BEST DRESSED: Leading figures within the fields of art, fashion, music, movies and business gathered Tuesday night in London on the Serpentine grounds for its legendary annual summer party while marveling at this 12 months’s pavilion, designed by architect Lina Ghotme.

A lot of them dressed to impress for the occasion, which is best known in popular culture for when Diana, Princess of Wales, wore a black Christina Stamboulian dress dubbed “the revenge dress” to the party in 1994.

Bianca Jagger arrived on the party in her signature white ensemble, looking effortless and practical, as she kept her reading glasses hanging round her neck while posing for cameras wearing sunglasses. She was accompanied by American record producer Nile Rodgers, who accessorized his elegant black suit with a Chanel brooch, and a quilted cross-over mini bag from the brand.

Each Emma Weymouth and Diane Kruger opted to wear dresses designed by David Koma. Kruger’s sultry body-con look was custom-made by Koma, inspired by the brand’s fall 2023 collection. While Weymouth sported a sequined orange dress with ostrich feathers at the underside from the brand’s pre-fall 2023 collection.

Emilia Wickstead was one other winner of the night because the designer dressed each Minnie Driver and Alexa Chung for the party. Driver wore a strapless dress in black bonded satin with pearl and crystal embellishments from the spring 2023 collection. Chung picked a dress in pink floral taffeta faille from the pre-fall 2023 collection.

Other notable attendees of the Serpentine summer party included Venus Williams, Andrew Garfield, Ellie Goulding, Natasha Lyonne, Lena Dunham, Justin Theroux, Georgia May Jagger, Jourdan Dunn and Anna Cleveland.

Big fashion designers got here to the party as well. Paul Smith was spotted measuring Orlando Bloom’s muscular arm. Andreas Kronthaler arrived along with his late wife Vivienne Westwood’s granddaughter Cora Corré, and Roksanda Ilinčić was accompanied by Golda Rosheuvel, who played Queen Charlotte in “Bridgerton,” and poet Arch Hades.

Erdem Moralıoğlu wore an informal beige suit with a red cap for the party, while his date for the night, actress Ruth Wilson, looked graceful in a ruffled green top from the designer’s fall 2023 collection.

Playing a wild card here, Burberry’s Daniel Lee set himself aside from the remaining by wearing a daring, optical illusion-inducing ensemble for the night.

The night began with a live performance by the Aga Khan Master Musicians produced in partnership with the Aga Khan Music Programme, with limited-edition macarons by Ladurée. The party was followed by a DJ set by Benji B and a performance by Major League DJz. — TIANWEI ZHANG

READ UP: Louis Vuitton recently took over three fashionable roasters in downtown Shanghai and transformed them into pop-up bookstores.

As a purely local initiative, it was a small endeavor that drew a big crowd, with enthusiastic fans forming long lines in front of the pop-ups despite the scorching heat.

For the weeklong affair, which launched last Sunday, Louis Vuitton transformed three established coffee spots — Metal Hands Café, Plusone Café and Manner Café — into monochrome spaces in red, yellow and peppermint, which is in sync with the book cover colours of Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai throughout the brand’s City Guide Series.

Shoppers queued for a likelihood to buy a title from the maison’s City Guides, Fashion Eye or Travel Books collections. Upon buying any two titles, customers receive a Louis Vuitton City Guide souvenir tote bag.

The Shanghai pop-ups are one in every of Louis Vuitton’s recent localized initiatives to infuse cities with “color and culture.” In April, a bookstand and outdoor café launched at The Hall, Louis Vuitton’s Chengdu restaurant, to have fun the City Guide and “the art of travel.” A second bookstand was launched within the seaside city of Xiamen this June.

In keeping with Vuitton, the bookstand project will proceed to be rolled out all year long.

An updated version of the Shanghai travel imprint may even hit the shelves later this 12 months, guest edited by an area creative.

Despite luxury brands’ shift to give attention to high-net-worth clientele, catering to the young and savvy is just as crucial for gaining street cred and harnessing brand awareness. Chinese netizens largely welcomed the pop-up initiatives, lauding the brand for being “all the way down to earth,” one fan exclaimed on Xiaohongshu, the Chinese social commerce platform.

Other than localization efforts, Louis Vuitton is doubling down within the China market with plans to open a four-story stand-alone store in Beijing’s Sanlitun shopping complex early next 12 months. The brand has also been revamping existing flagships to incorporate expansive VIP areas where high spenders can browse exclusive offerings while sipping Champagne. — DENNI HU

FRESH PERSPECTIVE: Becky G has been named creative director of swimwear brand Gonza.

The 26-year-old singer and actress, born Rebbeca Marie Gomez, has released fashion collaborations previously, but this marks her first title as creative director. She succeeds Fancy Gomez.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Gonza as its creative director and embark on this latest journey,” Becky G told WWD in an announcement. “I had no doubts in taking this chance knowing that the brand actively seeks to uplift Latin creatives across its entire business model. I hope every bit I create becomes an armor of strength that captures the essence of summer and fuses it with confidence and self-expression.”

Launched in June 2021 by sisters Victoria and Sofia Villarroel, with chief executive officer Ryan Horne, Gonza designs utilize daring colours and prints, inspired by Latin culture. The brand has been worn by the likes of Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber.

“Becky G brings forth a fresh perspective and an undeniable influence that may propel Gonza to latest heights,” said Horne in an announcement. “Her artistic vision, coupled together with her strong connection to her fans and the broader fashion community, will shape the long run of Gonza. Becky G’s appointment as our creative director represents a strong step toward greater inclusivity and representation in the style industry. As a BIPOC [Black, Indigenous and people of color] business, we understand the importance of providing diverse voices and perspectives in shaping the swimwear landscape. Becky G’s remarkable achievements and her real passion for inclusivity align perfectly with our core values.”

The brand might be unveiling collections and collaborations as a part of the partnership. — RYMA CHIKHOUNE

ONE OF THE ORIGINALS: Mitchell & Ness is partnering with one in every of the basketball world’s biggest names for its latest collaboration.

The sportswear company is teaming up with 12-time NBA All-Star Isiah Thomas for an apparel and accessories collection launching on Wednesday. The lineup, dubbed the “Original Bad Boy” collection, offers T-shirts, hoodies and hats inspired by Thomas’ basketball profession.

It pays homage to Thomas’ time playing for the Detroit Pistons within the ‘80s and ‘90s, when the team earned the nickname of “The Bad Boys.” 

“Partnering with Mitchell & Ness to have fun my role with the legendary ‘Bad Boys’ was a dream come true,” Thomas said. “It’s an honor to be the unique ‘Bad Boy.’ We dominated on the court and influenced culture off the court. This line is a salute to the OG fans and a welcome to latest ones.”

The gathering incorporates elements from Thomas’ NBA profession, including his number 11 jersey. Thomas named the hoodie, which has the script “The Original Bad Boy,” as his favorite piece in the gathering. 

“We’re honored to partner with Isiah Thomas, a real legend of the sport, for ‘The Original Bad Boy’ collection,” said Mitchell & Ness chief executive officer Kevin Wulff. “Isiah’s extraordinary basketball profession and his accomplishments as an entrepreneur perfectly embody the spirit of Mitchell & Ness. This collection is a testament to his influence on the game and his entrepreneurial mindset.”

That is Mitchell & Ness’ latest collaboration this 12 months. In April, the brand partnered with Formula 1 to create three merchandise collections for McLaren Racing and in addition reunited with Major League Baseball for a baseball hat collection. In February, Mitchell & Ness tapped streetwear designer Don C as its latest creative director. 

Mitchell & Ness’ “The Original Bad Boy” collection is obtainable for purchase on the brand’s website. Styles range in price from $32 to $95. — LAYLA ILCHI

BARBIE WORLD: In a lead-up to “Barbie the Movie,” Boohoo, the worldwide e-tailer, has partnered with Barbie to launch a limited-edition capsule collection.

The gathering includes 39 styles including accessories and ready-to-wear, with sizes starting from 0-24. Items are $8 to $65, and can be found to buy Thursday at boohoo.com.

Boohoo is the newest retailer to leap on the Barbie bandwagon. Bloomingdale’s has launched a multifaceted partnership that features online and in-store pop-up shops, an exclusive collaboration with “Barbie the Movie” and Bloomingdale’s private label Aqua, window displays and various events and activations this summer. Zappos just launched a shopping experience that features all kinds of products for anyone to include #Barbiecore style into their lives. Other firms, corresponding to Kendall Jenner’s Moon, Superga, Impala and Gap, are among the many brands which have released Barbie-inspired collections this 12 months.

“While creating the Barbie x Boohoo collection, we desired to go after the most well liked trends of the season while bringing the casual streetwear vibe that we all know our girl loves,” said Samantha Helligso, brand director of Boohoo. “That is a brilliant fun nostalgic collection that may help you show your personality through mixing and matching the pieces to customize your wardrobe.”

Among the many looks are a Barbie motocross jersey, rugby shirt, Ts, tanks, varsity jackets, shorts, pants, dresses, sweatpants and sweatshirts.

“With Barbie in all places this summer, the partnership with Boohoo is a natural fit and brings this trend, together with Y2K together in a single incredible collection. We’re excited to partner with the team at Boohoo to supply fans great product as we have fun this exciting time for Barbie,” said Joe Spalding, head of U.K. Consumer Products at Mattel.

“Barbie the Movie,” stars Margot Robbie within the title role and Ryan Gosling as her male companion Ken, with a further ensemble forged including Issa Rae, America Ferrera, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu and Kate McKinnon. The film premieres in theaters nationwide on July 21 and internationally on July 19. — LISA LOCKWOOD

FASHIONING EMPATHY: What would the uncertainty of living with a rare skin disorder appear like through the lens of fashion? 

Pharma giant Boehringer Ingelheim tasked students from The Fashion Institute of Technology’s DTech innovation lab to reply the query with their addition to The Unwearable Collection, a line of conceptual garments made in collaboration with Danish artist Bart Hess in 2022 illustrating the burdens experienced by individuals with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). 

Titled “Trapped by Uncertainty,” the brand new design was unveiled Tuesday evening at a personal ceremony inside FIT’s Katie Murphy Ampitheatre and was inspired by firsthand accounts of GPP patients.

“Flares are episodic, however the disease never goes away,” said Claudia Beqaj, executive director of dermatology, sales and marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim during opening remarks. “These patients live in fear and uncertainty of when that next flare could potentially occur.”

Together with mentorship from Hess, students worked under the supervision of FIT faculty members corresponding to DTech Lab executive director Michael Ferraro to spin this sense into couture. “We began the creative direction by specializing in the ethereal and diaphanous nature of uncertainty,” he said, before outlining the thoughtful decisions behind each detail of the garment. 

GPP, which causes severe bouts of tension and depression, led the scholars to work exclusively in a somber palette of grays and blue-greens. Clouds of gazar mesh sprout up from the bottom evoking what Ferraro described as a “psychological fog,” while swaths of Lycra are tightly wound across the mannequin constraining the arms like a mummy to suggest a lack of control. Finally, crystals dotted throughout the outside of the garment represent pustules, nodding to the person fantastic thing about those experiencing the disease as well.

“Trapped by Uncertainty” might be permanently added to Hess’ 4 original designs — “Pain of Isolation,” “Physical Pain,” “Life-Threatening” and “Flair Intensity,” which the artist described as being more about physical pain, adding, “the fifth piece is more emotional and I believe that’s beautiful.”

“My background isn’t in fashion, I’m a product designer, but [the students] really have the talents of working with fabric, which was amazing to see how different their minds are and the way they will create shapes and tell stories,” he continued. 

The Unwearable Collection will travel to Singapore for the GPP Forum and World Congress of Dermatology in July before returning to Recent York where it is going to be displayed at FIT from Sept. 14 to Oct. 15. — ARI STARK

ROYAL TOUCH: As much because the annual Pirelli Calendar is anticipated for the featured talent, it gives equal billing to the photographer calling the shots.

The 2024 edition is being crafted by the self-taught Ghanese photographer Prince Gyasi. The Gen Zer sees himself as a visible artist and like hundreds of thousands of his peers, he began taking photos more freely once he got an iPhone on the age of 16. Prior to that, he first started off using a disposable camera as a toddler.

The lensman, whose given name is Prince Gyasi Nyantakyi but is often known as Prince Gyasi, was not available for interviews. His manager Tony Tagoe declined Tuesday to debate any of the photographer’s future projects presently. His work may be seen on the Maât Gallery in Paris.

The 28-year-old is a component of Africa’s next wave of creative forces. His community-centered shots are supposed to be a counter-narrative to dominant Western notions of the continent, in keeping with Pirelli. Dating back to 1964, “The Cal,” as many call it, has featured the work of Peter Beard, Sarah Moon, Arthur Elgort, Robert Freeman, Richard Avedon, Bruce Weber and Peter Lindbergh, amongst other standouts.

Lately, a broader mix of individuals of various ethnicities, gender identities and body types have been recruited to seem within the calendar. The 2023 calendar selected to spotlight the skilled and activist achievements of models Karlie Kloss, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski. Before the #MeToo movement, the Pirelli Calendar could rival Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition when it comes to raciness.

Egalitarian in his tastes, the lensman has worked on projects for Apple, Converse and Balmain. amongst others. A fast scroll of his Instagram highlights his preference for beyond daring colours. Known to digitally manipulate his images to magnify those shades, Prince Gyasi creates images that cause some to wonder in the event that they are paintings. That made-you-look-twice mentality is intentional in jest, as some people don’t rate photography as a fantastic art.

He has spoken publicly about having synesthesia, a neurological condition that results in experiencing colours in multisensory ways. The name is derivative of the Greek meaning “to perceive together” — individuals with synesthesia can experience color through hearing, smell, taste or pain. Others associate digits, letters or words with color. For Prince Gyasi, Wednesday means aquamarine, in keeping with pre-release press material.

Although he has worked with top models like Naomi Campbell, Prince Gyasi has enlisted street children in his hometown of Jamestown as models for his work. His nonprofit Boxed Kids offers impoverished children in his area an academic and artistic outlet.

His vibrant images may also be present in such contemporary art collections as Jean Pigozzi’s and the Pinault Foundation. Last 12 months, he had a solo show on the Kyotographie photography festival in Kyoto, Japan, and took part in group shows on the Museo de Arte do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, in addition to one on the Pole of Contemporary Art of Cannes. — ROSEMARY FEITELBERG