Modern, luxury, minimalism. Céline masters the unmistakably ‘cool’ look, true to its French roots. Unlocking Pandora’s Box of French Girl cool, LVMH’s Céline is a brand that is known for its precise tailoring and clever design. Its Instagram identity follows suit with a clean aesthetic that is neither overly cluttered, nor boring. The close-up shots of seemingly irrelevant objects such as a cropped, lemon-coloured car or deep sea alien-like creatures, create a modern art museum effect when they are juxtaposed next to detailed photos of Céline’s latest collection of shoes and garments. The slightly overexposed, muted photography draws the eye to each photograph, allowing you to focus on the intended detail.
From a distance, the Céline’s appeal, much like its Instagram might not seem obvious. There are no loud patterns or brilliant sequins covered dress. Yet, when you slow down and examine each photo and the collection of photos, there is an incredible amount of detail in each post. The focused, unforgiving photography allows you to explore Céline’s designs and concepts. From the creases in the leather mules and the dynamic movements of the silk dresses, there is a rawness and an openness from the series of photos that reflects Creative Director, Phoebe Philo, designs.
Beyond the exquisite handbags and signature loafers, Gucci has mastered a domain beyond couture: Instagram. Gucci’s perfectly curated Instagram is an art and design extension of the brand. The storytelling and moodboard approach transport you into a world that is undeniably ‘Gucci’. The spectacular mastery of whimsey, intertwined with timelessness, embodies creative director, Alessandro Michele, vision. His collections on their own have an unmissable identity, with the overlay of bold fabrics and sequence patterns, each piece and collection has an energy that transports you into a bold, unapologetic world. And Gucci’s Instagram is a direct reflection of this.
From alien motifs to Wes Anderson-esque 70’s aesthetics, each story is an extension of the brilliance woven from Gucci fabric. The lifespan of a post on Instagram is a few mere hours, and with the Instagram algorithm, that window of opportunity to reach its followers is even narrower. But with the steady stream of quality and engaging content, Gucci has given their 17.3 million followers a reason to like, comment and follow their page. A product shot of a Gucci handbag sits at 0.74% engagement, whereas a handbag post from Givenchy has 0.28% and a Dior handbag post received 0.58% engagement.
London is a living, breathing city, where inspiration is around every corner. It is an epicentre for art and culture. Wandering the streets of London is one of the most rewarding experiences. Although there are countless city guides of “must-sees” and “must-do’s,” the purest joy comes from unexpected discoveries. As I sit inside a coffee shop in Mayfair, thinking about all of the amazing places that I encountered today, I understand why there is such a deep love for this city. Through my wanderings in Carnaby Street in Soho and Mayfair, I found myself surrounded by countless galleries and boutiques. Their large windows invite you to experience the artists’ and designers’ visions come true. Without a real purpose or sense of direction, I stumbled upon Soho Lights and the Maddox Gallery. Both incredible showings of modern art that are every bit pure and relevant.
Soho Lights takes my love for neon signs and creates a space that is undeniably cool. As you walk through the space, the walls are home to signs and installations that take your imagination to a beautiful, whimsical place. While neon signs are reminiscent of busy boulevards in Miami and Las Vegas, that 80’s and 90’s nostalgia is what fuels a youthful, vibrant art. The element of cliché neon signage is contrasted perfectly with London cool.
Coco Cuba galore! Chanel took over Cuba as Karl Lagerfeld’s latest fantasy-turn-to-reality presentations for Cruise 2017. Visions of 50’s Havana turned this desolate island into a high-fashion rêve – a time where Americana and Tropicana played hand-in-hand, to create an escape from the mundane and an appreciation for the party that is tonight. Cuba is not an easy background for luxury handbags and dresses; the juxtaposition of Fidel’s rule next to Karl’s mirage is hard to overlook. However, the focus of this presentation was far from political, rather it was a celebratory exposé of fashion, culture, and music. Cuba is in a fragile position, yet Chanel’s presentation should not be seen an instigator for political debate, but rather as a cultural event. For Karl, it was taking a vision and making it into a reality, as live music filled the streets of Havana and sheer blouses took over the runway. Like a Woody Allen film or Hemingway novel, Karl transforms what we know, into a world forged in our imaginations.
San Francisco is by no means fashion capital of the world. Lululemon leggings and sneakers are widely accepted as appropriate street attire, regardless if you just finished a SoulCycle class or are on your way to a hot yoga class. San Francisco has a purposeful cool. Sneakers and jeans are the power suits of SF. As the epicentre for tech start-ups and innovation, it’s your latest venture or new idea that does the talking. However, SF is not just the home of Google, Apple and Uber, it encompasses a lifestyle that integrates the power of the mind as well as the health of your body. Fitness and diet are not a chore, but rather a part of a mindset that is unique to the West Coast.
The Balmain Army troops are taking over H&M. The latest high-fashion collaboration for H&M is featuring designs from Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing. The young designer is known for his heavily embroidered pieces and his following of young models. It only seems right that the retail mega-house is working with the social media and runway sensation. His muses include the likes of Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Jourdan Dunn, all of which are under the age of 25. In other words, the ideal target audience for H&M. Balmain follows a strong line of guest designers, such Givenchy, Versace, Alexander Wang and Lanvin. The already much-talked about Balmain feature will definitely bring line-ups to H&M’s across the globe and may, in fact, break the internet (OK, maybe just the H&M website). On November 5th, crowds will storm H&M in attempts to get their hands on this highly-anticipated collection.
Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris is both a dream come true and an existing reality in the city of lights. Midnight in Paris is a witching hour for soirées and rendez-vous. Unlike many cities that fall quiet in the late evenings, in Paris there is a new life as streets are filled with les bons vivants. Beyond the streets, and hidden from common knowledge a culture of Speakeasies is emerging. A nod to the roaring 20’s and the prohibition, covert cocktail lounges lay beyond secret doorways. The perfect fusion of late night mystique and meticulously crafted cocktails creates an ambience unlike any other. In a quiet street in the Marais, there is a taco shop, however, this narrow taqueria holds one of Paris’ best-kept secrets beyond a little white door at the back of the restaurant. With no indicators, this stark door leads to a stonewalled backroom, lit with candles.
After another spectacular Chanel collection at Paris Fashion Week, the Airport-themed show was another Karl Lagerfeld vision come to life. The brilliant and maddening Karl Lagerfeld is a creative mastermind who’s world revolves around Chanel and his cat Choupette. You may laugh, but this white-furred, sapphire-eyed feline made €3 million in a campaign for Japanese Cosmetic line Shu Uemura. It seems that everything Karl Lagerfeld touches, there is an undeniable success. However, this success does not come without hard work. With eight collections a year for Chanel, Lagerfeld barely has a moment to breathe between shows. Given Lagerfeld’s unrest, and strive for pushing the expectations for himself and the brand, Karl Lagerfeld focus is on the present and on the future. Living in the past is simply not an option for the visionary behind the Chanel Empire.
Paris Fashion Week would not be complete without a look at the world of fashion off the runway. Labelled as one of the most fashionable cities in the world, the matriarch of fashion hosts some of the top looks both off the runways and on the busy streets of Paris. Outside the shows, there is a buzz in the air as crowds of fashion elites, photographers and fashion devotees gather. There is both excitement and anticipation of the upcoming shows, but also an intrigue geared towards what everyone is wearing. From over-the-top designs to exquisite dresses and shoes, the streets of Paris, become a runway of their own. And this off-runway spectacle is not going unnoticed; Top fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle have dedicated editorials on street style, proving the influence of “real life” fashion and style. The well thought-out outfits are a reflection of people’s personal style and creativity. It allows for people to connect with an ensemble or a “trend,” seeing the clothes on the streets, rather than on models. From effortless Parisian chic to exaggerated silhouettes and bold patterns, there is no formula for street style. Proving that being “best-dressed” is a mixture of confidence and self-expression. And after-all, designers do create clothing that is meant to be worn.
As we bid adieu to Paris Fashion Week, we must not forget about Alexander Wang’s last show for Balenciaga. Running down the Balenciaga runway for the last, the spirited designer reminded us of the mark that he has left on the fashion house. His latest, all white collection was a euphoric mixture of energetic and elated. The pure romance of the satin dresses and lace overlays was ethereal and unapologetically feminine. There is no doubt that Wang’s farewell to Balenciaga was his vision to create a collection that was romantic and simple. His concept was to “look at very simple and humble cloths like linens and cottons and silks and try to give them this artisanal, couture and hand–touched quality.” Spring is about renewal and revival, and the pure white collection sets the stage for a renaissance as Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga’s new name takes over.
