Our goal for this segment is to update on the biggest fashion news of the past month. None of us are experts on war, we will therefore turn to reliable news sources for guidelines on how to help, donate and show support to the people in Ukraine. UNICEF Norway and the Ukrainian Embassy in Oslo, both have information on how you can help. We stand with the people of Ukraine and hope for a peaceful resolution. 

In more fashion-oriented news, fashion month is way underway, and it has offered us some major highlights.

Gucci x Adidas

Gucci unveils its 2022 Fall collection, a colorful compendium of tailored suits and coats in collaboration with the German sportswear brand adidas. Alessandro Michele deploys colorful, mixed materials for Gucci’s Fall 2022 collection, adapting adidas’ branded Trefoil and Three Stripes logo as a running visual motif throughout its lineup of extravagant sartorial suits, color-blocking knitwear, latex dresses and jackets. Michele drapes oversize coats over color-clashing ensembles with mixed materials like corduroy, chiffon, fur, and metallic overlays. Single-breasted blazers see oversize contrasting wide peak lapels with studded detailing along the structured shoulders and collars, followed by delicate lineup of sheered-out knitwear with intricate cutouts.

Check out the collection above via Vogue Runway and head over to Gucci’s home website for an in-depth video look at the Fall collection.

Norwegian supermodel Iselin Steiro for Givenchy

The Givenchy SS2022 campaign features He Cong, Kendall Jenner, Steinberg, in addition to the Norwegian super model Iselin Steiro. Photographed by Heji Shin in the studio, artwork by American artist Josh Smith brings splashes of color to the studio images.

The designs of creative director Matthew M. Wiliams feature embellished knitwear, peplum tailoring, and form-fitting knits, among other elements. Panos Yiapanis styles the shoot, which features mussed hair by Duffy and understated makeup by Lucia Pieroni. A short film features a juxtaposition of black and white and color shots set to the music of Surkin.

YEEZY GAP ENGINEERED BY BALENCIAGA Has Officially Dropped

After much anticipation, Kanye and Demna have officially released YEEZY GAP ENGINEERED BY BALENCIAGA. The collection consists of eight styles ranging from GAP-branded hoodies and tees to a padded denim jacket and matching jeans, similar to the rapper’s Canadian tuxedo looks as of late.

The collection is a “continued alignment of ‘Ye’s creative endeavors, an intersection of music, art and culture.” Coinciding with the debut of DONDA 2, and the complementing Miami performance experience, YEEZY GAP ENGINEERED BY BALENCIAGA comes at a time when Kanye is experimenting with his aesthetic, persona, and creative output.

Despite this, the drop is quintessential ‘Ye. Rounding out the collection are the dove-adorned pieces, said to be “an abstract dove motif [that] represents an unnamed hope for the future,” as well as a few other staples as shown by the morphsuit-esque models. Notably, we find plenty of pieces in black, such as the denim jacket, as well as leather biker pants, technical boiler suits, architectural jackets with GAP branding on the chest, bags, oversized duvet coats, and more.

Matthieu Blazy Unveils Inaugural Bottega Veneta Collection at Milan Fashion Week FW22

This past weekend, Matthieu Blazy revealed his long-awaited debut collection as the new creative director of Bottega Veneta. 

Blazy succeeds Daniel Lee, whose exit was announced last November. Without a doubt, Lee left a lasting impression at Bottega during his tenure, ushering in a new era of contemporary fashion for the traditionally rooted Italian luxury fashion brand. Since the news, the fashion world has eagerly awaited for the arrival of Blazy, a 35-year-old Raf Simons, Calvin Klein, Maison Margiela Artisanal and Celine alumnus, who is ready to make his mark in the world of fashion design.

The collection embodied the notion of simplicity is power, while focusing on the textural movement of the pieces and the way they effortlessly float down the runway with ease. Focusing on minimalistic pieces including the opening look that saw a casual white tank top paired with a pair of straight-leg jeans, it set the tone for the rest of the collection and Blazy’s repeated phrase “quiet power.” Blazy’s new vision for Bottega Veneta brings a real sense of wearability to its pieces with clean yet bold pieces including a simple double-breasted coat. The relaxed tailoring is noteworthy as it so often allowed the pieces to become more expressive with each movement. The use of leather was apparent throughout the collection, setting a precedent for the FW22 season.

Blazy’s introduction to the world of high fashion as the sole creative designer for a heritage luxury house proves that simplicity and wearability can still cause a spectacle in today’s world of fashion. When met with attention to detail, extravagance, utility and expert craftsmanship, Blazy’s new vision for Bottega Veneta is sure take the industry by storm.

OFF-WHITE™ celebrates the codes of Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh made his mark as a a multi-hyphenate creative director, DJ, architect, serial collaborator, and amplifier for the voices of the Black community.

“Spaceship Earth” as the show was called, was the first Off-White show since Abloh’s passing in November 2021. He left big shoes to fill, however, no one is attempting to fit into them any time soon. Instead, the brand’s parents New Guards Group, Farfetch and LVMH are content to guide the brand with Abloh’s spirit. More specifically, the numerous WhatsApp messages left behind by Abloh shaped by the teams that already directed much of the brand’s output.   

"The number of ideas that we have directly from him — that were unmanageable on a daily, weekly and monthly basis [through WhatsApp] — it’s endless," Off-White™ CEO Andrea Grilli said in a recent interview with Business of Fashion. "This is the legacy that we’re going to build around."

Off-White™ is not bidding adieu to Abloh but simply viewing his output in reverent new light. FW22 is technically Abloh's final show for Off-White™, in that it's the last one that he personally oversaw but his touch will forever grace all future designs.