For Spring/Summer 2020, Prada has announced that it will present its men’s collection in Shanghai this coming June.
“China has always occupied a prominent place in Prada’s imagination: in particular, the city of Shanghai and its rich cultural life. The attitude and identity of Shanghai, its dynamic fusions of past and present, old and new, are sources of constant exchange and interest,” Miuccia Prada said in a statement.
The Italian label joins the growing number of American designers opting to stage their shows in the Chinese capital. Recently, Coach presented its Pre-Fall ’19 show there while Tommy Hilfiger presented its Fall ’19 show there last September.
Spring is here and Opening Ceremony x Lacoste are ushering in the season with a timely collection of polos. The new pieces feature a range of varying stripe patterns and reptile prints in pastel colors for a refreshing take on the classic shirts. There’s a bunch of fresh and clean options that can be incorporated pretty easily into any wardrobe — the unisex collection truly hits that sweet spot of being current without being too #trendy, guaranteeing that the items will carry you through next spring.
The Opening Ceremony x Lacoste SS19 is available in select Lacoste boutiques and online now. Check out some of the pieces below.
For its latest campaign, Versace has once again partnered with Steven Meisel on an opulent series of images for its Spring/Summer ’19 collection. With a newspaper collage theme (which echoes a series of prints from the line) the campaign honors the Italian brand’s history and heritage with an emphasis on the family nature of the label. A video shows a model surrounded by different periodicals, creating a collage that spells out ‘Versace,’ highlighting the label’s omnipresence in the world — an imprint as “permanent as ink on skin.” Familiar faces like Bella Hadid are featured alongside rising models like João Knorr, a beloved mix of seasoned and new members of the designer family.
The campaign celebrates Versace’s ubiquitous nature and its permanent presence in contemporary pop culture. While trends continue to phase in and out from season to season, the iconic Donatella Versace continues to steer the luxury label in its own lane and further cement its legacy. And a simple yet exuberant campaign like this reminds us that it’s always a family matter.
The Versace SS19 collection is available in stores and online now. Check out the campaign below.
For its Spring/Summer 2019 campaign, Acne Studios cast professional basketball player Russell Westbrook. Shot by Juergen Teller, the campaign features the Oklahoma City Thunder star donning the Swedish label’s iconic denim line (jeans were the first piece the label launched when it was founded over 20 years ago).
“I was already a huge fan of Acne Studios, so I was really excited when they asked me to be the face for their new campaign,” Westbrook said in a statement. “I really identify with Acne Studios because their aesthetic is very unique, and I like to be unique too.”
The images show Westbrook in his native Oklahoma wearing a pair of 1996 fit jeans, happily enjoying the outdoors and dribbling a basketball on a court. See some of the images below.
Raf Simons has released its newest campaign for its haunting Spring/Summer ’19 collection. The latest image series (shot by Willy Vanderperre and styled by Olivier Rizzo) maintains the designer’s split-image format, combining intimate shots of models donning the clothes with close-up abstract #detail images. The result is a tender presentation of the latest offering from the designer. Check out the full campaign below.
Photography: Willy Vanderperre Styling: Olivier Rizzo Hair: Anthony Turner Make-up: Lynsey Alexander Casting Director: Ashley Brokaw Models: Luca Lemaire, Maoro Bultheel, David Van Brusselt
Celebrating the launch of Virgil Abloh‘s debut men’s collection for Louis Vuitton, exclusive pieces from the SS19 collection are being made available at a temporary residency at Chrome Hearts‘ boutique in Manhattan’s West Village. Open for only a week, the conceptual residency carries some of the most popular items from the inaugural collection, including some transparent holographic monogrammed leather luggage and chunky psychedelic printed knitwear.
Additionally, in Midtown the flagship has been taken over by a colossal 12-story technicolor window display that creates an optical illusion and can be viewed street side, further emphasizing the fantastical theme of Abloh’s LV debut.
The Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring/Summer 2019 New York Temporary Residency will be open until January 17th, at 42 Bethune St, NY 10014.
Jil Sander has released their Spring/Summer 2019 campaign, shot by the incomparable Mario Sorrenti. The intimate image series chronicles a journey through Japan, as the models travel through the country on a road trip. The new campaign uses both color and black & white photos which play to Sorrenti’s signature strengths, resulting in a warm group of shots. Check out some of the images below.
Among the most fascinating aspects of the Spring/Summer ‘19 menswear shows was the use of face paint to imbue the looks with artistic symbolism. Reiterating the accomplishments of the masters of abstract expressionism as well as the rich history of tribal iconography, these designers delivered amplified their vision beyond the clothes.
Image: Mike Coppola.
Taking different tribal cues from across cultures, Abdul Abasi and Greg Rosborough of Abasi Rosborough applied face paint to the models in the same geometric pattern implying that all of the models regardless of race, color, or creed are of the same global tribe: the human tribe. This simple application in the shape of two longitudinal rectangles, one on the forehead and the other covering the mouth, hint an overarching tribalism associated with the collection, which also featured elements of traditional Berber garb and Japanese costume.
Image: Adriano B.
Landlord’s show was influenced by a combo of current themes and subcultures including 90’s nostalgia and Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time. That being said, it is impossible not to be reminded of the history of modernism while watching Kawanishi’s presentation. Many of the models had gel face paint applied their faces. On some, the gel paint looked like dripping blood, but on others it evoked a Jackson Pollock painting. A few of the outfits appeared to simultaneously celebrate both the RBG lights of the old 90’s cathode ray tube television sets and the works of Piet Mondrian.
Image: Barnette Holston.
Dyne also referenced tribalism, but with an apocalyptic bent. Every model was either wearing a protective face mask or a painted on triangle that was symbolic of a face mask and tribal face paint, all a replication of a theme of the possible necessity of masks in a dystopian future. Even with the mismatched socks and varying facial guards, every look had an organized symmetry to it alluding to the implied order of technology in a time of uncertainty.
Raf Simons continues to heavily use literal film references for his Calvin Klein 205W39NYC productions. After referencing horror films for SS18 (like Rosemary’s Baby and Friday the 13th), the gritty Berlin drug biopic Christiane F. for FW19, it appears the designer was heavily inspired by Jaws — the first mainstream shark film — this time around for SS19.
Influences ranged from the literal (with shirts that had Jaws graphics printed on them) to slightly more figurative (like neoprene jumpsuits, which would be practical for shark hunting and other nautical activities). This theme was balanced by a graduation motif (fittingly inspired by The Graduate), which featured models wearing caps and gowns, in addition to the fringy tassels that have become ubiquitous with CK by Raf. Vaquera also did a school theme for its show, but we’ll leave that to Diet Prada to sort out. It’s definitely not a bad idea to use such mainstream references for a collection as it makes it more accessible to those who might not follow fashion as thoroughly as others, but this time it felt as though the inspiration was too literal, threatening to swallow it whole. I’d still wear the fringy pieces though.
As part of Concept Korea‘s initiative to introduce Korean designers to a global audience, IISE made its fashion week debut with an aggressive Spring/Summer 19 collection. The Seoul-based label, founded by brothers Terrence and Kevin Kim (born and raised in New Jersey), incorporated distinct elements of riot gear in the presentation inspired by the demonstrations in Seoul that led to the impeachment of the former president just last year. We should take note.
“We’re traditionally a menswear brand and more streetwear focused,” Kevin tells me in the studio, two days before the inaugural show. “But every season it gets a little more refined.” While it’s their first official presentation as part of New York Fashion Week, the designers cast male and female models to walk the show.
The brand originated in 2012 as a vehicle to merge the style influences of traditional Korean elements with streetwear edge and high-performance materials. “East and West, and old and new,” he clarifies. “It’s a true reflection of our identity ’cause we’re not 100% American or 100% Korean, but a mix of both cultures. That’s what is shown through our product.”
An example that stands out is the hanbok (a Korean kimono) made with a type of a nylon-like material. Additionally, the brand makes a case for the utility pack (a more literal reference to police uniforms) as the new fanny pack. The various interpretations being worn on the shoulders, arms, and legs almost like holsters is a welcome interpretation of the larger workwear trend. Mixing streetwear and workwear with a message of political dissent shows that now is the perfect time for IISE to introduce itself to the world.
Monse, the chic womenswear label founded in 2016, launched menswear at their Spring/Summer 2019 show on Friday. The collection featured a number of stripes and rope prints for a nautical (or knot-ical? sorry) and generally fun presentation. Additionally, other pieces featured chain embellishments that really anchored (sorry again) the collection with a bit of tongue-in-cheek zest. Check out some images below.
