Charles Jeffrey collabs with Fred Perry, and Rick Owens flashes his pentagram
And now, we are all creative directors. Last week, Molly Mae was announced as the head of creative for an exploitative fast fashion behemoth, signing on the dotted line to the thunderclap applause of girl bosses everywhere. While critics were quick to snap at her Cartier anklets, bemoaning the Love Islander’s lack of experience with dreary office jargon and “emails”, others had more prescient concerns – namely the optics of celebrating a multi-million pound celebrity hire, while the company’s very own employees work in subhuman conditions for less than minimum pay.
Less than a week later, however, we are being reintroduced to Kendall Jenner – the alleged “highest paid model in the world” – and now, creative director of online fashion boutique FWRD. “The world looks at Kendall to lead the industry,” said chief brand officer, Raissa Gerona, explaining the not-so-unprecedented decision to appoint a celebrity to a “normal”, but no less covetable, position.
According to the company, Jenner will look after “the look and feel of the site, the curation of brands sold on the site, the monthly edits of must-have trends, styles, and looks, as well as marketing ideas, brand partnerships, and brand activations.” Unsurprisingly, the announcement left many pundits beleaguered at the state of the industry. And while we have yet to see the full extent of Jenner’s artistic vision – the model debuted the news with a photoshoot based in LA – because, to paraphrase, that’s where she lives.
In other controversial fashion news, Fenty ambassador Mik Zazon accused Boohoo of plagiarising her trademark ‘normalise normal bodies’ slogan. On a much more positive note, however, Prada partnered with Chicago artist Theaster Gates on an incubator for artists of colour, while Kourtney Kardashian bravely entered the next stage of hot goth girlfriend. Click the gallery below for the best of the rest.
FRED PERRY GETS TAE GLESGA
Though Fred Perry and LOVERBOY cater to largely different audiences – people who like football and people who think the off-side rule is a type of pattern cut – the two labels do venn diagram when it comes to subversive back stories and lots of plaid. In a new collaboration, soon to be unveiled across three collections, Scotland’s Charles Jeffrey and Engerland’s Fred Perry set aside their differences. The first capsule, unveiled this week, is accompanied by a woozy film narrated by Jeffrey as he follows a group of extraterrestrial beings exploring Glesga for the first time. There are bomber jackets, longline polo shirts, kilts, and fuzzy cardigans, all of which have been put through the brands’ half-and-half tartan. Shop the collection here.
KIM PETRAS FRONTS UGG’S FASHION CAMPAIGN
“I want all my clothes designer,” Kim Petras once proclaimed. But it turns out she wants them cosy and lined with sheepskin, too. Alongside Parris Goebel, Duckie Thot, Fernanda Ly, and Elon Musk’s mum, Petras poses in UGG’s latest apparel collection – all tracksuits, faux furs, teddy jackets, and sheepskin coats. See more of that here.
RICK OWENS PULLS OUT HIS PENTAGRAM
To say the fashion industry is in bed with Satan is not entirely accurate – but it’s not a lie either. Earlier this summer, Lil Nas X sold his sole by dropping a bloodied sneaker collaboration with Beelzebub himself, while Rick Owens’ interpretations of Converse classics have conjured a spooky, demonic image. Now, the prince of darkness has dropped his leather lace-ups to reveal a pair of pentagram pants. The five-pointed star, which has long been a symbol of the occult has, quite literally, cosied up to fashion’s intimates. If that gets your inner hellhound barking, the briefs are available to purchase from Rick Owens online.
GENTLEMONSTER GOES GENTLY INTO OPTICALS
South Korean eyewear label Gentlemonster unveiled its first optical collection this week dubbed Gentle. Think wide-brimmed, space-age specs and chunky Kurt Cobain-esque frames. By cleaving off its own name, the brand says its new product category is all about “questioning the concept of identity”. As such, the accompanying campaign features a host of mismatched characters – from director Park Chan-Wook, to Tess McMillan, to techno producer Iron Sight. Check out the collection here.
JW ANDERSON RELEASES ITS SECOND OSCAR WILDE COLLECTION
With last season’s Tom of Finland collaboration now covering the backs of East London’s gay cognoscente, Jonathan Anderson is continuing to inhabit the ghost of queer creatives past – this time releasing the second capsule dedicated to Oscar Wilde. Inspired by the 20th century poet’s rebel nature, JW Anderson is offering a collection indebted to Wilde’s motto “life is in art”, which has been scribbled across crafty a-line jackets and skirts, accessories, and jewelry. Shop the collection here.

DR MARTENS GOES TO HEAVEN
Teen-angst! Day-glo dystopia! Toxic shock valley girls! Marc Jacobs’ greasy, grungy extension line, Heaven, has announced a collaboration with Dr Martens. The two labels have come together on a patent “croc” high top and brogue, seemingly made for teenage tantrums and stomping about suburbia listening to sped-up versions of Olivia Rodrigo songs on TikTok. I know what you’re thinking. Did a... blister... write this? No, actually!
BIANCA SAUNDERS AND FARAH COLLAB
Fresh from her ANDAM win, London’s Bianca Saunders announced an upcoming collaboration with Farah this week, inspired by “the nuances of masculinity together with the influences of my Caribbean heritage.” Made up of soft, amply cut 70s silhouettes, the collection is an apparent homage to the “confident men in her life with their neatly pressed, ironed-out crease trousers who prided themselves on projecting polished dressing”. Teasing a hazy mood board littered with dried flowers and light leaks, the collaboration drops early next year.
REFERENCE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS THIRD PROGRAMME
GmbH, Ottolinger, and Mark Leckey are coming together during the latest iteration of Reference Festival – a collaboration between comms agency Reference Studios and cultural institution Schinkel Pavillon. Set to take place between September 6-12 at West Berlin’s Bierpinsel, the festival will run a future-focused series of multidisciplinary fashion showcases. Titled “Protopia”, it’s all about looking for an alternative to post-COVID utopias (or is that dystopias?) But don't think you need to be in Berlin to get a look in. As per last season, there is also a full line-up of events happening online – register here to get involved.