Happy Friday, our fashion-hungry friends! This is also a slight goodbye too, only temporarily whilst we jet off to New York to begin the first of the AW23 womenswear fashion weeks. We’ll be back before you know it! In the meantime, here is all the news in the sartorial world you may have missed this week – From an exciting new cast of faces over at HUGO and another wholesome Loewe Studio Ghibli collection that sends us all feral as we try to grab a piece, to Alexander McQueen’s slash-filled Men’s AW23 collection and the much-anticipated launch of Simone Rocha menswear at Dover Street Market. Here’s what’s in fashion.
Alexander McQueen Men’s AW23 slashes away at classic men’s suiting
If you thought we were done with the AW23 menswear offerings this season, think again. Alexander McQueen have just dropped their lookbook for next fall’s collections and this time, Sarah Burton has been playfully exploring silhouette, cut and proportions in traditional men’s suiting. Cinched jackets were in the style of a double breasted blazer but cut like a Victorian era corset, or were in an A-line cut that featured cutouts at the ribs, waist and back, and then over pristine white shirts with diamond shaped pleats stretching from the neck. Trousers went the opposite way of the bumster cut (made famous by the late namesake designer in the mid-90s) now high-waisted to emphasise and elongate the leg. Sportswear also played a key role too, across interchangeable looks featuring trench-length bombers, pillowy puffer jackets and skin-tight printed alabaster jersey leggings. Orchids, fashion’s flower of the moment, were seen across many of the pieces too from ones intricately hand beaded in stunning detail over cutouts on suiting, or blown up and printed across jackets and maxi skirts (the garment for men of the moment of course), to ones formed within the weave of knits themselves or having been worked into the McQueen logo itself on belts and other accessories. This was a return to formality and beautiful, classic men’s tailoring, adhering to its strictures whilst also having fun with genderless possibilities. TG
Loewe take us to Howl’s Moving Castle
Few things in life warm the very cockles of our hearts like Studio Ghibli’s gleeful animé – well, few things other than the legendary Japanese animation studio’s collaborations with everyone’s favourite Spanish luxury house, Loewe, that is. Following in the footsteps of its viral Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro capsules, the latest film in the Ghibli canon to get the Loewe treatment is Howl’s Moving Castle, the enchanting tale of Sophie, a young hatter, and her adventures with Howl the wizard. Spanning everything from exquisite classic Loewe leather bags to sumptuous knits, embroidered tees to printed denim pieces, all featuring painstaking recreations of the film’s scenes and adorable characters – like Calcifer, the sentient flame – the collection’s a veritable treasure trove for die-hard fans and Studio Ghibli newcomers alike. That’s not all though! Head down to Selfridges, where the capsule is officially debuting, and you’ll discover a full-scale takeover – not only has the department store’s prestigious Corner Store been given a thematic makeover, the spacious basement café has been reimagined as Calcifer’s Kitchen for the duration of the takeover, where you’ll be able to tuck into afternoon teas so visually delightful you’ll almost (almost!) have a hard time bringing yourself to scoff them down. Oh, and there’s an experiential exhibition, where you can pore over a selection of the film’s background art by Studio Ghibli, go behind-the-scenes of the campaign, and explore the making of the collection’s exquisite Moving Castle bag. There isn’t really much more we need to say to convince you, right? MS
HUGO introduces a rebellious new cast for its latest campaign
With the abundance of big names starring in big campaigns these days, it often feels a little jaded when another one drops. With their SS23 campaign, though, German fashion titan HUGO has bowled us over, bagging not one but three of the boldest, most defiant faces in contemporary pop culture – Gossip Girl heartthrob Evan Mock, singer Tinashe and TikTok star Bella Poarch. Embodying the brand’s rebellious values of individuality, attitude and breaking the rules, the campaign sees the vanguard celebs candidly snapped in the breezily cool, sport-inflected looks from the collection. From casual Canadian tuxedos to figure-cladding crop tops, sharply cut leather trousers and scarlet-lined tailored jackets to varsity style sweaters and roomy track pants, it oozes the exact air of insouciant cool that we’re looking to channel this summer. Head here to cop. MS
Off-White said “let’s go Bulls!” in their new sporty collab
Asides from revolutionising the fashion industry, there were many things the late Virgil Abloh had a passion for, including music, art, the next generation of talents and basketball. To celebrate his love for the game, as well as his hometown, Off-White are paying homage to their founder with a capsule collection with the Chicago Bulls as part of the Farfetch Beat, a series dedicated to bringing exclusive and illustrious names in fashion to a global audience. With a portion of the proceeds going to the Virgil Abloh foundation, four limited-edition designs have been released featuring varsity jackets, hoodies and tees with the NBA team’s mascot (itself wearing an Off-White kit of course), the years both of the collaborators were founded, and quotation marks to reference Virgil’s belief in questioning and reimagining everything. You can check out the full collection in Off-White stores and online, as well as on Farfetch. TG
Simone Rocha menswear is finally here!
At last! It’s here! After seeing it appear on the runway back in September last year, we’ve been awaiting its arrival in store with bated breath – and finally, the day has come! Yes, we are of course talking about Simone Rocha’s very first menswear collection, which bowed at her breathtaking SS23 spectacle at the Old Bailey. Granted, male-identifying customers have been flocking to the London-based luxury label long before it made its official debut, but Simone Rocha fans will be able to select from an even more expansive selection, including impeccable tailoring spliced with frockish frills, bombers with harness details and much, much more. So where can you get your hands on these sartorial confections, you ask? Well, Dover Street Market, of course! And to top it all off, to toast the collection’s launch, the Haymarket fashion hub will be staging a special installation – all the more reason to get yourself down there, stat!
Forget retinol, combat ageing with this new energy drink
Call me Dorian Grey but if I could sell my soul to look like a twink forever I would. Well, it turns out it actually only costs a couple of quid because UDA (that stands for United to Defeat Ageing) have released a longevity drink with all the ingredients to extend your lifespan. Okay so it won’t keep you forever 21, but their team of Oxford and Harvard scientists have crafted a drinkable berry-flavoured formula, that has been proven to aid anti-ageing. If you want to know the science-y bit then basically recent research has found that the key to anti-ageing is increasing stem cell regeneration and that can be done by reducing inflammation in the body and modulating the immune system. This formula, that works as an energy drink, does this using stress-and-insomnia-relieving medicinal herb Ashwagandha; Quercetin, which removes harmful older cells in the body; Alpha-ketoglutarate supplements to support your metabolism; attention-enhancing amino acid L-theanine; antioxidant Curcumin; Vitamin D and Nicotinamide mononucleotide, a molecule that scientists have found reduces ageing by repairing and maintaining DNA. The TL;DR version? The ingredients in this drink can reverse your biological age by 8 years or more. What more could you want? Twink death is a thing of the past officially. TG
Discover Freya Douglas Ferguson’s archeologically-inspired jewellery
Since we first came across the work of London based jewellery designer Freya Douglas Ferguson towards the beginning of last year, we have been positively obsessed. Creating what feel like fusions of primordial fossils and relics from a distant future, her work is a culmination of her impressive interdisciplinary expertise, spanning stone carving, glass blowing and lost wax casting to name a few of the designer’s well-honed skills. Fans of the label – which include KNWLS, Alva Claire and Yves Tumor – will therefore be thrilled to heart that her next connection is imminent, dropping on February 15th! Titled Unearthed, it comprises pieces that have the air of neo-neolithic artefacts they could’ve been, well, unearthed at an archeological dig – think wispy barbs of silver shaped into pendants, and jagged swirled earrings. While you’ll have to wait a couple weeks for the full drop, Freya has kindly given us an exclusive sneak peak ahead of the launch. Dig in! MS
See Boramy Viguier’s chic mountainwear for Vuarnet next collection
For his sophomore collection for mountaineering label Vuarnet, parisian CSM grad Boramy Viguier took pieces designed for hiking up the side of a snow-covered mountain and gave them a contemporary ethos with much of the materials being recycled nylon, spandex and wool cotton blends. Cargo trousers are loose-fit and paired with freezing weather ready padded boots. Knitwear comes in bold graphic designs and sunglasses have a snow goggle style. After all, these may be functional, performance-ready pieces but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun and stylish too! TG
RIP Audrey Hepburn, you would have loved the Nike x Tiffany & Co. Air Force 1
Your next most coveted shoe is here! Nike have collaborated with the glamorous storied jewellers Tiffany & Co. on a new version of the Air Force 1 1837 as part of the beloved shoes 40th anniversary celebrations. Now, that famed blue tick of the trainer comes in the iconic Tiffany blue hue over a premium black suede along with silver branding on the tongue and heel to give a luxe feel to the classic footwear. There’s also an accompanying collection of sterling silver sporty pieces including a whistle, shoe horn, shoe brushes and laces for your new air forces. You’ll have to wait till 7 March when they’re released to get them though, when they become available in North American Nike stores, Tiffany’s NYC Flagship Next Door and SoHo stores, and globally on the Nike SNKRS app. TG
Carhartt WIP enlist a young London filmmaker for their SS23 film
Carhartt WIP may be known for their minimalist utilitarian street style but their SS23 campaign film, directed by London-based filmmaker Finnegan Travers has been designed to overwhelm the senses. From ASMR sounds like the fuzz of the radio, the rattle of the underground, the crashing of Devon’s sea waves and the wheels of a skateboard on London’s concrete streets to the bright, colourful and unique tones of messy teen bedrooms and their style, with each of the three protagonists in the story wearing Carhartt WIP pieces. It’s a stunning, thoughtful film, as are the vivid black and white stills that accompany it, and speaks to the way Carhartt simply accompanies you through the beauty of everyday life moments. TG
Lacoste have your everyday summer wardrobe sorted
For a brief moment this week the temperature in London hit double digits once again meaning it is almost finally time to traverse the city in your sporty spring summer clothing and complain about how hot it is. And what better way to do that than in the giants of tennis chic Lacoste. Their SS23 releases are here which includes their active lifestyle collection, a melding of fashion and sports silhouettes into a cohesive style-forward set of garms. These include two-piece two-tone tracksuits in bright neon tones, vinyl windbreakers, breathable and NBA-style printed shorts, jersey bodysuits and cargo pants ready for your busy days. Check out the full collection here or in store. There’s also their new trainer, the L003 Neo. In a wide variety of standout colours – that include pink, green, red, brown and blue or more neutral browns, black and white – the trainer is inspired by the buoyancy, movement and agility of the tennis ball. These are also available in Lacoste stores or on their site. TG