December 14, 2023 |
TEN CRAVES IS OUR ONLINE SERIES THAT ROUNDS UP ALL THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND MUST-KNOW FASHION HAPPENINGS WEEK IN, WEEK OUT.
Goomheo’s Boys Are ‘Bad Sports’
While PE was never our strong suit (we work for a fashion magazine, duh), Goomheo has certainly piqued our interest and we are finally ready to become more, ahem, physically educated. Bringing the liveliness found on the sports field right to the heart of the collection, Goomheo presents ‘Bad Sports’ for SS24.
Inspired by sweaty, post-match locker rooms filled with half naked men, high tension fraternity and – let’s face it – homoeroticism, Heo expands on this sporty stereotype and binds sex with style and athleticism. Playing with the traditional sportswear silhouettes, tiny shorts, fashioned in raw denim and finished with horny zip fronts ensure that when the boys are running around the pitch, onlookers won’t be able to keep their eyes off the balls… oops, we mean ball. Incorporating lingerie-esque corsetry details into beautifully structured bolero jackets and risqué denim tops, Goomheo marries masculine silhouettes with a truly provocative femininity. Ringer tees inspired by the All-American sports banners from the ‘50s and ‘60s are squeezed around the troupe of campaign models and protective headpieces nicely balance out the barely-there garments. Heo, clearly understanding the importance of looking hot and being safe.
Cropped, tight and hugging all the right places, the boyishness is playful and pheromone inducing, ensuring there’s nothing truly ‘bad’ about these ‘Bad Sports’. All we can say is, good game boys; time to hit the showers.
The Vampire’s Wife Jets Off With Globe Trotter
The Vampire’s Wife has lured us back to her castle with a new collaboration with English luxury luggage company, Globe Trotter. Paying heed to both our dark and light sides, the collaboration includes a Black Collection and a Wedding Collection that feature a vanity case, a carry-on case and an extra large trunk. Sturdy but beautiful, the sumptuous ivory finish on the Wedding Collection ensures honeyed imaginings of romantic travels with one’s betrothed, while the striking Black Collection is the perfect fusion of pure style and understated luxury. Featuring blood red and sparkling black velvet interiors, the luggage is finished with a lovebitten treatment worth lusting over no thanks to The Vampire’s Wife. Pre-order here.
Dior Hits The Slopes
This snowy season, Dior is bringing a bit of glamour to the slopes with its men’s and women’s ski capsules, as part of its DiorAlps line. For women, Maria Grazia Chiuri reimagines the kitschier elements of traditional skiwear as something chic and timeless. Jackets with silvery finishes will help your friends spot you on the slopes and cosy knits in gorgeous classic cream, red and navy colours will keep you cosy in the chalet. Ski suits, usually found in campy ’80s neon colours and MTV-inspired prints, are swapped out for really sleek black with an illustrated map of Paris printed all over. Shop here.
The girls couldn’t have all the fun though. Kim Jones’ ski capsule for men strikes the perfect balance between style and substance. Collaborating with Scottish artist, Peter Doig, the collection includes knits, snowboards and skis that feature paintings exclusively commissioned for Dior by Doig. Wintry scenes with snow capped trees and ski runs winding around the forest are painted with thick brush strokes of lush greens and browns. Jones leans into some of the more retro elements that often resonate with skiwear and presents a playful argyll graphic jumper in candy wrapper colours. It’s perfect for that oh so lovely aprés ski. Shop here.
Story MFG Launches Earthly Fragrances
After a year spent knuckling down at its olfactory labs, Story MFG is – alas! – releasing its first-ever fragrances. Crafted with the same slow and natural practices that infuse the brand’s clothing collections, two unisex Eau de Parfums have been created with an obscure key ingredient at their cores: Mitti Attar. Sustainably sourced from discarded tea vessels, the opulent scent is similar to the smell of the Earth after it rains, result in completely fresh, wonderfully wearable and somewhat nostalgic fragrance overtones. Featured in both the Never Ending Meadow and Earth Tone fragrances, is a release that reminds wearers of their own connection to their planet, as well as Story MFG’s.
Fashioned to look like stones perched atop the bottle, the perfume stopper is handcrafted and once again leans into a sustainable form of handicraft. Hand-constructed from cotton paper, Story MFG also opted to replace the plastic elements of typical perfume bottles and replace them with cork. Just as it does with the grab it puts out, it’s clear that Story MFG is expanding on its environmentally conscious opus, ensuring a beautifully conscious ethos through every output. Shop here.
Dolce and Gabbana Put A Spring In Our Step With Farfetch
It makes sense that Farfetch, the go-to retail cornucopia for any fashion fan, is collaborating with Dolce and Gabbana to offer exclusive early access to the Italian house’s new Flower Power collection. Inspired by the floral takeover of the 1960s, the Flower Power collection styles itself after the blossoming aesthetics of the era and the divinely elegant silhouettes that are reminiscent of the swinging sixties. Featuring eye-catching roses and wildly beautiful bouquets, the floral prints are verdant and infuse springtime lusciousness into rooms that could be completely barren. The full bodied gowns and the satin sheath dresses serve as an homage to the sixties’ woman, freeing her from the stuffiness of generations past and allowing her to blossom into a fully cosmopolitan woman. Shop here.
Jacob Cohën invite Us For A Warming Aprés Ski
The mountains may be brutal and barren, but your outfits certainly don’t have to be. Inspired by Courchevel, the alpine resort where Jacob Cohën opened its first mountain store, the brand presents its aprés ski capsule collection. Designed with the snowy retreat in mind, Jacob Cohën understands that comfort is at the heart of Christmas and ensures that whether you’re sitting on the sofa mainlining Baileys or taking the brisk but necessary post-lunch walk, you’ll be warm, but more importantly, stylish.
Also inspired by the French flag, the capsule’s primary colours of red, navy and cream are festive, yet fresh. Brilliant red socks, speckled with snowflakes serve to beat those allegations of being a boring Christmas present, while divinely huggable knitted jumpers depict quaint scenes of skis plunged into fluffy snow or argyle-inspired falling snowflakes. Foolproof and effortlessly chic, Jacob Cohën ensures you’ll either be the best dressed at the Aprés ski soirée this winter. Shop here.
Eckhaus Latta Is Feeling Shady
Uber cool US brand Eckhaus Latta throwing shade this winter with the launch of a sleek range of sunglasses. Making their debut on the SS24 runway, the shades stay true to the brand’s penchant for taking pretty standard silhouettes and kitting them out in a totally new way. One half of the design duo, Mike Eckhaus, says in the release that it was their “intention to not make statement sunglasses: rather, design styles that speak to familiar silhouettes and materials”.
Designed for both men and women, Eckhaus Latta plays with aviator and cat-eye shapes. Offering the familiar styles with an alternative flair, the cat-eye shape is crafted with satisfyingly chunky bio-circular acetate and features mirrored, brown, and green lenses. Named The Speed, the aviator style, on the other hand, is handcrafted with recycled steel and elevates what is already a fantastic silhouette. Like something from a world where Top Gun and The Matrix marry, The Speed sunnies truly embody an edge that Eckhaus Latta so naturally commands. Shop here.
Circa And Slawn’s Billboard Takeover
London-based Nigerian-born artist Slawn is the latest collaborator of the elite troupe CIRCA Art (Cultural Institute of Radical Contemporary Art) creatives to take to the streets. From December 6, until New Years Eve, CIRCA Art is showcasing Slawn’s evocative presentation entitled Gone? – an artistic endeavour into the theme of hope – on big screens and billboards around the world, everyday at 20:23.
In the month leading up to the launch, the artist and cult icon – favoured by Skepta and friends with Naomi Campbell – shut himself away in an empty room just off of Piccadilly Circus. Filmed, face-on by CIRCA Art, Slawn spray painted directly onto specially sized Perspex scaled to accommodate the multiple screens it would be shown on across the globe – marking the first time that CIRCA Art has taken over billboard screens in Africa, showing ‘Gone?’ across Accra, Nairobi and Lagos, the birthplace of the artist. Painting a different image for each city, Slawn gradually removed himself from the frame, leaving viewers with the imperative question: ‘Has all hope gone?’
CIRCA Art’s presentation style makes use of the gig society that we traverse. A moving image, a quick message, and just one minute of art created by a cult figure promises a truly captivating collaborative endeavour. We don’t have the chance to become bored or distracted and instead we’re left asking ourselves ‘has all hope gone?’ Get yourself down to Piccadilly Circus for 20:23, precisely, look up, and you might find yourself asking that same question.
Comme des Garçons Link Up With Freitag
Comme des Garçons just launched a collaboration with Zurich-born bag manufacturers Freitag; basically, cool and cooler, came to together to make things bigger and better than ever. Having owned multiple Freitag bags over the years, Comme’ founder Rei Kawakubo invited the beloved brand to produce a new collection of bags, designed by Kawakubo herself. With both brands being built on a foundation of non-conformity and long-lasting approaches to craft, there’s no better way to celebrate that shared ethos’ than with a link-up. The Freitag manifesto states “we only own objects that last” and with their supreme craft, married with Kawakubo’s innovative design, why wouldn’t we want to own these objects forever?
Designed and produced in Japan, the Freitag bags adhere the Zurich brand’s usual upcycled standards, using discarded truck tarpaulin and repurposed materials to make these truly beautiful bags. Launching with Dover Street Market just in time for the gifting season, they’re sure to fly off the shelves.
Palace Joins Forces With C.P. Company
This month, London-born skate brand Palace announced the second instalment of its collaboration with Italian sportswear brand C.P. Company. Blending what the two brands do best, the collection meshes Palace’s eclectic aesthetics with C.P. Company’s hyper technical craftsmanship. Beloved C.P. Company silhouettes such as the goggle jacket are reimagined with Palace graphics and vibrant colours that embody the liveliness of the London skate brand. The supremely shiny and transparent finishes of the goggle jackets are reminiscent of candy wrappers, made with the aptly named fabric, Kan-D nylon. A bright orange jacket with matching trousers and a deep blue puffer strike the perfect balance between the two brands.
The campaign film, shot in Northern Italy works as a love letter to C.P. Company’s homeland and stars Palace skate team members Lucien Clark and Rory Milanes, amongst others. A transparent, iridescent goggle jacket photographed under a waterfall, sums up the maverick nature of Palace paired with C.P. Company’s technical prowess. Shop here.
Suzy Menkes Turn’s 80!
This is not your typical church hall 80th birthday party, this is Suzy Menkes’ 80th birthday party, and what could be more fitting than an intimate dinner hosted at London’s Dover Street Market to celebrate the fabulous fashion powerhouse. Catered by the truly scrumptious Rose Bakery and cocktails by Don Julio 1942 tequila last night, the dinner hosted Menkes and an impressive fleet of some of the biggest names in fashion, including Michael Kors, Michèle Lamy, Simone Rocha and more.
Alongside the dinner, Dover Street Market London release a special edition COMME DES GARÇONS SHIRT x Suzy Menkes T-shirt to commemorate the occasion. Designed in collaboration with artist Darcel Disappoints, a fantastic cartoon reimagining of Menkes featured her iconic coiffed hair covered both the tee and the super sought after invite. An event to be remembered, we wish Ms Menkes the happiest of 80th birthdays! To may more!
Fragrance House Iiuvo weaves its way into knitwear
As the weather becomes unbearably wet and a bitter chill whips through the air, London based fragrance house Liuvo is putting smell to the side for just a moment, releasing a knitwear capsule instead, to go alongside its esoteric library of fragrances. Featuring a Black Rave Hoody – which works as a prelude to the Rave Eau de Parfum that’s set to launch in 2024 – a cashmere intarsia pullover and a waffle knitted hat, the garments accompany an opulent cashmere blanket and Santa, baby, I want the whole range for Christmas. Shop here.
Machine-A plus Byronesque equals Machine-B
London based concept store Machine-A has partnered with reimagined vintage brand Byronesque for the third instalment of their collaborative relationship. Together, forming Machine-B, the brands present The Reissue Series: As Four Bags. Merging archival pieces with the creation of new ones, Machine-B seeks to offer a timeless collection, that will serve to withstand the micro-trend cycle we tho silly find ourselves in. The partnership will reissue the cult favourite circle bags, established in a variety of colours and fabrics, as well as eight bags that will have been handmade from upcycled materials.
The Circle Bag, whilst not only visually a delight, but the physical shape speaks to a wider intention of a more cyclical fashion industry. An industry that need not be a straight line that tapers off, but instead can blend new and old pieces. Machine-B moves between the past and the future, by retrieving materials and designs long discarded and catapulting them into a contemporary sphere, showing their dedication to a more sustainable fashion future but also a deep appreciation of vintage aesthetics. The collab is available for the taking at Machine-A’s store in Brewer Street.
Teatime with Seletti And JordanLuca
What could be more British than a rave? Tea, perhaps? What about a rave and tea? Italian design house Seletti and British-Italian menswear brand Jordanluca have reimagined the traditional English ritual or teatime with a mind melting, beautiful twist. Rave-like psychedelia is welded with a quitessential stiff British upper lip to produce a fantastically ironic porcelain tea set. Dainty cups melting into their saucers and traditional teapots slouch over their own spout, looking like the anthropomorphisation of sweaty ravers head-banging in the ’90s or slumped against a back wall for a breather. It;s an endearing reminder that even after a heavy night of ‘happy drugs’ and The Prodigy, we’ll need a hot cuppa’ first thing in the morning to soothe our headaches and sticky comedowns.
Louis Vuitton’s Australian Open Trophy Trunks
Louis Vuitton has been named the Official Trophy Trunk partner of the 2024 Australian Open. Kicking off January 14, the prestigious tennis tournament will play host to the biggest stars of the uber-stylish sport and it’s only fitting that the trophies be boxed up by the best in the biz. So, Louis Vuitton has produced two handcrafted trunks to hold the illustrious men’s and women’s cups, keeping them safe and unblemished before they’re hoisted into the air by the magnificent winners.
While the iconic Louis Vuitton monogram canvas covers the trunk’s wooden frame and features a leather trim, it’s finished with sturdy, yet beautiful brass corner protectors and a lock and clasp, ensuring the trunks enlist the same craftsmanship that the French fashion house has used since the 1860s. What’s more, a striking white ‘V’ is painted on the trophy trunks’ front panels, obviously standing for ‘Victory’, but also, ‘Vuitton’ proving that this partnership aims to celebrate excellence across sport, style and historic craft.
Ashish’s glittering SS24 campaign
Wham, bam, thank you Ashish! The London-based designer – following the camp-drenched SS24 show that marked his first runway in three years – has just dropped an equally zingy campaign to match. Continuing to celebrate the beauty of all people, regardless of race, gender, age, shape or size, the fun-filled photos are a delight to behold. Shot by 10 contributor Hazel Gaskin, the campaign lets the garments and models speak for themselves. The result? A bum-cheek-baring, free-the-nipple extravaganza that makes you want to hit the dancefloor ASAP. More please! Bella Koopman
Top Image: photography by Heji Shin, courtesy of Goomheo.
