Browneian. Thom Browne Pre-Fall 2023

At first glance, Thom Browne‘s pre-fall 2023 collection has a much more sober spirit than spring, with its shades of navy and gray, and its more typically Browneian silhouettes. But Thom’s clothes typically reward close inspection – and you’ll find humor in them too. See the intarsia’d double-breasted coat in which a lifeboat full of sailors is dwarfed by the giant sperm whale, or the tailored skirt suit in a wallpaper print depicting the final battle at sea between Captain Ahab and Moby Dick. On the accessories front, Hector the bag has made some new friends in the form of not just the victorious whale, but also the Pequod, the doomed ship. About this season’s silhouettes. Though there’s a’60s-short shift or two, Browne’s instinct was to cut his tailoring lean and long, often layering pants underneath skirt shapes to extend the line. Accessorizing the tweed separates with tweed tights created a similar elongating effect. Remarkable.

And now, have some TB magic this Christmas…

Thom Browne Fringed Herringbone Wool-tweed Blazer

Thom Browne Grosgrain-trimmed Cable-knit Cotton Polo Shirt

Thom Browne Merino Wool and Mohair-blend Mini Wrap Skirt

Thom Browne Hector Dog-Shaped Leather Belt Bag

Thom Browne Men’s Light Cotton Mid Calf 4 Bar Sock

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
Don’t forget to follow Design & Culture by Ed on Instagram!

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Understated Luxury. Loro Piana SS23

For a long while, Loro Piana has been a fashion-insider favorite because it exists outside of fashion, its silhouettes are unchanging despite shifts in trends and its materials are always made at the highest levels. Understated luxury has always been the story for this Italian brand. But as the company makes efforts to grow, it’s adopting some of the industry’s ways. The spring 2023 collection was designed around the theme of an Italian grand tour, beginning in Piedmont and making stops in Tuscany and Portofino, before ending up in the Aeolian Islands, with clothes designed for each destination. Piedmont, Loro Piana’s home base, yielded cold-weather outerwear: a shearling bomber; a bouclé camel hair and silk poncho; an alpaca wool coat with a subtle stripe; and a mohair, cashmere, and technical fabric coat whose weightlessness has to be felt to be believed. As the tour progressed south with the season, the clothes became more summery. A navy and yellow anorak and a shirt with rope embroidery spelling out the house logo both said “seaside,” and linen dresses like a loosely belted smock and a striped linen and cotton caftan were direct tickets to August holidays in the country. A sorbet-striped caftan in silk was a bit loud by Loro Piana standards. Handbags are a main focus for the company. The large bale bag in a warm brown leather with white topstitching and a bucket in striped woven cotton with leather trim are two worthy investments. Loro Piana already stands apart from the sexiness and flash of the Italian fashion, but to this insider’s eye, the best of the collection were the house icons, the unchanging “winter voyager” and “horsey short” jacket, both in cashmere; the cotton and linen “traveler”; and a bomber in water-repellant microfiber. No theme, no concept, and just great.

And now here are my festive picks from the brand! Who wouldn’t want to find some timeless Loro under the Christmas tree…

Loro Piana Coarsehair Cashmere-jacquard Sweater

Loro Piana Cashmere Baseball Cap

Loro Piana Faux Shearling Slippers

Loro Piana Double-breasted Reversible Shearling and Leather Coat

Loro Piana Striped Cashmere Sweater

Loro Piana Sesia Medium Leather Tote

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
Don’t forget to follow Design & Culture by Ed on Instagram!

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Layer Up! Festive Marc Jacobs Selection

Back in June, Marc Jacobs delivered one of the most knock-out fashion collections of 2022. Now, it’s finally available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman, just in time for the festive season. The marvelous collection had it all: supersizing jeans skirts, or treating denim to surface treatments that made the all-American classic look more like French couture. Adding so much stuffing to ribbed knit sweaters they could double as pillows. Toying with Gilded Age bustles – evoking them by wrapping jackets around the waist. And cutting ball gowns of exuberant volume in unexpected, even strange fabrics. Here’s the festive-ready selection of my favourite items coming from this icon-status collection!

The Sack Shoulder Bag

Oversized Knit Crewneck Sweater

Bergdorf’s magical gift guide is here! Discover our curation of brilliant fashion, beautifully crafted home décor and extraordinary gifts for everyone on your list—now at BG.com.

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Long Satin Skirt with Draped Details

Boxy Leather Scrub Top & Gathered Leather Scrub Pants

Polka Dot-Print Windbreaker Tie Front Belt

Oversized Knit Crewneck Sweater

Gifts Under $250: Take care of all your loved ones with these little luxuries.

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Long Canvas Skirt

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
Don’t forget to follow Design & Culture by Ed on Instagram!

P.S. In this post, I happen to endorse products I genuinely love. If you end up buying something through the links, my site might earn an affiliate commission – which is always nice!

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(The Last Moment) Great Gifts To Give!

Giving gifts is a special moment. But what’s even more special is finding them! Here’s a (pretty much) last moment guide of great gifts to give this Christmas to your closest (or to yourself, of course). Scroll down for magical pearl pendants, surreal ceramic mugs, hand-crafted bags, very pricey vintage, heaven scents and incredible, statement pieces! And a few blankets, of course.

This The Vampire’s Wife velvet silk blend dress in red is fit for a Christmas dinner goddess.

Ormaie Paris is about perfumes that will blow your mind sensually and visually (just look at their fabulous flacons). I want Toï Toï Toï, which means a German expression ballet dancers say to wish good luck before going on to perform. The fragrance evokes the polished wooden boards of the stage and the dancer’s waxed ballet shoes. More here.

Phaidon re-released Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue. And, yes, it’s signed by Grace Coddington. Click, click. Adding it to my cart.

This Loewe bunny bag is so cuuuute. Maybe it’s not a life necessity, but then… why not? Available right here.

Boston’s Covet & Lou has some statement pieces that will perfectly fit under the Christmas tree. How about this A Détacher skirt and No.6 fur loafers?

The XXL faux fur bag from Pajonk (a Polish brand worth having on your radar) will be there for you in 2019, I guarantee you. More up on the designer’s site.

Re-See Paris has the best, hand-picked vintage out there. Chosing two things is hard, while chosing one is impossible. Treat yourself with a vintage Vogue and their delicious Alaïa selection.

Lemaire‘s molded leather bag in yellow equals a dream bag.

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What a boy really want is this Haider Ackermann reversible velvet bomber jacket. No explanations needed.

Alighieri has some of the most beautiful and magical pendants out there. This one from Matches is gold-plated and has a baroque-inspired pearl. A true treasure.

When I saw those new season jug bags from Rosie Assoulin, I instantly felt in love with their authentic artiness. They are still on pre-order, but maybe it’s worth waiting a bit and receive your Christmas gift as good start of 2019? Some are made with a latex-and-pigment combination, inspired with Gaetano Pesce’s iconic furniture. Love.

I’m not sure if at the time I’m writing this, they aren’t all gone. Botticelli Ceramics proves that some of the most incredible things can be found right here, on Instagram. I’m dying to get my hands on one of those very limited edition, one-of-a-kind ceramics coming straight from Marc Armitano Domingo’s studio.  “Inspired by art, Wunderkammer, and music from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries”, Marc creates plates and mugs with 3D flowers, bees, boobies and eyes. And not only. Too obsessed with those artworks. You can buy them here.

This Jacquemus straw hat continues to break the internet. Enter the new year boldly, wearing it with an outfit as warm as Simone Porte’s favourite, beach-y colour palette.

Acne Studios is always filled with goodies. Please consider their new limited edition interior décor, just like the new men’s knits. Wouldn’t mind spending an evening covered up with all that fleecy wool!

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Let’s carry on. Maryam Nassir Zadeh has this 100% virgin wool sweater. That’s a gift that will keep on giving for years!

If you read my journal, you might already know my major obsession with everything Mondo Mondo does. The Janus ring (available in sterling silver and brass) is a must-have from this Los Angeles-based brand.

Blame Jeff Goldblum for making those Prada shirts so flame hot. Forever on my wishlist.

Another thing a guy will love: Bode‘s quilted jacket. This workwear jacket is made from a 1940’s album–patterned quilt. The quilt contains bits and pieces of men’s shirting, as well as a number of other checked cotton fabrics. Will look perfect with a pair of corduroy pants, as well coming from this New York-based brand.

Byredo‘s Eleventh Hour is an experience of its own kind, I tell you. You will get completely addicted.

If somebody ever gifts me this Calvin Klein 205W39NYC x Pendleton wool and cotton-blend blanket, I will marry them immediately.

Hope my public Santa Claus letter helps a bit!

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