Ray Chu - S/S 2023 - Full Collection

Ray Chu - S/S 2023

RAY CHU is a Disruptive, Sexy, A-gender RTW brand established in 2016. A unique combination of refined quality, innovative craftsmanship and the use of carefully placed cut- outs emboldens the brands core, genderless identity. Chu’s silhouettes and cuts are created to empower confidence. Sustainable by nature, RAY CHU works with dead stock fabric, organic cotton, vegan leather and only produces clothing to order. The Spring Summer 23 Collection sees RAY CHU presenting 25 complete genderless looks with a unique, distinctive and contemporary aesthetic, the KISS ME collection pays homage to sensuality with an experimental implementation. This season features bold silhouettes with a subtle dreamy colour palette, paired alongside intricate additions suchas the lace embroidery and hand sewn details. Turquoise Blue, Bone Ivory and Powder Violet are three key colours of the CHAPTER V KISS ME collection, the vivid colour palette is used as a visual expression of the passionate personal desires that inspire the Spring Summer 23 collection. RAY CHU’s recognisable metallic logo and motifshave also made their way into the collection being applied across simple crop tops to balance the statement sequinpieces and strong tailoring seen throughout Spring Summer 23. Being a positively conscious and sustainable label, CHU collaborated with the Taiwanese LAB 808 to create anew vegan leather using recycled plastics, tea leaves and pineapple fibres to build the key fabrics for this collection. RAY CHU in collaboration with extraordinary Japanese artist, Tomomi Mizukoshi, co-created the “Kiss Me” motiffrom which the collection takes the name - represented with two eggplants French kissing each other. CHU and Mizukoshi also worked together to create RAY CHU’s first featured print that takes inspiration from the romantic Thailand sunset. Tomomi Mizukoshi’s works are inspired by daily life, through her humorous, formal, andconstitutive artistic expression, she redefines the world and creates a crazy and wonderful two-dimensional space. This powerful sense of control over every element provides the viewer with an unusual aesthetic of neatness andorder, making Tomomi Mizukoshi's illustrations surreal and the perfect fit for RAY CHU’s Spring Summer 23collection. In addition to his Spring Summer collection Ray Chu has been working alongside MISS 21 to introduce a brand newcapsule of footwear that will also be launched October of this year. This season’s showcase has a general focus on fluidity and holds an emphasis on the journey to LOVE, whatever form that may take for an individual. The presentation highlights the intimate moments to finding ones inner peace.

Front Row In Pictures At Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week took place approximately two weeks ago, and we have curated a collection of our favourite looks from the most recognisable faces in the front rows. This photo speaks volumes without any introduction. The saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" holds true here. With iconic figures in the fashion world such as Kim Kardashian and Anna Wintour gracing the occasion, the celebration of designer Olivier Rousteing's brand takeover becomes all the more significant. Notably, Rousteing shares a close bond with the Kardashian/Jenner family. It's undeniable that these captivating ensembles will create ripples both online and in the streets in the months to come. The Colombian superstar J Balvin has taken over the European fashion scene by storm. Over the past few seasons he has become a fashion icon attending some of the most prestigious shows and even collaborating with Nike’s Air Jordan 2 in May.
Jonah Marais at London Fashion Week with Justin Cassin

Justin Cassin SS23 - Backstage Interview

Last week Justin Cassin showcased their most recent menswear collection as part of London Fashion Week SS23. Many celebrities and high profile models walked on the runway to add to the excitement of the designer’s first time on the London fashion scene, and we were lucky enough to be given backstage access where we were able to talk with Justin Cassin himself about his inspiration, theme and the future of his brand. We also got to speak with Ishod Wair - an American skateboard superstar who recently launched a collaboration with Nike’s SB to create skateboarding shoes. Everything about this show screamed youthful energy and excitement, from the upbeat music, the sunset making its way through the ceiling windows, to the location itself - Seymour Hal, an art deco grade II listed building from the 1930s. Backstage photos by Puja Bhatia @p.b_photography22 This season it was all about personality at the Justin Cassin show as the clothes complimented the wearer and vice versa. Jonah Marais from Why Don’t We, opened the show wearing an all black outfit - relaxed double breasted blazer, oversized trousers and leather shoes, accessorised with a pendant necklace and a ring. Ishod Wair - the American skateboard star from New Jersey, wore asymmetrical cropped, flowy black trousers matched with a white jumper with a V-neck and a black trim., brown leather sandals and a gold necklace helped finish off the look. Justin Cassin’s designs blur the lines between traditional and contemporary fashion and act as a commentary on the current trends magnified by fast fashion where everyone wears the same and ends up a clone of one another hence losing individuality and personality in the process. His message with this collection is that everyone is welcome to be on his runway, he wants to inspire people to be themselves and to be proud of their individuality. The show also featured Christian Arno and Jonathan Steinig. Christian Arno wore high waisted houndstooth patterned trousers styled with a tucked in hot orange jumper; and Jonathan Steinig wore a silky purple shirt with an oversized pussybow tie paired with wide cropped white trousers. The finale look also worn by Jonah Marais featured an oversized winter coat in white with black splatters of paint worn bare chested matched with flowy black trousers. The collection brought a refreshing twist to classic menswear, featuring innovative designs that captivated the audience. One standout piece was an asymmetrical white shirt with shirring on one side and flowing fabric on the other, paired with light white trousers, reimagining the traditional white shirt into a relaxed, comfortable outfit. This creative departure from formal wear highlighted Cassin's ability to infuse variety and interest into staple pieces. Another highlight was a black shirt with three horizontal rows of white buttons, creating a striking polka dot-like pattern and paired with black trousers. This design turned a simple look into a visually captivating ensemble. The collection also showcased unique fabrics that shimmered under the lights of Seymour Hall. A sheer shirt with starlight-like patterns and a belted jacket with metallic-looking material added a subtle sheen, demonstrating Cassin’s dedication to transforming ordinary menswear into extraordinary garments. Justin Cassin’s runway show was a delightful display of creativity and innovation, leaving the audience excited for the brand’s future collections. The SS23 collection proved that Cassin continues to push the boundaries of menswear with unconventional and captivating designs.

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Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson at the MET Gala

Kim Kardashian Allegedly Ruins The Marilyn Monroe Dress

Multiple sources have claimed that allegedly the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress has been ripped and completely destroyed after Kim Kardashian wore it at the Met Gala last month, raising questions about conservation and the interest of Ripley’s in the matter. The Met Gala 2022 is a fundraising benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Celebrities collaborate with designers to show off their hottest looks of the season, and this time in usual fashion of the Kardashians, Kim was determined to not just show off but to become the talk of town - and more specifically the talk of the internet, press, media, TV news and… well, you get the idea. So what better way to accomplish that than to parade with your influence over all layers in society, I mean she freed people from prison, brought change to the juridical system in the US, so now she had laid eyes on the dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for the Happy Birthday Mr. President moment we are all familiar with. When she initially went in to try on the dress however, she was unable to fit into it, and Ripley’s were clear that no alterations were to be made to the dress with their statement: “great care was taken to preserve this piece of pop culture history. With input from garment conservationists, appraisers, and archivists, the garment’s condition was top priority … no alterations were to be made to the dress and Kim even changed into a replica after the red carpet!⁠” However, Kim’s determination meant that she would go on an extreme weight-loss regime to try and squeeze into the dress. It involved a vegetable-centric diet, lots of time on the treadmill and wearing a sauna suit twice a day. “It was such a challenge,” she said. “It was like a role, I was determined to fit it.” A month later however, images have appeared in a blog post suggesting damage to the dress, with tearing on the back where the zipper is, hanging off or missing altogether rhinestones and just all sorts of irreparable damage. Now don’t get me wrong this is not the pinnacle of fashion, at the end of the day it is literally a simple nude dress covered up in rhinestones but it marks an important historical moment, especially considering Monroe’s tragic death after becoming a global phenomenon. For comparison a photo of the dress from 2016 shows that no damage at the time was present on the dress, when it was auctioned and bought by Ripley’s.

The Lyst Index Is Out And Gucci Is The Hottest Brand Again

Unexpectedly, Nike claimed the second spot, leaping from its previous position at number 11. This success is largely due to a reported 59% increase in digital sales. Additionally, the recent lawsuit scandal over the unauthorized "Satan Shoes" significantly boosted its visibility and sales. Dior secured the third spot, marking its debut on the platform. Previously, its traditional and strategic selling approach had kept its sales data off Lyst. However, rising demand for second-hand and vintage Dior pieces, along with external data, now brings it into consideration. Key factors contributing to Dior's successful quarter include their AW21 Versailles virtual runway show, the appointment of Blackpink's Kim Ji-soo as a global ambassador, and the innovative Snapchat lens for trying on sneakers in AR. Balenciaga closely follows in fourth place, with its success attributed to the brand's decision to go fur-free and the popularity of its glow-in-the-dark capsule collection.
Kim Kardashian is the new face of Balenciaga 2022 campaign. Shown wearing a bar jacket

Kim Kardashian Is The New Face Of Balenciaga

The new Balenciaga campaign also features the return of the friends of the brand from the Autumn campaign, Justin Bieber and the French acting legend Isabelle Huppert, continuing to solidify the brand's commitment to blending high fashion with celebrity appeal. A standout in the campaign, Kim Kardashian, has been donning Balenciaga almost religiously since last year. Her dedication to the brand was first highlighted with her undercover appearance at the Met Gala, where she wore the full black custom Demna look with a dramatic long trail, capturing the essence of mystery and avant-garde fashion. This bold statement was followed by her iconic pink ensemble, complete with gloves, for her debut on Saturday Night Live. Her connection to Balenciaga was further solidified during the promotional events for her now ex-husband Kanye West’s "Donda" album, where her choice of attire once again spotlighted the brand’s innovative designs. At the time of writing, the only photo featured on the completely wiped out Instagram feed of Balenciaga is Kim casually taking a selfie in her LA mansion. In this snapshot, she effortlessly models a fitted top and leggings, accessorized with the iconic Balenciaga sock boots and the season's new favorite, the key-lime Le Cagole shoulder bag in crocodile calfskin. This minimalist yet chic look underscores Balenciaga's ability to blend everyday wear with high fashion. In another striking image, Kim is seen sporting the label’s Boxy Fake Fur Coat, paired with the Le Cagole statement shoulder bag in black and knee-high leather boots. Each piece is carefully curated to showcase Balenciaga's luxury aesthetic and its commitment to ethical fashion choices, with the fake fur coat being a nod to sustainable luxury. Kim Kardashian seems to have a Balenciaga look for every occasion. In celebration of passing the bar exam, she wore an outfit reminiscent of her Met Gala look, this time in a stunning deep blue with a trail. This ensemble was completed with matching boots and complemented by dazzling ear pieces, epitomizing sophistication and elegance. Balenciaga's latest campaign not only reinforces its reputation for bold and innovative designs but also highlights the symbiotic relationship between the brand and its high-profile ambassadors. With Kim Kardashian at the forefront, Balenciaga continues to push the boundaries of fashion, blending classic elegance with contemporary edge, and ensuring that each campaign is more captivating than the last.