Saint Laurent taps Lenny Kravitz as its latest campaign star and the House of Givenchy hires a 34-year-old Californian as its chief designer
Words by JAKE HEDDAEUS
Twice a month, we round up the biggest stories breaking on planet fashion, as seen through a California lens. This will include news of appointments, collaborations, store openings and how our homegrown talent is making its mark on the West Coast and beyond.
LENNY KRAVITZ. Photo by David Sims.
Lenny Kravitz Is Saint Laurent’s Face for Fall/Winter
Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2020 menswear campaign emanates the effortlessly cool, louche vibes you’d expect from the French brand when a musician and muse such as Lenny Kravitz is involved. Shot by David Sims with art direction from the brand’s creative director, Anthony Vaccarello, the series of two images shows Kravitz in Vaccarello’s latest iterations of garments, which have become synonymous with the house: fluid satin print button-ups, tailored blazers with peak lapels, leopard-print shirts and Chelsea boots. Who better to continue the tradition of the house as purveyor to rock stars such as Mick Jagger than a modern-day rock god like Kravitz?
GIVENCHY creative director MATTHEW WILLIAMS.
Californian Matthew Williams Takes the Helm at Givenchy
Less than a month after the announcement, Matthew Williams is already installed in the Paris couture house, having taken over all creative responsibilities for the women’s and men’s collections. Raised in California, Williams has already experienced a relatively quick rise to prominence with his luxe streetwear brand, 1017 ALYX 9SM, which he will continue to helm. “I am extremely honored to join the House of Givenchy,” Williams shared. “The Maison’s unique position and timeless aura make it an undeniable icon and I am looking forward to working together with its ateliers and teams, to move it into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity.” His first collection for the House of Givenchy will be shown in Paris in October.
“I’m looking forward to moving Givenchy into a new era, based on modernity and inclusivity”
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
Black in Fashion Council Advocates for Diversity
Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Teen Vogue editor-in-chief, and Sandrine Charles, owner of Sandrine Charles Consulting, have joined forces to found the Black in Fashion Council. Noted on the council’s website homepage, the group will “envision a world in which black people in fashion and beauty spaces can be open and honest, guaranteed equal rights and celebrated for our voices.” Peoples Wagner and Charles have partnered with the Human Rights Campaign, establishing an equality index score modeled after the HRC’s pre-existing Corporate Equality Index. For companies that opt in, they will receive an annual score based on factors such as employee diversity, campaigns and corporate culture. “After seeing people connect on social media and seeing people share their personal experiences, Lindsay and I honestly just wanted to set up time to align with our peers — senior people in fashion and beauty — to see where they were at,” Charles shared with Vogue. “Collectively, we wanted to have this kind of opportunity or hub for everyone to express themselves, to create guidelines of how we all want to work.”
The Napa Valley outpost of THE CONSERVATORY.
The Conservatory Opens in Napa Valley
Brian Bolke has a decades-long track record of retail innovation. Having launched Forty Five Ten, Dallas’ preeminent luxury retail destination 20 years ago, he was well suited to reimagine retail’s future once again when he left the company following an acquisition by Headington Companies in 2014. His latest project, The Conservatory, debuted last year at New York City’s Hudson Yards with a 7,000-square-foot, gallery-like space, conceived as a 360-degree retail experience that bridges physical retail with e-commerce. Customers are able to discover a considered edit of luxury brands across categories, including mens and womenswear, beauty and homegoods. The retailer’s physical footprint has rapidly grown this past year, with its fourth premises opening in Napa this month. The 900-square-foot space is home to over 175 brands from around the globe, including California favorites like Rosetta Getty’s ready-to-wear, and jewelry from Lisa Eisner and Irene Neuwirth, with beauty by Sweden’s L.A. Bruket and leather goods by London-based Métier. 6450 Washington St., Yountville, 707-415-5015.
Luxury brand LOEWE is celebrating the cultural impact of actor, performer and drag icon DIVINE.
Loewe Launches “Divine” Collection and Exhibition
Spanish luxury house Loewe, helmed by wunderkind Jonathan Anderson, has launched a limited-edition collection and exhibit inspired by and featuring the performer and drag icon, Divine, whom you may recognize from movies such as Hairspray, Pink Flamingos and Lust in The Dust. The Divine memorabilia, shot by famed portraitist Greg Gorman, can be viewed via a virtual exhibition on the brand’s website, which includes images of Divine’s infamous white dress, personal makeup case, as well as unproduced pieces from the collection. A celebration of both PRIDE and Divine’s impact on popular culture, the pieces are available for purchase with 15 percent of proceeds going to Visual AIDS, an organization that utilizes art to fight HIV/AIDS by provoking dialogue and supporting artists living with the virus. Additionally, Loewe is making a donation to Baltimore Pride, which is a Black-led LGBTQ+ organization based in Divine’s hometown and the setting for the film Hairspray.
MICHAEL KORS Love T-shirt, $40.
Michael Kors Supports COVID-19 Relief Efforts
Michael Kors’ latest iteration of its collectible “Love” T-shirts, sees 100 percent of profits going to the World Food Programme’s COVID-19 relief efforts. “This pandemic has reminded us that what really matters is health and love and community,” says the designer. “WFP has always worked to help those most in need, using their unparalleled expertise to alleviate suffering and spread hope.” The offering includes a graphic tee featuring the word “Love” in baby blue, printed in a sophisticated serifed typeface. For every Love shirt purchased ($40 each), $25 in profit will translate into 100 meals for underserved, vulnerable children. The shirts are available now for purchase online globally and in select Michael Kors Lifestyle stores.
“This pandemic has reminded us that what really matters is health and love and community”
MICHAEL KORS
Coach Partners With LeBron James’ More Than a Vote
In recent months, consumers have called on brands to do more as they play their part in working toward an equitable, just society. Coach has heard that message loud and clear, having announced its partnership with More Than a Vote, a new voting rights organization led by LeBron James aimed at combating voter suppression — a problem that disproportionately affects communities of color. “The foundation of democracy is the right to vote,” said Jide Zeitlin, interim CEO. “America cannot resolve systemic racism and inequality without ending voter suppression.” The affordable luxury house will utilize its resources from employees, collaborators and its network of stores to amplify More Than a Vote’s mission to energize, educate and protect voters in U.S. cities where voter suppression and misinformation is rampant.
June 26, 2020
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