The Choice – Balenciaga AW20

April 9, 2020 | Design & Culture by Ed

A few days ago I asked you on my Instagram stories to pick one of your favourite collections ever and I would make a collage with it. Here’s @queenclassics’ choice: Demna Gvasalia‘s apocalyptic autumn-winter 2020 collection for Balenciaga. You can have a look back at it in my review right here. This line-up still feels out-of-this-world (but at the same time, so, so real…).

More of your choices are coming in the following days! If you missed the game, you can still write me your favourite collection and I will do the work. Got plenty of time. Culture isn’t cancelled, fashion isn’t cancelled!

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.

Cristaseya’s Summer

April 6, 2020March 20, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

Crista Seya is a Paris-based, lifestyle brand which works against the fashion industry’s schedule (probably other brands will follow their lead in the post-pandemy world that hopefully will happen some time soon…). Cristina Casini and Keiko Seya, the founders, both have worked for years as stylists for publications like L’Officiel, Numéro and i-D. In 2013, the duo decided to launch their own label with an aim to release “editions”, not collections, of around 15 items – specifically, one edition per six months. No overproduction, no hurry – just a pure, creative process which combines highest quality craftsmanship with minimal, French attitude. The newest edition – #14 – is now available on their site and is a perfect spring-transits-into-summer wardrobe. The collection consists of a capsule made in collaboration with Salvatore Piccolo (one of Naples’ finest tailors) and pleases with delightful over-sized pink cotton pyjama shirts, striped shirt dresses with fringed collar and comfortable maxi skirts with stretchy waistband. The edition as well has the most beautiful light cotton caftan, linen-ribbed gilet and handwoven fringed poncho. While in the near future we all foresee home confinement, Crista Seya’s garments might serve right now as ultra-chic loungewear. I especially wouldn’t mind this look!

Collage by Edward Kanarecki, photos via Crista Seya website.

The Look – Salvatore Ferragamo Resort 2020

April 1, 2020 | Design & Culture by Ed

In these very uncertain times, it’s worth trying to slow down and relax… and who wouldn’t love to stay home while wearing this gorgeous, over-sized jumpsuit from Salvatore Ferragamo‘s resort 2020 collection? In keeping with the elegant, streamlined approach Paul Andrew has introduced at Ferragamo – he calls it “sartorialism with a casual edge” – the designer as well emphasizes a workwear-inspired silhouette. Perfect for home meditating, lazy yoga or even reading a book on the balcony, no?

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.

Balenciaga on Avenue Montaigne

March 28, 2020 | Design & Culture by Ed

The spacious Balenciaga store on Avenue Montaigne has the most fantastic, jaw-dropping, oh, iconic dresses of the season. Yes, those spring-summer 2020 dresses by Demna Gvasalia that stole the entire Paris fashion week spotlight back in October. They really are modern-day couture. The stunning, crinoline dresses (the ones in candy wrap lurex with a huge bow on the back and the three velvet masterpieces in different colours). “Ballroom dresses go back to the beginning of Balenciaga, when Cristóbal started in Spain. It was mostly this type of silhouette he did, from Spanish painting,” Gvasalia observed. “But we wanted to make sure they were wearable.“ They surely are. And yes, they really make an entrance.

57 Avenue Montaigne

Collage and photos by Edward Kanarecki.

(P.S. If you are inspired by my Parisian coverage, I’m really happy about, but please have in mind that now isn’t a safe time for any sorts of travelling. Stay at home!)

Delightful. Magda Butrym AW20

March 26, 2020 | Design & Culture by Ed

Whether it’s one of her statement cocktail mini-dresses or a pair of zebra-print boots, Magda Butrym’s pieces carry an undeniably cool attitude that is a mixture of the 80s and 90s chic. What makes me even more excited about her pieces is that they’re beautifully crafted in Poland, embracing the nearly forgotten, local craft experience. With every season, Magda’s work becomes more and more signature and distinct to her style. And she also expands her line-ups. For autumn-winter 2020, the Polish designer offers the complete wardrobe, from boxy overcoats to tiny corset tops trimmed in crystals. The black, leather coat with shearling collar is a dream, just like the floral dresses made from glorious, meaty velvet or the incredible sequinned garments (those are just some of the details I had a chance to experience at her showroom in Paris). Butrym’s clients – and that fan-base steadily grows – will be pleased to see that the label introduces sunglasses this season, made in collaboration with Linda Farrow. Delightful.