November 3, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
BYOB, FLANNELS ARE HOSTING A HOUSE PARTY
Warm beer, sticky floors, a swarm of drunken Gen-Z party goers; this is what typically comes to mind when we think of a house party. British multi-brand fashion retailer Flannels is asking us to abandon that idea and opt for something far more fashionable. On Thursday night, the retailer transformed its Oxford Street store into the ultimate hybrid house party, ushering in the festive season and launching its holiday campaign on the very same eve. The immersive shoppable party concept, titled We are The Party invites guests to sashay around the store which has been laid out as various “rooms”.
House party bathrooms are usually fraught, liminal spaces and are best left alone. However, Flannels’ Beauty Bathroom beckons in guests, providing an entirely tempting cornucopia of makeup and beauty treats to shop from. Think, more lipstick and less loo roll. Everyone knows that all the theatrics of a proper house party take place in the kitchen, which is why Flannels’ ‘kitchen’, titled The X Bar is on site to provide party goers with Champagne top-ups (no VK here thank you very much) and crisps with caviar! The entire shopping experience is backed by the totally new concept, Flannels Home. Domestic, designer bliss will be intertwined into the entire party experience and guests will leave wobbly, indulged and naturally, seeking the Flannels afters. We can only hope. Olivia Barrett
V&A TEMPT YOU EAST
Perhaps, West isn’t best, as the Victoria and Albert museum is set to open up its new base in Stratford, East London, in 2025. The V&A is a London institution, renowned for being a bastion of cultural presentation and so it makes sense that its first major exhibition, titled The Music is Black: A British Story is set to be totally immersive and illustrate the powerful impact Black British music has had on British culture.
Let’s face it, was the V&A East ever going to quietly slip onto the scene? No, we didn’t think so either. That’s why it’s kicking off its opening with an exhibition spanning a whopping 125 years, from 1900 all the way to 2025. Telling stories that are long-overdue, Black British music will finally be given the space and spotlight to shine, by exploring the pioneers of the 20th Century and familiarising visitors with the voices of today, including artists such as Stormzy, Sampha, Little Simz and many more.
Visitors will be continually transported through the vibrant genres that have made up Black British music, ranging from Drill, to Classic Soul and Afrobeats. While the physical exhibition space will be firmly rooted in East London, the featured stories will travel from the bustling streets of Notting Hill Carnival, to the darkened dance floors of basements and club nights, and eventually land in the familiar warmth of record shops.
It’s no wonder that an exhibition like this has piqued the interest of industry giants, Meeks & Frost. The duo behind Pa Salieu, Kojey Radical and J Hus’ music videos have lent their visual skills to the V&A’s new venture and have created a new film that will accompany the exhibition. It seems as though V&A East is truly set to make quite the entrance with its artillery of music and film powerhouses. 2025 never felt so far away. OB
Photography courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London
TIGER OF SWEDEN BY THE GLAM BEN COBB
Ben Cobb, the ever-so opulent editor of ES Magazine has returned for a second collaboration with Stockholm based atelier, Tiger of Sweden. Meshing the Swedish brand’s tailoring expertise with Cobb’s decadent and inspired sense of style, the new collection, titled After Dark references the smokey silhouettes of ’70s evening wear. Deep velvet suits featuring hyperbolic lapels are paired with Cuban-heeled footwear, enticing the wearer to indulge in the art of dressing and to not shy away from the glamorous formality that is so often forgotten with menswear. The collection is reminiscent of the night, yet Cobb insists that while the twilight hours are at the heart of the collection, there are plenty of daytime options too. “I think introducing elements of evening wear during daylight hours is so glamorous,” he says. You heard it here first people, that club rat look that you’re sporting on your morning walk of shame is in fact, not shameful, its “glamorous”.
The collection will launch on Matches on November 8, and will truly breathe a sultry air into the sometimes monotonous world of menswear. Don’t get us wrong, jeans and black puffer jackets do have their place, but how much more divine would it be to see your Hinge date in a leather trench and an onyx silk shirt. Just think about it, that 5’10″ could very quickly became a cool 6’ in that chic Cuban heeled boot. Bring it on! OB
ROBERT PATTINSON IN DIOR’S NEW CAMPAIGN
Timeless, beautiful, coveted, Dior ambassador, Robert Pattinson stars in the new Dior Icons campaign and our eyes don’t know where to look first. Kim Jones’ Icons capsule is dedicated to quiet re-imaginings of luxury classics. While at first glance, the pieces embody typical Dior Homme beauty, upon further inspection, the construction and innate design of the garments offer up a more radical venture into the different ways in which luxury can be executed.
The accompanying campaign video depicts Pattinson, looking edible as ever, bathed in natural light and so wonderfully representing the quiet luxury that Jones has so clearly mastered. The combination of sportswear, with cashmere and denim, and the muted tones used throughout, show that Jones truly had the modern man in mind when designing his Icons collection. The name alone is especially befitting of what the campaign exhibits and Dior’s DNA clearly runs throughout the capsule, showing how reinvention doesn’t have to abandon heritage. OB
MURANO CELLOPHANE CLOUDS BY SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE
Sophie Bille Brahe has launched an exclusive Murano Vases collection. In a press release, the fine jewellery designer expresses that crafting Murano objects has been her dream of many years and is a true reflection of her universe. Inspired by deep appreciation for the ancient traditions of glassblowing, the new, dreamy and exclusive collection of vases are all handmade in Murano, Italy. The 10-piece limited-edition collection encompasses the noble craftsmanship of glassblowing, interpreting some of the brand’s signatures into a new art form boasting modern style and serene simplicity. The iconic Cellophane Escargot and Cristal Escargot are shaped with a spiral pattern, working with clear glass as the base. Featuring pearl-shaped vases in blush and pearl opaque, Bille Brahe referenced ties to her renowned pearl Peggy necklace. The collection is exclusively available online and in the Sophie Bille Brahe showroom in Copenhagen. Amalia Aleyeva
HORACE MENS HAIRCARE
Horace just revamped its haircare range with three new shampoo’s, two conditioners, styling products and an updated Anti Hair Loss Serum with enhanced formulas for boosted effectiveness. Horace was joined by Matt Mulhall – the renowned British hairstylist known for his work on the Hermès and Paul Smith fashion shows and his role as beauty editor for Fantastic Man – to promote the launch with his top haircare tips. Not only is the latest collection is refreshing and utile, it also comes with a new packaging design made of recycled materials, an extension of the brands values on sustainability. Shop here. AA
CHOOSE LOVE’S DEBUT BOUTIQUE
The first ever Choose Love Boutique celebrated its opening on Carnaby Street yesterday. Proudly presenting unique red-carpet pieces donated by high-end brands and celebrity friends across fashion, beauty and homeware, its a new, luxe way for the charity to draw in customers. Some of the celebrities and brands involved include Prada, Miu Miu, Jimmy Choo, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Mulberry. The boutique is curated by talented celebrity stylists Aimee Croysdill, Cher Coulter and Holly Eva White. All Choose Love Boutique proceeds will go to Choose Love to raise vital funds for refugees and displaced people all over the world during the Winter months when help is needed more than ever. AA
CARHARTT WIP X NEW BALANCE
Carhartt WIP collaborates with New Balance for a new exciting collection. Integrating Carhartt WIP’s iconic colour palette with New Balance’s signature Made in USA 990v6 design, the collab is rugged yet refined arriving in an earthy Hamilton Brown across the majority of the upper, the soft pigskin suede overlays and synthetic underlays. Military green provides striking contrast, while tonal variations cover the mesh underlays, inner lining and FuelCell midsole. The collaboration is available for purchase on NewBalance.com and Carhartt-wip.com, as well as select Carhartt WIP Stores and global retailers. AA
TRACK BY BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE
Track – the latest series from Bao Bao Issey Miyake – is all about being technical, advanced and ready for the everyday! Establishing an innovative image for the brand whilst maintaining the definitive structure of Bao Bao Issey Miyake, for the first time ever, it’s signature isosceles triangle units are placed on the back of a high-density polyester taffeta fabric with thick nylon handles. The series is light, flexible, and adaptable for contemporary life. Track presents variety of unisex silhouettes in minimalist monochrome colourways and is now available online and in store. AA
GENTLE MONSTER’S GENTLE HIGH SCHOOL
Returning to high school was never on the to-do-list, but Gentle Monster’s 2024 optics range is the entrance letter we never knew we needed. Combining boldness with sophisticated metal elements with tinted lenses in variety of colours, the South Korean brand sets a new direction for eyeglasses, releasing the range with a futuristic campaign set at its “Gentle High School”. Portraying Gentle Monster’s interpretation of the high school experience, actor Nana Komatsu and musician Shinichi Osawa partake in unique robotics and martial art classes, offered through Gentle Monster’s unique curriculum. AA
Top Image: courtesy of Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
