberg report. Still, many fashion insiders believe that Tom Ford could choose to remain an independent brand.

Ford launched his eponymous brand in 2005 after servings as creative director of Gucci. The Tom Ford brand expanded to include beauty and eyewear, made in licensed partnership with Estee Lauder Companies and Marcolin, respectively.

The past three years, Tom Ford recently served as the chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).  Ford stepped down from that position in May of this year.

Image courtesy of happi.com

Kate Hudson expands her reach

Actress Kate Hudson is no stranger to fashion. She has made significant inroads with her popular athleisure brand Fabletics.

Now Hudson has branched off into the beauty industry with her collaboration beauty brand, Juice Beauty. Juice Beauty is concentrating on the beauty boom in India, choosing to launch its latest collaboration with Kate Hudson on July 5. Juice Beauty first launched in India in 2021.

“Kate embodies the Juice Beauty mission of fitness, wellness and environmentalism and I have revered her spirit, talent and business acumen since we first met,” said Juice Beauty founder Karen Behnke, in a press release. “We got together just before the pandemic and decided it was finally time to kick off a partnership. Coming out of [COVID], we wanted to introduce a very personal, customizable ritual with an emphasis on self-care. Kate is wonderfully ingenious, and she was involved in every step of designing the mask, from the ingredient choices to the sensorial texture to the design of the packaging. She even designed the heart to coordinate with our logo drop!”

“We are overjoyed to launch Juice Beauty’s newest addition to its truly sustainable and [high-performance] product portfolio, the Revitalizing Acacia + Rose Powder Mask,” said House of Beauty’s vice-president Sanjali Giri in a press release. “It a product developed in cooperation with Kate Hudson, a huge supporter of clean and green beauty. We are delighted to finally bring this product to the conscious and responsible beauty consumers in India soon after its remarkable global launch.”

 “I feel a genuine connection to Juice Beauty and Karen,” said Hudson, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “In fact, she was the one who opened my eyes to clean and green beauty over 15 years ago before it was a thing … It’s exciting to finally be able to create this product together—and it’s not just another mask. It’s exceptional and you can really see the results instantly!”

Image courtesy of thegrocer.com

Skinny Moss takes command

Supermodel Kate Moss once said, “Nothing tastes has good as skinny feels.” Well, Moss is bringing that quote into fruition by becoming the latest creative director of Diet Coke.

Moss will work across multiple platforms for the Coco Cola brand including a collection, advertising campaign films and events around the brand’s 40th anniversary. Moss stated that she was “thrilled to join the Diet Coke family”, adding: “I love the past collaborations they’ve done with such incredible names in fashion.”

Michael Willeke, the integrated experience director for Europe at the Coca-Cola company, said the company was “[honored] to appoint Kate Moss as our new creative director, continuing Diet Coke’s rich history of collaborating with some of the biggest names in fashion and culture.” And those fashion names include Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Diet Coke has also been a sponsor of London Fashion Week.

—William S. Gooch

 

Fashion News Alert: Cher Collabs with Versace, Naomi Campbell’s New Gig, and Revlon Prepares to File for Chapter 11 Protection

June 15, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of yahoosports.com

OK, its Gay Pride Month and like other Gay Pride celebration around the world that means lots of chatter and adoration of gay pop icon Cher. But it doesn’t start and stop there.

This Gay Pride Month, Cher and Donatella Versace have come together to create a four-piece limited edition capsule collection. Appropriately called, CHERSACE, the capsule collection contains two tee shirts, socks, and a cap emblazoned with a rainbow-hued iteration on the house’s Medusa logo alongside the CHERSACE logo and a slogan that reads: “Celebrating love and unity xxx Donatella Versace, Cher.” 

Hmm, you may ponder if Cher and Donatella Versace are two star-crossed divas that work well together. Fashion Reverie agrees that with that thought, you are on the right track!!

Image courtesy of foxbusiness.com

Revlon’s troubles

When you think of iconic cosmetic brands, Revlon is one name that may come to mind. Though Revlon has not been in the news as of late, the cosmetic brand still carries much weigh in the beauty industry.

That said, the shares of the legendary beauty brand have declined by 46% as the brand prepares for Chapter 11 protection, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. As of mid-March, Revlon had long-term debt of 3.31 billion. This debt is due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. However, Revlon has seen some growth as consumers are venturing out more.

Still, the current small growth does not offset the brand’s supply chain challenges and deter competition from emerging digital cosmetic brands. Chapter 11 will protect Revlon from bankruptcy.

Image courtesy of hypebae.com

Naomi Campbell’s new campaign

No grass is growing under supermodel Naomi Campbell’s feet. At 52, Campbell fronts the campaign for Self-Portrait’s debut handbag collection.

This handbag collection pays tribute to the 1990s. The bags were “inspired by the ease and freedom associated with the Self-Portrait brand” and come in two styles—the Bow Mini and the Bow Micro.

“When thinking about how to launch the Bow Bag, I was feeling quite nostalgic and reflective of the past and kept being drawn to the 90’s, an era when fashion was sweet yet tough, and heavily influenced by music,” details Portrait creative director Han Chong, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.” The origins for this campaign came from such a simple idea born out of a play on words with the name of our new bag.” 

“There is only one person I knew would be able to fill the role of our lead for this video… Naomi defines not only the era we are paying tribute to through this project, but she represents everything the self-portrait woman stands for—she’s strong, independent, provocative, and always authentically herself.”

The campaign is directed by Renell Medrano and is shot in a private house in London with music from the original 90’s hit record “The Boy Is Mine” by Brandy & Monica. Campbell is styled by Haley Wollens with Campbell wearing garments from Self-Portrait’s fall 2022 collection.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Johnny Depp Dramas Increases Sales of Dior’s Sauvage, Herve Leger’s New Collaboration, and G-III Acquires Karl Lagerfeld

May 31, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of yahoo.com

Hollywood power stylist Law Roach has created a resort capsule collaboration with Herve Leger. This lilac and neutral-toned, 25-piece collection seeks to take a new perspective on the brand’s famed bandage dress.

Law Roach has made a name for himself in Hollywood for styling such celebs as Zendaya, Bella Hadid, Tiffany Haddish, Celine Dion, and Ariana Grande. Roach also appeared on “America’s Next Top Model” as a judge.

Roach has dropped a hint that the resort capsule collection will contain ribbon embroideries and stripes. The Hervé Léger x Law Roach collection, priced between $690 and $2,900, is set to drop online and in selected stores this October.

Image courtesy of thehollywoodreporter.com

Depp’s defamation increases sales

You must be living under a bush if you aware of the salacious defamation trial of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Though some may not agree with the judgement rendered by the judge in the case, one thing is true, the case has increased sales of Dior’s men’s fragrance Sauvage, the fragrance which Depp is the face of.

Depp’s fans have made Sauvage the highest selling men’s fragrance this week at Ulta and Sephora. Depp has been the face of Sauvage since 2015.

Wall Street Journal editor Jacob Gallagher noted that Sauvage has also become the fourth top-selling men’s eau de parfum on Amazon.com and the TikTok hashtag #diorsauvage has been viewed nearly 350 million times. A spokesperson for Depp explained to Gallagher that “[Depp] knows that Dior, in particular, has been steadfast and unwavering in its support and he will always be grateful to them and to all those who have supported him through the sales on his behalf.”

There has been no comment on why Dior has not dropped Johnny Depp as the face of Sauvage due to the defamation charges between Depp and ex-wife Amber Heard.

Image courtesy of PYMNT.com

Karl Lagerfeld acquired

This past Thursday G-III Apparel Group, Ltd announced that it had fully acquired the Karl Lagerfeld brand. G-III Apparel previously owned a 19 percent stake in the brand. G-III acquired the remaining 81% for $214 million dollars.

“We have great respect for Karl Lagerfeld’s experienced and talented leadership team, led by Pier Paolo Righi, with whom we have worked closely for the past seven years,” said G-III Apparel’s CEO, Morris Goldfarb, when the transaction was first announced last month. “This team, combined with G-III’s expertise, is expected to unlock more of the brand’s global potential, which we believe represents a retail sales opportunity in excess of $2 billion.”

Karl Lagerfeld launched his eponymous brand in 1984 and the brand had experienced a resurgence in the past decade. The brand was taken over by Pier Paolo Righi toward the end of 2011.

Presently there are over 120 company-owned and franchised stores and is also available in select multi-brand retailers and its online website. In 2021, Karl Lagerfeld’s sales increased by 40%, compared to 2020.

William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Tom Ford Resigns, Yeezy Gap by Balenicaga Launch Postponed, and Gisele Bundchen’s New Gig

May 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of anneofcarversville.com

You know someone is a supermodel when they can leave the industry for a few years and come back stronger than ever. That is Gisele Bundchen’s story. Well, sort of!!

Though Gisele doesn’t appear on the catwalk anymore, she officially retired from runways a few years back, she is now front and center as the face of Burberry’s TB Summer Monogram campaign. The collection includes gabardine trench coats, silk-blend bomber jackets, silk dresses, cotton shirts, swimwear, and sunglasses,

For this campaign, Gisele was photographed by Luigi & Iango. And in a nod to Burberry’s vintage history, Gisele is posed in front of unreleased images by Luigi & Iango photographed over a decade ago.

Image courtesy of designscene.com

Bye, bye Tom

In shocking news, Tom Ford stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). After serving in that position for three years, Ford’s last day will be May 31.

“When I began my role as chairman in June of 2019, my goal was to help the American fashion industry become more globally recognized for its talent and importance. I could not have imagined the extraordinary circumstances that both the industry and the world would have to navigate—that a pandemic would shut the world down and change the course of our lives and of our businesses forever,” wrote Ford in a statement distributed by the CFDA.

“The pandemic challenged all of us to think about our businesses in new ways—from the design process and production, to how we reach and speak to our customers,” he continued in his statement. “We were forced to come up with creative new ways to run our companies. Some may think that fashion is just about making beautiful clothes and accessories or having runway shows, dressing celebrities and throwing parties without considering the incredible amount of work that goes on behind the scenes, or that the fashion industry is a $3 trillion industry that employs millions of individuals. As chairman of the CFDA, I have had the privilege to experience first-hand the remarkable determination and optimism that drives our industry. I am honored to have been able to support the truly incredible talent in the American fashion industry for these past three years, and I look forward to continuing in my role on the CFDA board.”

During his tenure at chairman of the CFDA, Ford helped bring back the Met Gala and New York Fashion Week (NYFW), after NYFW and the Gala’s absence during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also launched the CFDA’s A Common Thread initiative with Vogue, donating over $5 million to the fashion industry in the United States.

Tom Ford will remain on the CFDA’s board while the board looks for a replacement.

Images courtesy of gq.com

Delays to Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga

Because of the deadly shooting at an elementary school in Uvlade, Texas, Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga’s launch has been postponed. The collection was set to launch on Yeezygap.com and Balenciaga online partners Farfetch.com, Mytheresa.com and LuisaViaRoma.com.

“In light of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, we are postponing the Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga launch until Friday, May 27,” the company said in an official statement, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “As we pause, our hearts go out to the families and communities impacted.”

Yeezy Gap Engineered by Balenciaga is the result of a collaboration between Yeezy Gap and Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia. Ye, or as he is better known, Kanye West signed a 10-year deal with Gap to create Yeezy Gap in 2020.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Nike Bolsters Serena Williams’ Brand, Bella Hadid’s New Gig, Versace and Fendi Collaborate

May 5, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of fashionmagazine.com

Just as it was rumored last year about a partnership between Fendi and Versace, the proof is in the pudding. Wagging fashion tongues whispered that there would be a collaboration between Versace and Fendi, and the wagging tongues were correct.

Fendi and Versace have just released their first collaboration, an ode to femininity and friendship. “It’s a swap rather than a collaboration and, most of all, it is done out of friendship. It is the beauty of togetherness after time apart and a celebration of women who have inspired me so much,” said Kim Jones, creative director of Fendi Couture.

This Fendi and Versace collection is named Fendace. The collection will be available in Fendace pop-up stores and at a series of events worldwide, the only physical venues showcasing the entire collection on May 12. The collaboration will be commercialized in the brands’ namesake stores under the names Versace by Fendi and Fendi by Versace.

Fendace brings together the creativity and savvy of Versace Fendi and the campaign will be modeled by a bevy of supermodels and top models. The list of models includes Naomi Campbell, Kristen McMenamy, Imaan Hammam, Adut Akech, Amar Ak way, Anja Rubik, Anok Yai, and Lina Zhang.

Image courtesy of forbes.com

Big, bold Serena

You know you have reached the top of your career when a building has been named after you. Enter Serena Williams!!

Nike has named the largest building at the Nike World Headquarters after Serena Williams. The Serena Williams Building spans 1 million square feet, the space houses 200,000 square feet of lab space for Nike’s consumer creation teams to test new ideas in developing, presenting and merchandising Nike products. Other specialty spaces in SW include 140,000 square feet of showrooms and workspace; a footwear materials library; a color lab; and the two-story, 140-seat Olympia Theater, named after Serena’s daughter. 

“Architecture has long been a creative catalyst for Nike. A manifestation of form and function following footprint, this building embodies Serena’s legacy as a force for positive change. It is the art to the LeBron James Innovation Center’s science, allowing us to know and serve athletes like never before,” said John Hoke, chief design officer, as reported in fashionnetwork.com.

There are also some sustainable assets to the Serena Williams Building. Twenty percent of SW, which is Leed Platinum–certified, is made up of recycled content that was harvested and manufactured locally. It is outfitted with 648 solar panels, adding to an anticipated energy-cost saving of 41 percent compared to a baseline building. Additionally, the building sits beside federally protected wetland, and is designed to preserve and supplement the environment. 

“The whole building takes your breath away,” added Serena Williams, as reported in fashionnetwork.com. “Every element, everywhere you go, is an opportunity to be inspired. I hope this building encourages people to bring out the best of themselves and to dream bigger than they thought possible.”

Image courtesy of dailymail.com

Bella and Swarovski

Supermodel Bella Hadid is not letting grass grow under her feet. It was recently announced that Bella is the new face of Swarovski. Swarovski’s new creative director, Giovanna Engelbert, selected Bella as the new face of the iconic brand. 

Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the recent campaign demonstrates the many faces of Bella Hadid. The transformative crystals show Bella’s many facets and moods.

“Bella goes from sporty to glamorous while remaining the same girl with confidence and authority,” Engelbert said of her new muse. “In that sense, she conveys the values of Swarovski to perfection. Today, crystals are a dynamic part of our everyday wardrobe: a way of accentuating your individual style in a way that can be as casual as it can be elaborate. Bella is the poster girl for this state of mind.” 

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: The New BCBG Max Azria, and Gisele Bundchen’s New Cover, and Au Revoir Michel Goma

April 28, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of V Magazine

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has graced thousands of fashion magazine covers. But since her retirement a few years ago, Gisele Bundchen has devoted herself mostly to her family.

The 41-year-old supermodel is now gracing her first cover in four years. For V Magazine’s summer 2022 issue, Bundchen wears pieces by Chanel, Dior, Philip Treacy, Armani Privé, Norma Kamali, Amina Muaddi, Jimmy Choo, and Cartier. Bunchen is styled by V Magazine’s Gro Curtis.

“When you’re in your twenties, you try to fit in. and you try to belong. When you’re in your forties, you feel more comfortable in your skin. I feel like I have only gotten stronger with time, and that’s in all [aspects] of my life,” explained Gisele Bunchen, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com.

It is only fitting that Bunchen would return to modeling fashion magazine covers at V Magazine, in that many of Bunchen’s magazine covers were with V Magazine. “Her body of work, only some of which we’ve captured, is constantly referenced, perpetually admired, and a permanent chapter in the book of fashion lexicon,” detailed V Magazine Editor-in-Chief Stephen Gan.

Image courtesy of stylefrizz.com

A new direction for BCBGMAXAZRIA

BCBGMAXAZRIA is entering a new era. BCBGMAXAZRIA’s new creative director is Albino Riganello and his new collection for BCBGMAXAZRIA was inspired by screen sirens and sex symbols of the 1970s, actresses Edwige Fenech, Barbara Bouchet, and Zeudy Araya. Riganello celebrated his fall 2022 collection for BCBGMAXAZRIA at an intimate dinner at Manhattan’s LIGHTBOX.

“She’s not afraid of experimentation. She is an art lover, a visionary, a philanthropist, a pioneer, and more,” he said of his archetype. “Her way of dressing has evolved along with the changing of the times. Versatility rules her wardrobe and outfits need to easily be transformed from day to night,” explained Riganello when speaking of his vision of the new BCBGMAXAZRIA woman.

Riganello comes to BCBGMAXAZRIA after having worked at Alessandro dell’Acqua, Dolce & Gabbana, St. John, Givenchy, Zuhair Murad, and most recently, popular NYC-based sustainable brand AMUR. “Today we live in a completely different reality than years ago, and women’s wardrobe is drastically evolving with the time. I will always have a woman’s needs in mind while designing, emphasizing femininity, sensuality, and that modern aspect that the brand is known for,” detailed Riganello at the time of his appointment, as reported in dailyfrontrow.com.

Image courtesy Maurice Zalewski/Corbis via Getty Images

So long, Michel

The fashion world mourns of the loss of French couturier Michel Goma. Goma is known for his 10-year stint at Jean Patou where he helmed the iconic French brand’s couture collections. It was at Jean Patou that Goma hired Jean-Paul Gaultier as his first assistant. While at Jean Patou, Goma’s creations were worn by celebrities like Rose Kennedy, Princess Ashraf Pahlavi and the empress of Iran, Farah Diba.

Goma launched a new label, MG, that was very popular in Japan. The label produced bridal wear, eyewear, and luggage collections for the Isetan department store.

Goma was creative director for Balenciaga from 1987 to 1992. While at Balenciaga. French fashion chronicler Guy Monréal paid tribute to him in L’Officiel, praising Goma for “having invented a new kind of young woman, at once dynamic and spiritual. With his spinning-top skirts and cancan-style petticoats, his low-cut necklines, and corkscrew frills, he honoured the great Cristobal.”

Goma died on April 22, 2022. He was 90 years old. He was buried in native village of Moncrabeau, in south-west France.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion News Alert: Philipp Plein Cleared of Homophobia Allegations, Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio Collabs with PatBo, and “Making the Cut” Returns for a Third Season

April 21, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of highxtar.com

“O, what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.”

After homophobia allegations by a former employee, German fashion designer Phillip Plein has been cleared of said allegations in New York State courts. Amro Alsoleibi, the former regional director of Philipp Plein’s New York stores, accused Plein of discriminating against him because of his homosexuality.

Alsoleibi, who was hired by Plein in 2018, frauded Plein for $100, 000 for fictitious services by Philipp Plein Americas Inc. to a phantom company owned by Alsoleibi’s friend and co-tenant Tala Atassi. New York Courts concluded that as soon as the scam was discovered, Alsoleibi alleged that Plein discriminated against him because of his sexual orientation and fired him.

“I am very pleased about this decision, which sets the record straight and responds to the despairing attempt by Mr. Alsoleibi to discredit my reputation in order to try make money off me,” said Plein in the press release. “My brand and my business have been built from zero through over 20 years of hard work by hundreds of people, among whom both LGBTQ and heterosexual [individuals] have always been represented,” he added.

“I will always react against attacks like the one by Mr. Alsoleibi, who first tried to deceive me and my company by creating false services and contracts, and then tried to deceive public opinion and the press by creating false allegations. My utmost appreciation goes to the judge who was able to acknowledge that,” concluded Plein.

Image courtesy of reaadsme.com

 

“Making the Cut” is back

“Making the Cut” returns for its third season with co-hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. This third season promises to be an incredible season with Nicole Ritchie returning as a judge. Jeremy Scott will continue as a judge. Additional guest judges have not yet been announced.

“Making the Cut” seeks to find the next big global fashion brand. Winners will receive $1 million to invest in their business and a mentorship with Amazon Fashion. They’ll also have an opportunity to create an exclusive co-brand with Amazon Fashion and sell their existing collection in Amazon Fashion’s “Making the Cut” store.

“I am excited for Making the Cut to return this summer for its third season,” Heidi Klum said in a statement today, as reported in the dailyfrontrow.com. “I was so happy to be reunited with Tim, Nicole, and Jeremy as we searched for the next great global fashion brand among our most talented group of designers yet! This season’s fashion far exceeded our expectations and there are so many amazing looks that I cannot wait to wear myself.” Tim Gunn added, “After watching the success of our past designers, including winners Andrea Pitter and Jonny Cota, I’m tremendously excited for fans to see what this season’s enormously talented group of designers has in store.”

“Making the Cut” season 3 will air in 240 countries and territories. The series is taped in Los Angeles.

Image courtesy of yahoonews.com


Alessandra Ambrosio is not slowing down

Who says a model cannot have a career into her forties? It is possible, and Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio is proving the viability of continuing a modeling career into her forties.

This 41-year-old model/actress is collaborating with Brazilian clothing brand PatBo for a collection of elevated and luxe bohemian dresses and separates. Ambrosio opened and closed the runway show of fellow Brazilian Patricia Bonaldi, creative director of PatBO, for the brand’s debut at New York Fashion Week in September 2021.

Ambrosio was seen on the first day of Coachella in the brand’s silver cropped top and the matching metallic fringe shorts paired with a lace duster. The 16-piece collection’s price points start at $295 and is now available for pre-order. The collection will be available on June 20 on the website and at select retailers.

William S. Gooch

« Previous Page
Next Page »
Copyright © 2012-2025 | Fashion Reverie Publications, LLC - All Rights Reserved