They’ve paid their dues, inherited the brands, and presented the collections. Now, SARA WEE shows you what to buy.
They’ve paid their dues, inherited the brands, and presented the collections. Now, SARA WEE shows you what to buy.
Christian Dior
The new creative director: Maria Grazia Chiuri is the 71-year-old French fashion house’s first female creative director. She honed her accessories skills at Fendi for 10 years before spending 17 at Valentino (eight as co-creative director).
Her vision: Youth culture (the formula for media buzz and retail success now) + pretty with an edge.
The hot items: “Don’t mess with me” aviators (edgy); Dior- branded knuckledusters (edgy), leather chokers (ditto) and kitten-heeled slingbacks (pretty unexpected); golf-meets-fencing visors (sporty meets pretty); “tarot-card” minaudieres with thick shoulder straps (pretty + utilitarian); Katharine Hamnett-inspired slogan tees paired with princess-like tulle and embellished skirts; and everyone-can-wear fairy tale corset-like bustier dresses.
Diane von Furstenberg
The new chief creative officer (CCO): Scottish fashion designer Jonathan Saunders, 40, who has also had his own label for the last 13 years. He has worked for Alexander McQueen, Phoebe Philo at Chloe, and Christian Lacroix at Pucci.
His vision: Modernising the brand’s signature wrap dress into toga tops, ruffled shirts, handkerchief-hem slips, crossover short numbers, even spring coats; playing with more prints (well, he is the master of that), and bringing in bags as they have never been a key focus for DVF.
The hot items: Classics-with-a-colour-twist bags – round shoulder numbers, totes and saddle bags.
Lanvin
The new creative director (since Resort ’17): Bouchra Jarrar, 47, who has had her own couture house for the last seven years, worked for Jean Paul Gaultier ( jewellery department), Balenciaga (under Josephus Thimister and Nicolas Ghesquiere) and helmed Christian Lacroix’s couture house.
Her vision: Modern femininity. Sensual clothes and accessories that women will find pleasure in.
The hot items: Alber Elbaz’s Lanvin focused on a lot of evening numbers. Jarrar did the same with pyjama-style three-pieces, some of the loveliest slip dresses (cocktail to maxi) and tuxedos. And she updates them with chain chokers and wrist cuffs, chain-mail ties and beaded evening slides.
