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At 90, Giorgio Armani was still opening blockbuster flagships, snubbing fashion royalty and rewriting the red carpet—while refusing to retire. This is the story of the man who turned “quiet luxury” into a global dress code.
The design codes underpinning Hermès’ Chaîne d’Ancre motif may be longstanding, but they’ll never feel dated. The director of the Maison’s jewellery division has even added his own twist to this familiar theme, creating some wonderfully collectable new references.
Léa the Label is a Middle Eastern brand with a global following thanks to their highly desirable swimwear but there's more to this story than meets the eye.
There is something wonderfully self-indulgent about the Loro Piana Extra Pocket L19. Free of logos and identifiable quilting, it whispers rather than shouts, epitomising the quiet, normcore elegance and enduring allure of true simplicity.
If we could offer three words of advice to make any flight feel less long-haul, they would be: comfort, comfort, and comfort. That’s not to say you should join the masses and opt for some saggy sweatpants and a neck support. Definitely not. Instead, we’d recommend you channel the philos…
I am waiting for Michael Kors in an all-white room backstage before his Spring/Summer 2024 Collection catwalk show in New York. I hear him before I see him but, when he does appear, I see he’s dressed in his signature head to toe black, accessorised with his all-season suntan. “Th…
Every fashion house dreams of creating an 'it' bag, yet few reach that hall of fame. From the Hermès Birkin to Bottega Veneta's Padded Cassette, we explore what sets the legends apart.
Much has been said about the modern day ‘It’ girl. Shorthand for an ineffable aura – one that embodies the cultural zeitgeist and reflects it back to us in sartorial flare and memeable moments – lately it’s become a bit of a misnomer. Probably because the elusive archetype is so hard to…
Something has fundamentally changed in women's fashion, and nobody is quite sure how. We explore whether it stems from a post-lockdown desire to be seen, a response to legislation, or a raising of the bar.
The founder explains how God Save Queens plays on a traditional phrase to capture its mission of female empowerment, a name chosen to help women feel confident, sensual and fearless in themselves.
Just as carmakers flaunt their expertise through concept cars, the great fashion houses use haute couture to showcase their most outrageous, budget-free ideas, and Chanel's creative director takes that ambition to striking new extremes.
On the day the fashion designer Glenn Martens was announced as the new creative director at Diesel, no one was more excited than his big brother. “He was a megafan long before I got there,” says the Belgian designer of his elder sibling, a fireman. “His Instagram is dedicated to Diesel …
First unveiled in Monaco, Chanel's Resort 2023 collection was given a second outing in Miami last November on a set designed by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, bringing its languid beach glamour closer to American clients.
Ruby Rose Korver created Arnie Swim as a passion project but it also serves as an ode to her late father, Arnie Korver. “My father shaped me as a person and taught me so many life lessons. I wanted to create something that makes people feel good, and gives them the freedom to be themsel…
Brunello Cucinelli has never released eyewear, and never formed a partnership, until now. Co-creative director Carolina Cucinelli explains why Oliver Peoples was the only label honest enough to share the frame.
Bahaar is a lifestyle brand you’re going to want to get familiar with. Centred around dresses, beachwear, tops and skirts, it was founded two years ago by Sofya Benzakour, a Paris-based architect turned fashion blogger, as a tribute to her Moroccan heritage. “My grandmother used to sew …
YOU’RE FROM COMO IN ITALY. YOU STARTED YOUR CAREER IN YOUR FATHER GIANFRANCO’S CLOTHING COMPANY IN THE US THEN CAME BACK TO ITALY AND CREATED YOUR OWN BRAND, NEW ENGLAND, WHICH YOU SOLD IN 2000. WHEN DID YOU BECOME THE CREATIVE DIRECTOR OF MONCLER? [Remo Ruffini] In 2000. MONCLER …
The Swiss-born Lebanese designer Sandra Mansour says she had aspired to become an artist long before she ever made the shift to fashion. And you can see as much in her work, which carries dreamy, romantic elements, as well as characterful prints that betray her passion for painting. Yet…
Two low-key names — a Swedish maker of sustainable men's essentials and a vast Mexican eco-resort — join forces on a limited-edition swim collection that turns colour-blocking into a shared philosophy.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has changed life as we knew it. No longer can we meet up with friends, embrace family, engage in sports, go to school, party till sunrise and so on. Instead, we have spent the vast majority of 2020 confined indoors, compelled to experience life thro…
Once in a while, a new brand comes along that feels familiar yet different. It brings a sense of excitement and new possibilities, while also making the old guard perk up and take notice. That’s exactly what Charaf Tajer has done with his new label Casablanca. Founded in Paris just over…
Giorgio Armani didn’t go down the livestream route for the unveiling of his audience-less spring-summer 2021 main-line collection. He actually went a step further and broadcast the show live on the Italian TV network La7 as a gesture – no doubt – of rebooting an industry bruised b…
IT HAS BEEN 23 YEARS SINCE YOU FOUNDED YOUR COMPANY, HOW WOULD YOU CLASSIFY WHERE YOU’VE REACHED AND ARE THERE ANY AMBITIONS YOU HAVE YET TO REALISE? [Zuhair Murad] I’m very happy with and grateful for how far I have come. I’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this poi…
Our issue 81 cover star – Yousra Mohsen, is the face of Karoline Lang’s latest collection but, instead of featuring front and centre as she did last season, this time, the young, gorgeous and highly talented dancer is teaching a class of untrained women how to move, in unison and …
More than four decades after Fiamma Ferragamo created the bow-fronted Vara pump, designer Paul Andrew is giving the house's best-loved shoe a bolder, more assertive evolution.
Saudi Arabia is no fashion mainstay, with a fashion week only since 2018 and few designers of global renown. Yet its people have long been considered important style enthusiasts, and one designer is determined to lead.
It’s been quite a rollercoaster ride for Saudi businesswoman Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz. The former Editor of Vogue Arabia has moved on from her dramatic and highly publicised ousting but she’s holding on to her crown as one of the Middle East’s main fashion protagonists. As far …
2019 was a strong year for LVMH and its owner, Bernard Arnault. They acquired Tiffany & Co. for 16.2 billion USD, opened a third LV factory in the US (the world’s largest luxury market) and ended the year 82 billion USD up in terms of market value. You would therefore expect more of…
Launched just last September, Dubai-based Maison Orient is a newcomer to the e-commerce scene that’s creating a space exclusively for talent from this side of the world. “When I started discovering amazing talent from different countries, I realised how under-represented the…
Mr. Porter is the biggest and most popular menswear e-tailer around but they also have an in-house brand called Mr. P. Well, they just launched their spring collection and it’s got everything we like from easy pieces and smart details to enduring style. Check it out. LEFT: Checked Twill…
While last season was all about oversized bags, Dior is ushering in a scaled-down version of its popular Book Tote, introduced by Maria Grazia Chiuri in 2017. The new Mini Book Tote is the perfect size for carrying around your everyday essentials and can even transition into evening, th…
Flowers may be the quintessential Valentine’s gift, but Saint Laurent is elevating the tradition this year by selling bouquets wrapped in a special edition Je t’aime paper at its flagship boutiques. In fact, the brand has gone all out this Valentine’s Day with an intriguing …
Fearlessly subverting the notion of classic menswear, creative director Mark Weston is in the midst of a quiet revolution at Dunhill. So we caught up with him to ask how he has managed to flip this 127-year-old British heritage brand from old-school to new-school. DUNHILL HAS BEEN REBO…
It’s not every day that you see a fashion industry icon promoting a brand other than their own but that’s exactly what Marc Jacobs is doing here for (LVMH stable-mate) Givenchy. Starring alongside movie industry veteran Charlotte Rampling, and under the creative direction of Clare…
Nice Laundry, a New York-based maker of men’s socks and underwear, has released a limited-edition pair of 1,000 USD boxer shorts made from pure cashmere (finished with a horn button closure and embroidered with 24-karat gold thread stitched to look like a flying pig). It’s the kind of i…
Once upon a time conservative dressing was a euphemism for frumpy fashion. Now thanks to visionary designers like Faiza Bouguessa, you can do away with revealing clothes without fear of arrest by the Fashion Police. If you think of modest fashion, your mind’s probably not conjuring up …
The Berluti story may be found in shoes rather than ready-to-wear but that blank canvas hasn’t hampered Kris Van Assche, now in his second full season at this French label. His Spring/Summer 2020 collection mixes heritage tailoring with moto-inspired fashion-forwardness for some t…
If your idea of a perfect shoe is one that fits like a glove, has the comfort of trainers, is made using time honoured tradition and has looks that are fit for a prince, then John Lobb is the answer. Long before the era of social media, a brand’s success depended almost entirely on word…
The Californian siblings behind Mikoh on growing up in bikinis, the Sports Illustrated break that launched them, working as a family, and a Resort 2020 line Oleema calls a piece of her heart.
Aquazzura founder and creative director Edgardo Osorio is known for his joyful disposition as much as for his mood-elevating footwear. The fetching Colombian-born designer shares his thoughts on his autumn/winter 2019 collection, having too many shoes and driving in heels. HOW WOULD YOU…
Karen Wazen’s eyewear label is infiltrating the global fashion market with designer products at high-street prices plus a very of-the-moment digital marketing strategy. Dubai-based Instagrammer Karen Wazen could easily have been content with her lot as a social media influencer wh…
Alakeel’s original and creative east-meets-west designs have been around for over a decade but it’s only now, within a new context of reform and change within the Kingdom, that they’re finding more mainstream success. Having debuted during Dubai’s Fashion Week back in 2008, many might h…
1970s inspired wide-leg pants, faux-fur and a monochrome palette of greys and burgundy: that’s what Zendaya dreamed up, along with image architect, Law Roach for her second collaborative capsule collection, Tommy x Zendaya autumn 2019. Q&A with Zendaya WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE PIECES…
There’s quite a story behind Loro Piana’s insanely soft baby cashmere, and a new documentary takes you to the far reaches of Mongolia, where the magic begins. Harsh, rugged landscapes of the Alashan Desert in the westernmost part of Mongolia is where you’ll find the pr…
Celebrated for technological genius and digitally enhanced aesthetics, Iris van Herpen reigns as couture's master of 3D printing. Her multidisciplinary approach unites engineers and scientists, fusing artisanal craft with radical, state-of-the-art materials.
Championing new standards in responsible sourcing, traceability of materials and veneration of the natural gold nugget, Makal is a brilliant new jewellery brand that’s well worth a closer look. “Beauty is not at all about perfection,” says Makal founder and CEO Daniela Colaiacovo. “Noth…
Photography & retouching: Nina Kramberger Styling: Katalin Kiss Hair & Make-up: Sabine Högerl Models: Juan Milan from First Model Management & Rafaela Bosi from Live Management I’D RATHER BE DEAD THAN COOL. Juan wears: Raincoat – Dior Homme Turtleneck – Prada Trousers – Sain…
Ever since he went solo, Krikor Jabotian has been cementing his reputation as a talented, albeit fringe, couturier of beautiful gowns. But now, thanks to Fashion Trust Arabia he’s on the cusp of going mainstream. The young Lebanese-Armenian fashion designer, Krikor Jabotian, is on…
Alessandro Sartori is quietly elevating Ermenegildo Zegna’s menswear with fluid tailoring inspired by modernism. And in his own singular way, he’s kicking the storied label into a higher gear. The view northwards as you come into land at Milan’s Linate airport reveals a curious si…
Farfetch exists for the love of fashion, but it is far more than a purveyor of fine clothes. One of fashion's rare unicorns, it aims to revolutionise luxury's global technology platform.
By taking the Warby Parker and Tom’s one-for-one business model and adding to it design circularity and social impact for marginalised communities, Adiff has emerged as a beacon of progressivity within the fashion industry. It all started in 2015 with a Parsons School of Design senior t…
With a portfolio of around 40 international fashion labels and a network of prominent retailers, press and influencers, Maison Pyramide is taking brand representation to a whole new realm. “You can be in the top stores in the world because buyers believe in you, but if you don’t have th…
When the weather gets hot, so do the clothes and Net-a-Porter has rounded up this season’s most desirable pieces and looks. HIPPY MODERNISM: This look is long, languid and sensual, saturated in warm desert and sunset hues. Poet Saffron Guaze Jumpsuit by Lisa Marie Fernandez, 795 U…
Founded in London in 1849, and acquired by Hermès in 1979, John Lobb currently has two Royal Warrants, owing to the fact it’s the shoemaker of choice for the Duke of Edinbergh and the Prince of Wales. That clearly speaks to the quality of their shoes but if you want the ultimate express…
If I’d never seen Mira Mikati’s clothes, I think I may have been able to guess what they look like by the mere sound of her voice. On the phone from her family home in Lebanon, where she was on a quick visit from her base in London, regardless of what she says, it sounds […]
Iftar dinners are upon us and that means it’s time to get your wardrobe in check with some modest looks. And just because your shoulders and knees are to remain covered doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style, especially with Net-a-Porter here to help. “The intere…
A self-professed ‘reconstructionist’, Dina Shaker is a fearless young Egypt designer with an eye for unexpected silhouettes. If you think you know what a blazer looks like then you probably haven’t seen Dina Shaker’s take on one. The wardrobe staple was one of 20…
Knits in summer? That’s right, sweaters needn’t be quite so, uh, sweaty, thanks to lightweight yarns and loosely spun fabrics. But what about fashion’s love affair with functional outdoor gear, is it more than just a fling? It is, according to Chris Elvidge, Marketing Editor at Mr…
Heralding a new dawn for the region’s emerging fashion industry, Fashion Trust Arabia’s inaugural ceremony was held in Doha, Qatar on March 28th under the patronage and presence of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al Thani. Co-chaired by founder Tania Fares and Sheikha Moza’s daughter, Sheik…
Born in LA to an Egyptian father and Native American mother, Jacquie Aiche makes beautiful pieces that became globally famous thanks to their popularity among models, singers and actresses. The term fine jewellery can conjure images of princess-cut diamonds, strands of glistening pearl…
Creative Director Virgil Abloh’s second menswear collection for Louis Vuitton was an ode to Michael Jackson, and much like how the King of Pop turned “an ordinary wardrobe comprised of the staples familiar to us all…into an instrument of awe,” Abloh stuck to the classics, but made them …
You might call them over-the-top, but that’s exactly the point. Amina Muaddi shoes, which range from stiletto pumps and sandals to ankle and knee-high boots, are bold, architectural footwear with lustrous textures and light-catching embellishments. The brand’s founder, who is of the sam…
Putting public figures through the grinder in the name of charity, there are no secrets on our Speak Up game show. In this episode, we challenge designer Jessica Khoueiri (of Jessica K and Little Bluffers) to answer as many quick-fire questions as she can in 80 seconds and thereby win a…
Tamara Mellon, the co-founder of Jimmy Choo, has resurrected her namesake brand, which is now rocking the shoe industry with some intrepid branding, a direct-to-customer strategy and a few unexpected designs. WHICH OF YOUR CURRENT STYLES ARE YOUR FAVOURITES? – I love Frontline, Icon, Pa…
Zuhair Murad is a designer who invariably celebrates and elevates the female form, and in his S/S 2019 ready-to-wear collection, he takes us on an exotic journey through the South Pacific using distinctive techniques, tribal prints and gorgeous silhouettes.
At first glance, you might assume Jessica Khoueiri’s achievements as a designer have come easy. I mean she’s practically kebab royalty – her father, Toufic, is the founder of Kababji, a highly successful chain of Lebanese fast-casual restaurants (best known for their high quality coal-g…
Proving beyond a reasonable doubt that sustainable is sexy, Fae offers the best of both worlds: cutting-edge style and a lighter footprint. It’s the first part though that catches most people’s eye, and it’s something that has helped make the Aussie brand so popular on social media. Cle…
Dapper in his own right, 38-year-old Amer Ejjeh is the scion of the Ejjeh family, known for its men’s tailoring business that dates back to 1926. Offering off-the-rack suits, ready-to-wear clothes, shoes, ties and accessories as well as fully bespoke suiting, the Ejjeh label has evolved…
There’s something about an Okhtein bag. Once you’ve seen one, you’ll never forget it. It challenges the status quo and is somewhat disruptive in an industry usually driven by trends. But an Okhtein bag unfailingly makes you feel something, and at least in terms of marketing, that’s noth…
Casual usually means comfort over polish. Loro Piana proposes both: the heavenly softness of an extraordinary cloth married to effortless Italian elegance, as our writer discovered touching the chief executive's sleeve in Dubai.
For Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2019 runway show, Karl Lagerfeld transformed Paris’ Grand Palais into a sandy beach, complete with azure skies and lapping waves. Notable looks included oversize 1980s tweeds, LBDs, straw hats and logos a-go-go.
Since 2013, Parisian label Nour Hammour has been the brand that supermodels and international ‘It’ girls go to for the coolest customised leather jackets. But it’s been a while since the biker jacket crossed over into high fashion. Originally designed in 1928 by Irving Schott as a…
Having successfully propped up young British fashion designers since 2011, Tania Fares is now turning her attention to the Middle East with an initiative called Fashion Trust Arabia, and it’s got some lofty ambitions. And just in case you haven’t noticed, the region’s style seems to be …
One is known for her Hollywood pedigree and the other, an enviable sense of identity – but together they pack a millenial power punch. Q & A with Hailey Baldwin 1. What are your favourite pieces in the Tommy Icons capsule collection and why? I love the snow-white-coloured fisherman …
Santoni make shoes. Perhaps best known for their men’s lines – although since 2005, they have been making shoes for women, too – they occupy an interesting niche, somewhere between the artisanal and the industrial. They’re also 100 per cent made in Italy – in a stunning eco-friendly fac…
Backstage at Gucci’s A/W 2018 show in Milan, Alessandro Michele merges past, present and future in a collection inspired by ‘A Cyborg Manifesto’, a 1985 essay by Donna Haraway that rejects rigid boundaries separating human from animal and human from machine.
There’s a major shift this autumn, both in the weather and in your wardrobe. So, we asked Mr. Porter for some advice on how to stay on trend.
Una Burke’s leather accessories are sculptural, artful and timeless. Handcrafted in London using traditional leather-working techniques, the Irish-born designer draws her inspiration from psychological, military and medical sources- think internal organs and plenty of brass fitti…
You know you’ve made it when the queen herself gives your label the seal of approval. That’s Queen Bey, of course, and the label is Azzi & Osta, a name that’s garnered an incredible buzz ever since the songstress wore one of their custom-made gowns to the Clive Davis pre-Grammy Gala…
There are so many new fashion brands emerging these days that it’s hard to keep up with who’s who. It must be a sign of the times that fresh grads are now preferring to go it alone rather than get sucked into the vortex of shrinking job prospects, glass ceilings and rigid schedules. Of …
There is a whole world worthy of attention beyond fashion itself. Faissal El-Malak argues that formally trained designers tend to overthink, theorising about how things work rather than simply letting ideas breathe.
What do you get when you mix America, Mexico, India and the Middle East? The answer is a collection that transcends genres and categorisation. Born to a mother raised in Saudi Arabia in the 1950s, designer Amelia Brown grew up in Washington DC, but spent significant time learning Spanis…
The history of fashion is a tapestry of lives rich in incident, of steep rises and plunging falls, glorious advances and cruel reverses. Last night, you were the toast of the town. This morning, you’re just toast. The story of Daniel Day, better known as Dapper Dan, Harlem couturier to …
Spirited prints, vibrant embroidery and cheeky silhouettes give All Things Mochi a distinctiveness all its own – you’ll know it when you see it. It’s hard to put Mochi in a box. At first glance, Ayah Tabari’s designs look colourful, ethnic and destined for life’s more playful moments. B…
Balmain has produced a 13-item getaway wardrobe for Net-A-Porter this summer. Showstoppers include a cool white blazer with gold buttons, a bodycon black midi dress and a party-ready one-shoulder mini dress. But for those who want to look superhot on the superyacht, it doesn’t get much …
Paris-based designer Sasha Nassar is giving her Palestinian roots new life with a collection full of cultural references. But there’s not one traditional thing about it.
Stephanie d'Arc Taylor meets the Nou Project, makers of collectible shoes for art lovers and sneakerheads, and traces how trainer culture has travelled from underground street style to mass-market obsession since the first Air Jordans.
Having conquered America first, Reem Acra dresses the world's most dazzling stars, runs ready-to-wear alongside bridalwear, reaches over 150 leading retailers and now mentors on television. She is, arguably, a household name.
Collections are for the masses; true luxury is personal. At Zegna, a suit is shaped to your posture and shoulders, approved by Alessandro Sartori and fitted by a master tailor named Angelo.
What do you get when you take a 35-year old Italo-Belgian who honed his skills under Karl Lagerfeld at Fendi, before launching his eponymous label two years later, and who then worked for three years with Donatella Versace before being made creative director of Versace’s Versus la…
Launched seven years ago by French designer Alexandre Matiussi, Ami is suddenly everywhere you look. From Bergdof Goodman to Mr. Porter, on the cover of American GQ – as worn by Stranger Things’ Joe Keery, and on Jay-Z and Beyoncé in between, the French label is spreading like wildfire.…
If redefining what’s cool is the key to success, then Valérie Messika, the founder and creative director of Messika, is certainly on a roll. She first re-wrote the diamond codes just over a decade ago when she launched Move, a collection of fine jewellery featuring diamonds that slid ba…
Tapping into a universal desire for comfortable, worn in and great fitting jeans, Re/Done has come up with a flawless formula. The clincher? They’re recycled. Don’t let the concept fool you, though. These are designer jeans with the price tag to prove it. Sure, they may be made from vin…
Najeeba Hayat is the Kuwaiti creative behind Liudmila, a Milan-based brand of shoes that’s gaining worldwide traction for beautifully handmade products that are as quirky as they are magical. YOU’VE BEEN MAKING SHOES SINCE 2013, AND IN THAT PERIOD YOU’VE SAID YOUR CREATIVITY COMES…
If you’ve got nothing to hide, then this one’s for you. It’s modern, sensual, uncensored and unpadded. Though it seems harmless enough in theory, the reality is that there’s something quite daring about Yasmine Eslami’s luxe lingerie. Channelling an easy-breezy vibe, the collection is i…
Creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri is off with a bang with her first collection for Dior. For the Dior Spring 2017 collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri opted to give the iconic brand a well-needed makeover. It’s the kind of rebranding that involves some serious whipping into shape, yet re…
Inspired by power, Bahraini designer Sofia Al Asfoor defies convention and embraces luxury that goes the whole nine yards. “I created a handbag made entirely of crocodile leather, which is the most luxurious leather you can use for a bag, and then I had all the components made in solid …
Dior's first female artistic director turns a play on words into a movement, and her debut flap bag marries hip-hop attitude, brutalist hardware and Florentine craftsmanship into one quietly desirable piece.
Sitting in his small shop in the buzzing Mar Mikhael neighbourhood of Beirut, Ralph Masri seems awfully humble. It’s a sleek space, mostly black with little window vignettes that showcase his sparkly designs. Even the location is unassuming. Tucked between a trendy restaurant and anothe…
For the woman who cannot decide between a practical day bag and a chic evening clutch, Bottega Veneta's audacious City Knot, introduced with the Spring/Summer 2017 collection, offers the elegance and versatility of both.