10/01/2014

Kate Moss: 40 – A Retrospective

On January 16th, Kate Moss will turn forty. To celebrate one of the most famous faces of our time, Russell Marshall – a former newspaper art director – decided to stage an entire exhibition in her honour. Kate Moss: 40 – A Retrospective, will showcase the ten most representative images, which portray a very young Kate at the age of fourteen, to the more contemporary ones.

Marshall himself has carefully chosen the whole series in one month, and the signature style is CMYK color – the specific one used for printing newspapers. Each image will be available in ten different colours, for a total of one hundred combinations.

In a period of time in which celebrities appear and disappear in a jiffy, Miss Moss is a rare case. Not only she survived through the years but is not hanging on to fame anymore. Along with the images, a very short biography will be presented.


Additionally, all the photos will be on sale: last month Marshall raised £24,000 by selling just one of them, at the Global Gift Gala’s auction. The entire amount has been donated to the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines.

The show will be hosted by the Imitate Modern Gallery, in London, from January 17th until February 15th, 2014.

Francesca Crippa 
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09/01/2014

In a Land Far Far Away

In today’s society the fast pace of technology has minimized distances, however there has also been an increase of information creating a grimmer view of the world which generates a desire in people to experience something lighter. This is similar to the desire of the people in the early 19th century, who rebelled against the Enlightenment, wanting to escape the harsh logical reality and found refuge in fantasizing of exotic places. Then designers such as Paul Poiret came to aid. In 2013 the rebellion started up again, but this time against the Enlightenment 2.0. This can explain the popularity of exotic influences in our wardrobe and jewellery box. Jewellers and designers with exotic tendencies such as Aurélie Bidermann are in the perfect position to fulfil the desire of exoticism.


Aurélie Bidermann began her journey as a creator of reminiscent jewellery after acquiring a diploma in Gemology, in Antwerp. For Bidermann it is through dreams, travels and love that her jewellery is created, which can be an explanation to the attraction of her pieces, since they each evoke a state much like the exoticism in the 19th century. In a way Bidermann is reinventing these ideals but by using her own experience of travel adventures, fantasized fairytales and childhood admiration of jewellery. These tools help the jeweller nourish her creativity in a way that keeps the originality at its peak. The imprint of a dream or memory can in many ways be the superb essence of creativity.



The collections of Aurélie Bidermann includes feathers, insects, laces and snakes – all dipped in gold. They are some of her infamous staples, constantly reinvented through an organic frame of mind. Collaborations with fashionable names such as Proenza Schouler and Jason Wu has put Aurélie Bidermann’s name on the map. Her jewellery is sold and greatly appreciated all over the world as statement pieces or as a bohemian chic reference in minimalistic attire. All with a constant echo of “bon voyage”.


Victoria Edman 
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06/01/2014

Style Suggestions: Back To Work

It’s not always easy going back into the office after the holiday break but it always helps to start the first day by feeling confident and cool. Try a tailored jacket with a straight leg pant and walk in there looking refreshed and ready to start the new year in style.


Paul Smith Shirt, Rag & Bone Blazer, Etoile by Isabel Marant pants, Asos Mittens, Marni Belt, The Taylor Headphone, Derek Lam Boots, Vintage Balenciaga Coat, Kate Spade New York Watch

Styling by Vanessa Cocchiaro 

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06/01/2014

Just take your time wherever you go

Watches used to be a staple in an everyday wardrobe but have over the years been replaced by digital machinery, reducing the timepiece to a more decorative state. So excusing a dreadful wrist watch with the fact that “it still works” just isn’t enough by today’s fashionable standards. If picking the right one, a watch can stand the test of time in both prestige and design. Vintage watch styles can more often than not be seen at high end fashion brands as if to show their heritage and build status.

Watches as many other fashion items of today have become part of complementing our own individuality. But how do you know which style is right? Start by defining your lifestyle. Here are some examples:

- The Splurger – For a person of expensive taste and a bank-account to match a Rolex or other high end brand such as Bvlgari will always complement an outfit due to the sheer exclusivity.

- The “I’ll do it my way” – The boyfriend wrist watch with its big dial has been one of the biggest watch trends the past year, especially when combined with rosé gold as seen at Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors. So for the person who wants to go up stream pick a small dial, as seen at Karl Lagerfeld, something that will work great in these minimalistic times.


- The Globetrotter – Kitmen Keung has, by combining a simplistic dial in off white brass with a smart and sleek design, created the perfect travel companion. The primary dial is in a dark and bold color scheme. The precision of the secondary clock face has been made to almost come across like an “interface shadow” showcasing to the wearer the temporal distance between the user and someone on the other side of the globe.

It is said that time is of the essence so naturally there is a perfect watch for everyone to find, it is just a matter of answering the question what defines me?

Victoria Edman 
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27/12/2013

Dry Denim: Back to Basics

For many people, one of the best items in their wardrobe would have to be a pair of denims. For centuries we have been wearing this humble fabric which although has evolved in many ways, the essential ingredients and construction have not changed. The best denim is still created on the original hand looms either in Japan or America and it is these fabrics which form the basis of a dry or raw pair of jeans for many premium denim brands such as ACNE, Kitsuné, A.P.C. and President’s.


True denim fanatics will start with a pair of raw denims, which are initially stiff and unwashed. The idea is to break them in and wear them without washing for at least 6 months and then to wash them occasionally. Through this process the denim fabric in its’ dry state ages daily according to the wearer’s activities. They become softer and creases and abrasions are formed naturally which basically is how they would have been and still often are worn by workers. It’s a whole craftsmanship in itself but the end results are far more authentic and give the jeans their own character and history.

Depending on the brand, different features are designed to create the DNA of a denim brand; key design elements can dramatically change the look and fit of the garment, including stitch size and thickness, thread colour, pocket size, shape and placement and actual workmanship and construction. So next time you go out to buy yourself a new pair of jeans, instead of opting for the readymade worn in look, why not try a dry pair of premium denims and wear them in yourself. Patience and love for your dry denims will reward you with a perfect pair of jeans which are unique to you.


Tamsin Cook 
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23/12/2013

Style Suggestions: Holidays at home

We have almost made it to the end of the year and we hope that you are one of those lucky ones to be enjoying this well deserved holidays, and if it’s at home… better! Here there are a few tips to enjoy these days far from stress, in a stylish way.

By Malene Birger, Current/Elliott, A.P.C., Want les essentiels de la vie, Kiehl’s cream, DVN, Apartamento magazine, Pamela Love

Styling by Vanessa Cocchiaro 

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16/12/2013

Style Suggestions: Christmas Office Party

We’ve nearly made it to the end of the year and all your hard work will be deservedly rewarded with the office Christmas parties. But the question is, what will you wear?! Our suggestion, don’t go crazy with the party dress, choose things that you can mix, match and carry on wearing and if you want to keep in the Christmas spirit, a touch of red is a timeless asset.

Jil Sander Navy skirt, Dion Lee top, Stella Jean coat, Lanvin Gloves, Wendy Nichol earrings, Proenza Schouler boots, Saint Laurent Bag

Styling by Vanessa Cocchiaro 

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12/12/2013

Cycling through Europe with Rapha

The bicycle has always had a special place in European cities’ imagery: from Vittorio De Sica‘s Bicycle Thieves cruising Rome in search of a stolen bike, to Queen‘s highly contagious Bicycle Race refrain; from cycling events such as Tour de France or Giro d’Italia, taking us on a tour of incredible European landscapes, to classic postcard pictures of cities like Amsterdam or Copenhagen. Europe is imbued with cycling culture and its inhabitants are well acquainted with the beauty and liberty found on two wheels. While masterpieces of film and literature such as Hopper‘s Easy Rider or Kerouac‘s On the Road could never have been conceived in Europe, wondering around the narrow, winding and utterly charming streets of its cities offers space for reflexion, contemplation and endless imagination.


Playfully engaging with this urban myth of a two-wheeled tour of European cities, Rapha has developed a series of special guides for cyclist. Rapha City Cycling Guide is a series of pocket-sized guides to eight major cycling cities of Europe, published in collaboration with Thames and Hudson. Amsterdam, Antwerp and Ghent, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Milan and Paris are described in eight different guides, characterized by a mix of eclectic tips for soaking in the best of each city, ranging from local curiosities to major tourist attractions. Equipped with a set of detailed maps with cycling lanes and routs, each guide was illustrated by different artists, adding a touch of local charm to the publication.



While bicycles are steadily becoming the preferred means of transport in Europe, as well as across the Atlantic, with these guides it may also be worth considering a relaxing vacation on two wheels in the upcoming months. After all, just as John F. Kennedy once said, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride”.


Rujana Rebernjak 
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11/12/2013

A Queer History of Fashion: From the Closet to the Catwalk

The significant improvement LGBTQ (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer) individuals made in fashion, is now being celebrated and showcased at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York. A Queer History of Fashion: From the Closet to the Catwalk has been curated by Fred Dennis and Valerie Steele, who spent two years doing research and organizing the exhibition. The result of their huge effort is an exhibition that explores, for the first time in a museum, this important impact. Although today most of fashion designers are completely free to express themselves, in the past it was not easy as it is today.


There are many examples, starting with Dior, who wanted to keep his homosexuality secret; but also Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, whose relationship was discovered after many years of career. With this preamble, the show aims also to encourage people to embrace their diversity and to make clear how those people have changed the rules of fashion, by transforming it into a modern social movement.



This show features approximately one hundred ensembles, from the 18th to the 21st century, over three hundred years. Subjects like androgyny, dandyism and the transgressive stylistic approach are shown together with the influence of several subcultures and street style movements. A section is dedicated to the ones who died of AIDS, along with a range representing gay marriage. The exhibition is a good way to underline human rights for each individual and will run until January 4th.


Francesca Crippa 
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05/12/2013

The art of Aldo Coppola

Have you ever sensed that feeling of perkiness, confidence and sheer happiness when walking out of a hair salon? Your hair is shiny and silky, you look and feel good, as if you could conquer the world. As simple and banal as it might seem, a haircut can really do all of that, and Aldo Coppola was a master of this (often underrated) art. Unfortunately, Aldo Coppola died last week at the age of 73 leaving behind an incredible legacy.

The founder of an entire hair-styling empire, Aldo Coppola dedicated his life to continuous research and innovation. Starting from modest beginnings back in the 60s, Mr. Coppola quickly entered the fashion world, where his designs, which fused aesthetics and beauty with couture, were as requested as the clothes models wore on the catwalk. The year 1966 and the invention of dry cut clearly marked his traits, which promoted a natural look and flair, crafting each cut to individual needs, rather than creating a single, distinct style.

Among his inventions we can count the crouchet, tourchion, sombrero or waves styles, while his latest invention, the shatush can still be seen both on the red carpet as well as on our streets. While Aldo Coppola’s art of hairstyle might not have changed the world, nevertheless it shouldn’t be easily dismissed, not least for its ability to make us feel our best. For only when we do feel so, we might be the ones to actually change it.


Rujana Rebernjak – Image courtesy of Studio Aldo Coppola 
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