28 Dec
Lifestyle

Milan Highlights Summer 2020

Milan fashion weeku2019s

Milan fashion weeku2019s u201cphygitalu201d showcases featured many pioneering moments, stunning looks, and vibrant runways. The city welcomed over 50 brands to its fashion week and saw few physical catwalks but plenty of digital presentations. Some of the worldu2019s major fashion houses, such as Dolce & Gabbana and Fendi presented their Spring/Summer 2021 collections via a live, physical catwalk whereas others, such as Prada and Versace opted for a digital display.

Versaceu2019s Spring/Summer 2021 presentation was a moment in history. The electric catwalk featured the brandu2019s first plus-size models walking the runway. Precious Lee, Jill Kortleve, and Alva Claire championed diversity as they took to the runway for Versaceu2019s momentous show. Elsewhere, seasoned model Ashley Graham marked her highly-anticipated return to the catwalk, walking for Fendi, since welcoming her first child in January this year

Moschino Spring/Summer 2021

The former Vogue Arabia cover star looked sensational as she took to the runway for both Etro and for Silvia Venturini Fendiu2018s final solo show, as Kim Jones steps in as the new artistic director for womenswear next season. Venturiniu2019s final show was a poetic tribute to family and powerful women, which lie at the heart of the storied Italian brand. In perhaps one of the most distinct shows of the week, Jeremy Scottu2019s Moschino Spring/Summer 2021 ready-to-wear collection was presented entirely on miniature, marionette dolls.

u201cIt was like having a baby, like watching a child come to life for the first time,u201d Scott told British Vogue. u201cWatching the puppets become so elegant, I have to say, it all exceeded my expectations. Generally, I have a fantasy that is so unreal and unbelievable that getting in that stratosphere is amazing and this just blew me away.u201d As another extraordinary fashion week comes to a close, Vogue Arabia rounds up its best moments in the gallery above.

28 Dec
Lifestyle

Urban Crossover Collection

Churchu2019s Urban Crossover collection

Lockdown 2.0 is going to be challenging, what with the short days, the month-long American election, dipping temperatures et al. The solution? A brand new pair of chunky monkey shoes from Churchu2019s Urban Crossover collection. The old saying goes that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, but the person who coined the sentiment obviously hadnu2019t ever tried on a pair of Churchu2019s shoes.

The Northamptonshire-based shoemakeru2019s loafers, lace-ups and deliciously chunky Chelsea boots will, after all, not only keep you sure-footed whenever you wear them, but theyu2019ll also last you a lifetime (and beyond u2013 spooky) if you take proper care of them.

Work-From-Home mood

The Pembrey penny loafer, for instance, features a split toe, coated tongue and double-stitched apron, while elsewhere, the Coalport lace-up boot boasts an even more rugged silhouette with the updated hyper-light tread sole design. Playing neatly into this seasonu2019s current trend for boots and shoes, which would work just as well on military sorties as they would around town, the heavy-soled collection has a smart-meets-casual aesthetic, which perfectly suits the strange work-from-home mood of the moment.

It perhaps shouldnu2019t come as much of a surprise that Churchu2019s has bought so wholesale into the heavy-duty boot trend, given that the brandu2019s sister company Prada was really where the whole thing started. Miuccia has been sending out boots and shoes suitable for paratroopers for several seasons now, and itu2019s a look which has gathered pace both in the fashion world and beyond.

28 Dec
Lifestyle

Dreamscapes & Artifi Architecture

Masters of fictional architecture

A subculture of designers and artistsu2014masters of fictional architectureu2014are at last getting their moment in the limelight. A new book, Dreamscapes & Artificial Architecture: Imagined Interior Design in Digital Art, which is being released with Gestalten publishing house on June 16, looks at the best moments of this CGI elegance. Featuring roughly 100 designers from Argentina to Tel Aviv, the tome comprises gravity-defying bizarre buildings, otherworldly landscapes, and pastel-hued interiors.

u201cThese CGI visualizations have become the end result,u201d says Elli Stuhler, the editor of Dreamscapes & Artificial Architecture. u201cThe result is these utopian environments, full of exquisite furniture and extraordinary natural surroundings that canu2019t, and wonu2019t, ever be built.u201d

Ultra-inviting bodies of water

The practice had a key moment in 2018, when Buenos Airesu2013born designer Andru00e9s Reisinger posted an image of a chunky pink armchair he called u201cHortensiau201d on Instagram. It was only a CGI rendering, but it became so Insta-famous he decided to build it into reality, lining the chair with 20,000 pink fabric petals and selling it. u201cIt demonstrated the appeal of this type of work, and that it had the potential to spill over into the physical realm, if unintentionally,u201d notes Stuhler.

Thereu2019s also the pink-hued works of Venice-based designer Massimo Colonna; Ouum, a 3D design studio in Ukraine; and Prague-based designer Filip Hodasu2019s dystopian scenery. Paris-based designer Hugo Fournieru2019s minimalist, meditative scenes are included too, as are the lush, green landscapes of Paul Milinski.

28 Dec
Lifestyle

Calvin Klein Personality Campaign

Controversial advertising

Weu2019ve all seen our fair share of controversial fashion ads. Thereu2019s Tom Fordu2019s 2007 menu2019s fragrance ads, Gucciu2019s 2004 u2018Public Enemyu2019 campaign and American Apparelu2019s racy campaigns (vale).u00a0But look closer and youu2019ll notice the majority of these campaigns happened post-1995. It was Calvin Klein that did it first.u00a0In 1982, CK had a 16-year-old Brooke Shields ask the world: u2018You know what gets between me and my Calvins? Nothing.u2019

A 16-year-old suggesting to the world she wasnu2019t wearing underwear? It was shocking to say the least.u00a0A decade later and Calvin Klein was making headlines once again. This time the label was accused of promoting child pornography in its 1995 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel. The American Justice Department opened an investigation which was later dropped, after the company provided proof that all the models featured were adults. So with all the uproar surrounding these campaigns, why continue the controversy?

Selling more than just a product

Prior to 1980, fashion advertising was all about selling product. Calvin Kleinu2019s ads stood out because they were about selling something bigger: a lifestyle. Take the 1982 launch of Calvin Klein Underwear, for example. Shot by Bruce Weber, the campaign depicted Olympian, Tomu00e1s Hintnaus, lying on a roof in only his briefs. It depicted underwear as sexy, rather than functional. And, as the old saying goes, sex sells.

That campaign revitalised a market that was previously focused on comfort and practicality. Instead of buying underwear, you were buying into a sexy new lifestyle.u00a0As the Guardian explains: u201c[Calvin Klein Underwear] was designed to be seen, conferred status and wealth, and was totemic of its weareru2019s tribe.u201d Marky Mark joined the CK lineup soon after, further cementing the idea of underwear as a marker of status. u2018Calvinsu2019 quickly became a fashion must-have.

08 Sep
Lifestyle

Sportswear Industry

Comfort and coolness

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me:u00a0

Durable Material

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
08 Sep
Lifestyle

Sportswear Season

Play Video

Comfort and coolness

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me:u00a0

Durable Material

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.
08 Sep
Lifestyle

Wear To Sport

Comfort and coolness

A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me:u00a0

Durable Material

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents.