Collabs and campaigns and comebacks, oh my! It’s been an iconic week for the fashion world, from the announcement that Ashley Williams is making her return to Fashion East to the announcement that Clare Waight Keller is making her return to… well, fashion! It’s also Christmas for the gorpcore fans with dreamy collections dropping from Willy Chavaria x Dickies and Moncler x Billionaire Boys Club to fill your winter workwear wardrobes. Finally, those who love an iconic fashion photo to obsess over are in luck with a new it girl stripping down for Calvin Klein, a 90s hip hop duo embodying the Amiri edge, an emotional trip with Vivienne Westwood through Viv’s life and a campaign from Ferragamo that deserves a place in the Louvre. Here’s what’s in fashion.
Willy Chavarria x Dickies is the ultimate workwear collab
In terms of fashion collabs, there’s truly no better match up than WIlly Chavarria and Dickies, the iconic American workwear brand, and if you had your eyes on those oversized, boxy sport shirts – yes, the ones with the chic exposed labels! – that hit the runways as part of the designer’s AW22 ‘UNCUT’ show, then we have news for you! The Willy Chavarria x Dickies collection is now exclusively available at Bergdorf Goodman. As part of the capsule, Willy reimagined nine “iconic Dickies styles and reinterpreted them with a contemporary and artistic touch”, this includes a boxy, blouson bomber jacket, cargo pants with Willy’s signature wide leg and high-waisted tailored shorts, all in a sophisticated colour palette of black and beige. The collaboration has been in the works for a number of years, but Willy also grew up wearing Dickies and has always been inspired by the brand. “Few brands have been globally iconic and had such an important role in cultural narratives as Dickies,” the designer said. “To me, the most elegant look will always be a clean, pressed pair of Dickies pants worn with a crisp white T-shirt.” Get the look here. ND
Moncler and Billionaire Boy’s Club’s pair up
2023 is a big year for Pharrell Williams and his fashion legacy, not only did he showcase his first collection for Louis Vuitton menswear earlier this summer in a huge extravaganza, it is also the 20th anniversary of the label he founded, Billionaire Boys Club. To mark the occasion, the brand has come together with Moncler on an exclusive line where the latter’s signature silhouettes are adorned with BBC motifs. As seen on Pusha-T and No Malice in the icy campaign, wool varsity jackets with nappa sleeves and puffer coats in slick black are adorned with astronaut motif logos and the diamond and dollar print BBC are known for. Track pants and knit sweaters are crested with milano stitch patches and Moncler’s trailgrip apres boots have been reimagined with Vibram MEGAGRIP rubber compound tread and GORE-TEX waterproof membrane. Your new gorpcore look for this winter is here! Check it all out at Billionaire Boys Club retailers and online, as well as at moncler.com. TG
Comme des Garçons collides with The North Face
Calling all cool collab fans!! This week saw the drop of another very cool collab: a partnership between Japanese avant garde OGs Comme des Garçons and everyone’s go-to outfitter for adventures in the great outdoors, The North Face. For the occasion, essential styles from The North Face’s roster — think Nuptse vests, Denali fleeces and Hydrenaline jackets and pants — have been subtly made over with slogan prints lifted from the CdG archive, such as “Wear Your Freedom” and “My Energy Comes from Freedom”. These pieces aren’t just stylish buys — with prices ranging from $60 to $400, they’re relative steals (especially when compared to Comme’s mainline!). Head to either The North Face or Comme des Garçons websites to cop. MS
Mos Def and Talib Kweli front Amiri’s AW23 campaign
90s hip hop duo Black Star, made up of rappers Mos Def and Talib Kweli, were a key part of the scene that scored Mike Amiri’s coming of age. For the AW23 campaign for Amiri, the LA brand he founded that is heavily inspired by music cultures, both of the past and the moment, he got the duo in their fall collection, filled with 50s-esque jazz scene knits, baker boy hats and leather coats, all in a range of bluesy tones. That’s then paired with a 90s Americana energy of relaxed proportions and snap closure pleated pants. It’s a fusion of eras that is then fitting to be styled on Black Star, a duo who revolutionised old school techniques on their early work by bringing it into the 90s, and now are bringing both those styles to the now. TG
Vivienne Westwood’s AW23 campaign explores Dame Viv’s roots
It’s been eight months since the passing of Vivienne Westwood, the punk fashion legend who defined underground British style, and her loss is still felt by many, most of all for her husband and design partner Andreas Kronthaler and her friends and family. For the AW23 campaign of the namesake brand she led, those closest to her paid a loving tribute to the icon by taking a journey through her life. Starting at No.6 Millbrook in Hollingsworth where she was born, Juergen Teller’s lens as well as Viv’s granddaughter Cora Corré and son Ben Westwood, and friends Sara Stockbridge, Zakaria Dau, Mark Vanderloo and Vivienne Rohner, all adorned in the latest collection, then took to her local haunts. These included the bowling and football clubs, neighbour’s back gardens, the children’s park on Conduit Street and relatives houses, before heading over to her graveside. “It was a very romantic few days for everyone,” Andreas said in a statement. “To go up there and shoot the campaign has been very helpful in the process of coming to terms with not having her anymore.” TG
Ferragamo’s AW23 campaign is a literal masterpiece
It is rare that we see a fashion campaign that can be fairly classified as a work of art, but this week Ferragamo delivered just that. How? Well, by putting a bunch of the world’s most exquisite masterpieces in it! For the house’s AW23 campaign, Tyler Mitchell shot a cast of models that look like they could’ve stepped straight out of some of the Renaissance’s greatest paintings in front of, well, some of the Renaissance’s greatest paintings! Of course, the symbolism here is intentional. After all, Florence, Ferragamo’s home town, is the spiritual home of Renaissance art, and the brand is currently having its own rebirth in the oh-so-capable hands of creative director Maximilian Davis. Accordingly, for the campaign, the house turned to the Le Gallerie degli Uffizi — the home of some of the Renaissance’s most significant artworks — loaning tableaux by Bellini, Veronese and Botticelli to serve as the backdrop for a cast that embodies the values at the heart of Maximilian’s vision for the house’s new era, including Kelela, Paul Hameline, Zainab Jama Anok Yai and Mona Tougaard. The result? A work of art that we’re sure will stand the test of time, just like the works of art seen in it. MS
Alexa Demie is the new face of Calvin Klein
From Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg in the 90s to Jennie and Kendall Jenner now, Calvin Klein ads are famed for their iconic photos featuring the it girls and boys du jour clad in little more than their underwear. And so it would make sense that the latest face of the brand is the actress famed for playing the most slay character on the most slay TV show of the moment. Following on from her Euphoria costars Hunter Schafer, Jacob Elordi and Dominic Fike, Alexa stars in Calvin Klein’s Fall 2023 campaign. Photographed by Inez and Vinoodh, Alexa leans against a pots-and-pans filled sink wearing sheer lingerie or is in very 90s denims lounging on an LA rooftop, while in a video by the photographer duo, too, she sensually struts through the hallways and playfully blows the camera the kiss. If the main character energy she so naturally espouses throughout the campaign wasn’t enough to convince you Alexa is a born it girl, perhaps the fact that the images have been taking over our social media feeds will. Big slay! TG
Ashley Williams returns to the runway with Fashion East
Fans of cult London labels, rejoice! This week, the wonderful news broke that Ashley Williams — the city’s celebrated purveyor of shamelessly kitschy, Y2K-redolent chic — will be returning to the runway during the upcoming edition of London Fashion Week, courtesy of Fashion East — ten years on from her debut on its runway. An alumna of everyone’s favourite talent incubator, Ashley will be the latest designer to take part in its XLNC programme, an UGG-sponsored scheme that provides more established designers with the opportunity to stage a solo show during fashion week, as well as a £20k grant. “As the Ashley Williams brand moves into its tenth anniversary year, it’s a huge honour to return to the catwalk under the XLNC banner,” Ashley says. “I want to express my heartfelt thank you to our customers, fans, and Fashion East for their decade long support, and for continuing to be a part of the brand’s journey and family. “ Set your countdown clocks for 16th September! MS
Clare Waight Keller returns to fashion
Speaking of comebacks, here’s a biggun! Clare Waight Keller, the British designer who won over hearts across the industry for her incredibly chic tenures at Chloé and Givenchy, is making a return to fashion for none other than Japanese industry giant Uniqlo. Following in the footsteps of Jonathan Anderson, Marni’s Francesco Risso and Christophe Lemaire, Clare has co-designed a women’s collection labelled Uniqlo : C, a name “selected to reflect the many elements throughout the collection that are inspired by the letter C : Curiosity, Conversation, City, Clarity, Connection and Creativity, as well as the designer’s name, Clare,” a release reads. “I am honoured to have been asked to create a new label for Uniqlo. I have long appreciated its LifeWear design philosophy of technical innovation and functional authenticity,” Claire says. “I have always admired the Japanese aesthetic of subtlety, simplicity and detailed perfection, so to be able to work with the Uniqlo team to craft a new sensibility for my womenswear collection on such a global scale is a truly exciting opportunity.” Shop the collection here! MS