...and more fashion news you missed
For Parisian fashion houses, Pre-Fall and Cruise collections are nothing if not an attempt to outsize the last: sending guests to the Giza pyramids, 13th-century castles in Apulia, and imposing STEM institutions in California. Last night, Maria Grazia Chiuri debuted her latest collection against the Gateway of India monument in Mumbai. The show compounded a longstanding relationship between the house of Dior and the artisans of the Chanakya School of Craft (a new exhibition of their historic collaborations will run until April 10) whose chand jaal handiwork was reinterpreted in delicate French lace. Drawing on the traditional silhouette and cut of the sari, the collection cycled through columnar skirts, embroidered evening coats, and draped gowns in emeralds, fuchsias, and deep purples made in homage to the late Dior designer Marc Bohan. Click through the gallery above to see the rest of Dior’s 2023 pre-Fall collection.
In other news this week, Gwyneth Paltrow was awarded $1 and cleared of all fault over her ski crash – but it was her outfits that perhaps left the biggest impression. Elsewhere, the 2023 edition of Metaverse Fashion Week went live and Paris Hilton was handcuffed to Heaven’s neverending collaborative mill, while someone made an AI remake of Harry Potter set in the Balenciaga-verse. For everything else you may have missed, click through the gallery below.
JULIEN DOSSENA GETS WITH JEAN PAUL GAULTIER
Julien Dossena was this week announced as the next guest couturier at Jean Paul Gaultier. Dossena has been at the helm of Paco Rabanne since 2014 and will be the fifth designer to reinterpret the JPG archive. The collaboration will be revealed at the autumn 2023 couture shows in July.
A FARFETCHED CAMPAIGN
Farfetch unveiled its SS23 campaign starring Marica Cross – AKA Bree from Desperate Housewives – and boxer Younes Bendjima. The whole thing is based on the principle that ‘you only need to dress for yourself, not anyone else’ and compounds the retailer’s obsession with unexpected pop-cultural cameos: think Kim Cattrall and Leighton Meester. See more of that here.
CHLOÉ BIRTHS PENELOPE
This week, Chloé launched its latest handbag: the Penelope. Originally showcased as part of its SS23 collection, the Penelope is a slouchy shoulder bag with braided leather details and a metal coin closure inspired by the brand’s jewellery archive. It comes in mahogany, caramel, and chalky white and has been made from LWG-certified leather. Click here to see more.
ETRO GETS THE BAG IN
Etro also unveiled its Vela bag – which is the first to have been designed by Marco De Vincenzo. The shape of the bag draws on nautical silhouettes, with its dynamic contours designed to “cut through” the wind like a sail. The accompanying campaign stars legendary Italian model Bianca Balti, which you can see here.
GANT GOES BACK IN TIME
Instagram’s Samutaro rifled through Gant’s 73-year back catalogue and produced the first exhibition dedicated to chronicling the brand’s subcultural connections. The show first launched in New York earlier this year but has now arrived in London, putting an onus on sportswear and skater style with archive ephemera and an accompanying zine. The exhibition runs from March 30 to April 2 at DIJONSS, 6 Dray Walk, London, E1 6QL.