Fashion & style
fromElite Traveler
14 hours agoIs Alaia's First Denim Collection Actually a Recession Indicator?
Alaïa's first dedicated denim collection redefines jeans as a sophisticated, body-conscious staple rather than just casual wear.
Complications in the timepiece world are highly desired. They hint that the wearer has stories to tell, that they're the type who needs to know the exact time in Berlin while they're lingering over omakase in Vancouver.
Clare Vivier and Heather Taylor have perfected the art of hosting by dividing responsibilities, with Vivier focusing on wine and Taylor on flowers and dessert. Their friendship of 20 years has led to a seamless collaboration that enhances the dinner party experience.
Participating in London Fashion Week is not a luxury but a necessity for any emerging brand aiming to go global. It's your ticket to the world of international fashion. - Katie England, Creative Director of Topshop and curator of the New Generation program
I designed this bag in the same way I designed everything else, so largely based on right angles, but perhaps a little more emotionally, more personally. Designing a handbag is undoubtedly different to designing a Braun stereo system, but I applied the same principles. It had to be functional, visually durable, and very aesthetic. Less, but better.
In 1971, Manolo Blahnik created shoes for the designer Ossie Clark's catwalk show in London. Relatively new to shoemaking, the Spanish designer forgot to put steel pins in the heels of the shoes, which meant that models wobbled, unbalanced, down the catwalk.
This edit is not a list of things to buy because the calendar says so, but a considered curation for those who value provenance over hype. It's an understanding of what will be appreciated and enjoyed long after the romantic day itself has passed.
Paris didn't invent shopping (even if it sometimes feels that way), but it arguably invented the specialty shop as we understand it today. Long before concept stores, lifestyle retail, or anything resembling "curation" entered the vocabulary, Paris was already organized around doing one thing extremely well -and it still is. From cheesemongers to winemakers and beyond, specialization remains the point.
It's long had a reputation as the city of romance, but now the French capital is supporting a growing number of businesses that will arrange an extravagant marriage proposal in a landmark setting - for a hefty fee, of course. The luxury marriage proposal business is booming in Paris with agencies charging international clients thousands of euros to pop the question in a 'romantic' setting in the City of Love.
Like interest in the Nike tracksuit Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was pictured wearing earlier this month after being seized by the U.S., interest in Macron's shades is just the latest example of a newsmaker driving attention to a piece of fashion, and parlaying a news item into an internet meme. Before you could buy a "Make America Great Again" hat on President Donald Trump's website, he wore one himself. Watch the news and shop the look.
As a travel writer who refuses to check a bag, I've had to distill my travel wardrobe down to 10 versatile staples that can easily mix and match to create over a dozen outfits. Whether I'm wine-bar hopping in the trendy 11th arrondissement, playing tourist by the Eiffel Tower, or splurging on a fancy dinner in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, I need pieces that can be dressed up or down-and crucially, that will keep me warm.
Paris is a city designed for strolling, with its grand boulevards, photogenic buildings, and hundreds of beautifully manicured parks. My biggest mistake on my first trip to Paris? I packed the wrong footwear. I visited in late May and brought an overstuffed suitcase of strappy sandals and heels. After a day of rain (leading to chafing and blisters), I popped into a few shops in the Marais and purchased comfortable sneakers and ankle boots that I wore on repeat for the rest of the trip.
Instead of the long, insulated puffer coats and jeans I saw on the subway, I was sporting a wool overcoat and leather pants-I instantly stood out. The same goes for many tourists visiting Paris who dress much warmer than necessary (thankfully, we never have serious winter storm warnings here like the recent one in the U.S.) or make fashion faux pas like trying to navigate the city's winding streets teetering in talons hauts (high heels).
The end of the show did not mark the end of the trip. Back at the Le Grand Bellevue the group divided between fireside hot chocolates and the hotel's spa. The hotel's Le Grand Spa is over 3,000 square metres and has eight different types of saunas, several ice showers, foot baths and an outdoor bubble pool (named thus as it's bigger than your standard jacuzzi).
The buzz surrounding Longchamp bags refuses to fade, thanks to its carry-everything, timeless designs that could be worn year-round (and built to last beyond that, too). Even celebrities like Kate Middleton are known to tote around the iconic Longchamp Le Pliage Tote, along with me, who's used the same Longchamp I was gifted at 15. Safe to say these long-lasting, fashionable bags are here to stay, so it's well worth the addition to your travel bag rotation.
These brands specialize in just that: pieces created by hand to your exacting designs and specifications, and never to be replicated. Maybe you're looking for top-of-the-range headphones to match your jet. Or could it be a suit for a pirate-esque get together? Or even an engraved signet ring, depicting a favored holiday destination in full color? For all of the above and more, here's who Elite Traveler recommends.
It's not a multi-thousand pound handbag from Hermes that best captures the new era of It bags, but a 149 tote from John Lewis. Launched this season, it's deeper (45cm) and taller (33cm) than your average handbag, and comes loaded with good intentions. It's able to hold your packed lunch, flask and book, as well at a push as your gym kit.
Embroidery is a historic mainstay of traditional clothing in Asia or the Middle East, as well as Western Haute Couture, but it is increasingly present in Paris, Milan or New York on modern men's shirts, bomber jackets or blazers. Designers at Dior, Dolce Gabbana, Kenzo or Gucci have adopted it in recent runway shows, while Louis Vuitton's celebrity rapper-designer Pharell Williams dedicated his entire June collection to India after visiting the country.
Last year, traditional luxury brands struggled to keep the attention of aspirational shoppers, and it was their lower-priced counterparts that swooped in to fill the gap. The formerly squeezed middle of the market - sitting below pure luxury labels but above mass-market brands - was able to capitalise on luxury's ever-growing prices and perceived lack of innovation. Tightening consumer budgets also played a part.