ALL THE BUZZ IN FASHION
ALL THE BUZZ IN FASHION
BOND ENERGY
The past couple of years have witnessed periods of change for Salvatore Ferragamo. In 2016, the brand appointed Guillaume Meilland, Fulvio Rigoni and Paul Andrew to head its menswear, womenswear and women’s footwear divisions respectively. The overall effect was a mixed bag of results—Rigoni, whose designs were singled out by critics for failing to ignite the imagination, was eventually replaced by Andrew three seasons into his tenure. In its commitment to start anew completely, Ferragamo decided to stage its men’s and women’s catwalk presentations together for fall/winter 2018. The combined showing worked: Besides allowing a greater synergy between the two universes, Meilland and Andrew were able to craft a collection of beautifully tailored suede coats, sweeping ponchos, silk foulard dresses and smart jackets that brought the shine back to Salvatore Ferragamo.
NATURAL LIVING
There’s always something so precise about the collections put forth by COS, a brand well-known for its rigorous minimalist leanings. For fall/winter 2018, the brand examines the abstract concept of recreating nature and how materials are treated for different purposes. The result is an eye-catching affair: The collection marries techno fabrics with organza and leather, bleached colours with neutral hues, and exaggerated silhouettes with classically sartorial shapes; challenging conventions while remaining understated.
From top: Bag, $220; pouch, $110, LeSportsac
WILD AND FREE
Tired of globe-trekking with the same old duffels and backpacks? Prepare for a closet update as LeSportsac welcomes a cheeky collaboration with Alber Elbaz, formerly the Creative Director of French couture house Lanvin. This irresistibly bold and playful take on classic satchels and totes comes in five graphic prints, and is a sure reflection of the love Elbaz and LeSportsac share for all things vivacious in spirit and soul. Trust this collection to get you excited to travel around the world again in no time.
Clutch, Jimmy Choo
Pump, Jimmy Choo
FAIRY-TALE ENDING
Jimmy Choo has launched a collection of shoes inspired by Cinderella that’ll let you live out your princess dreams—but with a grown-up flair. Reworked from one of the brand’s classic shoe styles, the dainty heels are encrusted in 7,000 Swarovski crystals, each one sparkling with enough wattage to make you the belle of the ball. A cluster of hand-embroidered stones have also been added for extra spellbinding effect. You may be running home because the clock has struck 12, but you’ll never want to leave your Choos behind.
Bracelets, from $260, Monica Vinader
FRIENDS FOREVER
Monica Vinader’s signature Friendship bracelet is, without a doubt, its star product and biggest claim to fame. For its 10th anniversary, the Norfolk-based brand is shaking things up with a new adaptation of its bestselling bracelet. Available in 18-karat rose gold and sterling silver, the Nura Friendship bracelet lets you add in quotes, inspirational messages and dedications so that the words that matter last a lifetime—and with it, the friendship that you so cherish, too.
Shoe aficionados will find it hard to walk away empty-handed
The store offers a unique shopping experience
Mule, $1,990, Manolo Blahnik
STEP FORWARD
Manolo Blahnik has opened its first flagship boutique in Singapore. Located in The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, the store is conceptualised by architect Nick Leith-Smith and draws inspiration from Singapore’s architectural codes. For example, the standalone boutique cleverly incorporates checkered floors and bamboo-clad walls to illustrate the colonial history of Singapore, while utilising these details as a refreshing backdrop to showcase Blahnik’s lust-inducing footwear creations.
From left:
Bag, $910, Longchamp
Bag, $1,440, Longchamp
The bags and shoes from the new range are easy to pull off
WONDER WOMAN
The beauty of a modern woman stems from her fearless audacity to dream, and the timeless sophistication of this is what makes Longchamp’s Amazone collection so delightful and covetable. Inspired by the everyday heroine, the Hobo messenger is available in three sizes and crafted in leather, quilted lambskin and python-print calfskin. This bag will effortlessly cruise through high teas to rock-and-roll nights without losing any of its eclectic charm.
From top: An artisan carefully applies the initials to a bag. Bottega Veneta’s Cabat bag gets the new treatment for fall/winter 2018. Leather letters give an interesting dimension
UNIQUELY YOURS
Bottega Veneta has always amplified what is most sincere and authentic to its clientele; its belief in the quiet strength and sufficiency of personal identity is what has given the brand such a powerful presence in the fashion industry today. Most recently, it has launched a new personalisation programme that allows one’s initials to be embossed, stamped or stitched onto totes, backpacks and more. Depending on how you choose to customise your item, it’ll take a day to three months before the final product is ready. But it’s well worth the wait: Isn’t true luxury about singularity, after all?
From top: Autumnal tones add gravitas to the pieces. Coat, $10,900; boot, $1,990, Brunello Cucinelli
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
For the fall/winter 2018 season, Brunello Cucinelli conjured some folk-inspired magic for the modern woman’s wardrobe. The clothes may have taken a more carefree and relaxed attitude, but true to its eponymous founder’s ethos, they’re still packed with a rich, artisanal quality. Intarsia knits constructed from a variety of plush fabrics were made by hand, while velvet suits brimming with an unmistakable air of insouciance added to the suiting lexicon at Cucinelli’s.
Bag, $1,650, Céline
HANDY GUIDE
Packing for a trip doesn’t mean you grab any bag and go; especially not when Céline’s newest Made In Tote is on-hand to inject some pizzazz to your jet-set style. Touted to be one of the last designs from Phoebe Philo’s tenure (Hedi Slimane has been tapped to head the House next, and will surely bring with him a different aesthetic), the spacious bag is less structured, more casual but still oozes Parisian chic. The Made In Tote comes in fabric and leather, as well as three varying sizes to suit every need.
BY GERALD TAN, MARCUS LEE AND CHARMAINE TAN.
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHOWBIT
