Kendra Spears in Vogue Mexico October 2013 by Koray Birand

Now formal known as Princess Salwa Aga Khan or Kendra Spears sports voluminous hair and posing on the city streets in a Koray Birand‘s story for the October issue of Vogue Mexico. Spears wears black and white attire by the likes of Fendi, Balenciga, styling by Sarah Gore Reeves. Hairstyle by Felix Fischer, Make-up by Moani Lee.

www.vogue.mx

Full Story

Numero Tokyo #71 November 2013: Anna Selezneva by Guy Aroch

Plaid Plays - Russian beauty Anna Selezneva poses on the street for the cover-story of Numero Tokyo November 2013 issue. With photography by Guy Aroch, Anna wears plaid/check pieces by the likes of Celine, Balenciaga, Altuzarra & Tommy Hilfiger, styled together by Elizabeth Sulcer. Hair by Thomas Dunkin, Makeup by Karan Franjola.

www.numero-magazine.com

Full Story

Tilda Lindstam in Numero Magazine #147 October 2013 by Billy Kidd

I'm Bad - In black and white imagery, Swedish beauty Tilda Lindstam poses in Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Calvin Klein & Salvatore Ferragamo, styled together by Charles Varenne. Photographed by Billy Kidd for the October issue of Numero Magazine. Hair by Bok-Hee, Makeup by Fredrik Stambro.

www.numero-magazine.com

Full Story

Film: 'Haider Ackermann’s Prodigal Return' by Vincent van de Wijngaard at Nowness

Haider Ackermann’s Prodigal Return - Columbia’s finest export Haider Ackermann goes back to his roots with muse Saskia de Brauw bringing a burst of color to the concrete streets of Medellín. Director Vincent van de Wijngaard captured the fashion designer’s first return to his birthplace since he left Colombia with his adoptive parents as an infant, for a 10-year retrospective to mark the 25th anniversary of Inexmoda, the country’s fashion and textile showcase.

Haider Ackermann’s Prodigal Return on Nowness.com

My week and outfit 25.09.13

One week over once more. It's been hectic I must say. I stopped by at home for a few days also to work, and well, tried to study while at it. The week has involved a lot of school work, work and working out, but I've also tried to get some me-time by getting a massage that my muscles really needed. The weather suddenly got really cold so running outside doesn't sound so much fun anymore, but as they've promised now the fall should be warmer after all so maybe I will get to run after all. Do you guys like running throughout the winter? I tend to like comfortable and running outside when snowing for example doesn't sound so tempting so I take the working out inside. This week I've also gone to a couple of BodyPump classes, that I haven't done in like a month but it was different and fun, and today I went back to another love of mine, BodyCombat and I feel great.

So this weekend sure hasn't been lazy even if I was so exhausted after my exam on Saturday (only slept for two hours before that). I spent parts of the day just sleeping. I had planned to hit the gym a bit later in the day after lunch and a little nap but as I was chatting with my friend I realized that the class was starting in 10min so what to do? A very quick wardrobe change, grabbing the shoes and the water bottle and running to the gym. Well it was a nice warm-up. I also took a look at a new Finnish show called Dancing On Ice, which intrigues me since I used to compete in figure skating (singles though). Of course after all this time jumps scare me a bit but doing basic stuff have not gone forgotten. For many people even skating backwards might seem hard. My dream has been to be able to skate up high in Paris at the Eiffel Tower and in New York Central Park at Christmas. What do you guys like for winter sports? 

Taas on yksi viikko takana. On ollut aika menevää täytyy sanoa. Tuli käytyä myös kotona muutama päivä ja töitä tehden ja no, yritin samalla opiskella myös. Viikko on sisältänyt paljon koulutöitä, töitä ja treenaamista, mutta olen myös onnistunut löytämään aikaa itselleni käymällä esimerkiksi hierojalla, lihakseni olivat todella sen tarpeessa. Sää muuttui äkillisesti erittäin kylmäksi joten ulkona juokseminen ei kuulosta niin hauskalta enää, mutta lehdessä luvattiin että syksystä tulisi lämpimämpi joten ehkä pääsen kuitenkin juoksemaan. Tykkäättekö te juosta läpi talven? Olen itse yleensä niin mukavuudenhaluinen ja ulkona juokseminen lumisateessa esimerkiksi ei kuulosta järin houkuttelevalta, joten vien treenit sisätiloihin. Tällä viikolla olen myös käynyt parilla BodyPump tunnilla, viime kerrasta onkin jo kuukausi aikaa. Se oli kuitenkin erilaista ja hauskaa, ja tänään palasin toisen rakkauteni luo, olin nimittäin BodyCombat tunnilla ja olo on mitä mahtavin.

Tämä viikonloppu ei siis todellakaan ole ollut laiska vaikka tentin jälkeen olinkin uupunut lauantaina (nukuin ennen tenttiä vain kaksi tuntia). Osa päivästä kului nukkuen. Olin suunnitellut suuntaavani salille hieman myöhemmin lounaan ja pienten unien jälkeen, mutta jutellessani ystävän kanssa huomasin että tunti alkaakin jo 10min kuluttua, joten mikä avuksi? Erittäin nopea vaatteiden vaihto, kengät ja juomapullo käteen ja pikaspurtti salille. Toimi hyvänä lämmittelynä. Katsastin myös uuden kotimaisen viihdeohjelman Dancing On Ice. Se kiehtoo minua sillä olen joskus kilpaillut taitoluistelussa (yksin tosin). Tietenkin kaiken tämän jälkeen hypyt pelottavat hieman, mutta perusjutut ovat vielä muistissa. Monille jopa takaperin luistelu tuottaa päänvaivaa. Toiveeni on ollut jo pitkään päästä luistelemaan korkealle Pariisin Eiffel-torniin sekä New Yorkin Central Parkiin jouluna. Millaisista talvilajeista te pidätte?

                                        Shirt: Vero Moda

                                        Pants: Esprit

                                        Jacket: Moncler

                                        Scarf: Gucci

                                        Shoes: JB Martin

                                        Bag: Chanel

                                        Necklace: Lapponia 

Film: 'New York La La La' by Aaron Rose and André Saraiva x L'Officiel Hommes at Nowness

New York La La La - Artists Aaron Rose and André Saraiva (also creative director at L'Officiel Hommes) direct film at the Paramount Studios New York set, of professional skateboarders Jerry Hsu, Austyn Gillette, and Josh Harmony for the L'Officiel Hommes whom wear Dior Homme, Saint Laurent, and Prada, set to the epic pop of Duran Duran’s “The Chauffeur.”

New York La La La on Nowness.com

Christian Dior's Extreme Innovative Transformation

Innovation exploded at the Christian Dior show on Thursday with an extraordinary setting that will have plenty to talk about all season long. With just less than two years since Raf Simons has been at Dior – which seems more than that – he has already caught everyone’s attention whether it be in a bad or esoteric manner. From international actresses, supermodels, to important political figures and the Princess of Thailand, all made their presence at this fashion forward trendsetting show. 


His spring 2014 collection greeted the audience with a mystical setting of real and fake neon vines of flowers hanging on the ceiling that simulated Dior’s secret garden in a much more futuristic statement. It seemed he wanted to bring back the nature theme memories of when he presented his first ever couture show for the house – thousands of flowers mounted on walls – that celebrated the codes of the late Mr. Christian Dior himself.  His spring 2013 ready-to-wear collection focused on tailoring and modern versions of the iconic Bar jackets, and so did his recent fall ladylike collection. But these vines conveyed a different message that one understood after the show. Dior was about to take a severe transformation for many.

He began the show with new interpretations of the bar jacket cropped to reveal some skin and be worn with a hybrid of shorts with pleated floral skirts; some referred to them as skorts. He also introduced unique shirt dresses in blue with twisted details and surprisingly pleasing colorful sleeveless satin tops that were the most ladylike; an ice blue top Kasia Struss wore was provocative paired with a white below-the-knee skirt that was cut very high at the back. 

Fetish-y were the neon trumpet skirts – in yellow, silver, and blue – that barely covered the models legs and side-pleated skirts with an exposed hip-bone on the left side, together  with a few balloon skirts that felt wearable and embroidered cropped tops with an opening keyhole in the middle. There were a number of varsity style looks etched with Dior badges and pleasing knitwear pieces paired with hanging garden inspired jewelry that felt the most comfortable to follow on this new journey.

Questionable were his awkward embroidered dresses with side pleats that looked kitsch and retro dresses with messages printed on them like “Alice Garden,” but they psychologically respected the signature codes of Dior; big change in designs, same codes hidden. I was more fascinated with his two finale black looks – one bar jacket and a coat dress – with insets of floral printed pleats on the back. These looks screamed Raf Simons’ injection to the new and more revealing Dior. Even noticeable were his final metallic looks of silver dresses no one would have expected to see at this show. 

Now, was this collection hard to swallow? It certainly will be for some buyers who won’t know how their average customer will react next season to these clothes. But in fashion, there is a whole different point of view. Mr. Simons is a risk taker, and that was not a secret here anymore. He’s had enough of trying to keep Dior contemporary, because we all know he was not meant to stick with the same styles. Take for example how he has revolutionized men’s fashion with his personal label being one of the most anticipated and innovative shows of the season. He is the first to set trends offering new creative skills.

A Christian Dior Spring 2014 New Bar Suit Jacket with a pleated floral back and leather lace heels by Raf Simons.

His clothes are never meant to be seen as ordinary clothes. They’re meant to be seen as intriguing laboratory experiments you have to risk it like in Dior’s case now. And that’s why I admire about him so much. He said he wanted to take the literal DNA of the house with a different aesthetic – that being his creative injection – that would turn out to offer so much new techniques in one show without letting go of the strictly ladylike codes Dior is known for. He threw in so many ideas that we’ll probably see other designers implement soon in their collections – pleat techniques, lace shoes, twisted techniques and shirt dresses - but in may have been too much for right now where he’s at. The clothes were nevertheless magical on the runway in my opinion with a great taste of color and exquisite tailoring. 

Mr. Simon’s is molding the future of the label. Many have already criticized this collection as a horrible one, but it should be when you’re not exposed to seeing too many ideas in one show. His new tailoring may take time to get used to from what John Galliano did, but with the way his shaking things rapidly, he's developed an intense niche. And you can’t deny Raf is a very talented designer no matter what. Fashion is evolution, and with Simons' noteworthy experiments at Dior demonstrates he is here to stay and catch everyone’s attention.