Well my loves, it’s been another busy week in the world of fashion and with so many new collaborations, collections, campaigns and cultural must-sees, it can be hard to keep up. But that’s what we’re here for — you’re welcome! Here’s what’s in fashion.
Sandy Liang gets sporty, with Salomon
Amidst all the ruffles, rosettes and satin ballet flats on Sandy Liang’s AW23 runway was a sporty, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it surprise – a tease of the New York designer’s capsule footwear collection with Salomon. That’s right! The designer known for her nostalgic designs and graphics, put her own spin on the Salomon RX Moc 3.0, a breathable sheer mesh style featuring 90s anime flower print decals, and the XT-6 Expanse, done in a baby pink and green colourway “in celebration of the person who runs the trails in a dress.” What’s not to love about that?! “Growing up in the 90s, I loved wearing sneakers,” Sandy said. “I incorporated this into my design process, tapping into nostalgic colorways and details.”
We suggest you mark your calendars for May 5th, which is when the unisex styles will hit Salomon’s website, as they’re sure to sell out. Meanwhile, we asked Sandy to tell us a bit more about the iconic collab and how it all came together. ND
How did your collaboration with Salomon come about? What are your main sources of inspiration?
SL: We decided to work together after my SS22 show, when we styled the collection with Salomon footwear. I am forever inspired by my 90s childhood and for this collaboration, I wanted to pair the colours of Pokémon characters with the sportiness of Salomon.
Tell us about one of your favourite items in the drop.
SL: I love both styles equally, but I will say that the first Salomon style I owned was the Moc – so maybe I am a tiny bit partial to that one. I love how these look like water shoes, but you could wear them walking through my neighbourhood of Chinatown.
Over the last few seasons, you’ve also developed your own line of footwear. Where’s the Sandy Liang girl going in your shoes?
SL: She can go anywhere, and she’s going to be comfortable.
What’s inspiring you right now?
SL: Right now I’m in Ireland and I’m loving every second of it. Everything is green and everyone is so nice. I would say I’m inspired by all the places we’ve driven through so far.
On your marks, get set…
Despite what the miserable weather here in London seems to imply, spring has sprung, my bunnies, which means it’s time to peel yourself from your winter warrens once and for all, and hop out into the great outdoors! It’s hard, we know, but trust us when we say that it’s all the easier when you’re kitted out with the right gear. Mercifully, Swiss sportswear brand On has come through with a fresh iteration of its signature high-performance running shoe offering — the Cloudflash — available exclusively on SSENSE. Featuring On’s signature carbon fibre-enriched Cloudtec speedboard, it’s been designed with the performance needs of the discerning runner in mind. It bears mentioning, though, that the new, SSENSE-exclusive shoe silhouette is as snazzy as it is sporty, coming in a fetching brown and kiwi dual-tone. Don’t walk, RUN to cop yourself a pair here. MS
Home is where Hermès is
This week, you may have wondered if you’ve somehow got your dates puddled up for Milan Fashion Week. Well, fear not — it was, in fact, Salone del Mobile, the annual design and interiors fair held in the Italian city. Every interior designer, starchitect, design aficionado and lifestyle guru could be found in the crowd at Bar Basso discussing the latest collections of furniture, lights and design installations — suffice to say, it’s not that dissimilar to fashion week at all, especially given that so many fashion houses have ventured into the capital-D Design space. Our highlight? Hermès, of course, the OG lifestyle brand. The French house presented its latest Maison collection, designed by its longtime artistic directors Charlotte Macaux Perelman and Alexis Fabry with the help of several collaborators from around the world. It should come as no surprise that every object presented was the last word in quiet luxury, the term practically invented by Hermès. An armchair conceived by Danish designer Cecilie Manz in a solid wood with a sheet of oh-so-supple Hermès leather wouldn’t look out of place in a Frank Lloyd Wright building, while geometric plaid cashmere blankets and rugs — each one hand-spun and hand-woven — drew from jockeys’ silks via ikat weave techniques, and pommel horses, race tracks and fence poles. Our favourite? A plush white sofa in wool and cotton slub canvas, subtly finished with leather piping and legs hidden under the fabric skirting. Good enough to lay back on and dream of a world — or indeed a home — in which everything is made chez Hermès. OA
Lacoste have a new home in London
London has a new, green-hued landmark and it’s situated on 182 Regents Street. There, Lacoste have opened their new flagship store, their biggest in the UK, and it’s designed to be a playground that celebrates the history of the storied French luxury sportswear brand. A colourful polo wall celebrates their most iconic piece, the simple collared T-shirt first designed by the brand’s tennis player founder René Lacoste 90 years ago. There’s a footwear zone shaped like a tennis ball, a stunning wire crocodile designed by the Japanese-based artist HAYU, immersive tunnels with interactive screens, an arcade area and clothing options for womenswear, menswear and kidswear, in various sporting styles from tennis to golf. Personalisation stations are also available upstairs that allow essential pieces to be made with special colours, initials and cuts. Don’t know what to get? A personal shopper is on hand to talk you through the best pieces most suited to you. Having opened earlier this week, go get lost in this dreamy, immersive space. TG
Martine Rose and Stüssy take to the road
*COOL COLLAB KLAXON* Goodness, that has been getting a good bit of use lately, hasn’t it? Anyway, yes, we’re back with news of yet another very cool collaboration. This week, the pairing we’re obsessing over is between Martine Rose and Stüssy, who have served up a capsule dedicated to the art of driving. Yes, there are clothes — printed hoodies, tees and all the usual steeze — but what really revved our engines was the exquisite car paraphernalia! A leopard print steering wheel cover, leather driving gloves, a scented air freshener, a co-branded car mat, a fringed flag… this collab has it all If you’re looking to pimp your ride, well, look no further. MS
Acne Studios taps Honey Dijon for a collaborative capsule
*COOL COLLAB KLAXON* What? Again?! We really are getting our money’s worth out of this thing! But indeed, we have yet another cool collaboration for you this week, courtesy of Swedish luxury house Acne Studios and HFD — the one and only brand founded by fashion’s favourite producer and DJ, Honey Dijon! Comprising hefty bombers and cargos alongside slinky rompers and plexiglass mules, the capsule strikes a perfect balance between practicality and expressive sexiness — exactly the sort of gear you’d want to wear to the club!
Available in a slew of pastel hues — “inspired by the mail order catalogues of the late 70s and early 80s,” Honey says – the capsule has been designed with its wearability across a diverse span of body types and gender expressions in mind. “A lot of the key pieces are genderless and meant to seamlessly work from travel to clubbing,” the DJ says. “The plexiglass pump will be made up to size 46 as heels are becoming a genderless expression in footwear.” Head here to cop. MS
JW Anderson Wellipet loafers are here!
Jonathan Anderson is no stranger to a weird shoe but anyone who was following the AW23 menswear shows will have the image burned in their brain of models walking down the runway in PVC frog loafers. Collaborating with Wellipets, the cutesy British Wellington boots label that Princess Diana used to dress William and Harry in when they were small, Jonathan has reimagined the style as a loafer for adults made from recyclable PVC and still with those adorable hand painted froggy eyes and smile across the front. Available in green, yellow and blue, hop on down to the JW Anderson stores or to their website now. Who knows, maybe William and Harry will be wearing them at the coronation. TG
Liu Wen fronts Gucci’s latest campaign
‘Another day, another campaign,’ as the old saying goes… or something like that, whatever. In any case, today’s is a good’un, with international supermodel of the world Liu Wen fronting Gucci’s campaign for its time-honoured Bamboo 1947 bag. Shot by esteemed British photographer David Sims, it “portrays two emblematic characters in an intimate relationship,” a release reads. No, not that sort of intimate relationship, you gutterminded freaks! Rather, “the kind that develops between an individual and a loved object,” with the bamboo-handled, twist-lock handbag presented as “as a symbolic keeper of secrets, an allegorical treasure chest of cherished sentiments.” Sounds alluring, right? Hit the link above to watch the full campaign film! MS
Meet the new Lanvin man
Last autumn Lanvin reimagined the Lanvin woman, who she is and what she embodies, as part of their Character Studies campaign. Now, the Parisian house is showcasing the new Lanvin man, also under the guiding phrase of le chic ultime, meaning the ultimate chic. In stunning and intimate black-and-white photographs by Steven Meisel, models Quintin Van Konkelenberg, Alberth Johnson, Gendai Funato and Job V join Raquel Zimmermann (who was in the previous Character Studies chapter), wearing key Lanvin pieces. Oozing simple glamour, quiet strength and sensuality, who wouldn’t want to be them? TG
Wardrobe.NYC turns to tailoring
‘Quiet luxury’, ‘stealth wealth’, whatever you want to call it, ultimately it all boils down to well-made, practical, unostentatious clothes. If that’s what you’re in the market for, then please, look no further than Wardrobe.NYC, the Big Apple-based brand helmed by Josh Goot and Christine Centenera. Geared around the idea of designing and offering versatile (you guessed it) full-wardrobe collections, more often than not focussing on a particular sartorial genre, their 12th release sees the pair take on tailoring. Comprising immaculately crafted pieces like a double-breasted contour blazer and an oversized, as well as easy classics like poplin shirting, waistcoats and low-rise trousers, the result is a resplendently, yet understatedly, elegant offering of easy, long-lined silhouettes — the apotheosis of chic, if we do say so ourselves. Check out the full offering here.
Valentino is coming to vintage shops near you
You remember Valentino Vintage, the initiative from the Roman house for you to explore and wear pieces from their stunning archive. The idea is you send in a preloved Valentino piece and, in return, you can either buy another vintage item or receive a voucher to put towards the purchase of a new design in one of the house’s stores. The initiative has been running since 2021 in Madame Pauline Vintage in Milan, New York Vintage in NYC, The Vintage Dress in Tokyo and Recess in LA, and is now set to come to Rellik in London, Plaisir Palace in Paris and Janemarch Maison in Seoul, too. Additionally, the house has announced a partnership with London talent incubator 1Granary, that will invite the next generation of design talents to explore and be inspired by the Valentino archive. Five Valentino looks will also be sent to seven fashion schools across the world, one of them being Central Saint Martins here in London. Head to the vintage shop with a Valentino section near you and see some of the most gorgeous garments the world of fashion has ever seen. TG
Coachtopia is Gen Z’s new sustainable wardrobe must-have
Coach have made no secret of their mission to eventually have a fully circular business model, using recycled, deadstock and waste materials to create beautiful new pieces and massively reducing the impact on the planet. Now, their new brand Coachtopia is their biggest step towards that vision to date. A sub-brand launching within the UK, Canada and the US, with plans to roll out in Asia later in the year, Coachtopia has dropped their first ready-to-wear, bags and accessories collection for all genders and ages and all made from recycled materials and leather fabrics made from at least 50% waste. From cutesy baby tees and patchwork denims to a range of holdalls in vibrant colours and unique styles, the brand has made much of the collection in collaboration with a Slack channel of Gen Z artists, designers, activists, journalists and more to figure out what the next generation want most in their sustainable clothes. The plan is to drop capsule collaborations with creators too and lift them and their platform up. Check out the full collection at coachtopia.com. TG