Filed under: Fashion, What's Haute? | Tags: China designers, fashion, Jiang Qiong Er, Kengo Kuma, Shanghai, Shopping guide
STUDIO P.I
Shanghai’s trendsetters head to this fashion-forward boutique for clothing by local female design duo Lu Min and Can. Min has quite the design pedigree, having worked in New York and Paris with Donna Karan and Givenchy’s haute couture lines, and she and Can bring a sense of sleek city chic to the unisex brand.
347 Zizhong Road, Shanghai
+86 21 5382 2893
studio-pi.co.uk
SHANG XIA
Launched in 2010 as a collaboration between Hermès and Shanghai-born CEO and artictic director Jiang Qiong Er, Shang Xia is a collection of read-to-wear and interior pieces that give a contemporary take on Chinese craftsmanship traditions. This shop is the brand’s first outlet. Visitors to the stunning boutique – which was designed by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and resembles a cloud, with undulating walls constructed from the white weaving fabric – will find scarves of Mongolian cashmere, sculptural cashmere felt jackets, hand-carved jade chains, eggshell porcelain vessels abd zitan wood chairs.
F1, South Tower, Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Haihai Middle Road
+86 21 6390 8899
shang-xia.com
SHANGHAI TANG
It wouldn’t be a Shanghai shopping feature without this design house, known globally for its distinctly modern brand of high quality China chic. But of all its boutiques, this location may be one of the best. Not only will you find sleek silk pyjamas, elaborately embroidered slippers, handmade dresses and leather accessories, but across the street there’s a world’s first Shanghai Tang Cafe with a menu of updated Chinese classics.
15 Xintiandi North Block, Lane 181, Tai Cang Road
+86 21 6384 1601
shanghaithang.com
MARY CHING
China’s answer to Manolo Blahnik, the London-educated, Shanghai-case shoe designer Alison Mary Ching Yeung presents a stunningly sexy selection of stilettos and more demure ballet flats (worn by the likes of Carla Bruni) at her funky, avant-garde boutique. Think mannequin legs clad in technicolor tights extending from frames hung on black-painted walls.
Ferguson Lane, 376 WuKang Road, Boutique 106
+86 134 8286 9378
marychingshanghai.com
MADAME MAO DOWRY
This two-floor boutique is well-know for its cultural revolution-themed relics, like life-size Mao statues and vintage propaganda posters. Those not-so-into the communist-era curiosities will still find much to love, including antique curios and colourful hand-woven silk jackets.
No. 207 Fumin Road
+86 21 5403 3551
madamemaosdowry.com
HONG MERCHANT
China-philes looking for inspiration for their abodes should make a beeline for this 1920s mansion. Hong Merchant (or the House of Pia Pierre) is the go-to place for antiques – whether you’re looking for the chairs from the Qing dynasty or Art Deco lacquerware. It also functions as a contemporary art gallery that displays pieces created through its artists-in-residence program. The showroom is by appointment only, so be sure to have concierge to call ahead.
No.3, Lane 372, Xingguo Road,
+86 21 6283 2696
hongmerchant.com
Filed under: Fashion | Tags: 2012, Natasha Poly, Prada, runway, Spring/Summer, steven meisel, Video
Prada just reinforced their Spring Summer campaign with a video that gives a cheerful nod to 1950’s American dream. Shot by Steven Meisel, the flamed stilettos match the bold colours on the retro rides and bright bags are unashamedly fierce.
Natasha Poly, Kati Nescher, Meghan Collison, Elise Crombez, Ymre Stiekema and Kathryn Kruger all play their parts in marching and staring each other out in those candy-coloured pleated dresses, bejewelled jackets and of course those killer heels!
Here is our selection of Prada’s S/S 2012 favourite runway looks:
Filed under: Accessories, Fashion, Haute Art | Tags: Boucheron, Cartier, Chopard, diamonds, Hublot, luxury, Richard Mille, Swiss movement, Timepieces, Ulysse Nardin, Van Cleef & Aprels, Watch
A multitude of talented artisans turn to nature for inspiration and the modern Haute Horlogerie is no different. Last year we have seen an animal-inspired trend to grow, amplify and mature into something absolutely incredible. Below is a selection of latest luxury timepieces created by the top Swiss watchmakers.
Boucheron Crazy Jungle Hathi
In true Boucheron style , the latest watches reveal the depth and expertise of the company’s craftsmanship. The beautifully enamelled faces of these watches show ancient designs brought brilliantly up to date, alongside exotic depictions of animals such as elephants, crocodiles and flamingos. The colours and beauty of these designs make them highly sought after by watch collectors today, so prepare to be inspired.
Piaget Limelight Garden Party
Birds gently resting on delicate branches form the picturesque dial of Piaget‘s Limelight Garden Party watch. The beautiful diamond-set dial in a white-gold case, also set with brilliant-cut diamonds, and a diamond-set buckle make this the perfect choice for women. The birds themselves turn on the branches with every movement of the wearer’s wrist.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tourbillon
In this gem-set version, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tourbillon Enamel depicts cranes perching delicately on the engraved silver dial, crafted using a translucen guilloche enameling technique. Like a trompe l’oeil painting, it highlights every detail of the motif with infinite precision.
Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Bird
During the Enlightenment, the realism of the singing birds invented by Jaquet Droz amazed the royal courts of Europe. Today, the watchmaker had drawn on its heritage to release three limited edition models that are masterpieces of stunning decorative art. In the latest interpretation, the singing birds are shown to their best advantage on an ivory Grand Feu enamelled disc, which the artist uses as a canvas to reveal his talent for this ancient art.
Mira Fée Céleste
Mira‘s Fée Céleste is an interpretation of feminine watchmaking with three models in diamond-set steel or pink gold. Inspired by an article on swans read by one of the Mira designers. The article spoke of the romance of the swans or ‘love birds’ as they are sometimes called, for once the swans have become a couple they will never leave each other. The result is a stunning watch depicting the gorgeous curved and bejewelled image of a bird floating gracefully on the dark lake of the dial waiting for her partner to arrive.
Hublot Big Bang Leopard
Hublot‘s Big Bang Leopard makes a much-acclaimed return and fits seamlessly into the genre-mixing trend, which is seeing a merging of daytime and evening dress codes. This model is set to take centre stage and win over the ultra-fashionable – it’s out with the femme fatale leopard-print look and in with this new take , which is wild yet refined.
Zannetti Regent Dragon
Designed to satisfy the discerning connoisseur, especially those in the Oriental markets, Zennetti‘s Regent Dragon stands out for its remarkable features. It displays superb finishing details on the dial, case, back case and clasp, and the sinuous gold bas-relief dragon is applied on the dial as well as being engraved on the back case. Available in both gentlemen’s and ladies’ versions.
Chopard L.U.C. XP Urushi
East meets West in these exquisite LUC XP Urushi timepieces crafted by Chopard using Urushi, the ancestral Japanese are of lacquering. Supervised by Kiichiro Masumura and designed, painted and adorned with gold dust by the Yamada Heiando Company, an official supplier to the Emperor of Japan, these works represent the five basic elements of the universe according to the ancient philosophy of Chinese natural science.
Cartier Tortue XL
In 2011 Cartier presented six new animal creations – a magical menagerie that showcases the unusual union of artisanal skills and watchmaking expertise. Artistic crafts that enrich an compliment each other provide new realms of creativity. In these watches, Cartier proves that true craftsmanship is a beautiful sight. Shown above is the stunning Tortue XL yellow gold jaguar motif, with its hypnotic eyes.
Richard Mille RM 026 Tourbillon
The design and inspiration for this Richard Mille creation are fully grounded in the eternal themes of nature, Gaia, the Earth Mother, and the passage of time. The coupled serpents are ruby, emerald and diamond encrusted, but there are several other versions available, encrusted in precious, semi-precious or engraved stones.
Van Cleef & Arpels Poetic Complications
Skies of turquoise enamel, waves and clouds in mother-of-pearl, animals with coats of diamonds, flowers of rubies, leaves of emeralds – the most precious materials ennoble high-precision movements, giving time a poetic dimensions that is unique to Van Cleef & Aprels. These exceptional watches from the Poetic Complications Collection truly tell us their stories in an extraordinary way.
Ulysse Nardin Caprice Panda
The Ulysse Nardin Ladies Caprice Panda in 18ct white gold takes its inspiration from the bear beloved for its distinctive beauty and serene magnetism. A symbol of strength and resilience, the gentle giant is known as a creature of mystery and mystique. Depicted in plethora of black and white diamonds on a brilliant white background, a mother panda and her cub feast on a bamboo – can it get any cuter?
Filed under: Fashion | Tags: ankles, Mathias Bergh, Mirte Maas, Neva Lynne Jaffe, S/S 2012, skirt lengths, tom ford, Ziegfeld coin test
Tom Ford did a Karl Lagerfeld and shoot own Spring/Summer 2012 campaign, which turned out to be infectiously happy. It showcases rich jewel tone suits, shirts and skirts that are perfect for between seasons, but the overall attitude screams of spring.
As for the models, Tom Ford chose Mirte Mass, a 20-year old Dutch beauty, who had a monumental season for a newcomer walking 36 shows for big names like Chanel, Prada, Chloé, Versace and Louis Vuitton to name a few.
..and a male import from Sweden Mathias Bergh, who landed four campaigns in his debut season.
You may notice that the ankles are a focal point of the collection, it comes at no surprise that Ford saw this through into the campaign with Mathias Bergh nibbling away at Mirte Mass’ ankle.
But what’s the fascination with female ankles you ask? Well, ever since we raised our skirt lengths above the ankles, men have been intrigued… Think of it as an appetizer to where they lead.
Did you know Zeigfield wouldn’t allow girls in his Follies whose ankles and knees didn’t touch. It was a sign of perfectly proportional gams.
Neva Lynne Jaffe demonstrating the old Ziegfeld coin test (1948)
There you go ladies, this season according to Mr. Ford, ankles, affection, laughing and occasional nudity are in.
Filed under: Fashion, What's Haute? | Tags: digital, iPad, iPhone, Karl, Karl Lagerfeld, LeWeb, net-a-porter
Last week Paris hosted yet another major event – this time bringing together the most influential audience in the Internet ecosystem. There we saw top industry entrepreneurs, executives, investors, bloggers and what seemed an unlikely guest – Karl Lagerfeld.
Karl Lagerfeld at LeWeb'11
The fashion’s grandfather is known to give preference to old-school paper and fax machines, but during his LeWeb interview, he confessed his love for Apple’s gadgets (he owns 20+ iPads mainly used for sketching) and displayed his excessive assembly of iPhones – all customised with his own silhouette on the back.
Lagerfeld's four iPhones and three iPods neatly tucked in the leather case by Céline
We all know Karl likes to dip his gloved fingers in many pies and right now he is working on the most anticipated project for the general fashionista – a more affordable clothing brand (with a very original name) Karl.
The Face of 'Karl' – Anja Rubik
Natalie Massenet from net-a-porter came along to announce the launch of a new collection, which will be available online exclusively from January 25th 2012. ‘Fashion today comes from a lot of pieces, it’s not a complete look. New things spice up what you already have. The approach is more casual because things are less expensive,’ – says Lagerfeld. Here comes the teaser:
Since Karl’s new clothing line will be completely launched online bypassing the traditional invitation-only runway and media showing, you can be the first one to see it! Register for updates here.
by Olga Titarenko
