#fashionknowledge

Out May 28, Cruella sees Emma Stone step into the villain’s iconic black-and-white ensembles for an origin story that’s less about the how, and more about the why.

“Fashion is Cruella's tool of revenge.”

In the film, we meet Estella — she doesn’t adopt Cruella as her moniker until later — in 1970s London, where she’s trying to establish herself as a formidable fashion force in the city’s punk rock revolution. As she receives more recognition for her work as a fashion designer, trouble comes with it, and it’s through this arc that we see her style evolve from preppy school girl to the grandiose and jaw-dropping style icon Close introduced us to in 1996. Take a look at the mood board below:

With fashion such a central part of the story, Disney tapped a pro for the job of building out the film’s style credentials. Enter Jenny Beavan, a two-time Academy Award-winning British costume designer who worked on Gosford Park, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The King’s Speech. Beavan is an industry legend, but in a film about fashion designers, she’s keen to draw a line between what she does and what we see the characters do on screen.

Academy Award-winning costume designer Jenny Beavan has a zeal for the extraordinary. At the helm of Disney’s new film Cruella – the origin story of how Cruella de Vil came to be the notoriously fashionable villain we know – Beavan, a woman who doesn’t do things by halves, created numerous devastatingly vampy gowns scene after scene. 

Set in 1970s London during the punk revolution, the incredible avant-garde creations form a character unto themselves. Emma Stone plays the titular character, a young seamstress desperate to make a name for herself in the fashion world, and who wages a sartorial war against the established designer Baroness von Hellman (played by a scene-stealing Emma Thompson). Thus, after many an event hijacking, Stone’s Cruella is born. Take a glance at the movie’s most iconic looks:

“This is the biggest thing I’ve ever done,” says Beavan. “The amount of looks for Emma Stone is more than I’ve ever done. She had a total of 47 costume changes, and Emma Thompson had a total of 33.”

References- https://www.bustle.com/  https://www.popsugar.com/  https://wwd.com/  https://graziamagazine.com/

Japanese manga and anime has been voguish in recent years, even on major runways. Fashion has been inspired from various factors and has inspired many factors. It can be called as ‘reciprocity’ between different disciplines/areas.

Reference- https://www.lofficielusa.com/

The Japanese art of storytelling, manga, is known for its distinctive style and widespread popularity. Originating during the 12th century, the early form of comics presented itself as detailed scrolls with vivid visuals and provocative text. The title "manga" became linked to the artistic practice in 1798, during the historic Edo period. By the 1920s, the scrolls evolved into something that closely resembled conventional comic strips and were quickly circulated throughout the public via serialization in newspapers and magazines. Manga generally draws on the themes of satire, romance, and science fiction.

Since its inception, the genre and its video counterpart, anime, has grown to establish a lucrative industry and an international imprint. Well-liked series such as Sailor Moon and Doraemon, in addition to the kawaii character Hello Kitty, have been born out of an explosion of interest in manga all over the world. Moreover, the influence of manga is so powerful, that in recent years the pervasive comics have transcended glossy magazine pages and found their way onto major fashion runways.

Comme Des Garçons Spring/Summer 2018.

Balenciaga Spring/Summer 2020:

But before the biggest designers were turning to manga and anime, the Japanese cartoon world was looking at the Paris runways for inspiration. Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi often fashioned her heroines’ clothes from designer looks from Chanel, Dior, Thierry Mugler, and more. Whereas manga’s influence on fashion is often interpreted as cute or novel, Takeuchi showed how designer fashion co-opted into her magical universe was empowering. In the anime, fashion often underlines the soldier sailor schoolgirls’ powers. When they transform into superheroines, it shows the sequence of their metamorphosis into the mini-skirted, bow-adorned femme fighters.

Princess Serenity from "Sailor Moon inspired by a Dior Spring/Summer 1992 dress by Gianfranco Ferré:

Today, sought-after manga series have blossomed into brands within themselves. Merchandise with popular characters and themed home goods are just a few things that have precipitated out the collective adoration of the various shows and series. However, the manga obsession does not stop there. Major labels such a Louis Vuitton, Moschino, and Prada have all embraced manga on the runway with statement pieces inspired by the signature comic style and direct allusions to viral characters. Recently, Gucci released a Doraemon X Gucci capsule collection for Chinese New Year, placing the manga cat-robot on bags, tees, and more. The artistry of manga, which is indicative of centuries filled with creativity fused with Japanese tradition, is similarly as detail-oriented and beautiful as clothing design. The intersection of the two feels natural yet nuanced as it mixes exclusive luxury with accessible art.

In Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2021 menswear show, creative director Virgil Abloh sought out Reggieknow, an America-based anime artist, to create illustrations to accompany this collection. The manga-inspired motif hit the runway in the form of oversized inflated statues of Reggieknow's characters and clothing adorned with stuffed figures.

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2021 Men's:

Anime styles and allusions are especially prevalent in streetwear. Accessible brands like Uniqlo and Adidas have put out highly successful collaborations with Manga series such as Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z. Moreover, high-end brands, closely linked to hype beast culture, like Supreme and Bape have also engaged in similar collaborations.

Altogether, the fusion of manga culture and popular fashion amalgamates vivid visuals and unparalleled artistry in a way that reminiscent of the playful nature of anime and the importance of clothing design. Many designers have recognized the fine line between the two art forms and have consequently created many memorable runway moments.

Moschino Fall/Winter 2020:

MSGM Spring/Summer 2019:

Comme Des Garçons Spring/Summer 2018:

Gucci Fall/Winter 2018:

Prada Spring/Summer 2018:

Prada Spring/Summer 2018:

Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2016:

Levi's Celebrates Hello Kitty with a 45th Anniversary Collection:

“Hello Kitty and Levi’s are both global lifestyle brands with an impact on culture and fashion.”

“Hello Kitty x Levi’s? I think we’re going to need another word for cute,” said Jonathan Cheung, SVP of Design Innovation at Levi’s, of the range.

Snap up hello kitty products at- https://amzn.to/2ZEhvLu

The capsule contains t-shirts, tops, hoodies, and denim pieces with the ubiquitous red-bowed Kitty making an appearance on each piece. Signature Hello Kitty motifs pop out across the range, while custom red back patches and embossed rivets highlight Levi’s classic style. Oversized white overalls plastered in Hello Kitty print and a denim jacket featuring a beautifully embroidered logo make this celebratory collaboration stand out from the rest.

Thought the fall 2021 season was over? The shows are picking up again in Tokyo, and the best looks are back on the street. Locals are greeting the warmer spring weather with experimental volumes, bold colors, and expressive prints, but you’ll be surprised to see a few minimalist looks, too. Scroll through latest coverage below of the best looks on the street.

Reference- https://www.vogue.com/

Photo- Kira / Tokyofashion.com

Twinning knits, head-to-toe plaids, and quirky accessories are all the rage in Tokyo. 

The year leading up to the 93rd Academy Awards may have looked very different, but one welcome constant was the parade of stunning creations on the red carpet on the iconic night. From a blue duchess satin gown by Louis Vuitton on Regina King and a yellow Cher-inspired cutout Valentino number on Zendaya, to a gilded Vera Wang dress on Andra Day and Angela Bassett in a 1980s-inspired moment by Alberta Ferretti, the ladies brought it for the night and took some chances along the way. We also have to tip our hat to LaKeith Stanfield, who did not sleep on the men's style front, wearing a jumpsuit by Saint Laurent. See who came in to the 93rd annual Academy Awards—and who took home a BAZAAR best dressed nod for their efforts.

Reference- https://www.harpersbazaar.com/

1.Zendaya

Custom Valentino Haute Couture and Bulgari jewels: The major beauty made an impressive entrance in custom lemon-yellow Valentino Haute Couture featuring a strapless silhouette and cutout detail, while simultaneously debuting a coordinating diamond necklace worth $6 million by Bulgari. Not only did she give a sneak peek at the brand’s 2021 high-jewelry collection, Magnifica, she single-handedly redefined the idiom worth a million bucks.

2.Andra Day

Custom Vera Wang Haute and Tiffany & Co. jewels: The United States vs. Billie Holiday star and Best Actress nominee took a true star turn in a cutout, asymmetrical custom liquid-gold metal-mesh gown (created with the help of metal welders) from Vera Wang's new Haute label. She paired her disco-chic standout dress with more than $2 million worth of Tiffany & Co. diamonds.

3.Vanessa Kirby

Custom Gucci and Cartier High Jewelry: The Best Actress nominee for Pieces of a Woman is pretty yet edgy in a custom pale-rose silk gazar column gown with a box pleat train by Alessandro Michele for Gucci. The ultra-feminine hue was offset by a deep-red lip, dark nails, and a subtle cutout detail at the waist. Cartier jewels finished the sleek, '90s-inspired moment.

4.Amanda Seyfried

Giorgio Armani Privé and Forevermark jewelry: The Best Supporting Actress nominee was all Hollywood glamour in this haute couture scarlet strapless ball gown spun out of plissé tulle, featuring a deep-V neckline with ruffle accents and a sweeping, dramatic full skirt. Her pretty updo, diamond earrings, and red pout polished off the look.

5.Viola Davis

Custom Alexander McQueen and Forevermark jewelry: No stranger to the Oscars red carpet, Viola Davis—up for a lead actress statue—was a vision in a white thistle appliqué gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. She finished the look with a Jimmy Choo Venus clutch.

6.H.E.R.

Custom Dundas and Chopard jewels: We're getting Stevie Nicks-meets-Aaliyah vibes from the songstress, who went with a custom, embellished cobalt-blue flared-leg jumpsuit with a hooded cape by Dundas. The singer accessorized with Bonnie Clyde sunglasses and Chopard jewels.

7.Carey Mulligan

Valentino Haute Couture and Sophia Webster heels: Mulligan went for the gold in a stunning Valentino Haute Couture gown that boasted a cutout waist (a major trend of the night). Though the actress may be in line with the recurring themes of the evening, she stood out in this gilded masterpiece.

8.Angela Bassett

Custom Alberta Ferretti and Chopard jewels: Angela Bassett embodied agelessness in a custom red crepe off-the-shoulder gown with draped organza shoulders and a train by Alberta Ferretti. The '80s-influenced look is all about drama, worn with Chopard jewels and sleek hair tucked behind the ears.

9.Laura Dern

Oscar de la Renta and Pomellato jewelry: You could say Laura Dern is a bird of another feather, standing out in a red-carpet crowd that largely embraced cutouts, red, and gold. The full-coverage black-and white gown with a drop-waist and stunning feather skirt was well worth the risk.

10.LaKeith Stanfield

Custom Saint Lauren: We love a man who loves fashion. With this custom Saint Laurent look by Anthony Vaccarello, Best Supporting Actor nominee LaKeith Stanfield proved (once again) that he's willing to redefine what creates a red-carpet moment. His black-and-white '70s-inspired outfit featured a wide, open shirt collar under a belted jumpsuit, paired with brown-lensed sunglasses and a silver chain.

11.Regina King

Custom Louis Vuitton and Forevermark jewelry: The actress nailed the 2021 Oscars red carpet in crystal-encrusted blue duchess satin by Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton. The embroidered gown boasted dramatic flay-away sleeves and a deep-V neckline. King paired the elegant dress with a simple, sleek bob and diamond earrings.

12.Margot Robbie

Custom Chanel Haute Couture: Margot Robbie appeared on the evening's carpet not as an actress, but as a producer of the highly lauded Promising Young Woman. She dressed for the occasion in a custom sheath in ennobled metallic lace with a low back and thin straps, inspired by look 47 from the fall-winter 2019/20 haute couture collection by Virginie Viard.

Check out some more red carpet looks:

13.Halle Berry in Dolce & Gabbana

14.Yuh-Jung Youn in Marmar Halim and Yeri Han in Louis Vuitton

15.Celeste in Gucci

16.Alan Kim in Thom Browne and Vicky Kim

17.Colman Domingo in Atelier Versace

18.Olivia Colman in Dior Haute Couture

Affectionately referred to as “fashion’s biggest night out,” the Met Gala 2021 is a fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The event welcomes stars, young creatives, and industry paragons. The Costume Institute will host its first two-part exhibition, on the theme of American fashion, during 2021 and 2022. Part one, “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” will open in the Anna Wintour Costume Center on September 18, 2021, and will remain on display when “In America: An Anthology of Fashion,” opens on May 5, 2022 in the period rooms of the American Wing. Both shows will run through September 5, 2022. 

Reference- https://www.vogue.com/

The Costume Institute answered the highly anticipated question of whether or not the Met Gala would be making a comeback this year after a hiatus because of the pandemic. The short answer? Yes. But things will look a bit different.

“Over the past year, because of the pandemic, the connections to our homes have become more emotional, as have those to our clothes,” Andrew Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute, said on the choice of theme. “For American fashion, this has meant an increased emphasis on sentiment over practicality.”

Of course, the string of events wouldn’t be complete without corresponding soirees to mark the occasion. Part one of the exhibitions, for the first time since its conception in 1948, will be celebrated on Monday, September 13. Reverting back to the original calendar, the second gala will fall on May 2, 2022.

The 2020 Met Gala was postponed due to increasing COVID-19 restrictions, and was ultimately officially canceled a few months later. Though we didn’t get to see the biggest names in fashion offer their interpretations of the carefully chosen theme—About Time: Fashion and Duration—viewers were still able to see the curation from a safe social distance at the museum.

In the fashion world, designers would be not as successful without their muses, whose influence occasionally even shapes the trajectory of their work and careers.

Reference- https://www.elle.com.au/

With every great fashion moment, there's an iconic designer to thank, and some of the most prolific wardrobe moments in history were the result of a close companionship between designer and muse.

Take Bob Mackie, whose risqué work with Cher catapulted him to global superstardom, or Hubert de Givenchy, who crafted some of the most iconic looks worn by Audrey Hepburn—or in the modern day, Riccardo Tisci, who was one of the first high-fashion names to dress Kim Kardashian West when he was the creative director of Givenchy.

List of the most iconic designer/muse in history:

Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn.

Yves Saint Laurent and Betty Catroux.

Karl Lagerfeld and Ines de la Fressange.

Riccardo Tisci and Kim Kardashian.

Jean Paul Gaultier and Madonna.

Monica Bellucci and Dolce&Gabbana.

Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs.

1. Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn

Hubert de Givenchy, the man behind the house of Givenchy, and actress Audrey Hepburn's relationship was one of the most successful designer/muse duos to date. Givenchy designed the iconic 'little black dress' worn by Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, which cemented the actress as one of the most stylish women of the 20th century.

"His are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality," said Hepburn. The Breakfast at Tiffany's dress also helped Givenchy gain worldwide recognition, and his intricate, feminine designs became the subject of adoration.

2. Yves Saint Laurent and Betty Catroux

Over the span of his working years, Yves Saint Laurent had many female muses, including the likes of Victoire Doutreleau and Paloma Picasso. However, there was one woman who stood out from the rest—model Betty Catroux. The two met in Paris in the early days of Laurent's career and soon became inseparable. Like many of Saint Laurent's muses, she retained a rebellious edge which inspired many of his designs, including the pantsuit.

3. Karl Lagerfeld and Ines de la Fressange

In 1982, Ines de La Fressange became the first model to sign an exclusive modelling contract with Chanel. Fressange became Lagerfeld's muse due to her uncanny resemblance to Coco Chanel, and soon became a popular figure in the fashion industry. In 1989, Lagerfeld and Fressange had an argument after she went to serve as a model for Marianne, the symbol of France.

However, the duo eventually reunited, and Fressange made her return to the Chanel runway at the brand's spring summer '11 show. 

4. Monica Bellucci and Dolce&Gabbana

Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce are long time personal friends with Monica,who they have chosen as their  muse long ago. As Stefano says himself: ‘She expresses perfectly the Dolce & Gabbana woman. She is ravishing – a true Italian icon.’ Domenico is just as complimentary about the actress and describes her beauty as ‘timeless’ and adding that she ‘never fails to inspire us.’

5. Pierpaolo Piccioli and Adut Akech

Piccioli's work as creative director of Valentino is highly acclaimed by fashion critics, and supermodel-in-the-making Adut Akech could be considered his main muse. 

We have a proper fashion story out of the May 2021 American Vogue. Top-tier models Adut Akech and Imaan Hammam featured here.

Reference- https://anneofcarversville.com/

Vogue’s message is:

“With trailing hemlines and pumped-up volume, larger-than-life looks make one thing clear: More is very much more. “

Tonne Goodman styles Dutch woman Imaan with Egyptian-Moroccan heritage and Australia’s Adut of South Sudanese heritage in ‘Proportions’, an underwhelming name for such a gorgeous editorial lensed by Ethan James Green. Hair by Lucas Wilson; makeup by Diane Kendal.

Styling: Tonne Goodman

Model: Adut Akech and Imaan Hammam

Photographer: Ethan James Green

Hair: Lucas Wilson

Make-up: Diane Kendal