Whilst top designers become major celebrities in their own right, the traffic is by no means one way: this week sees not one but two guys, famous for their sporting abilities rather than skill at pattern cutting, take a leap into the world of fashion. Elsewhere, we have two collaborations, one chic and one cheap and an invention that probably didn’t need inventing. Here is our round-up of recent news.
BOSS collection co-designed by David Beckham
Victoria Beckham’s move from pop star to designer was pretty much a masterclass on how to pull it off successfully, but is her even more famous husband able to do the same? We can see this week as he steps into the shoes as a guest designer of a capsule collection by Boss. To be honest, the clothes look like they are curated from the archives rather than the result of serious pencil-on-paper work, but they are nice enough. We liked the DB suit and the pleated pants, and the use of pale pink hints at the fashion sense of the man who was bold enough to wear a sarong back in the day.
Dior Capsule Collection by Lewis Hamilton
Another day, another multi-tasking celeb trying their hands at clothing design. This time, though, it’s F1 driver Lewis Hamilton doing his second collection for Dior, and this involves a lot more creativity. Inspired by trips to Senegal and Madagascar – and perhaps linked to his co-chairing this year’s Met Gala, celebrating the history of tailoring and Black style – Hamilton has come up with some pretty jazzy stuff – think leopard print shorts and graphic knitwear with some cool bucket hats thrown in for good luck. Maybe there is a second career for this guy when his racing finishes…
Studio Nicholson x POTR Yoshida & Co.
Two brands who really know what they are doing – Studio Nicholson with their understated cult menswear and Yoshida & Co, makers of iconic nylon bags – have this week joined forces to release a mini collection that celebrates the beauty and durability of Japanese taffeta nylon. All made in a deep shade of navy blue, the three pieces nod to the aesthetics of both companies with a chic, urban look. The jury is out on whether we need a key fob and pouch hanging around our neck, but the small cross-body bag and the larger shoulder bag are lovely.
CLOT X McDonald’s ‘McSpicy Alienegra’ Collection
One bag we most definitely will NOT be buying is the monstrosity just released as a collab between accessories brand CLOT (run by Hong Kong/Canadian rapper Edison Chen) and…er… McDonalds. Reinterpreting CLOT’s signature Alienegra print using the colours of McSpicy batter (yes, you read that right), the bag looks like something from a takeaway, which is probably ironic but in fact just plain ugly. And let’s not even start on the matching sneakers…
Byredo X Benoit Lalloz Infra Luna 2.0
Finally, this week’s ‘something you had no idea was needed in the world’ comes in the shape of a lamp that allows you to use a scented candle without actually lighting it. Created for Byredo by Benoit Lalloz, a French product designer, the piece consists of a suspended halogen lamp that hangs above said candle, heating it enough for the aroma to spread around the room. It’s slick and futuristic, but, for us at least, the flame is as big a part of a candle as the actual fragrance, so we think we will stick to low-tech matches.
