From an outdoorsy capsule collection by Loewe – modelled by Josh O’Connor in Japan – to a slew of capsule collections launching in celebration of Chinese New Year
Gucci x Disney
This week, Gucci revealed its latest campaign, photographed by cult filmmaker Harmony Korine in California’s Disneyland and featuring an appearance from Mickey Mouse himself. Fittingly, Disney’s most recognisable export also features on the collection – titled ‘Year of the Mouse’, it is released to celebrate the Chinese New Year on January 25, and with it, a new zodiac sign, the mouse or rat. Expect a Mickey Mouse-themed iteration of the house’s signature GG Supreme monogram canvas across a series of playful accessories, toile de Jouy two-sets and 1980s-inspired motifs – “a humorous, vintage spirit,” as per the house. In stores now.
Fashion celebrates Chinese New Year
A slew of other brands will also be celebrating the arrival of the Chinese New Year with various covetable capsule collections. At Fendi, expect iterations of the house’s iconic Baguette and Peekaboo bags, primed for the festivities in glittering rose gold paillettes (a mouse motif will appear on numerous other pieces); at Vivienne Westwood, the designer’s “teacup-size” vegan-leather Yasmine bag will released in auspicious pillar-box red. Meanwhile at Off-White, Virgil Abloh has released a ‘Lunar New Year’ collection, available on Farfetch and selected Asian stores – no doubt the bags emblazoned with ‘GOOD LUCK’ in the brand’s signature serif will prove particularly popular. For a more understated approach, Prada has simply collated a desirable collection of gifts: our eyes are firmly on the bound-to-sell-out re-edition of their 2000 ‘mini bag’, available in several new colourways.
Eye/LOEWE/Nature Spring/Summer 2020
A new, technically minded capsule collection – think, pullover parkas, workwear jackets, printed organic cotton T-shirts and the like – arrives from Loewe this month, titled Eye/LOEWE/Nature (the collection marks the third in a series). “I think Eye/LOEWE/Nature shows how I see the Loewe man: he is kind of day-to-day, but at the same time wants to experiment. In a weird way there is a conservatism to him, but there is an eccentricity inside,” says creative director Jonathan Anderson. And, though designed for men, there is plenty for women to covet, too, made all-the-more irresistible by the house’s promise to donate 15 euros to environmental causes for every piece sold. A transporting set of images, photographed by Gray Sorrenti accompany the collection, seeing The Crown actor Josh O’Connor traversing the misty valleys and bamboo groves which sit beneath Japan’s Mount Fuji.
New beginnings at Dover Street Market
For its twice-yearly seasonal changeover – aptly titled ‘New Beginnings’ – Dover Street Market London closes for a couple of days in order to transform the store for the new season ahead. Re-opening this Saturday, January 11, Dover Street Market welcomes much newness for Spring/Summer 2020: there will be new spaces dedicated to the likes of Marine Serre, Cecilie Bahnsen, and Roberts Wood; exclusive pieces from Gucci, Molly Goddard and playfully irreverent jewellery brand Jiwinaia; a reimagined Kiko Kostadinov space; and the arrival of Peter Do and Antwerp-based leather goods brand Neils Peeraer to the store for the first time.
Dior’s new Lady Art bag
This week, the fourth iteration of Dior’s ‘Lady Art’ project – in which a number of artists reimagine the house’s classic Lady Dior bag – arrives in stores. Helmed for the second time by the house’s current creative director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, the eclectic international line-up includes South Africa’s Athi-Patra Ruga, India’s Raqib Shaw and Mickalene Thomas, the American artist with whom the designer collaborated on her Cruise 2020 collection. With variously rich fabrications, colourful prints and intricate embellishment, it provides the opportunity to purchase a unique work of art – which also happens to be a beautiful handbag.
Charlotte Chesnais and Ben Gorham’s new collaboration
‘Value Chain’ is the newly launched collaboration between Paris-based jewellery designer Charlotte Chesnais and Byredo founder Ben Gorham. “In this Byredo ‘renaissance’ – my continuous questioning of what the brand can be – I started to look at different products and materials,” Gorham explains. “After the natural aspect of leather to turn to metal felt like a challenge – I wanted to work with Charlotte.” For the project, the duo hone in on a single chain design: presented as necklaces and bracelets in gold and silver, and further reimagined as earrings and rings, some studded with pavé diamonds. “The chain can be worn by either sex and it will look so different; the interpretation by each will be so different. It is generous, simple and strong,” says Chesnais of the unisex collection (which is selling fast).