April 24, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
JW ANDERSON’S ADORABLE WELLIPETS LOAFERS
Frogs for your feet? Only JW Anderson could think up something as kiddish, kitsch and full-on fun for grown-ass adults. First teased on his AW23 runway, this long-anticipated collaboration with Wellipets – the brand behind the renowned British frog wellington boots that Princess Diana would dress her kids in – reimagines the iconic wellington’s frog-like shape as an adorable rubber loafer. Crafted in Italy using recyclable, injection moulded PVC rubber in earthy green, lemon yellow and demure blue colourways, and finished with Italian suede leather and a lick of red paint as the frog’s mouth, they’re the easily some of the curious kicks we’ve seen all season. Leap to it and get your slimy green fingers on a pair, now available for purchase at jwanderson.com, wellipets.com, JW Anderson Soho in London and JW Anderson in Milan. Emily Phillips
BYREDO’S AFRICAN HOMAGE
Working with London-based filmmaker and photographer Gabriel Moses on a heartfelt campaign, Byredo celebrates a retrospective of its cult favourite fragrance, Bal D’Afrique. Dedicated to capturing the essence of the generations that came before him through a modern lens, Moses pays homage to the then and now of a culture-rich nation – its music, dance, cinema and overall beauty, and the ways in which they are intricately intertwined with everyday moments. Over a decade since its debut, at the core of the aroma lies the people, culture, creativity and art across Africa. “Bal d’Afrique is a celebration,” says Moses. “It’s an open invitation to explore and interpret what that celebration is. For me, it is to capture joy on seemingly ordinary days. Like the ancestral images I saw of my mother with her friends. It is the nostalgic moments of beauty, confidence and warmth that celebrate what it is to be African.”
The joyous campaign arrives as the first initiation in an annual series where Byredo founder and creative director Ben Gorham will curate a multipart series centering on the celebration of one of the Maison’s scents. Discover the campaign and shop the scent here. EP
LOEWE’S PAULA’S IBIZA
Pack your bags people, we’re off to Ibiza! Celebrating the party-centric island and year-round holibobs hotspot, the new Loewe Paula’s Ibiza collection is for escaping into the sun. Truly, it’s an homage to the original Paula’s Ibiza boutique, a place that’s reach went far beyond its four walls becoming a meeting point for all the creatives and the musicians that, over the years, made the island their home. Meant to be enjoyed amid an all-encompassing, laid-back lifestyle, the collection features crocheted polo shirts, skirts, fringed dresses as well as Bermuda shorts and hotpants in jersey and denim. In some places, real alocasia leaves are morphed into fully wearable tops, all paired with oversized cyber-sport sunnies, bubble slides, woven raffia and Iraca palm baskets and totes with a selection of bag charms and more. What’s more, for every basket sold, Loewe will donate 15 euros to educational projects in Madagascar and Colombia where the bags are hand-made.
Gray Sorrenti captures a cross section of international singers, artists, models, surfers and travellers in sunswept moments in the balmy outside air of Ibiza and Colombia. Alewya, Bad Gyal, Mason Hyce Barnes, Guitarricadelafuente, Emily Ratajkowski, Devin Halbal and Karol G bring the island’s endless summer spirit to life. Shop here. EP
TEKLA’S FIRST FLAGSHIP
On April 22, Danish home and comfort brand Tekla opened its doors to the physical retail world. Following collaborations with the likes of John Pawson, the Le Corbusier Institution, Stussy and Jacquemus, Tekla’s Copenhagen store is a defining new chapter in the brand’s journey. Located on the Vognmagergade, in its home town of Copenhagen, its very first store features all your dream home desires, from fresh cotton bedding, to elegant bathrobes and poplin pyjamas, to exclusive products for in-store purchase only. The store’s interior combines classic styles and luxurious fabrics to create a feeling of modernity and tranquillity, showcasing products from their latest spring 2023 collection. Christina Trappl
THE MONSIEUR DIOR ARMCHAIR BY STARCK
For the Salone del Mobile 2023 in Milan, Dior Maison and Philippe Starck have reunited for the unveiling of the Monsieur Dior armchair – a tribute to the emblematic figure of the couturier. Coming in a vast variety of materials and colours, including polished or lacquered aluminium, ecru bouclé fabric and pink, black or fluorescent orange toile de Jouy, the sublime seats were all made in Italy.
Last year, the pair launched Miss Dior, a metallic chair inspired by Dior’s iconic Medallion and it was an utter delight, but with Monsieur Dior, Starck works wonders. Plus, it arrives surrounded by the most comprehensive collection of furniture ever created for the Parisian House. Discover the exceptional sculptural pieces from April 18 to 23, 2023 in the heart of Palazzo Citterio in Milan in an exclusive and immersive display that will subtly hypnotise the senses. The new Dior by Starck collection will be available in a selection of Dior boutiques as well as to order at all Dior locations in 2024. EP
JIMMY CHOO X VENINI’S VASES
Thank god it’s tulip season. This April, Jimmy Choo is delighted to unveil an exclusive collaboration with Italian glassmaker Venini, in celebration of Salone Del Mobile 2023. The collection revives Vieini’s traditional glass-blowing techniques, defined by colourful and multifaceted surfaces and an enchanting ability to capture, refract, and radiate light. The delicately handcrafted vases provide four size variations, ranging from small to extra-large, in ambient hues of yellow, amber, light and dark green, and can also be seen on display in the window of Jimmy Choo’s Milan flagship boutique. Jimmy Choo’s venture into home decor acts as a precursor to the highly anticipated Diamond handbag, which is set to drop this September, and flaunts the glass curios reimagined as the bag’s lock. CT
GRACES WALES BONNER’S COSTUMES FOR THE BALLET
We’re off to the ballet! Sandler’s Wells Theatre announces its collaboration between multi-award winning British artistic director and choreographer Wayne McGregor and luxury fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner. 34 young performers from the National Youth Dance Company are set to perform on Saturday June 3, followed by a UK tour, of Novacene. With the guidance of McGregor, the performance aims to provide a spotlight showcasing the power and creativity of young people from all dance styles and backgrounds. And what is a ballet without enchanting costumes? Grace Wales Bonner brings her unique perspective of European Heritage and Afro Atlantic infusion to design the wardrobe for the production, providing a theatrical elegance that is sure to captivate any audience. CT
DIESEL’S BIG D
Diesel’s got the big double D, baby. Literally. Double the labels, double the pleasure. The Diesel x Durex capsule collection is a celebration of the brands’ mutually shared belief in democracy, choice and sex positivity as a human right, featuring a t-shirt, hoodie, baseball cap and jeans, each plastered with a fusion of the iconic Diesel big D and Durex logos. Because, afterall, sex really does sell!
Initially introduced at Diesel’s buzzy AW23 show, set with mountains made of 200,000 Durex condoms collectively, “For Sucsexful Living”, a cheeky play on Diesel’s brand mantra – For Successful Living – becomes the collection’s rallying call. Plus, 300,000 more Diesel x Durex co-branded condom boxes will be given away for free at Diesel stores around the world so start shopping! Diesel x Durex will be available online and at select Diesel stores from April 28. EP
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN MENSWEAR PRE-AW23 COLLECTION
Dissected tailoring is central to Alexander McQueen’s Pre-AW23 collection. Single-breasted black wool jackets are spliced with asymmetric collars and subtly revealing cut-outs around the waist; satin detailing decorates trompe l’oeil tailored coats; cigarette trousers in black wool barathea are minimalistic and classic underneath many of the looks. Elsewhere, solarized flower prints splatter across co-ord jackets and pants like spray paint while crystal highlights and collage embroideries swath bombers. Pre-order the collection here. EP
LACOSTE LAUNCHES ITS LARGEST UK STORE
When hitting some of the most renowned stores central London has to offer, be sure to check out Lacoste’s brand new flagship store in the heart of Regent Street. Hard to miss with its glowing Lacoste-green aura, the 900 square-metre store offers an immersive shopping experience. The store is adorned with their iconic crocodile imagery, alongside exclusive art pieces from Japanese artist HAYU, and houses 4,000 pieces. Lacoste’s mission: to connect cultures through experiences. The store aims to become a hub of individuality and creativity, and even offers customization services for croc essentials with special colours, initials and cuts, as well as personal shopping experiences and private spaces dedicated to top customers. CT
ONITSUKA TIGER’S IMMERSION BY MAURICE MBOA
Japanese fashion brand Onitsuka Tiger is all about promoting international creativity, heritage and innovation with its solo exhibition with self-taught Cameroonian artist Maurice Mboa. Mboa combines the multidisciplinary practises of painting and steel engraving to create faceless portraits surrounded by rich and intricate botanical landscapes. However, for this collaboration he switches his focus to the tiger, a symbol of “strength, grace, courage and good fortune” to encompass all things Onitsuka. Hosted at Tiger Gallery, an art gallery project intended to celebrate the craftsmanship behind Onitsuka Tiger in its London flagship store on Regent Street, the exhibition runs from April 28 to May 27. CT
THE ‘VIVIENNE WESTWOOD CORSETS’ EXHIBITION
This May, the House of Vivienne Westwood will put on a specially curated exhibition of its eponym’s iconic corsetry. Encapsulating the late Dame Westwood’s deft designs from 1987 into the present, it will illustrate the intrinsic links between the corset as a historical garment, culture and fine art, presenting it as a curated and immersive retrospective. Making its debut over London Craft Week, the exhibition will examine her approach to subverting underwear as outerwear from May 8-21, 2023. Plus, especially for the exhibition, a limited-edition jewellery range has been created: think 3D corset pendants on gold or pearl necklace chains, bracelets and clip earrings. The exclusive collection will be available at Vivienne Westwood boutiques in London, Manchester and Cardiff. EP
Top Image: Photography by Gray Sorrenti for Loewe Paula’s Ibiza 2023.
