A roundup of fashion updates – from new collections and the hottest trends – to help you update your summer wardrobe
The Sea is Calling
For summer 2024, Givenchy highlights the return of the Givenchy Plage collection which will provide avid travellers with the ultimate Riviera wardrobe that is chic yet elegant. The capsule collection is inspired by the joie de vivre and laid-back refinement of Les Clos Fiorentina, Hubert de Givenchy’s summer estate in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. One of the must-haves from this collection is the G-Tote bag in raffia. Made in Italy, the bag offers generous space, perfect to carry leisure necessities including towels, swimsuits and even shoes.
Lovely and Jentle
As the saying goes, third time’s a charm. And appropriately so, the third collaboration between Gentle Monster and Jennie Kim titled Jentle Salon has proven to be particularly charming. Known for her adorable style, the global star infused her personality into this partnership by releasing a series of sunglasses and clear glasses that can be enhanced with unique attachable charms. The Capybara charm is particularly attention-grabbing, and is a reference to Kim’s favourite animal.
Aesthetically Functional
Mary-janes, despite having been around for over a century, never fails to transform itself into exciting extraordinary items each season. The Valentino Garavani VLogo Locker mary janes, for instance, has become a standout design this season. The pair elevates a classic style by updating it with the VLogo The Bold Edition as a strap accent. The turn-lock mechanism can actually be opened, making it functional yet aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The shoe is available in various iterations, including leather, animalier, velvet with lurex thread, and more.
Crochet Season
As crocheting has become a highly favoured hobby this season, Miu Miu showcases its passion for the craft through a new summer tote bag. Echoing most of its vibrant summer accessories, the Crochet Tote bag appears bold with retro references mixed in. Moreover, the bag features sophisticated artistry and a contrasting embroidery logo for a highly-recognizable finish. In addition, a cord and nylon charm can attach to the leather handle for a more distinctive look.
Dynamic Summer
Belgian fashion house Dries Van Noten has embarked on a sophisticated summer journey with its high summer collection. As usual, the brand brings forward a blend of classic and avant-garde styles through dynamic tonal variations, featuring bold prints in vivid pairings. Alongside the ready-to-wear pieces, there are also accompanying accessories to indulge in, such as clutches, jewellery, and footwear.
An Italian Escape
Bulgari recently presented the Bulgari High Summer 2024 Leather Goods and Accessories collections. The lineup is enlivened by summer-inspired motifs, with the Serpenti Forever Top Handle Bag made of woven wicker being a definite scene-stealer. The bag’s flap and the top handle are crafted in Ivory Opal Calf Leather in matching colour. As a final touch, the iconic Serpenti snakehead is fashioned into the bag’s closure and is embellished with enamel and gold-plated brass scales as an opulent flair to the versatile bag.
Armor of the Eyes
Eyeglass styles can help illustrate its wearer’s personality. This pair of glasses from Chanel clearly indicates a classic yet brave personality behind them. Interestingly, the new pair is a reference to Gabrielle Chanel herself. It is imbued with a signature metal chain interlaced with leather, adding a touch of luxury to the rectangular frames. As a finishing detail, a Chanel logo is put on the temples.
Extraterrestrial Creation
The popular Swipe bag from Coperni has recently gotten an unexpected upgrade. This time, the bag doesn’t feature leather or fabric, and instead features meteor debris that fell on the Earth around 55,000 years ago. The material is gathered from a European gallery that collects pieces from space. What makes it unique is that each bag is made from different stones, ensuring that every single one of them is akin to a one-of-a-kind creation. The Coperni Meteorite Swipe bag is set to come with a USD 45,000 price tag.
Wrapped with Crystal
In the spirit of its Cleo’s 50th anniversary, Rene Caovilla continues to innovate and captivate style mavens with a new contemporary twist. For this spring/summer 2024 collection, the Italian brand presents the flat Supercleo sandal with an elongated coiled snake strap that wraps the leg with elegance and sensuality. The flat is defined by two upper straps, which are fully embellished with tonal black crystal.
Run Like the Elite
Constantly accompanying the world’s fastest runners on their journeys as champions is Under Armour’s UA Velocity Elite 2. With its innovative elements, in particular the rubberless UA Flow cushioning that makes every step feel like air, as well as a full-length thermoset carbon plate, the shoe provides extra resilience. What makes it even more extraordinary, other than its already distinctive elements, is that the shoe has been equipped with breathable fabric, thus adding another plus point for runners.
Heritage Element
For Parisian fashion house Berluti, its Rue Marbeuf store remains at the heart of its many exceptional creations, including the new B-Volute collection. The collection’s most noteworthy element, namely the curve mirroring the shape of the letter B, was inspired by the store’s ornamental iron staircase. The element is added to the brand’s supple leathered pieces as locks or saddle straps. Must-haves from the line include the two bags inspired by traditional hunting gear which also feature a statement-making design that are highly functional; and a loafer displaying a subtle gradient colour.
Haute Sneaker
After debuting in the prêt-à-porter world, Schiaparelli has already taken another step in the highly competitive business of designer sneakers. The couturier house’s debut in this realm is marked by a light, practical pair of sneakers made of ecru canvas featuring the brand’s signature gold trompe l’oeil toes and shoe tie holes. What makes this first-ever Schiaparelli sneaker appear more high fashion is the irregular measuring tape design that delicately adorns the edges of the sole. These sneakers will have a price tag of USD 2,450, making it one of the most expensive designer sneakers ever.
Gravity Act
The recently-unveiled Dior Gravity collection has unfurled the emblematic Dior Oblique motif in two different dimensions – a maxi version on the bags and a reduced variation on the small leather goods – through an embossing technique. The collection is also distinguished by the leather’s grained texture and suppleness, sublimated in a refined shade of beige. Essential items featuring this innovation include Dior’s messenger bags and the Weekender, as well as a belt, a cardholder, and the B33 and B27 sneakers.