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NEED TO MAKE small talk at a fashionable event? Wish you knew the answer to that fashion question at pub trivia, what Rolex is doing to protect the planet’s blue heart, and why the Ace Hotel is collaborating with Perks and Mini? Here, discover the biggest fashion headlines of today, and catch up on all of the style news and reviews fashion folk are chatting about.
Perks and Mini (PAM) drops a zany collab with Sydney’s Ace Hotel
When Misha Hollenbach and Shauna Toohey of Melbourne brand Perks & Mini (P.A.M. for short) were at the opening party for the first ever Ace Hotel in Seattle in 1999, there was no way they could’ve predicted that one day, they’d be designing a collection for the Sydney outpost of the iconic hotel chain. Flash forward 25 years and that’s exactly what they’ve done, with a limited edition collection called ‘Time and Space’, which spans a cap, towel, tee, long sleeve tee, tote and pouch – all the travel essentials you need when hopping from Ace to Ace. As far as influences go, Hollenbach cites American jazz musician’s Sun Ra’s 1960s album ‘We Travel the Space’. “His music and “space chants” (and flying saucers) have always been a point of reference for PAM,” he says.
Photographed by Sydney creative force Byron Spencer, in a fittingly trippy fisheye style, the collection is a manifestation of P.A.M.’s otherworldliness, and the Ace’s commitment to collaborating local creatives that are setting the tone in their respective hometowns and beyond.
Cop the collection before it sells out, here.
Extravagance and elegance (or ‘extraleganza’) are the focal points of Piaget’s 150th anniversary collection
Since the Maison’s inception, two qualities have defined Piaget’s watchmaking and high jewelry style: extravagance and elegance. Extraleganza is what you get when you combine those words – and take some creative liberties by using the Italian translation of elegance. As Piaget’s latest celebratory collection proves, the Maison is as dedicated to the essence of extraleganza today as it always has been.
At a gala held at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, Piaget has revealed its 150th anniversary collection titled ‘Essence of Extraleganza’ with a star studded reception. Korean actor Lee Jun-Ho (seen above) made an appearance, wearing a Piaget Polo Emperador Skeleton watch and Piaget Treasures earrings – which doubled as a brooch. Thai actor Apo Nattawin (also seen above) wore a Piaget Dragon Brooch and an Aura High Jewelry Watch, epitomising extraleganza.
As for the collection itself, Essence of Extraleganza is an homage to the Piaget dynamism of the ’60s and ’70s, back when a wave of heady, hedonistic and youthful expressions worked their way into Piaget’s signature style. The 150th anniversary collection rekindles the designs of this period and celebrates Piaget’s mastery of extraleganza. By adding a handful of innovative designs to its offering, it’s clear that Piaget isn’t dwelling on the past, but using it to inspire its future.
Diving deep into ocean conservation with Rolex
Rolex and the ocean go deep. From inventing the first waterproof wristwatch in 1926 to launching the Deep Sea Special, which accompanied Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Trieste in 1960, some of the luxury Swiss watchmaker’s most profound innovations have been closely tied to mankind’s discovery of the seas. Realising that marine exploration and conservation are part of the same, urgent conservation — in the words of deep-sea explorer and co-founder of Under The Pole Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout, “we need to study it and reveal it so that we can protect it” — in 2019, Rolex launched the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, which supports a range of ongoing projects in the field of conservation across all the planet’s landscapes, with a big focus on ocean conservation.
One project supported by the initiative is Coral Gardeners, a group of young surfers, free divers and fishermen and women in French Polynesia who work to restore coral reefs while raising awareness of their importance. Through the creation of its own lab, Coral Gardeners’ scientists work to optimise and scale-up coral reef conservation, with all of the tools and techniques they develop made available in an open-source manner to conservationists everywhere.
With an expanding portfolio of equally pioneering organisations it backs, it’s safe to say Rolex isn’t just making watches that withstand the elements of the ocean. The watchmaker is working to ensure its concepts can be worn to explore our planet’s blue heart for years and years to come.
Learn more about the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative here.
Two fashion ‘obsessives’ unite for a red-hot collab
While Monsieur Dior and Massimo Osti of Stone Island come from two different ends of the fashion spectrum — one a couturier, the other a master of technical outerwear — there is something that unites them. “It is the coming together of ‘obsessives’,” says artistic director of Dior Men, and the inheritor of Monsieur Dior’s legacy, Kim Jones. “I think they’d recognise something in each other and in what they achieved through clothing.”
It’s this shared passion for perfection and pushing the boundaries that manifests in the French maison’s new collaboration with the Italian adventure-wear brand. Comprising of a full range of clothing plus accessories galore, it’s details like the Stone Island tabs on a pair of cargo shorts, which sit just below an embroidered Dior logo, that will see this collaboration enter the wish lists of gorpcore heads with a penchant for luxury. Of course, this is territory Jones straddles well — his past collaborations with streetwear legends like Shawn Stussy and Californian brand ERL were a hit among younger fashion guys interested in entering the high fashion-verse.
This Stone Island link-up, meanwhile, merges military codes with couture know-how, resulting in a wardrobe of colourful, functional pieces that will stand the test of time. Our pick? An update of a 1998 Stone Island field jacket. Originally constructed in the brand’s ‘Raso Gommato’ fabric – a satin weave of military origin with the application of a polyurethane cover – here, it’s revamped in cotton silk with embossed leather finishes. Steez indeed.
Learn more and cop the collab here.
An impressive new Burberry collection by Daniel Lee
Spring 2025 marks Daniel Lee’s sixth outing for Burberry, the British luxury brand he joined in September 2022. His first five collections have been well-received, but they were up against the roaring yet somewhat un-replicable start the designer experienced at his previous gig, as the creative director of Bottega Veneta. In the case of his new job, it’s been a steadier, intentional climb. And now, less than two years in (which is hardly a long time at all!) it feels like Lee is hitting his stride.
Grounded in wearable pieces that nod to Saville Row tradition, while eschewing any stuffiness such tradition might usher in, this collection includes perfectly tailored blazers, coats of the pea, bomber and trench varieties and wool trousers that are detailed with zippers and cargo pockets. We’re particularly fond of the pinstripe numbers above, which look awfully cool when paired with that patchwork tweed jacket. All in all, it’s clothing that looks great and relevant right now, and will continue to do so for years to come. Everything has to be “worth the money,” he said when unveiling the collection, which was done in by way of lookbook, instead of a show. “Because ultimately we’re making expensive clothes we want people to want to wear for a very long time.”
Classical music and anglomania-inspired tailoring at Celine
Replacing the runway with a highway in a desert valley, Hedi Slimane unveiled his winter 2024 collection for Celine Homme. Soundtracked by Hector Berlioz’s renowned Symphonie Fantastique – the very composition Leonard Bernstein once referred to as being “the first psychedelic symphony ever composed” – the collection was presented not to a live audience, but in a highly stylised film that flicked between black and white and colour, complete with a cowboy on horseback (the 9-year-old horse, ‘Frijole’, is acknowledged in the film credits) and vintage cars number plated with the word ‘Celine’. It also took its name from the symphony, which Slimane first discovered at the age of 11.
The tailoring was precisely what we’ve come to expect from the artistic director; sharp, angular and almost exclusively black, in luxurious materials like silk, cashmere and leather. Anglomania of the 19th century was an influential reference, and you can see a certain Britishness in Slimane’s three-button suits, waistcoats and ‘I’ line silhouettes. All midnight cowboy in broad daylight by way of London’s underground rock scene, the offering marked an assured doubling down of the artistic director’s sartorial tradition, while the film it was packaged up in was an arthouse masterpiece worthy of its own cinema premiere. Again, precisely what we’ve come to expect from Hedi Slimane.
Rodd & Gunn opens new Sydney flagship
Made immediately recognisable by its charming English Pointer logo – as well as the timeless quality of its clothing – New Zealand-born brand Rodd & Gunn has just opened a new flagship store at Sydney’s Martin Place. Tucked inside a heritage building with ornate architecture framing its entrance, the space is warm and inviting, a vast juxtaposition to the current temperature outside. Speaking of, the brand’s new winter collection, ‘Beyond the Horizon’, has arrived just in time for the store’s opening; characterised by chunky Merino wool knits, buttery soft trousers and, of course, the brand’s signature quarter-zip sweaters with its ‘Gunner’ logo, it’s a solid offering of stylish essentials. If you’re looking to build on your winter wardrobe, take it from us: Rodd & Gunn’s Kiwi heritage and commitment to using the best materials means they understand what it takes to dress warm and look good better than most.
Stop by the new flagship at shop 12, 14 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000. Check out the new winter collection, here.
Loewe and On are now making activewear
The Spanish fashion house has been collaborating with cult running brand On for a couple of years now; its Cloudtilt shoes are wildly popular, and as the name suggests, comfy as clouds. But the partnership’s latest release includes its first foray into ready to wear. Spanning technical activewear, statement outerwear and cushioned footwear, the collection is designed to withstand inclement weather in tough terrain while looking tight at your Tuesday night run club in the city. Each piece is stamped with Loewe x On’s new joint logo, which is bound to become the running world’s next big status symbol.
The collection also includes the launch of Cloudtilt 2.0, which flaunts a multi-layer upper composed of performance mesh and woven textiles, as well as enhancements like rubber toe guards and extra padding on the tongue and shoe collar. “These are garments for escaping the mundane,” reads a statement from Loewe. Indeed, you couldn’t possibly dread pounding the pavement wearing activewear as cool as this.
Shop the new collection here.
Sydney’s favourite vintage store opens in Bondi junction
When you need a cool fur coat, a pair of retro sweatpants or a band tee, where do you go? If you live in Sydney, you head straight to one of Uturn’s seven stores, obviously. The circular fashion retailer, which is almost 20 years old, doesn’t just source and stock vintage gems, it’s also committed to providing a community service through access to quality and affordable second-hand clothing, which goes a mighty long way in this economy.
To celebrate the opening of its new Bondi Junction store, Uturn is holding a ‘Choose What U Pay Sale’ from June 1st to 2nd, where customers can name their price on specially marked items, starting at $10 a piece. 1 percent of all sales will go towards Thread Together, an organisation that collects brand new unsold clothing from fashion retailers around the country, and redistributes it to people in need while saving it from going into landfill. All the more reason to get your new winter jacket secondhand.
Learn more here.
Le Specs teams up with cult LA brand Ian Charms
If you haven’t already seen Ian Charms on Instagram or TikTok, it’s only a matter of time. The handmade jewellery brand founded by Californian designer Lisa Sahakian has been worn by celebrities from Pete Davidson to Justin Beiber, and now, its joined forces with Australian sunglass brand Le Specs on a suitably bright collection of shades. Giving off big Y2K vibrations, the collection comprises five styles with brightly decorated arms and dangly charms, with tongue in cheek names like ‘I Am A Rich Man’ and ‘Nepo Baby’. Yes, they’re capital ‘F’ Fashion, and you absolutely need a pair.
Shop the collection here.
Mads Mikkelsen looks excellent in Zegna
As the global ambassador of Zegna, it is the handsome Danish actor’s perogative to star in the Italian brand’s seasonal campaigns – and star he does. Seen here in Zegna’s new Spring Summer 2024 campaign, wearing Zegna staples like the Triple Stitch Espadrilles, Mikkelsen looks radiant as men come, his olive complexion only accentuated by the soft linens of its Oasi Lino collection. According to artistic director Alessandro Sartori, it was a vision of lightness that guided the look and feel of this collection; the flax that Zegna’s linen is spun out of is also part of the brand’s Road to Traceability initiative, which will see it commit to certifying as 100 percent traceable from 2024. There are pieces, initiatives and brands worth investing in, and this is certainly one.
Get Mikkelsen’s look here.
Haydenshapes releases custom surfboards with Kith
Surfing just got a little bit more stylish as Aussie Haydenshapes designer Hayden Cox, known for designing some of the most contemporary and high end surf gear on the market, has teamed up with American label Kith for a collection of limited-edition surfboards. With three custom iterations on offer, each board features distinctive patterns of Italian and Turkish fabric and lace motifs that take inspiration from Kith’s spring-summer 2024 collection, recalling summertime travels in these far-flung destinations. And Cox’s ingenuity as a designer is amplified here, with the boards available in his best-selling shapes of mid-length, summer twin fin fish and performance step up.
Shop the collection here.
RM Williams dresses our athletes for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
During Australian Fashion Week last week, Australian heritage brand RM Williams unveiled the official uniform for our athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Not their first rodeo, this year’s games marks the brand’s eighth consecutive stint outfitting our most talented paralympians. In an earthy take on the Aussie green and gold palette, the uniform pays homage to the Australian landscape and Indigenous art on the grandest sporting stage.
“The collection is designed to support our incredible Paralympians and ensure they can represent our country with ease, comfort, and confidence,” says Rachel Allen, chief design & product officer at RM Williams. Designed with accessibility in mind, the uniform features push studs in lieu of buttons for easy buttoning up and down, as well as elasticated waistbands for shorts and chinos. “The uniform designs represent what makes the Australian team unique and bring together the spirit and grit of the team, and of Australia.”
The uniform will be worn proudly during the opening and closing ceremonies when the Paralympic Games take place from August 28 to September 8.
David Beckham and BOSS announce design partnership
“Over the last few years, I’ve been wanting to invest more time in design and fashion,” said David Beckham recently. “But I wanted to ensure I collaborated with a brand and team that could deliver something truly global and impactful.” And why should the football champ turned entrepreneur and style icon settle for anything less?
Now, Beckham can officially add ‘fashion designer’ to his very long and illustrious resume, as he announces a new, multi-year design collaboration with Hugo Boss. According to the brand, this ‘strategic partnership’ will include capsule and seasonal collections designed and curated by Becks, while he’ll be involved in all stages of the concepting and design process. The focus of the collaboration will be on both formal and casual menswear, which will embody his signature style. So if you’ve always wanted to dress just like Beckham, now is your chance.
“I’ve really enjoyed the collaboration with Boss so far and have been impressed by the team’s ambition,
creativity, and desire for excellence. I look forward to sharing what we’ve been working on so far,” said Beckham in a statement. We can’t wait to see, either.
Learn more about the partnership here.
Haider Ackermann is appointed Canada Goose’s inaugural creative director
Haider Ackermann, the designer whose eponymous label is a red carpet favourite of Timothée Chalamet and Tilda Swinton, has been appointed as Canada Goose’s first-ever creative director. Known for its highly technical and luxurious outerwear, Canada Goose has been making moves in the fashion space for years now – its down jackets are a street style mainstay – so its partnership with the Colombian-born French designer makes total sense.
“When it comes to the marriage of craftsmanship and beauty, there’s no one more fitting than Haider Ackermann,” said Canada Goose chairman and CEO, Dani Reiss, in a statement. “With his distinct ability to harness the energy and potential of our authentic heritage, I look forward to seeing his impact across our designs.”
To mark the appointment, Ackermann’s first line under the brand will be a capsule collection of hoodies in support of Polar Bears International (PBI). Made in four limited-edition variations that recall the colours of the Arctic and Borealis, the hoodies also speak to Ackermann’s affinity for electric, jewel tones. And not without a cause. One hundred percent of the proceeds made from sales of the PBI hoodie will go towards the foundation’s efforts for research and conservation of polar bears and their declining habitat.
“I have put my full force into inspiring planet-friendly choices to address the climate crisis,” says actor and muse for the collection, Jane Fonda (yes, Jane Fonda!). “Partnering with Haider and Canada Goose to bring attention to what’s happening in the Arctic is powerful, important and essential.” An iconic partnership that promises to deliver some of the freshest down jackets we’ve seen.
Learn more about the partnership and shop the PBI hoodies here.
Other stylish stuff making headlines this month…
