Holiday Gift Guide, Vol. V

November 28, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

This holiday season, I will share a number of dream gift guides that might make it easier for you to go (and filter) through the festive season. Get ready for a selection of beautiful items that will spark joy and last for years. The ones that will certainly please one’s senses and deliver heavenly feelings. From globetrotting adventurers to design-forward homebodies and fashion fans with a penchant for glamour – whoever you’re shopping for, this Christmas gift guide featuring timeless classics has the perfect presents to suit all needs this holiday season. Treat your loved ones and yourself with the below choices – and shoppable links!

Alaïa Fringed Wool-blend Turtleneck Top

Alaïa Dome Embellished Textured-leather Tote

Alaïa Fringed Wool-blend Mini Skirt

Dries Van Noten Eau De Parfum & Lipstick Gift Set

Helmut Newton. A Gun for Hire by Taschen

Chloé Gold-tone Ring

Holiday mood: Vogue US, 1970s.

Toteme Shearling Hat

Rick Owens Svita Asymmetric Ruched Velvet Maxi Dress

Diptyque Do Son Eau De Toilette Tuberose, Orange Leaves, Pink Peppercorns & Musk

Rick Owens Wool-trimmed Velvet Biker Jacket

Gabriela Hearst Patsy Bag in White Limited Edition Marquetry Hardware

Ileana Makri Crown 18-karat Gold, Topaz And Diamond Ring

Holiday mood: Tim Walker.

Stories Of Italy Nougat Set Of Six Murano Glass Dessert Plates

Loewe Appliquéd Fringed Embroidered Striped Wool-blend Canvas Blanket

Saloni Fleur Embellished Gathered Velvet Peplum Top

Anine Bing Bar Silk Skirt in Bordeaux

Loewe Crystal-embellished Suede Ballet Flats

Sonia Petroff Sun Gold-tone, Resin And Swarovski Crystal Cuff

Holiday mood: Marlene Dietrich.

Yves Salomon Cropped Feather Jacket

Saint Laurent Paradis Feather-trimmed Satin Slingback Sandals

La Double J High Kick Feather-trimmed Ribbed Alpaca-blend Turtleneck Sweater

Bottega Veneta Jacquard Feather Midi Skirt

Ferragamo Hug Paillette-embellished Metallic Leather Clutch

Just in case you’ve missed the other Holiday Gift Guides:

Volume I, Volume II, Volume III & Volume IV.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Ravishing Beauty. Jawara Alleyne SS25

November 24, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

Jawara Alleyne‘s latest collection is one of the most impressive line-ups of the whole spring-summer 2025 season. It was just so touchingly evocative, oddly elegant and truly beautiful. The title of the collection, “Island Underground“, nodded to Alleyne’s upbringing on the Cayman Islands, and the mystical air that hung over the show – models walked slowly, fabric dragging behind them as if they’d just been rescued from a shipwreck – had an electric, spiritualistic energy.

For Alleyne, embarking on his journey as a designer and delving deeper into his Caribbean identity has been therapeutic. While growing up, he resented the limitations of being so far away from the world’s fashion capitals, and he looked to heroes in Paris like Alber Elbaz, Alexander McQueen, and Karl Lagerfeld: “To me, being inspired by the islands felt a little bit restricting,” he said. But his interest in reconciling these two sides of himself has now ended up producing some of his most striking work. “I think there are a lot of brands that are just pulling from culture, and so I think it’s really important for me as a designer to make sure my collections aren’t just inspired by that culture but give back,” he added. It’s worth noting that Jawara is a fantastic colorist, knotting together kaleidoscopic fabrics into highly desirable, sensually-charged dresses and crafting a series of intriguing ombré dyed looks. London sees a wave of emerging designers with a knack for deconstructionist approach to clothes, and that’s really exciting to observe.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Holiday Gift Guide, Vol. IV

November 22, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

Marie Lichtenberg I Love You 18-karat Gold, Enamel, Diamond And Sapphire Necklace

Isabel Marant Beniga Crystal-embellished Velvet Mini Dress

Dries Van Noten Soie Malaquais Eau de Parfum

Etro Vela Small Woven Leather Shoulder Bag

Peter Beard Book by Taschen

Holiday mood: Tim Walker.

Molly Goddard Lettice Gathered Taffeta Midi Dress

Manolo Blahnik Bbla 105 Suede And Flocked Mesh Pumps

Bottega Veneta Gold Vermeil And Leather Hoop Earrings

Saint Laurent Faux Fur-trimmed Leather Gloves

Alexander McQueen Open-back Draped Velvet Halterneck Maxi Dress

Loro Piana Holiday Noel Jacquard-knit Cashmere Cardigan

Holiday mood: Edgar Degas’s “The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer” (1922)

Chloé Jade Studded Leather Mules

Valentino Garavani Embellished Pointelle-knit Cotton Socks

Posse Aurelia Ruched Tie-Back Square-Neck Maxi Dress

Diptyque Hourglass Diffuser Figuier

Loro Piana Leather-trimmed Striped Alpaca-blend Bouclé Poncho

JW Anderson Blanket Small Chunky Yarn Shoulder Bag

Ileana Makri Boa 18-karat Gold Diamond Earrings

Holiday mood: Vogue US, 70s.

Alighieri The Skeleton Of The Self Recycled Silver Brooch

Marc Jacobs Crop Hooded Jacket with Brooch

Carlini Lady In Tweed Suit Christmas Ornament

Hermès Soleil d’Hermes Mug

Just in case you’ve missed the other Holiday Gift Guides:

Volume I, Volume II & Volume III.

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

Hey, did you know about my newsletter – Ed’s Dispatch? Click here to subscribe!

Fairy-Tale. Conner Ives SS25

November 16, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

Conner Ives isn’t only a talented designer, but a great storyteller whose fashion fairy-tales make you believe in fantasies and miracles. For his spring-summer 2025 collection, the London-based, American designer took us on a journey from the medieval lords and ladies of Arthurian legend to the invocation of Camelot by Jackie O’ to describe the Kennedy administration. The eclectic patchwork of centuries and eras – medieval England, 1960s Americana, the It girl of today – made for a line-up with truly wonderful clothes (and desirable accessories, like the “hard-bodied bias” bag inspired with a vintage clutch from his mother’s wardrobe or an actual hennin hat). Slinky knit dresses with trumpet skirts were inspired by cotehardies (long-sleeved medieval garments), while jacquard knitwear took its cues from the elaborate motifs found on 17th-century clocked stockings (just the right kind of whimsical chic). There was plenty of fabulous, demi-couture dresses for the loyal coterie of glamorous party girls that surround the designer (think Ivy Getty), from a swishy mauve pink dress hand-painted with polka dots to his final, swan-like bridal look, a silk jersey column dress worn with a dramatic vintage fox-fur collar.

Ives’ eveningwear, even though packed with history and sentiments, never feels like “too much” or too retro (even though the term “vintage” plays an important role in the designer’s brand, noting all the upcyling practices). You can picture both a Carrie Bradshaw and a real, contemporary girl wearing those dresses. And Carrie would definitely style them with one of the season’s most adorable accessory: upcycled fishing lure charms adorned with colorful feathers and tinsel of the kind Ives remembered seeing glitter from his Florida aunt’s bait and tackle box as a child. You really want to read deep into Conner’s fairy-tale.