I met Fashion Designer Brett Johnson in Milan at Fashion Week Men during his eponymous label’s presentation on via Manzoni. Tailored, luxury materials are the elements of all his collections. Curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to know what influenced him to become a designer. With co host Alex Popov, we discuss fashion and what men should have in their wardrobe.
However, I am inspired to work on my shoe count after this shoe count. A person can never have enough. I’ll keep you posted.
Two shows that impressed me this Couture Season, Fashion House Balenciaga returned to Couture stage this season after 53 years. Hard shoes to fill, Cristobal is revered in the fashion world. Creative head Demna Gvasalia had his hands full. The expectations of failure came to my mind. Happily, “disappointed” because Demma step up the plate, swung the bat for a home run. Reinterpreting a master is not easy, finding a modern balance with a line to the heritage. Let’s consider the world is still suffering from Covid 19. Why introduce a couture collection? A long shot.
The lamp shade hats hooked me. Showstopper! The glorious piece topping a wool sleeveless frayed looks. Of course the over size suits hit the eyes with the glorious sensation of a child seeing cotton candy, sheer delight.
Valentino
Valentino in Venice, not the normal location for the Italian house to have a Haute Couture fashion show. But, these are not normal times. Staging the catwalk in Italy, Pierpaolo Piccioli pulled the pride card, who can blame him given Italy’s
struggles over the past 17 month. Doing what Valentino has done best, matching the classy with the spectacular touching on ethereal. The vibrant color palette gave the touch of optimism.
Where to start on the looks? Eighty four creations in all shown at Venice Ship year. Being from the American South, of course will catch my attention. Throw in lavender, I will it a winner. The feathered top piece and mini leather cloaked dress was a stunner. Mixing in menswear with capes, oversized scarves and loose jackets, I guess there was a statement, yet, I missed it. Don’t get me wrong, the looks were superb, but i would rather have watched them in a mens show.
Life feels uncertain these days, however, “Creative is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.”
AGAIN! Another reopening, in time for the summer. We have been through this before. A part of me thinks these lockdowns are a trail run for a societal behaviormodification program. But, a least the city opened again. Life is sort of normal. Whatever that means in 2021.
I decided to meet a good friend at the KaDeWe department store for lunch. How middle class! I got to the front entrance. If only it could have been so simple. NOPE! I woke up early to get a Covid test valid for 24 hours.
A new app has taken the stores by storm, or holding it prisoner, LUCA. All shoppers have to scan the Google bar code before entering establishments. I did not get the memo. A tall handsome blonde security person told me I could not enter without the new tracking tool.
After a twenty minute ordeal of trying to download this tracking app, the door person told us we can show the negative notice and register inside. Really Pamela Anderson! Telling us this information AFTER all the trouble. OK!
Line one for the entrance registration took 3 minutes.
Up to the food floor. All the culinary sections were roped off, one way in or out. Getting to an area was the same as a mouse in a maze searching for the cheese in the center. We decided on the Kartoffelacker, known for potato plates. But first, we had to show our Covid Status, AGAIN! Then filled out another form. Thankfully, the restaurant service was exceptionally attentive.
Another Form
After 90 minutes of food, wine and chatting we decided to do some shopping in the 7 floor cathedral of consumption. Down we went to the menswear area. Sadly, nothing was on sale. On the ground floor, heaven and fun. “Dream as if you’ll live forever”, James Dean said. Talking to the sales people at Fendi and Tiffany sales people. My shopping partner loves the Blue Box jeweler.
Suddenly, I remembered an event that required a gift. Back upstairs for coffee. Guess what! AGAIN! Another form and we had to show the staff our status.
Chanel and Coffee
Thankfully, there is a stationary department on the 5thfloor with cards and pens. My life was saved.
I saw Studio 189 on a luxury website. The Ghana brand eye catching patterns peaked my curiosity. The brand collaboration between actress Rosario Dawson and Adrima Eriah is a rising star in the fashion world with social justice credentials by supporting African production.
Walking down the Berlin’s most commercial Boulevard on Saturday during the midday. After three months in lockdowns, this is the surreal result. In the old times the side walks would be bustling with shoppers, people hanging out, restaurants teeming. This year, no! As the New Normal grips the world, this once prominent location feels abandoned. Lost in a bygone time, stores are closed, shop locales permanently shuddered. I hope this is not a glimpse of physical retail’s future. Dystopian, a scene from the television show Black Mirror.
Imagine,,, walking on a cold, lonely street with no people, no place to sit. All because you have a shopping appointment at an exact time. Pretty Bleak.
The Before Tacky podcast discusses the virtual Milan Fashion Week for Fall 21. What did we think? What are the upcoming trends? Who designed the sexiest looks? Click Below for Part 1.
Today, I read Gucci’s sales fell 10%. Sales in China saved the copernicus luxury brand from collapse. Last week LVMH put the brakes on Superstar Rhianna’s fashion line after two years. These stores are not a surprise in the current environment where consumers are in a holding pattern. The Black and Paper Fashion Lowdown report has been in the planning stages for a few weeks. I got tied up with other features. Also, the daily news from the fashion and retail world floods my in box. Keeping up with the fashion industry headlines evolved int a full time job. I read the daily using press. One grim reminder after another on the new world we are navigating. Layoffs, bankruptcies, unsold merchandise, the end is not around the corner. 2020 was a great reveal. 2021 will be reality.
Shopping Mall mothballed since December.
After having conversations with fashion professionals from around the world, my conclusion is: Uncertainty. A reset will happen, a slimmer. more grounded business.
