BEAUTY: Clothing--Versace and Ferragamo

Milan Fashion Week is currently happening...not to be confused with Milano Moda Uomo which is for menswear. Traditionally for womenswear, this week features lots of houses, brands, and designers showing men's and women's collections together, on the same runway at the same time.

And two things caught my eye... at Versace and Ferragamo who both showed very high boots for men.

At Versace, they were thigh high and amazing.

And at Ferragamo they were even higher, inching up to the very top of the leg (look #3). The bulk of the collection though was made up of some effective monotonal (the autumn trio of olive green, mustard, and deep plum) looks in leather.

https://www.versace.com/
https://www.ferragamo.com/

BEAUTY: Clothing--Fendi

Fendi was one of two guest designers at this year's Pitti Imagine Uomo in Florence, Italy and creative director Silvia Venturini Fendi took the opportunity to show off a new, €50 million state-of-the-art Fendi leather goods factory located about a half hour outside of Florence. This impressive facility is designed with advanced energy efficiency and minimal landscape impact in mind. The main part of the building has a green roof full of flowers and herbs and beautifully disappears into the Tuscan terrain.

The show was actually set inside the factory floor and attendees were allowed access beforehand to wander around, observe how Fendi leather goods are made, and even interact with and ask questions of the artisans at work. Once it was time for the show, it was easy to see how the artisans themselves and their tools and workwear inspired this Spring Summer '24 collection. The aprons and smocks worn by these craftspeople translated into some interesting garments. Aprons and tool belts became skirts and halter tops, some long and flowing. Smocks became long shirts. While many designers have been working with the apron and workwear idea for many, many seasons now (Thom Browne, Junya Watanabe), this iteration feels slim, natural, and sophisticated. Some outerwear pieces were printed with patterns for Fendi products while a few pieces toward the end of the show were illustrated with actual tools of the trade and floral designs from the rooftop garden! In an eco vein, many garments were dyed from botanical pigments, while other pieces featured a softened F-logo jacquard in indigo and undyed denim. And shoes were shiny rubber clogs. For her bow, SIlvia Venturini Fendi came out with a gaggle of artisans from the factory floor. Do take a look at the fascinating video...the first three quarters are shots of the facility and guests arriving but if you want to scrub through to the show, it starts at 52:25.

https://www.fendi.com/

Bill Amberg Studio Prints On Leather

English leather craftsman Bill Amberg of The Bill Amberg Studio commissioned artists and designers to create patterns to be digitally printed onto leather hides. This new technology offers exciting possibilities in the world of leather upholstery but also other applications as well: leather floor tiles, wallcoverings, and fashion items like bags and shoes!

Avant garde furniture designer Faye Toogood opted for an abstract pattern reminiscent of cave drawings...

...while L.A.-based interior and product designer Natasha Baradaran went a different route with a traditional floral lace pattern.

Design icon Tom Dixon created a pattern that mimics crinkled aluminum foil! This trompe-l'œil effect will surely delight anyone who first sees the pattern and then feels the soft smoothness of the leather!

And interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud imagined a set of hand drawn concentric circles in soft, comforting colors. They recall growth rings of trees.

https://www.billamberg.com/

Berluti and Joseph Dirand

Venerable Italian shoe and leather goods company Berluti paired with Parisian architect and designer Joseph Dirand (previously here) for a recent collection of shoes and bags. What makes this campaign special is that was photographed in Dirand's own Paris apartment (full of his furniture designs) and on Dirand himself! What a handsome man! And I envy that array of Berluti shoes in his entry...

http://www.berluti.com/en
http://www.josephdirand.com/

The Biker Way

BEAUTY: Mixed Media Art--Ronald Cueppens

Belgian graphic artist Ronald Cueppens uses many different materials to create his evocative assemblages including fabric, leather, thread, paper, feathers, wood, and ceramic.


Top to bottom: Appelpitjes Gegeten II; Bloedneus; Dream Child I; Entre-nous; Extra Hearts

http://www.ronaldceuppens.be/