83 posts tagged "Tom Ford"
Tired of Leopard Print? Try Out Fall’s Zebra Stripes
Retailers have a soft spot for exotic spots. Leopard was ubiquitous yet again this season, but there is absolutely zilch new about it. The cure for our animal-print ennui came in the form of Fall’s fresh-looking zebra stripes. The graphic zigzags were rendered glam at Emilio Pucci, Tom Ford, and Versace, and casual at Sacai (left), Joseph, and A.L.C. Designers incorporated the black and white streaks into accessories, too. Katie Grand went wild for the pattern with her second Hogan collaboration, and Alice + Olivia’s adorable zebra-shaped cross-body bag also turned heads.
CLICK FOR A SLIDESHOW of Fall’s best zebra looks.
Is India The Next Big Player in Luxury Retail?
Prada is reported to be in talks for an India entry. Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, and Stella McCartney are exploring real estate for stand-alone stores. After opening his first boutique in New Delhi last year, Christian Louboutin is readying himself for a Mumbai launch. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Louis Vuitton’s presence in India—it was the first luxury brand to set foot in the country. Is India finally reawakening to luxury? Historically, it’s a country familiar with all things luxe. After all, in 1925, India’s Sir Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala, granted Cartier its single largest commission: the remodeling of his crown jewels, a collection that included an exquisite 234.69-carat De Beers diamond. Vuitton’s gilded links with India go back well over a century, when the Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir, Bikaner and Baroda, ordered customized trunks from the company.
Then came freedom. For almost forty-four years after Independence, socialist India snapped all ties with luxury. It’s only in the last decade that the romance has rekindled. And it has to do with math. With a population surpassing 1.22 billion, and 81 million households falling into the upper middle class and high-income bracket, India is a serious market for luxury players. In fact, statistics show that India is one of the fastest-growing and largest luxury markets, with sales expected to touch $15 billion by 2015—nearly double what they are today. In November last year, Gucci opened its fifth and largest India store, spanning 4,220 square feet across two floors in Gurgaon, Delhi’s satellite city. Patrizio di Marco, president and CEO, noted, “The flagship store underscores Gucci’s commitment to India. This is our fifth store in this unique country, where we have been operating directly since the end of 2009, and it is a testament to the importance that we are placing on this fast-growing and competitive market.”
But Kalyani Chawla, vice president of marketing and communications at Christian Dior, insists India is taking baby steps. And she is right. The Western notion of luxury hit Indian shores only ten years ago. It’s still a country of salwar kameezes and saris. But the Indian buyer has grown interested in fashion, investing small but precious sums in brands. “Dior has seen a steady and encouraging growth. As is the case globally with most brands, accessories are doing very well [and] clothing is picking up,” she says, noting that this is partly due to the fact that Western wear has finally slipped into a bride’s wedding trousseau. And for Indians, marriage is the occasion for which discerning buyers splurge. Dior launched in 2006, and has three stores across the country. Continue Reading “Is India The Next Big Player in Luxury Retail?” »
Paul Smith x David Bowie
David Bowie’s new video, “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”, has generated much buzz among the fashion set—and understandably so, considering the singer looks pretty slick in his Pringle sweaters, McQueen trench, and Saint Laurent jacket. But today it was announced that the rock star is embarking on a new style-centric venture: a series of collaborations with Paul Smith, the first of which is the official T-shirt for Bowie’s upcoming album, The Next Day (above). Looks like Justin Timberlake and Tom Ford (who announced their partnership in January) might have some competition.
Paul Smith’s The Next Day T-shirt will be available at paulsmith.co.uk from March 7.
Modelizing Fall ’13 Thus Far
With the London shows wrapping today, and editors and models jetting off to Milan, it’s time to reflect on the catwalking highlights from the past two weeks. More so than any in recent memory, this season has been dominated by fresh faces. Nearly every new girl on our top-ten list from Spring, like Marine Deleeuw, Irina Kravchenko, Manon Leloup, and Esther Heesch, had majorly successful sophomore outings. But the Fall shows have brought in an additional crop of noteworthy rookies in demand.
Let’s begin with the handful of former Balenciaga exclusives, whose takeoffs were all but inevitable. Sam Rollinson (above, top left), who starred in a Burberry ad back in 2010 and was handpicked by Nicolas Ghesquière last season, had a strong NYFW. (She opened Reed Krakoff and walked Jason Wu, Alexander Wang, Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler, and Narciso Rodriguez, among others.) With a hometown advantage, the British brunette—whose cheekbones could cut glass—kept it up across the pond, scoring spots at Christopher Kane, Jonathan Saunders, and Giles. Two other Balenciaga favorites—Kremi Otashliyska and Chiharu Okunugi (above, lower right)—are also becoming runway regulars. The former hit catwalks at 3.1 Phillip Lim, Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs, while the Japanese stunner took turns at Rag & Bone, Rodarte, and Marc Jacobs in New York, and Erdem and Giles in London.
Opening the Alexander Wang show is usually a surefire way to go straight to the top, but this season, the second girl out—Tess Hellfeuer (above, top right)—is getting all the buzz. The model finished New York by closing Marc Jacobs, then emerged as a clear favorite of Michelle Lee in London, where she opened Jonathan Saunders and walked in Christopher Kane. Mijo Mihaljcic has also been making all the right appearances in London. Her tomboy appeal landed her spots at Burberry Prorsum, Jonathan Saunders, and Richard Nicoll. Continue Reading “Modelizing Fall ’13 Thus Far” »
Peeping Tom
The ever-secretive Tom Ford (who, as it happens, is approaching Fall ’13 much less secretively with a full-on fashion show during London Fashion Week in February) has given Style.com a first look at his Spring ’13 campaign. As in seasons past, Ford lensed the ads himself. With an air of retro futurism, the shots are sleek, sexy, and sophisticated—not unlike the mirror dress and gold bondage shoes (yes, the same pair Anne Hathaway wore in vegan-friendly black to her Les Mis premiere) Karlina Caune dons in the ad. The men’s images feature Simon Van Meervenne sprawled out in a silver suit. Ford’s spring campaign will launch this week on his website, and hit magazines in March.