Every now and then, the fashion landscape sees a flurry of happenings—be it huge overhauls in terms of the creative direction for the key maisons or groundbreaking collaborations that attract enthusiasts from every corner of culture. Some of these, undoubtedly causing a palpable shift in the sartorial world. After all, changes at the executive level for the various fashion houses might not only bring about the end of an era with certain iconic designers, but also set in motion a season of change as to who might be next to take up the mantle. One only needs to recall the legacy of Tom Ford’s Gucci or the vision which Karl Lagerfeld had left behind for Chanel; both departures despite being inevitable, were undeniable rupture points for the fashion world.
And at other times, the industry welcomed moments of genius; creative collaborations that cross into the realms of art, film and music turn into the talk of the town, such as Louis Vuitton’s memorable collections with Japanese artists Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama or the many joint moves with widely popular artist KAWS.
Amidst the buzz of affairs this month, it’s inevitable that you might have missed out on some significant drops and announcements over the past few weeks. Not to fret however, for with Vogue Singapore’s bi-weekly round-up, you can consider yourself all caught up. This week, we’re looking at the major fashion houses branch into other aspects of luxury—from Dior’s wellness retreat in the form of a spa cruise, to a new culinary space by Louis Vuitton. On the exhibitions front, Gucci is opening Gucci Visions in Gucci Garden in Florence. More of K-pop entering the fashion space too, with Vernon of global K-pop group Seventeen makes headlines as Kenzo’s first global ambassador.
Catch up on all the fashion news to know in the past few weeks, below.
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Louis Vuitton unveils its latest culinary destination in Saint Tropez
Yet another culinary destination has opened up under the house of Louis Vuitton—and this time around its seasoned chefs are heading to the South of France. Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Donckele and pastry chef Maxime Frédéric join hands at the maison’s Saint Tropez seasonal restaurant housed at the White 1921 Hotel, for a culinary expression of Mediterranean flavours. This ranges from sweet treats and chocolate bars beginning at 3pm to a streamlined dinner menu whipped up from the best produce and in-season ingredients of the region. All dreamt up with the heritage house’s spirit of travel, the impeccable decor is enlivened by the blue-and-white tile motifs of its latest resort collection.
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Vernon is Kenzo's first-ever global ambassador
First to clinch the honour of being Kenzo’s global ambassador, is Vernon of South Korean group Seventeen. This was swiftly followed by the K-pop star’s appearance at the house’s spring/summer 2024 show in Paris—which was shown at the Passerelle Debilly at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Post-announcement, Nigo commented that he was “pleased and grateful to welcome Vernon into the Kenzo family.” Meanwhile, Vernon expressed his excitement: “I feel honoured and fortunate to be Kenzo’s Global Ambassador. I’m excited to explore the synergy this partnership will introduce and look forward to showcasing a new side of me to fans around the world.”
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The Gucci Visions exhibition opens in Gucci Garden
In a celebration of the house’s elaborate heritage, the Gucci Visions exhibition, newly-opened at Gucci Garden in Florence will be taking its audiences through its 102-year history of craftsmanship and creativity. Within the walls of Gucci Garden, the maison’s three-storey collaborative space, eight different rooms detail a different facet of the house’s century-spanning story. From ‘Icons’ that put the spotlight on its signature designs such as the Jackie 1961 and Horsebit 1955 to the ‘Stars’ room that remembers the iconic ensembles worn by its growing list of stars and dignitaries, the rooms transform into interactive spaces that enable dialogue with its audiences, to be better informed of the artistry and history of the ever-evolving house.
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The Dior Spa Cruise returns for a second year in a row
Talk about a luxury brand takeover. For the second year in a row, Dior is returning with its floating spa and wellness yacht concept—the Dior Spa Cruise. All primed to set sail along the Seine in Paris for the month of July, the luxury house’s exclusive yacht is an open invite to its customers to enjoy a couple of hours on deck, and indulge in a selection of holistic treatment options from relaxing spas to dedicated facials. This can be followed by a few wellness-oriented activities such as pilates or full body stretching. Of course, its overarching aesthetic is not to be missed—its decor on-board all remodelled to feature the maison’s signature blue and beige toile de jouy motif.
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Christopher Kane is officially closing his namesake label
The London designer, Christopher Kane, is shutting down his eponymous label. The independent designer, who had enlivened the British fashion scene back when he graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2006, has made the official decision to call production off, in a bid to give the company breathing space and time to implement a rescue plan. Usually known for his counter cultural and youthful aesthetic, Kane’s label had been purchased by Kering in 2013 but rumours of its unpredictable financial state surfaced when it was sold back to the designer, earlier in 2018.
