2016-08-31

BOSS AW2016/17 Ad Campaign

 Shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, the new campaign continues the story that began with the AW2016 runway show at New York Fashion Week. Embracing organic imperfection, the raw industrial space signals a move away from strict precision and sharpness. Grounding the location in the world of the collection, columns in the colors of the season nod to a Bauhaus-inspired palette and architectural structures, both constant sources of inspiration for Wu’s designs. With a new sense of ease, ready-to-wear presents a marked evolution for AW2016. The tailoring DNA of BOSS is relaxed, allowing for softness and movement within the clothing, while technical precision and a dedication to craft remain key.


Womenswear showcases ever-more feminine designs – a vibrant double cashmere coat and a raw-cut bouclé dress are all finished with perfectly cut cascade details. Menswear is also evolving: more youthful, slimmer tailoring; a sporty bomber paired with a shirt and tie; a sharp tailored overcoat loosened up with buffalo check. New accessories are created in this aesthetic. The icon of the collection, the BOSS Bespoke bag, returns in two interpretations. Its original architectural silhouette is adorned with a graphic layered patchwork, while the new BOSS Bespoke hobo features a curved shape and a hand-woven leather strap. Men’s accessories include a modern backpack with a sleek, clean design, a compact document case and unstructured holdalls in rich leather. The campaign stars highlight this softer side of BOSS. Rianne van Rompaey, who opened the AW2016 show, brings a delicate beauty to the images, perfectly reflecting the new femininity that stands at the center of the AW2016 Womenswear collection. Now in his third consecutive BOSS campaign, Clément Chabernaud epitomizes masculinity and modern sophistication qualities completely in line with the vision of BOSS Menswear.

3.1 Phillip Lim ‘ALIX’ Saddle Crossbody

Following the launch of the ‘ALIX’ Flap Shoulder and the ‘ALIX’ ‘Mini,’ 3.1 Phillip Lim is excited to announce the Fall 2016 launch of the collection’s newest addition - the ‘ALIX’ Saddle Crossbody. A rounded, classic silhouette, punctuated with the group’s signature paperclip closure, inspires a minimal and sleek approach to seasonless dressing. Continuing the brand’s ethos of ‘cool, easy, chic,’ this updated crossbody is an essential must-have for the global citizen on the go - day to night, week to weekend. The ‘ALIX’ Saddle Crossbody is available in a smooth vachetta leather in a range of autumnal hues: camel, brick, navy and black.

VIVIENNE TAM Embroidery Souvenir Jacket

Adopting VIVIENNE TAM’s signature oriental motifs - Plum Blossom, Birds, Flora and Goldfishes on satin fabric with delicate embroidery tailoring, the Pre-Fall 2016 collection creates relaxed varsity styles with East-Meets-West charm.


Besides the versatile souvenir jackets, Vivienne Tam also translates this unique blend of elegance and sports into modern Cheongsam design. Colourful Bird & Flora is embroidered on smooth satin with a relaxed silhouette, finished with black and white striped ribbing, injecting a fresh vibe into traditional oriental style.


The collection is completed with casual chic embroidery sweaters that features wearable paintings. Rich gradient colours of goldfish and flora embroidery is enhanced against dark cotton fabric, while soft grey lightens the scenery of humming bird and plum blossom.


2016-08-30

BALLY AW2016/17 Ad Campaign

 Continuing Design Director Pablo Coppola’s modern vision for the brand, Bally collaborates with up and coming London-based photographer Jack Davison to create a powerful interpretation of eccentric youth. ’What drew me to Jack's work was his ability to capture intimacy in his portraits, there is real emotion there. For the AW2016 campaign, I wanted to take a new approach [a diverse cast of multiple models] by highlighting the personality of a group. This gang is composed of different types: from a star like Guinevere or a new comer like Ina; Jack zeroed in on each of them and captured their essence. He created a series of shots that at first glance seem disparate but with more reflection, they are unified in their spirit, which exemplifies the current mood at Bally for the season and beyond,’ says Coppola. Coppola and Davison naturally came together over their shared hands-on approach. ‘I’m very spur-of-the-moment; I much prefer going in and letting instinct take over’, says Davison of his improvisational style which enables him to create something unexpected. This contemporary dynamism is brought to life on eight models from different generations. The renowned Guinevere Van Seenus is joined by 17 year-old Finnlay Davis and 15 year-old Dutch model Ina Maribo Jensen. Shot in London at the Sunbeam Studios, styled by Jonathan Kaye and art directed by Franck Durand, the shoot captures the very essence of an artist’s studio vibe and eccentric lifestyle in the 1970s. The campaign breaks in the Autumn Winter issue of LOVE on July 25 and in key fashion and lifestyles titles globally in September, alongside a robust digital and social media campaign.


Design Director:
Pablo Coppola

Art Director:
 Franck Durrand

Photographer: 
Jack Davison

Stylist:
Jonathan Kaye

Hair:
Eugene Souleiman

Make-up:
 Lauren Parsons

Manicurist:
 Jenny Longworth

Set Designer:
 Andrea Cellerino

Casting Director:
Barbara Nicoli

Models:
Finnlay Davis
Guinevere van Seenus
Julie Hoomans
Ina Maribo Jensen
Max Barczak
Nicole Atieno
Thibaud Charon
Wang Chenming

BALENCIAGA Pre Fall 20216 Women Collection

BALENCIAGA Pre Fall 20216 Women Collection is a breathing space. A palette cleanser. Looking back, before looking forward. Before the catwalk debut of Demma Gvasalia, under the direction of the house's design tea,. the pre-fall 2016 Balenciaga collection looks backwards, into an archive of a century of experimentation, to the archetypes of the label.


This Balenciaga collection is composed of sartorial quotes from the house's past, reactivated for the present. The fit, form and fabrics have been changed, but the attitude remains, The mood is of precision, of excellence of cut, and above all else of reality. The "quotes" are items pulled from the archives of the Balenciaga. These Balenciaga archetypes are fused with the mood of the modern, silhouettes subtly reworked to become relevant and covetable. Nothing is exactly replicated, but rather reinterpreted. The approach is at once literal and abstract.


Silhouettes are remixed, outfits proposing a hybird of past styles with contemporary references. A rediscovery of the heritage of Balenciaga. The semi-fitted line of spring 1952 mixes with Balenciags's archetypal aviator jackets; peep-over collars echo Balenciaga's lines of 1957-58's cocoon backs recall spring 1959. Prints are directly appropriated from the archives; a graphic windowpane check from  1966; details of spring 1960 floral embroidery become a new print.


Fluorescent shades of yellow and cyclamen are hyper-modern, the colours of technology, shades of the sports sneakers. Highlighter shades, they are used yo underline a series of key silhouettes quoted from the past. Silk, scarves, or carre are re-appropriated as garments. Blouses have trailing carre cuffs, while dresses are composed of layered squares, their form originating in the spontaneous act of draping a couture mannequin with squares of fabric.


Accessories underscore, rather than overwhelm. High boots with stereotypically "couture" stiletto heel are printed with displaced fabric textures to blend into garments, or function like jewelry in mirror-finish silver or gold. Knit caps are like chignons, delineating the skull. A fur scarf with an intarsia of the house logo wraps looks, like a macro-sized version of an archive Balenciaga couture label. This is the foundation of the house of Balenciaga, its vocabulary. The lines are original, but their context  is new. Their context is now.


CHOPARD Happy Diamonds 40th Anniversary Cocktail Party


The playful swirl began in 1976, and ever since, the Happy Diamonds have been successfully spreading their joyful aura around the world. It all started with one statement: Diamonds are happier when they are free.


In the 1970s, Chopard designer Ronald Kurowski marvelled at the sight of a waterfall with thousands of water droplets bursting from it, reflecting the sunlight and shimmering with all the colours of the rainbow.


This vision sparked his brilliant idea of enabling diamonds to shine more brightly by freeing them from their traditional claw settings and enabling them to move spontaneously. Moving diamonds were consequently inserted into a golden socket with a concave tip that allowed them to “dance” around the dial.



The first Happy Diamonds model was a men’s watch, a large cushion-shaped timepiece with an 18-carat white gold case and bracelet framing a black dial magnificently highlighting the first moving diamonds. This iconic creation, which won the prestigious Golden Rose of Baden-Baden in 1976, inspired a model celebrating the 40th anniversary of the invention of moving diamonds.


2016-08-29

Aquascutum AW2016/17 Ad Campaign

 Founded in 1851, Aquascutum’s heritage is rooted in the excellence of British tailoring and to this day delivers a stylish and luxurious elegance. Not always realised, the words ‘Aqua Scutum’ in Latin translate to ‘Water Shield’; for tailor and founder of the brand John Emary was the person responsible for pioneering the first waterproof wool fabric, then used from 1914 to make the functional trench coats for officers in the First World War.


The new AW2016 Campaign is shot by up-and-coming photographer Ash Reynolds, who regularly works with Luxury brands and editorial clients between London, Paris and New York. With his in-depth technical knowledge coupled with his eye for detail and love of film and fashion, he has developed a style of strength and elegance that is clearly defined through his use of light and his minimal aesthetic. The focus of the campaign is two-fold. This year the brand celebrates its 165th birthday, and 40 years of the iconic club check. One male and two female models wear the collection in the new images for the season, against an abstract and linear backdrop of angular cylindrical tubes, inspired by the original club check pattern the brand has championed for almost half a century.


Dior Introduces LUCKY DIOR SIGNET Rings

 Dior introduces the SIGNET Ring embellished with natural stone to wear as a lucky charm, simple named Lucky Dior. The symbols of the house can be found on every talisman. The emblems of the bee, lily-of-the valley, clover, rose, star oval and the initials are combined with a kaleidoscope of colors. Subtly worn singly or combined. The signet rings lend a touch of modern refinement to hands.


TOD'S Introduces Animal Prints Fall 2016 Collection

 TOD'S introduces animal prints collection this fall, from bold zebra print bucket bag to leopard print Double T collection for you to go wild. To complete the look, a pair of comfortable slip on shoes with graphic effect and contrasting color is a must. The combination of special materials and contemporary ethos convey the brand's perfect balance between its strong traditional roots and its inherit modernity.


2016-08-26

Bally Stripe Collection

 Elevate your wardrobe with a sport-luxe vibe this season. This indestructible classic inspired by the Swiss flag, the iconic red and white Bally Stripe pattern refines the men’s accessories: the backpacks, tote bags and sneakers. The collections are the perfect choices for an active man in search of the ultimate mobility and functionality. The Hingis Backpack is a functional staple featuring two adjustable straps and a top handle, while the front pocket provides extra storage space. This distinctive piece is characterized by the signature Bally Stripe webbing to its exterior. Completed with durable leather base, it gives an extra touch of luxury to this contemporary design.


Van Cleef & Arpels Opens New Boutique In Macau Wynn Palace

Van Cleef & Arpels unveils the opening of the boutique in Wynn Palace Macau, showcasing its High Jewelry and Timepiece creations in the brand new resort complex. With this third boutique reflecting its world of beauty and harmony, the Maison is pleased to extend its presence in the heart of Cotai. This exclusive space is designed with a spacious and open environment sizing in 206 square meters, it perpetuates a warm ambience that calls to mind an exclusive apartment with its subtle elegance and contemporary décor. Alike other Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques, the inspiration of nature is incorporated in this refined setting with the hand-painted floral wallpaper. The muted tones of the interiors welcome visitors into a privileged space. The warm hues of gold adorn the room, embellished with soft carpets and the clean lines of large chandeliers in white crystal, all contribute to creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Giorgio Armani x Bugatti AW2016 Capsule Collection

 Giorgio Armani and renowned luxury car manufacturer Bugatti are pleased to announce their collaboration for the creation of an artisanal capsule collection of small leather goods and refined clothing – Giorgio Armani for Bugatti. The Italian and the French brand have come together for the first time to promote a vision of dynamic and timeless elegance. The objective of Giorgio Armani and Bugatti is to offer their customers products that are distinguished by top-quality materials and the skill evident in their creation. The Giorgio Armani for Bugatti capsule collection is made for a sophisticated man who constantly seeks out exclusive luxury. “It was very natural to come together with Bugatti. We both worship things that are made well, made to last, created out of the best materials. The capsule condenses this encounter in a series of clothes and accessories designed to be worn by men who only look for the best and who live an active and dynamic lifestyle”, said Giorgio Armani.


"Cooperation with Giorgio Armani is a great honour for us," said Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. "When one of the most influential and highly recognised fashion and lifestyle brands and the most exclusive super sports car brand in the world, which has its roots in art and design, join forces, this is an unusual, exciting and inspiring project. The result is an extremely well-made combination of the style and perfection of Giorgio Armani and the Bugatti brand DNA." Accessories and garments in the capsule collection, launching for AW2016-2017, feature details that reference the iconic motifs of the Bugatti brand. The horseshoe-shaped emblem on the front of the cars is seen on pendants for bags, while Bugatti’s brand colour blue appears on inner linings of bags, in interior pockets and on the treads and insoles of footwear. The palette, focused on the three stylish and timeless colours of cognac, army green and blue, is a recurring element of the collection.

2016-08-25

FENDI Timepieces Unveils Policromia

A voyage through time from the mysterious myth to the future, Policromia is  the new exclusive Fendi Timepieces watch designed in collaboration with Delfina Delettrez Fendi, globally renowned jewelry designer. The name Policromia origins from the Greek words  poly (multiple) and khrôma (colors), embodying the idea of several colors together, with a mystic reminder to a surreal Goddess living in a far world.

  
A combination of colors on different surfaces, multiple shaded pieces, precious inserts and asymmetrical bezels made in noble materials, create the watch’s daring silhouette with a unique 3D effect, enhancing the importance of time, innovation and evolution of the watch’s design. The natural elements and materials, a play of stratifications and geometries celebrate Rome and its eternal magnetism in a whispered way. The  layers are mixed-up in a play of full and empty volumes, recalling Palazzo Della Civiltà Italiana, the FENDI Headquarters in Rome, and its unique arches with the light shining through them setting time in a unique and surprising way. Elegant ellipses create surfaces overlapping on the dial inspired by the architectural structure of the city of Rome with its street, the viae of the Roman Empire.

The accurate selection of precious mineral stones, like malachite, one of the signatures of Delfina Delettrez Fendi’s universe, perfectly merges in the Policromia watch giving it an hypnotic power. Natural patterns look repeated while being at the same time all different, creating an illusion of time passing like a luxury time gate. A unique aesthetics, elegant yet conceptual with a surrealistic twist perfectly combines with the FENDI DNA. The FENDI Policromia Watches Collection features twenty models of watches, each showcasing different precious elements of haute joaillerie. Brilliant cut white diamonds set the time on the case and dial, paired with refined inserts of real stones malachite and green mother of pearl, or lapis lazuli and blue mother-of-pearl. White and yellow gold add their timeless value enhanced by black rhodium-plated yellow gold.


The Swiss watchmaking expertise is revealed in the highest care for each detail in the making-of and finishing phases, from the Swiss-made movement to the distinctive polishing and azurage on the case and dial. The FENDI highest craftsmanship is unveiled in the genuine alligator straps handmade in the Roman Maison’s ateliers in Italy, and finished with 18 kt gold buckles. A cyborg attitude and Greek echoes perfectly meet together in Policromia, blending tradition and innovation, values dear to FENDI, while attracting with its vibes a self-confident woman looking for the highest sophistication.


Hermès Opens In Wynn Palace Macau

 Hermès celebrates the opening of its new store at Wynn Palace Mall, in Cotai. The Parisian house’s fourth address in Macau totals 267 square metres of sales area. RDAI, the Parisian architectural agency under the artistic direction of Denis Montel, has been responsible for the design and creation of the space, as for all Hermès stores worldwide.


The monochrome angled façade in warm dark brown contrasts with Wynn Palace’s rich setting and catches the light. Two large show windows are inscribed as suspended boxes giving lightness.


Past each one of the store’s two doors, visitors are greeted by Hermès Ex-Libris emblem on the floor, the iconic “Grecques” lights specially designed for Hermès and a combination of warm and soft colour tones from the matt oak wood floor, beige silk and brick fabric walls as well as a burnt orange carpet. Hermès feminine silk and fashion jewellery are in the centre of this first area surrounded by Art de Vivre and leather bags and small leather goods. To the left and back of the store is the men’s universe and, to the right, the women’s universe, both hosting ready-to-wear, shoes, belts, hats and other accessories. Between these two universes are the watches and jewellery space and the equestrian and perfume collections which complete the discovery.


A unique line of seating titled “Shanghai” exclusively designed by RDAI for Hermès includes benches in caramel leather for the women and men’s areas providing customers with the upmost comfort. The constant requirement for the finest quality has always been the quest of Hermès.