Your one-stop-shop for this week's fashion news to know!
It’s that time of year again. You will have heard the songs in supermarkets, and noticed the sprinkling of tinsel and fairy lights across window displays — as the evenings draw in, the world is gearing up for holiday season. This week, we bring you the news of Dior’s gargantuan takeover of Harrods, which is enough to make hardcore fashion fans consider a day trip to Knightsbridge to gawp at the life-sized candy creations and blinding light displays that comprise the unprecedented partnership. But fear not, for those of you who aren’t quite yet ready to feel festive, there is plenty on offer to keep you entertained. Why not consider planning a trip to São Paulo, for instance? The city has welcomed the Primavera music festival to its shores, with an impressive lineup to satisfy any earbud. Or, why don’t you make a pilgrimage to Saint Laurent’s Rive Droite stores to see its new photography exhibitions, in celebration of Paris Photo? Elsewhere, Harry Styles is adding yet more notches to his belt with the arrival of a new campaign for his ‘HA HA HA’ collection. Actor, singer, beauty entrepreneur — is there anything he can’t do? And of course, we bring you a lowdown on the latest drops and collabs that have caught our eagle eyes. Here’s what’s in fashion.
São Paulo welcomes Primavera to its shores
As attested to by Kate Moss, Alexa Chung and many more, it is a well-proven fact that attending a festival is resolutely chic. The chicest festival of all, though, is the sort you have to travel for. Last weekend, we made a 6000 mile pilgrimage all the way to São Paulo for the Brazilian city’s first ever iteration of fashion crowd-fave Primavera Sound, generously sponsored by Becks. Amid the throngs of revellers, we were lucky enough to catch some of the most knock-out performances you can muster right now. On the Saturday, Björk delivered a tear-jerking symphony — her first Brazilian concert in 15 years — and Shygirl closed the day out with a high energy set that spanned bops like ‘Cleo’ and thirsty anthem ‘BDE’. On the Saturday, it was down to the likes of techno titans LSDXOXO & VTSS, Barcelona-based siren Bad Gyal, alt-empress Arca and poppers-pop queen Charli XCX. Sounds pretty major, right? Well, if you’re lucky enough to be in Buenos Aires or Santiago de Chile, you can catch it all again over the coming weekend. If not, then there’s always next year — make like the meme-verse says, and come to Brazil next November!!
Dior just took over Harrods — and turned it into a giant gingerbread house
As any Londoner — or indeed, tourist — knows, the warm glow of the 12,000 lightbulbs on the façade of Harrods is a part of the city’s landscape. Despite being illuminated year-round, the glowing rows of amber lights that line the exterior of the 173-year-old British department store somehow feel festive. Perhaps it’s the legions of shoppers who head there in search of holiday shopping, or the annual spectacle that is on display in its 44 windows — something about Harrods offers a warm sentimentalism that can brighten up any winter day. This year, that festive spirit comes at the hands of a monumental partnership with the house of Dior.
The first thing that onlookers will notice is the light display. Alongside its presentation in Harrods’ seminal holiday windows will be a monumental illuminated installation across the iconic façade, featuring various Dior emblems, including the compass rose (the centrepiece of the exterior, measuring 17 square metres), golden stars, and, of course, the iconic Bar jacket that Christian Dior scandalised fashion with more than 75 years ago. Impressively, the light display took a team of 200 over a year to build offsite. Inside, there will be installations from the house on every floor, including an ephemeral café and two special pop-ups with limited-edition products available in each, including Harrods-green Kim Jones suiting and Maria Grazia Chiuri’s signature Book Totes printed for the first time with the Rêve d’Infini motif. But perhaps the biggest jaw-dropper is the scale of the gingerbread house motif that runs throughout the takeover and comes to life in the Kingdom of Dreams exhibition, which draws on the sweet tradition of festive gingerbread houses to create whopping landmark Dior locations – from Granville to La Colle Noire and 30 Montaigne – in micro proportions. Entirely edible and riffing on the house’s heritage — there is an original Miss Dior dress come to life in biscuit form and sugar fairies transforming pieces of candy into Bar jackets — the wildly ornate universe crafted entirely out of cookies feels like stepping into the world of Willy Wonka. If that doesn’t sweeten the stress of Christmas shopping, we don’t know what will. The Fabulous World of Dior runs at Harrods from 10 November 2022 to 3 January 2023. Tickets for The Fabulous World of Dior exhibition are available here.
Craig Green and Adidas have a new trainer for you to stan
They say a sequel is never better than the original but those people haven’t seen Craig Green’s latest shoe for Adidas… or Shrek 2. Following on from AW21’s CG SCUBA PHORMAR, the iconic British designer has collaborated with everyone’s goto trainer brand on the CG SCUBA STAN. Turning to the Adidas archive for inspiration, the shoe features a classic Stan Smith upper with a unique Scuba sole which is then uniquely connected by a tension cord tautly wrapped around the trainer and works as a nod to Craig’s signature maritime codes in his own collections. Coming in black, beige and, of course, the classic white with Adidas green detailing, and available through Adidas CONFIRMED or select retailers; the trainers are also the subjects of a film by Dan Tobin Smith that, in true CG-style, plays on footwear’s abstract sculptural form. It’s a uniquely beautiful film for a uniquely beautiful result of this creative partnership. We stan! TG
Dr Martens Trinity is THE ultimate winter bootie
It’s Dr Martens season girls and if you’re looking for a new pair of punk boots to keep your toes warm this winter, the latest offering from the British footwear staples has been tailored to be their most comfortable and technically advanced ever. The Trinity boot has been built from Kaya Nubuck leather over a breathable waterproof membrane held in place with an ultra-waterproof iteration of their signature yellow stitch. Then there’s a luxurious insulated fleece lining to keep in the heat. They’re not done there though! The boot then has a sockliner and moisture-wicking padded collar for the utmost comfort, a special slip-resistant tread for stomping along those icy city pavements, and then laces inspired by the shoes of hikers to make them easy to take on and off. Available now on the Dr Martens online store, The Trinity is the ultimate winter shoe and it looks iconically badass at the same time! Win win.
Stüssy x Dries Van Noten is here
For their latest and greatest collaboration, California streetwear brand Stüssy tapped none other than Dries Van Noten. Now before you go thinking this isn’t the most natural of pairings, the eclectic prints and floral patterns that have become Dries’ trademark since the 80s, when the Belgian designer graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts alongside the Antwerp Six, fit right in alongside the streetwear label’s laidback tie dye and bold graphics. Shot by Tyrone Lebon and featuring another 80s legend — a fuschia-haired Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers — the whole campaign really is a feast for the eyes. Get your hands on the collection at select Stüssy stores, Dover Street Market and online (stussy.com or driesvannoten.com) now.
Harry Styles strips down to his briefs in his Gucci HA HA HA campaign
There is no pop star rocking the sartorial world quite like Harry Styles right now and it was only a matter of time before the singer slash actor added fashion designer to his LinkedIn too. Of course, when he finally did so, it was with bestie Alessandro Michelle who has designed custom Gucci pieces for Harry’s tour and public appearances over the last few years. Gucci HA HA HA – a play on the first initials of both icons names but also the fun, playful spirit of Harry and the Italian House’s style – has been teased for months now having been worn at premieres and shows by the pop king but now it is finally here! The sweet and innocent energy of the collection comes across as the floppy haired artist and his cheeky grin dance around mindlessly trying each of the pieces on in a childlike video and images by Mark Borthwick. It features cute lamb and cherry print lemon-toned suiting and knits with an adorable bear having a tantrum and two-tone Gucci monograms in pink and green that are all so saccharine it will give you a watermelon sugar high. Then there’s a standout leopard print suitcase alongside retro 70s cut trousers and Prince of Wales jackets, Gucci’s signature oversized glasses, and, of course, a Gucci canvas sneaker reminiscent of the one’s sported by Harry as he jumps around on stage. Check the full collection out on Gucci.com now!
Saint Laurent toasts Paris Photo with a new exhibition
As if you needed another reason to head to a Saint Laurent store this weekend, do so in the pursuit of culture. The French fashion house is toasting the annual photography fair Paris Photo with exhibitions of the Venetian photographer Renato D’Agostin in its Saint Laurent Rive Droite stores — the name given to the Rodeo Drive and Saint-Honoré boutiques that are just as much gallery spaces as they are emporiums for Anthony Vaccarello’s slick, sultry designs. That said, Renato’s black-and-white gelatinous prints perfectly accompany those predominantly dark designs. The series of photographs on display is a composite of 34 images taken during a road trip in the United States that the artist made in 2015 from East to West, ending in Los Angeles on a vintage BMW R100 motorbike. During the trip, he turned his hotel rooms into dark rooms to produce velvety-textured images that depict various scenes from the American landscape. The exhibitions are on display until 30 November.. Shopping with a side of culture? Don’t say that Saint Laurent doesn’t spoil you.
Alexander McQueen Pre-Spring Summer 2023 took to the Barbican
Anyone who has walked into the Barbican in London will attest to its unique energy where harsh brutalist architecture meets one of the few serenely beautiful and peaceful parts of the city. It made it the perfect space to showcase Sarah Burton’s latest Pre-Spring Summer 2023 Menswear for Alexander McQueen, the label having been returning home more often for it’s recent shows and offerings. In a film by Ebba Hult, models walk through the renowned hallowed, shadowy corridors and stairwells wearing kinky denims with built-in harnesses, fiesty eyelet embroidered belts, trousers hems and shoulder pads, and the iconic knuckle duster bags and clutches with chain straps. Like the beloved gardens situated in the heart of the Barbican, nature peppers the tailoring collection with nettle detailing blossoming from the centre of shirts, trench coats and blazers, thorny prints on suiting and the vivid yet abstract bushels-of-petals-like designs that felt like the next iteration of the heatmap looks of the FW22 Menswear collection. Lee McQueen was known for finding the beauty within the dark and gothic and this collection felt like a natural homecoming, yet evolution, for the extraordinary house.
