KNWLS drops a rubbish-inspired capsule and Fendi unveils a pooch perfect collection
In a week where Victoria Beckham said she would rather die than wear a pair of Justin Bieber’s Crocs, the fashion world was sent whirling deep into the celeb vortex, culminating in an incendiary, cryptic exchange between Jonah Hill, Zoë Kravitz, and The Row. Still no idea what that was all about.
Perhaps responsible for this week’s confounding crossovers was the Oscars, for which Zendaya and LaKeith Stanfield appeared to be the only attendees to fully understand the assignment – Zendaya doing so in a bright yellow wraparound dress from Valentino and Stanfield in a revamped Le Smoking boilersuit from Saint Laurent.
Speaking of Saint Laurent, this week the brand unveiled its AW21 collection, a hot-wired mash-up of marabou feathers, metallic bodysuits, and all over tweed. Elsewhere, Gucci sought to clamp down on fakes circulating on Facebook and the final nominees for the LVMH prize were announced with bets split between London’s Bianca Saunders, Conner Ives, and Nensi Dojaka.
Have a nosey through the gallery below to see the remaining fashion news that passed you by.
TELFAR HELD A FASHION SHOW ON WENDY
“Girls, you know a Telfar bag when you see it,” said Wendy Williams this week who – no, was not coming direct from London Fields – but her studio in New York where Telfar Clemens presented a daytime TV fashion segment, showcasing the brand’s new summer collection to a socially distanced audience of about three people. Alongside thigh-hole jeans, knee-high UGGs, and twisted tunics, Clemens debuted a hot pink iteration of the label’s beloved shopping bag, which went live yesterday. The bags have, of course, sold out already – but you can sign up for the next drop here.
KNWLS AND HARLEY WEIR UNVEIL A GARBAGE CAPSULE
In an SSENSE exclusive, photographer Harley Weir and KNWLS have collaborated on a capsule of upcycled garments “inspired by the unexpected charm of waste”. Made from recycled materials, KNWLS’ (formally Charlotte Knowles) slinky, flesh-baring designs come printed with photographs from Weir’s Rubbish 1.2 series. “We like the idea of images of rubbish printed on what was once rubbish and recycled into something desirable”. A portion of the collection’s sales will go to ocean protection and the looks are shoppable here.
FENDI REALLY DOES LOVE FUR
Very chic to get a lockdown puppy. Just not so much now, though, when the reality of dragging an animal out to the freezing pub garden has seen an unfortunate number of pups scampering back to the kennels so that mummy can just enjoy her Merlot in peace. Fendi presumably saw this coming and have now dropped a limited collection of canine accessories. Dog leads, carriers, coats, and collars now come emblazoned with the Italian house’s tobacco double F motif, meaning every dog truly does have its day. Get your paws on the capsule here.
FELIPE OLIVEIRA BAPTISTA BIDS FAREWELL TO KENZO
Felipe Oliveira Baptista, who took up the role of Kenzo artistic director just two years ago in 2019, has now announced that he will be leaving in June. The Portuguese designer made his debut in AW20 alongside a new logo that was meant to ‘write a new chapter in its history’. In a short statement Baptista said: “I have been honoured to serve this amazing House and legacy of its founder Kenzo Takada. I would like to thank my teams for their talent and dedication.”
KANYE’S OG YEEZY SNEAKERS BREAK A WORLD RECORD
Last week, Kanye’s OG Yeezy sneaker went to auction, courtesy of Sotheby’s, with an estimated valuation of $1 million. It has since been revealed that the suede high-tops actually reached $1.8 million. "The sale marks the highest publicly recorded price for a sneaker sale ever," the auction house said in a statement. The shoes were bought by RARES, an internet platform for investing in footwear – which over recent years has gained the same collectable status as fine jewellery. Users of RARES can buy shares in a pair in a similar way to how investors buy stocks in a company. You can own a piece of Kanye’s original Yeezy by signing up here.
AMI ENLISTS JEAN-PAUL GOUDE FOR ITS NEW CAMPAIGN
Alexandre Mattiussi, the creative director of AMI, has linked up with Jean-Paul Goude (the artist behind those iconic Grace Jones album covers) on a new ad campaign for the label’s diffusion line – Ami de Cœur. In fact, it’s the first ever standalone Ami de Cœur campaign, which Mattiussi honoured by giving his artist collaborator full creative control. As a result, Goude decided to put the creative director front and centre in the campaign, swinging from a bulbous heart over a chemtrail latticed Parisian skyline. The capsule launches on May 1 instore and online.
WHAT DOES THE BURBERRY CHECK SOUND LIKE?
The Dalston-based fashion store LN-CC set out to answer the question this week in a new Podcast series made in communion with Burberry. Dubbed Desert Isles Mix, the pod explores the relationship between fashion and music, hosted by filmmaker Akinola Davies. Guests include Radio 1 host Fenn O’Meally, stylist Rhiannon Isabel, and founder of NTS Femi Adeyemi, who share five tunes and the Burberry memories they conjure. Listen to the podcast on Spotify or the LN-CC site.
MATTHEW WILLIAMS LAUNCHES HIS FIRST GIVENCHY BAG CAMPAIGN
Hitting stores on May 1, Givenchy’s new 4G bag (named after the brand’s emblem, not the service provider) is the focus of Mattew Williams’ new campaign. “I’m so proud because it combines all the codes I’ve been playing with since I started here,” the designer told Vogue of the rectangular, slightly gothic bag cast in avocado green, baby pink, and dark khaki leathers. “It’s a streamlined, graphic, pure shape that feels so Givenchy with the 4G in hardware”. Check out the Simon Schmitt lensed film here.
DIOR UNVEILS ITS AW21 CAMPAIGN
Shot by Brigitte Niedermair, Dior’s latest campaign is an electro mash-up of all over leopard print, metallic mini skirts, and shockingly hot pinks – as if plucked straight from a Hadouken video circa the Skins era. The campaign encapsulates the collection’s gamut of disco, pop art, and Fiorucci references. Think stroboscopic sequins, spangled jewellery, and CD chain belts. In a statement, the brand has said the images have been “imbued with radiant optimism – an ode to joy”. See them here for yourself.
THE BFC IS RAMPING UP ITS CHARITABLE ARM
Since it was established in 2019, the British Fashion Council Foundation (the BFC’s philanthropic wing, which funds initiatives such as the Designer Menswear Fund) has raised £3.2 million. This year, to help meet its target of £2 million, the foundation has enlisted retail investors and philanthropists Tania Fares & Narmina Marandi as co-chairs, who will help to develop a BFC Foundation Advisory Committee and kick-start an influential patronage programme. “We are delighted to work with the British Fashion Council to bring together a group of benefactors from all around the world who will contribute to the success of British fashion,” the duo revealed in a statement.
DSQUARED2 AND SUPERGA DROP A LINE OF PLIMSOLLS
The Italian brands Dsquared2 and Superga have got together this week to design an exclusive range of sneakers. The line consists of three unisex styles, which have been constructed with Superga’s signature chunky soles and emblazoned with Dsquared2’s trademark Maple Leaf. All pieces are available on Dsquared2.com.
Photography Laurent GrivetVALENTINO LOOKS TO THE ART WORLD
With a little help from international writers including Bernadine Evaristo and Liz Johnson, it hasn’t been long since Valentino unveiled stage one of its spring advertising. Now, the Italian label has released the next phase of its campaign, focusing on accessories, enlisting the help of painters such as Louise Giovanelli, who created a hyper-realistic depiction of the Valentino Garavani Roman Stud Top Handle bag, and Korean artist Nahum Kim, who took a much more surreal route. “Pierpaolo Piccioli believes art is a lens through which one can really touch the nature of the most intimate feelings” the label has said. Take a look at the artist-led campaign here.
POSTER GIRL LAUNCHES ON FLANNELS WITH AN EXCLUSIVE
The Y2K devotee and purveyor of the most vajazzled and sinuous of insta-baddie looks, Poster Girl, will launch on the FLANNELS website next week (May 4). The London-based label will mark the occasion with an exclusive chrome metal mesh-esque halter top, which is the ultimate expression of ‘jeans and a nice top’. Elsewhere in the collection, there are cut-out bodycons, strappy vests, and of course, plenty of g-strings. Get your Motorola RZRs at the ready, ladies – we’re going shopping.