CNC LDN is proud and excited to share The World Wide Wardrobe:
Our Vogue Intensive Summer Course students, led by Abigail Cullis have come together to create an amazing global street style platform, The World Wide Wardrobe. Cinzia Maiello reports.
Once upon a time there was a group of young students, coming from all over the world that got together in a magic city, London, to attend the 2015 Vogue Summer Intensive Course at the Condè Nast College of fashion and design.
One of these kids was a charismatic girl from Scotland, Abigail, 22 years old and a law student. One day in class we watched the documentary “Bill Cunningham New York” (2011) about Bill Cunningham the New York Time’s photographer who built his career on the street style phenomenon... we were then challenged by Katie, our lecturer, to capture the fashionable looks around Soho (you can see the results here and here). Here an unbelievable idea sparkled in Abigail’s mind: to create a blog showcasing street style from all over the world, each country and each nationality represented by us.
That is how the World Wide Wardrobe was born. Abigail decided to involve all the students (including myself) in her project to ensure World Wide Wardrobe became a community of international bloggers, coming from all over the world from Australia to Mexico, India to South Africa, Italy to Lebanon. The blog is a platform that captures the best street styles internationally through different lenses as such the website hosts an interactive map of the world which you can use to click on your favourite country and check out their street style.
The blog is not only about street style though. Abigail and the 7 man team produce other content including a beauty corner with hair and make up trends and a reader corner for fashion features.
What is special and makes our blog unique, in an era overwhelmed by blogs, is the international character, indeed only this various, multicultural and creative environment can give rise to a project like this.
Fashion is a way to express yourself, communicate who you are without any single words, and we would like to capture, through the blog, the different approaches that common people on the streets of each country have with style.
As Bill Cunningham says “the best fashion show is definitely on the street. Always has been, and always will be.” This is our mantra, so we hope that you’ll travel with us, taking a look in the people’s wardrobe all over the planet.
The Italian Renaissance was an art movement of the 15th century that quickly influenced contemporary design, and it is recognisable today not only in the enduring architecture and art but in the world of fashion.
Arguably fashion has become simple recycling of ideas with a twist, so it is only natural that modern designers draw inspiration from such a time of intellectual, philosophical and aesthetic stimulation. Christian Lacroix’s SS06 collection was flamboyantly classically inspired, focusing on the clothing of the era, and indulgent textures. More recently, Alberta Ferretti evoked the Renaissance in their interior-inspired AW collection, combining rich gold with painted florals and skies in probably the most obvious reference to the movement. Dolce & Gabbana have also, rather unsurprisingly, turned to their history for inspiration, not only adding depth and decadence to their designs but also emphasizing their traditional values.
The work of Sonia Delaunay has recently been cast into the light for its vast influence upon fashion since her work in the early 20th century, and following the inspiring current exhibition at the Tate Modern, more designs may be emerging with an air of Delaunay. The easiest influences to see will be in colour palettes, but the most interesting willcome when considering the cuts of dresses and the sense of movement that pervades Delaunay’s work in both shifting spirals and simultane prints. Straight silhouettes feature not only in her clothing design and textile work, but in the figures of her paintings and the simple elegance of these both reflect and are reflected in the perennial popularity of minimalism, which is once again on the rise. Having had such an obvious display in the SS15 Junya Watanabe collection which featured her signature simultaneous circle print it is now time to consider the subtler elements: her use of word and poetry in art pieces which is reminiscent of recent Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino collections; the flowing circles of her work which lend themselves so well to direction and styling. Delaunay has the potential to have a huge impact this year as art itself is undergoing a renaissance and hers was so ahead of its time that it is incredibly current.
Vibrant, noisy, and artistic are just some of the words one could use to describe Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A recent visit to New York with the Condé Nast College, provided the opportunity to explore this amazing area.
The shopping experience in Brooklyn is quite different compared to that of Manhattan’s Soho or Madison Avenue. People in Williamsburg are also different from those in Manhattan - much more alternative, their unique style suggestive of Bohemia and endless artistry reflects the area itself.
If you like shopping in East London, Williamsburg is definitely the place for you. It has plentiful little boutiques with special, vintage characters … so take your time to explore. You will be rewarded with unique and impressive pieces, unusual jewellery, amazing old style leather handbags, shoes, clothes and top quality second-hand goods for all budgets! Many artists and designers sell their products in the street, making a walk in this area incredibly interesting, inspiring and interactive. The experience of meeting and talking, face-to-face, with the designers and the creators of whatever catches your attention is fascinating. The photos taken while discovering this fabulous area speak for themselves… we can’t wait to go back!
Oscar Wilde once said: ‘One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.’ In this one sentence, Wilde has summed up the essence of the fashion industry; it’s not about superficialness or snobbery, but culture, design and craftsmanship. Just as you connect with a painting, clothing allows you to connect with yourself, your inner personality, and present it to the world.
Over the years, fashion has taken numerous references from art. Think Gaultier and Impressionism, McQueen and Picasso. Perhaps the most vibrant movement to capture the imagination of designers is that of pop art - note Andy Warhol and the 60s Souper Dress. A movement intensified by Salvador Dali’s stroke of surrealist genius; placing a giant-sized lobster on a white Elsa Schiaparelli dinner dress.
That was 1937. Fast-forward to the 50s and pop art had began to pop, literally.
With designers as feminine and refined as Dior embracing pop art, it’s easy to see why it’s having a moment. Put simply: it’s cool. Nike, famous for its hip authenticity, has featured Roy Lichtenstein inspired designs on its footwear. Adidas and Reebok have adorned theirs with the artwork of Keith Haring. At the other end of the spectrum, Westwood, Jacobs and Vuitton have all taken inspiration from the movement.
And with the success of Sonia Delaunay’s exhibition in London, it seems that the influence of abstract art is in no danger of slowing down any time soon.
Packed with bright colours, geometric shapes and statement writing, expect to see these features filter down to your wardrobe over the next year.
A colour pallet of black, yellow, grey and white will become the fresher, updated monochrome. Checkerboard effect will replace the overdone dog-tooth pattern and smudged utterances will over-take the slogan jumper.
Rectangles, squares, ovals and half-moons will intertwine to create an amalgamation of kaleidoscope-esque prints. Expect to look like an optical illusion, but in a stylish, fresh and simplistic manner. Ok, maybe the imperative is a little over exaggerated, but anticipate Delaunay inspired designs to crop up in forthcoming collections.
New, interesting and innovative! An exciting range of handbags designed by the Irish, Belgian accessory expert Sinead Shannon – Roche.
A brand we discovered some months ago and fell in love with. With a goal to solve that classic wardrobe dilemma, when you just can't find a bag to match your personality, outfit or mood, whatever they might be! Thus the designer launched her own luxury interchangeable handbag brand, “Versa Versa”, three years ago. The idea and the philosophy behind these handmade leather handbags is what we loved. The idea of being able to change the colour and the style of your handbag according to your daily style within a minute is amazing! Furthermore it is incredibly simple - choose the base colour of your handbag and then choose 1,2 or 5 top flaps, from the variety sold separately. You can then detach and change the top cover just by using the zippers.
The Christopher Kane for NARS collection has arrived online.
Eagerly awaited by beauty fanatics all over the world, the collaboration follows previous fashion partnerships with the likes of Phillip Lim, Pierre Hardy and Guy Bourdin.
The British designer has produced a beautiful collection showcased on the models of his London Fashion Week Spring/Summer ‘15 catwalk. The limited edition offerings for eyes, cheeks and lips will feature a range of shades, from subtle natural tints to bold neon hues: something to add a little joie de vivre to anyone’s makeup ritual.
And if the finely milled highlighters or pigmented eyeshadow duos are not enough to tempt you towards your nearest NARS counter, then maybe the stunning matte black and neon pink packaging alone will be enough - not just fabulous for livening up your makeup bag, these products are sure to be collectors items in the future.
Go grab yours before they sell out!
The Christopher Kane for NARS collection is available this week on www.narscosmetics.com.
Well-dressed and heeled ladies are not a rare sight in South Kensington. Nevertheless, when a mini, glamorous, red-soled army, descends upon the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal College of Art on a Saturday morning, you know something exciting is about to happen.
This sea of stilettoes was on its way to spend an hour in the presence of their shoe-god, Christian Louboutin, at this year’s Vogue Festival. Interviewed by Alexandra Schulman, who also flashed her red feet, Louboutin revealed his inspirations, struggles and tips. The audience left with advice on how to travel well (drink lots of water and set your watch to the destination time zone) and even where to set up shop. A street where your store will become a destination, is the right one, according to the, self-proclaimed, shy designer.
The dreaming of destinations and travel continued with the next guest, the extraordinary photographer Tim Walker. Along with Vogue Contributing Fashion Editor, Kate Phelan, the packed lecture theatre was dazzled by their incredible travel stories and got a peek behind the scenes of the magical May Vogue photo shoot in Bhutan. “Fashion is all about us dreaming and becoming something”, enthused Walker about the industry.
While shopping for Vogue emblazoned t-shirts, reusable coffee cups, denim shirts and pencils, the crowds were star struck by an instantly recognizable, French designer and a towering beauty strolling through the venue. Unmistakeably, they were Jean Paul Gaultier and Erin O’Connor. Those lucky enough, or maybe fast enough, to snap up tickets, were then treated to a wonderfully endearing conversation between the designer and the model. The burning questions about his departure from pret-a-porter were explained, while Londoners cheered upon hearing “I did what I did because of London, because of England. To be recognised in England was my greatest satisfaction.”
This optimism and cheerfulness carried on at the last talk of the day, which saw Alexa Chung chatting to the Instagram sensation, Olivier Rousteing of Balmain. His views on social media, mainly his favourite Instagram, as the new, most important and impactful way of communicating with the world was backed up when he admitted: “I’d rather read my Instagram comments” instead of reviews. His love for this medium, and pop culture on the whole, was cemented as he taught the audience, and Alexa herself, how to take the perfect selfie, even taking one with the whole lecture hall. The fashion pack melted as he admitted to wanting to set up an orphanage and walked out by saying “you’re already a part of the army, you’re here!” Whoever said that fashion is selfish and superficial?!
Overwhelmed, inspired and motivated, the festival goers trotted off back home with a lot of food for thought, and those of us privileged enough could hardly sleep for the knowledge of witnessing more amazing speakers and events the next day.
Introducing one of our entrepreneurial CNC Graduates Alexandra Maher
Alexandra's innocative idea for a start up - Style Tube aims to connect London fashion, with London travel, to London businesses. We are championing her in the Virgin Business 'Pitch to Rich' competition and hope you do too, so vote now! Check out her pitch video above and read on for more info.
“Connecting London fashion, with London travel, to London businesses.
“The London Underground is full of bold street-style. Travelling on the Tube every day, it struck me that there was huge potential here for a completely unique take on the street-style blog. By working in partnership with Virgin Media and Transport for London, the Style Tube interactive website and app would be a platform to connect online and London based retailers with fashion conscious Tube travellers, showing viewers exactly how and where to ‘get-the-look’, creating a direct and interactive route to market for retailers, far superior to traditional advertising. Support from Virgin wouldn't just be useful - it is absolutely essential for my idea to succeed! As Virgin Media have exclusive hosting rights to the Underground Wi-Fi, I’ll need their backing if I am to get the reach I need for this to succeed, and that’s why winning Pitch to Rich would, quite literally, be making a dream come true!
If virgin back me on this idea, i know it can work. Not only that, but this has the potential to be huge. Successful street-style blogs are determined by the volume of traffic their pages reach. The greater the exposure, the more advertisers are willing to pay to be a part of it. With 1.26 billion travellers every year on the underground, the exposure this would gain is phenomenal, with the potential to then expand to other underground travel networks across the world. The paris metro, the new york subway… the possibilities for growth are boundless. This idea would change the face of london transport, cementing london’s reputation as the street-style capital of the world. Virgin hasn't had much involvement with the multi-million dollar fashion industry – until now. Get on board - Vote for the Style Tube.”
On the final day of college before our Easter break, my classmates and I were lucky enough to be treated to a screening of the recently released Dior and I, at the gorgeous Curzon Cinema in Mayfair.
Newly appointed Creative Director Raf Simons, fresh from minimalist ready to-wear label Jil Sander, has a mere eight weeks to complete his debut collection for couture house Dior. The film elegantly documents this delicate and high-stakes process, from Simon’s introductory day at Dior, to the climactic showcasing of his first collection. It explores the modernization of a brand notoriously steeped in heritage, whilst granting the viewer with an insider’s view into the rarefied and revered world of Haute Couture.
Director Frederic Tcheng, who was granted unprecedented access within the house, has managed to tread the fine line between detached observation and close examination of the subject and its central character. Using voice-overs from Christian Dior’s memoir, Tcheng draws an intriguing parallel between the hopes and fears of the respective designers, in the same high-pressure situation but with almost 70 years between them.
The film bypasses the common pitfall of portraying employment in the fashion industry as a narcissistic whirlwind of glamour, privilege and backstabbing. Instead, it charts the creative process of a highly talented and long-serving team, whose warmth and wit is a delight to observe.
Simons himself makes for an absorbing and complex protagonist. He remains quietly composed throughout the majority of the film, yet the rare cracks in this demeanor– Simons overcome with emotion as he thanks his staff, or explaining his crippling shyness to a colleague – feel intimate and sincere.
Although Dior and I documents the build-up to a fashion show, the film does not rely on a sense of frenzy, or allow the show itself to dominate the story. It manages to construct an engaging narrative around the lives of two visionaries separated by time, yet bound together by an unconditional devotion to their craft. Rich and considered in its context, Dior and I looks unflinchingly at what it takes – physically, mentally and emotionally – to create something truly beautiful. Every single one of us left the cinema feeling moved, uplifted and inspired.
If you are anything like me, you might experience acute ‘wardrobe regret’ on a regular basis.
‘Wardrobe regret’ happens when you are trying to choose an outfit, and instead of finding the deciding item to tie the whole ensemble together, you pick up something you bought, and now regret.
My biggest regret is currently a pair of beige, super-tight DKNY trousers that I wore once (thinking about the ensuing photos still makes me profoundly uneasy), but they would look great on someone else, perhaps with a little more height.
Some common circumstances under which you might end up with something similar are:
When a shopping experience has made you realize with startling clarity that, to achieve happiness, you need a whole new look immediately: starting with an item that goes with literally nothing else in your wardrobe.
When you love an item yet they don't have it in your size, but you buy it anyway as it will compel you to lose weight or maybe with thick socks those boots will fit.
When shopping online with wine.
You will stare at the mistake with deep disappointment - there it is, obnoxiously taking up valuable wardrobe space, serving no purpose and you don’t know what to do with it...
However, your mistake could be someone else’s treasure, and visa versa. There are a whole host of websites wherein you can sell your unwanted items and make your money back, or just pick up something fabulous. Here are the best three:
COVETIQUE
Covetique is the daddy of online designer resale in the UK. Invested in by ASOS and loved by many, Covetique takes the hassle out of selling in a curated, luxury online environment. You can make money without leaving your laptop with their courier service, and don’t have to faff around taking pictures or writing a description, as they do all the hard work for you. However, in exchange for their trouble, Covetique take 37.5% of the final sale (exclusive of VAT), leaving you with about 55% to keep. This is definitely worth it if you are selling a well-kept investment piece, like a handbag, watch or coat, but your jeans and t-shirts may be better off somewhere else (unless you have 20+ items to sell at a time, in which case they offer a reduced commission rate of 30%). Shopping-wise, Covetique is absolutely top notch, with a huge brand database (designer only), super-fast shipping/returns, and hundreds of hardly worn, beautifully presented pieces at a fraction of their original price.
VESTIAIRE COLLECTIVE
Vestiaire Collective is a French resale company that have recently branched into the UK. TVC has an exceptionally large brand database that ranges from high street to designer, and thousands of international members who you can liaise online with prior to a sale. Commission starts relatively low at 15%, but strangely enough increases to 33% for the cheapest item bracket on the website (0-£50), which seems a little mean considering these are the customers who presumably need money the most. For those of you looking to shop, TVC has a great selection of bloggers whose wardrobes you can shop (Camille Charriere’s is to die for), and exclusive vintage and couture pieces from the likes of Chanel and Louis Vuitton. However, shipping can be slow, many items are poorly photographed and incorrectly priced… and the majority of the customer service team are French, which can be charming but problematic.
DEPOP
Depop is a relatively new app that allows you to sell your unwanted items directly from your phone. Like TVC, Depop doesn’t do brand discrimination, so you will find anything from Cos to Celine. The App is easy to use and runs smoothly, and has a huge international database, including big-time bloggers such as Chiara Firagni. Depop is brilliant in its slick design, simple format and total ease of selling, but buying is more problematic – items are categorized by tagging, so you have to be very specific about what you are looking for. There is also a lot of spam. For instance, a sneaky user could tag a New Look skirt as #Prada to get more views, so wading through this can be frustrating and long-winded.
Made By You – Converse’s new powerful global campaign
Rosi Lederle
Converse celebrates All Stars with their new ‘Made By You’ campaign.
Converse has launched their global ‘Made By You’ campaign to celebrate those who have been expressing their individuality and creativity in Chuck Taylor’s All Stars over almost 100 years.
Their latest campaign was brought to life in London earlier this month to celebrate all who have lived in their Chuck Taylor All Stars for a very long time.
I visited the gallery space on London’s Shoreditch High Street, where the Converse installation featured 2000 All Stars polaroid photos, each showcasing an idiosyncratic portrait of their owner. Beautiful snapshots of the unmistakably unique worlds they inhabit. It was brilliant and felt real, and perfectly reflected the personal connections we all – somehow –have with our Converse sneakers.
‘Made By You’ is a multi-channel global campaign,honouring those individuals wearing and essentially authenticating the Converse brand. The power of the campaign lies in the fact that it inverts a number of branding conventions. Rather than highlighting the product, Converse embraced the people wearing their products. “The people who see the world through the lens of their sneakers,” Geoff Cottril – Converse’s Chief Marketing Officer – said.
Each pair of blank canvas All Stars is ready to tell a unique story. Immediately after purchasing a pair, one becomes a true artist. This is something I first really realised while visiting the exhibition; it uncovers and praises the individuality of some of the city’s most diverse characters.
“Fans of Chuck Taylor are the ones who have made Chuck Taylor an iconic badge of creative self expression and it is about time to celebrate them,” said Ian Stewart, Vice President of Global Marketing. It is this what makes Converse such a unique and interesting brand: their products are defined by the people who wear them, not the brand itself.
Hyères Festival Grand Prix winner Kenta Matsushige for Petit Bateau.
Michiel Steur
“Matsushige’s two worlds meet again: Breton stripes in architectural kimono-inspired silhouettes.”
Japanese designer Kenta Matsushige is the latestaddition to a parade of collaborations in Petit Bateau’s history. TheParis-based designer, who previously worked for Gianfranco Scotti, Anne Valérie Hash, Givenchy and Dior haute couture was the winner of the Grand Prix du Juryat last year’s Hyères Festival and was asked to reinvent some of the label’siconic classics.
During his time at the prestigious fashion schools of ESMOD in Osaka and the Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Matsushige developed a predilection for mixing the elegant with the contemporary. In this collaboration with Petit Bateau, Matsushige’s two worlds meet again: Breton stripes in architectural kimono-inspired silhouettes.
Petit Bateau started working with Hyères Festival in 2013 as part of an ongoing mission to discover new talent. Each year’s winner is given the opportunity to launch an international career by creating a mini-collection for the brand that is available in Petit Bateau stores all over the world. Kenta Matsushige’s work for Petit Bateau will arrive in stores in April 2015.
The next young creative to work with the brand will be decided at the end of April, when the 30th edition of the Hyères Festival International de mode et de la photographie begins.
It was all about throwbacks this season, with each designer taking inspiration from the best eras any beauty addict could ask for.
Reem Acra
The 70’s trendwasn’t limited to Spring/Summer this year; “24 Karat Gold” was the inspiration for the Reem Acra collection. Mark Corrasquilllo made each model into a modern Stevie Nicks with the help of some of Kevyn Aucoin’s makeup masters, giving themodels gold inner corners paired with dewy skin.
Recreate the look:
Kevyn AucoinEyeshadow Duo in #210 Sugared Peach/Rust Brown Shimmer at Space NK
Kevyn AucoinCelestial Powder in Candlelight at Space NK
Rachel Zoe
Charlotte Tilbury workedher magic at Rachel Zoe, using MAC. “Twiggy’s Daughter” was the inspiration forthe look, with the models bypassing the 70’s for the 60’s. Winged liner was accompanied by soft pink lids, cheeks and lips (plus a smattering of faux freckles), resulting in a wearable update of the iconic look.
Recreate the look:
MAC Eyeshadow in Idol Eyes at MAC
MAC Penultimate Eyeliner at MAC
Donna Karan
It was all about the flushed complexion at Donna Karan, with Charlotte Tilbury recreating Lauren Bacall’s natural beauty and dusty rose cheeks with the help of MAC. The 20’s inspired look was given a refresher with light strokes of muted browns and pale creams – easy, subtle and flattering for all skin tones.
Recreate the look:
MAC Lipliner in Boldly Bare at MAC
MAC Eyeshadow in Era at MAC
Carmen Marc Valvo
The models at Carmen Marc Valvo were given show-stopping dolly eyes by Romero Jennings for MAC, with jet-black liquid liner used to draw on cartoon lines that simulated a shadow of natural lashes. The rest of the look was kept flawless but minimal, allowing the faux-flutter to take center stage.
Recreate the look:
MAC Liquid Eyeliner at MAC
MAC Face and Body Foundation at MAC
Tommy Hilfiger
Would it really be fashion week if there wasn’t at least one fresh-faced look on the runway? The girls at Tommy Hilfiger channelled all-American beauty so well it felt like an episode of the O.C! Using MAC, Pat McGrath gave lids a subtle wash of light brown accompanied by strong brows, to create the effortlessly beautiful look we're all eager to possess.
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