FASHION FRIENDS: Could Kim Jones, who has a penchant for collaborations, be plotting one together with his fashion buddy Stefano Pilati?

In accordance with market sources, the collaboration under discussion could be at Fendi, where Jones has already unfurled projects with two other designers with whom he may be very friendly — Donatella Versace and Marc Jacobs.

It is known the proposed tie-up could possibly be unveiled as early as November.

Fendi officials couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Best known for his tenures on the design helm of Yves Saint Laurent and Zegna, Pilati has recently dabbled in furniture design alongside his Berlin-based fashion collection Random Identities.

He’s prized for his keen fashion instincts, voluptuous, modern tailoring — and knack for eye-catching shoes and purses.

The dapper Italian designer made a splash during Paris Fashion Week last June, taking in Jones’ spring 2024 men’s show for Dior, and walking the runway for Pharrell Williams’ debut as menswear creative director at Louis Vuitton.

Last fall, Pilati rebooted his Random Identities label after a two-year hiatus and lined up a like-minded distribution partner in Dover Street Market Paris.

Random Identities was boundary-breaking when it was first unveiled in 2018, initially as a three way partnership with Canadian online retailer Ssense. Genderless, seasonless and splendid, but at a up to date price point, it draws on gay and club culture in Berlin, where Pilati has based himself since leaving Ermenegildo Zegna in 2016 following a three-year stint.

The designer is best known for succeeding Tom Ford at Yves Saint Laurent, where he served as creative director from 2004 to 2012. Earlier in his profession, he worked in senior design and fabric development positions for a lot of Italian design houses, including Miu Miu, Prada and Giorgio Armani.

Jones, who in September 2020 signed on as Fendi’s artistic director of high fashion, ready-to-wear and fur collections for ladies, wasted little time in pursuing collaborations and in September 2021 unveiled a full-scale brand swap with Versace.

Last 12 months, he tapped Jacobs to create a group inside spring 2023 Fendi women’s collection, and likewise teamed with Tiffany & Co. for special Baguette handbags. — MILES SOCHA

OLYMPIC GOLD: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has joined the Neutrogena camp.

The track and field Olympic gold medalist, who holds the world record for the 400-meter hurdles, has joined the ranks of Jenna Ortega and sister duo Chloe and Halle Bailey because the skincare brand’s latest ambassador.

“Beauty, skincare and just overall caring for myself have all the time been an element of my routine, even on the track, by way of preparing for meets. It’s an element of feeling confident when I am going out and do what I like to do,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “With the ability to now be with a partner who may help exemplify that’s only a dream come true.”

It’s a full-circle moment for McLaughlin-Levrone, who was in highschool when she first encountered Neutrogena’s products. “It was actually the primary skincare brand I ever tried to make use of,” recalled the 24-year-old runner, who has previously inked ambassadorships with brands reminiscent of Tag Heuer and, earlier this summer, David Yurman.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s partnership with Neutrogena is the most recent in a slew of athlete ambassadorships sweeping the sweetness realm. In May, Mielle Organics added college basketball star Angel Reese to its roster, just after Clinique signed England rugby player Holly Aitchison. Male athletes like Houston Rockets shooting guard Jalen Green and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson have also gotten in on the motion, signing respective deals with Un/Dn Laqr and Bubble Skincare.

“Historically, we’ve partnered with actresses and what have you ever, but realizing that folks may be inspired by everyone — by actresses, by athletes, by creators on social — we wanted to search out someone who had numerous qualities that we admire and respect, but can also be very relatable,” said Natasha Haubrich, head of Neutrogena equity and strategy.

And since McLaughlin-Levrone is routinely exposed to the weather as an athlete, the brand sees a natural fit for her to front its sun care offerings down the road.

“I do are inclined to have dry skin; especially running track and all the time being within the sun, with the ability to protect my skin is large by way of stopping wrinkles and dark spots — all those various things,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, adding that the brand’s Hydro Boost cream and SPF spray are amongst her regimen mainstays.

In April, Neutrogena served because the official skincare and sun care sponsor at Coachella, with Haubrich hinting additional such activations are on the best way.

“We now have done numerous test-and-learns, I’ll call them, this 12 months. We were trying to search out our stride, and I feel we’ve found it,” she said. “You’ll see us in surprisingly obvious places in the long run.”

McLaughlin-Levrone, meanwhile, is gearing up for the 2024 Olympics set to happen in Paris next summer.

“We all the time speak about in training what we call ‘prehab’ — preparing now so that you don’t need to rehab later,” she said, adding she takes an analogous approach in the case of skincare. “Even with sunscreen — I’m caring for myself now so I don’t have issues later.” — NOOR LOBAD

PARTNERSHIP: Nordstrom NYC has unveiled the most recent Center Stage and Broadway Bar takeover in partnership with Thom Browne.

Through the start of October, Nordstrom NYC will feature the brand’s fall 2023 collection with the launch of a dedicated Center Stage installation and a redesigned Broadway Bar with a custom menu and signature cocktails curated by Browne.

The Center Stage assortment will consist of Browne’s women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, including outerwear and sport coats to trousers, skirts, cardigans, sweaters and woven tops. Alongside the rtw, Thom Browne@Nordstrom will even feature boots, loafers, heels, sneakers, handbags, tights and socks. Prices range from $120 to $6,950. Across the road at Nordstrom Men’s Store, customers can find the brand’s men’s assortment.

The installation encompasses a gray house that ties in with the central motif of Browne’s fall 2023 image campaign, transporting visitors to “the tip” where the land meets the ocean. The complete experience can be on view at Nordstrom NYC flagship until the start of October, with the assortment also available on nordstrom.com. Along with the pop-up shop, Browne and Nordstrom can be hosting men’s and girls’s made-to-measure events in Seattle Thursday through Sunday, and Recent York, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

On the Broadway Bar on Level 3 in Recent York, the space features marble accent partitions and grey tones together with a custom menu, Champagne and signature cocktails. Highlights include oysters on the half-shell, caviar and potatoes.

“Thom Browne is one of the vital creative and galvanizing American fashion designers working today, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with him on our Center Stage and Broadway Bar takeover,” said Sam Lobban, executive vp, general merchandise manger of apparel and designer at Nordstrom. “We’re excited to see his vision come to life and have the option to supply our customers a special way of engaging with and experiencing his brand through our concepts.” — LISA LOCKWOOD

PRADA SEEDS: Prada’s fall flowers are blooming, literally.

The Italian luxury brand is celebrating its fall ad campaign, fronted for the primary time by Benedict Cumberbatch alongside Chinese actor Li Xian, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Hunter Schafer and Letitia Wright, with a real-life activation.

Starting Thursday, a variety of flower kiosks internationally will sell Prada-packaged flower seeds. Coming in a silver can embellished with the Prada logo, seeds of marigold, daisy and sunflower can be available for purchase in chosen locations across Milan; London; Paris; Recent York; Dubai; Seoul; Hong Kong; Beijing; Shanghai; Chengdu; Guangzhou; Qinhuangdao, and Tokyo.

Some vendors include local flower shops reminiscent of Orlando Fiori on Milan’s central Piazza della Repubblica and Z Flora in Beijing, while in Tokyo, for instance, the special seeds can be purchased on the Prada Aoyama flagship.

The activation intends to “use the act of planting and propagation to spread recent blooms internationally — conveying emotions and taking an intangible concept to physical form,” the corporate said in a press release.

As reported, the autumn campaign, shot by Willy Vanderperre, portrays talents against an intense black backdrop standing opposite life-size flowers. It explores “everlasting, timeless values of humanity, universal emotions,” reminiscent of beauty, care and love, with blown-up flowers used as a metaphor of “beauty between the on a regular basis and the extraordinary.”

A video flanking the ad campaign scripted by Michael Cunningham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of “The Hours,” shows each talent in paradoxical conversation with the respective blooms.

The activation comes full circle because the brand has created an exclusive filter for use across social media platforms Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and WeChat consisting of a digital, 3D version of the flowers for users to copy campaign imagery.

This is just not the primary time Prada has taken its campaign concepts on the road.

In 2019, the luxurious brand introduced a recent medium to advertise its resort 2020 ad campaign having florists across key international cities wrap fresh flower bouquets in paper sheets bearing images of the campaign. In 2021 Prada was on an out-of-home spree, having wrapped the facades of several buildings in Milan, London, Recent York and Tokyo, amongst other cities, in addition to Shanghai’s wet market with the signature geometric patterns included in the autumn 2021 men’s and girls’s collections. It also teamed up with local bakeries and food markets to sell customized paper bags containing bread, vegatables and fruits. — MARTINO CARRERA

IT’S A LOCK: Tiffany & Co. has debuted a capsule collection inspired its house ambassador and K-pop star Rosé, called Tiffany Lock Rosé Edition.

The designs pay homage to the singer’s name, and are offered in 4 styles with 18-karat rose gold and rare pink sapphires. One in every of the rarest coloured gemstones found throughout the precious sapphire family, in line with the American jeweler, pink sapphires were specially chosen as they symbolize love and power. 

“Rosé is a real superstar whose music and inventive purpose is anchored in the ability of connection,” said Alexandre Arnault, executive vp, product and communication, Tiffany & Co. “Her Lock capsule collection reflects this spirit and embodies who she is as an artist.”

Inspired by an archival padlock from 1883, Tiffany Lock pays homage to the jeweler’s heritage, meant to be an ode to the unbreakable bonds that connect us and the infinite power of affection. Recognizable by its sleek silhouettes, the capsule is obtainable in a classic Lock bracelet, pair of earrings and pendants offered in a small or medium.

“It’s such an honor to encourage a capsule collection for Tiffany,” Rosé, who’s a member of K-pop supergroup Blackpink said. “It’s exciting to see the long-lasting Lock collection reimagined with such rare gemstones and I’m excited to share this fun project with my fans and likewise fans of the Lock collection.”

Tiffany Lock Rosé Edition debuts Thursday on the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton owned jeweler’s recent Omotesando store in Toyko. On Friday, the capsule collection can be available in China, South Korea and at The Landmark in Recent York City, and it would be offered to clients worldwide on Oct. 1. — THOMAS WALLER

BREATHE TOGETHER: Designer Patrick McDowell is teaming with Rambert, Britain’s oldest dance company, for his spring 2024 runway show on Monday and can see the dancers take to the catwalk.  

McDowell’s collection was inspired by Rambert’s archive and focuses on the corporate’s first-ever performance, “A Tragedy of Fashion.” Staged in 1926, it tells the story of a famous dressmaker who kills himself together with his shears.

McDowell sourced vintage outfits and fabrics from the Rambert costume department and has reimagined them for the show.

Post-show the designer will work with Future Movement, Rambert’s outreach program, which runs a 20-week program specializing in circular design and stage costumes made in a sustainable way. Future movements students will sit front row at Monday’s show.

McDowell said that collaborating with Rambert has been a long-held dream.

“For so long as I can remember the art of dance has inspired me. It combines so many creative elements to create one breathtaking performance,” he said.

“The power for a corporation reminiscent of Rambert to act as one and ‘breathe together’ is incredible to behold. I’ve had the pleasure of attending to know Rambert more closely over the previous few years and it’s been such a delight to search out a corporation that has such a wealthy history and yet so determined to proceed pushing into the long run.”

Benoit Swan Pouffer, artistic director of Rambert, said he was pleased to see “art, dance and fashion entwined” within the show. “I’m perpetually looking for recent ways of pushing art forms forward and this collaboration is an incredible example of working together to create something beautiful that celebrates the past, present and way forward for an organization like Rambert.”

McDowell founded the brand in 2018 and works solely with recycled and sustainable materials.

The denim pieces within the spring collection have been comprised of deadstock Lee, and have been unpicked and pieced together on the designer’s studio. The designer said the team spent greater than 100 hours repurposing 170 pairs of jeans into one-off pieces.

As a substitute of plastic, McDowell has used Ecovative mushroom mycelium padding, which requires less energy and water to fabricate. Fabric printing has been done sustainably while vintage silk has been provided by the Italian mill Taroni and the Rambert costume department.

The Italian fashion brand Pinko handed over deadstock chiffon and silks while Bananatex donated the wovens, that are made solely from naturally grown, sustainable abacá banana plants. — SAMANTHA CONTI

MILANESE MAKERS: Two Milanese brands, Blazé Milano and Cabana, have come together to create a capsule collection with a darkly glamorous, bohemian edge.

The Blazé curated by Cabana collection will launch this week at Matchesfashion and be sold by Blazé Milano and Cabana, the interiors magazine and ornamental arts publication and e-commerce site.

The 2 brands were founded in Milan inside a 12 months of one another, and say they’ve a “mutual respect for timeless Italian style and global, travel-inspired design and craftsmanship.”

The gathering includes shirts, dresses and Blazé Milano’s signature tailored blazers, made with Italian fabrics. Prices range from $670 for a skirt to $2,900 for a coat.

Asked why they decided to work together Corrada Rodriguez d’Acri, cofounder of Blazé Milano, said Cabana has all the time been considered one of her biggest inspirations.

“I even have been pondering and dreaming about this collaboration for a few years. Martina is a friend, and since she launched Cabana and the entire world of furniture and table setting, we now have been largely inspired by it. Our shared love of vintage prints and fabrics spontaneously led to a collaboration,” she said.

Rodriguez d’Acri added that she and Mondadori selected vintage fabrics “from the incredible archive of Mantero and reworked them, making them unique, and adding the things we love at Blazé — like grandfather blazers and super-masculine tailoring — for a sublime twist,” added Rodriguez d’Acri.

Cabana founder and editor in chief Martina Mondadori said she sees the gathering’s woman as, “a contemporary Loulou de la Falaise, a globetrotting style icon who’s directly confident, effortlessly chic and practical.”

Mondadori added that partnering with Blazé felt like a natural selection. “There’s a lot to have fun: a shared Italian heritage and mutual respect for timeless Italian style and travel-inspired design and craftsmanship.

Blazé Milano was founded by three former Elle Italia stylists, Rodriguez D’Acri, Delfina Pinardi and Maria Sole Torlonia, in 2013. They immediately focused on the classic men’s blazer, reinterpreting it season after season for ladies.

Cabana was founded in 2014 by Mondadori, Christoph Radl and Gianluca Reina and has, through the years, attracted a community of design and travel lovers. — S.C.