Girl Uninterrupted. Zimmermann SS24

December 27, 2023 | Design & Culture by Ed

I’ve never been a Zimmermann person, but since Lana Del Rey was wearing the brand’s dresses throughout her 2023 tour, I had to reinvestigate its ultra-girl charm. And I must say that I’m in love with Nicky Zimmermann‘s spring-summer 2024 offering. In a collection that contained three main and sometimes intermingling strands – sportily versatile knit pieces; volumized many-ruffled and guipure-edged georgette and charmeuse dresses; and slouchy but smart tailoring in denim and leather – you had a sense of breezy easiness. The pastel jersey looks resembled off-duty dancers’ attire, built for freedom of movement but not visually defined by technicality: a compelling alternative for the yoga-pant constituency. This sporty duality carried over into racerback white lace crops, which were used as formfitting eveningwear base layers over pretty, vaguely Sicilian baptism-gown butterfly-and-flower-pattern voile dresses edged with more cappuccino froths of lace. There was similar genre-blending in looks that placed spaghetti-strap, sometimes semi-sheer tiered mid-length backless dresses over appealingly generous, carrot-cut washed jeans, or light lace tops under textured tailoring. The dresses included a caped and draped robe in graduated dégradé patches of violet, orange, and pale yellow derived from abstract landscapes. Zimmermann said the often layered and backless flower-bomb gowns and shirtdresses had been purposefully given a washed, faded finish because “we want it to feel that the girls are walking and the flowers are just around them.” Sometimes garlanded with lace petals and handsome golden jewelry, including bunch-of-grapes earrings, these had a Dionysian freshness to them. As the viral TikTok sound sums up, “this is so Lana Del Rey vinyl“.

Need some Zimmermann wardrobe fix? Let me help!

ED’s SELECTION:

Grosgrain-trimmed Wool And Silk-blend Duchesse-satin Blazer

Gathered Silk And Wool-blend Mini Dress

Ruffled Tiered Gathered Floral-print Crepon Mini Dress

Asymmetric Floral-print Linen And Silk-blend Midi Dress

Large Leather And Macramé-trimmed Straw Tote

Crochet-trimmed Patchwork Paisley Linen Midi Dress

Pussy-bow Corded Lace-trimmed Striped Linen And Silk-blend Mini Dress

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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Magda Butrym’s Winter Rose

December 22, 2023 | Design & Culture by Ed

In search for the ultimate, last minute Christmas gift? Honestly, those are the best if you ask me! This cream Magda Butrym scarf is designed with a beautiful folk floral motif inspired by Slavic heritage. Crafted from silk, it’s the perfect addition to complete any look from brand’s après-ski capsule collection.

Thank you Magda Butrym team for this beautiful gift!

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Last Minute: COS Gifts Edit

December 17, 2023December 16, 2023 | Design & Culture by Ed

COS has your holiday season covered. The brand has knits in all shapes and textures, eveningwear that dashes with jacquards and sequins, and timeless accessories – basically everything that will come handy this holiday party circuit. As keyed to real life as COS’ capsule collections are, they’re not humorless. Think XXL polka dots and playful details.

Here’s my last minute COS gift guide!

FOR HER:

QUILTED MICRO BAG

ASYMMETRIC SEQUINNED MINI DRESS

HEART SIGNET RING

FRINGED CAPE

FAIR ISLE MERINO WOOL BALACLAVA

OVERSIZED FRAMED CLUTCH

OVERSIZED ORGANIC-SHAPED CLIP-ON EARRINGS

OVERSIZED POLKA-DOT WOOL-BLEND BLAZER

POLKA-DOT TAFFETA MIDI SKIRT

STUDDED WRISTLET POUCH

SILK-BLEND VELVET BLAZER

RIBBED CASHMERE SLIPPERS

FOR HIM:

SLOUCHY CROSSBODY

TRI-TONE WOOL CREW-NECK JUMPER

CHUNKY RIBBED WOOL SOCKS

QUILTED PADDED LINER GILET

PURE CASHMERE BEANIE

Contemporary. Helmut Lang Pre-Fall 2024

December 14, 2023 | Design & Culture by Ed

Peter Do’s second collection – pre-fall 2024 – for Helmut Lang proves that the designer might be really the right match for the brand. Helmut Lang, the label, has been struggling for years with finding it’s tune. No wonder why: it’s difficult to position a contemporary brand without its namesake founder at helm. Just look at what’s going on at Ann Demeulemeester. Do, however, always seemed to have a similar aesthetical sensitivity to Lang, and while his debut collection last September was bumpy, the newest collection offers a more developed glimpse at his vision for the New York-based brand. You can easily see these slinky, less-is-more clothes hanging on racks in stores and imagine customers being attracted to their essential cool. You can also see @brendahashtag wearing every single look. Worth mentioning are the paint-splattered pieces, an OG Helmut Lang specialty, all done by hand by an artist from LA. And the raw denim is cut with adaptable flap pockets, versatility being one of Do’s signatures. The tailoring, meanwhile, is made with an attention to detail that seems rare at these price points – see the inner waistband of the trousers for proof. Excess straps and oversize proportions might seem like too much at the first sight, but all the zippers you see have a function: the sleeves come off a leather biker jacket, and pants zip into shorts or go from straight-leg to flared. A two-in-one bomber puffer in black with white accents was another standout.

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.
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No Fillers, Pure (French) Magic: A.P.C. Gifts

December 12, 2023December 11, 2023 | Design & Culture by Ed

The precisely crafted designs of A.P.C. showcase the French label’s refined and understated aesthetic that ages like wine. These are gifts that keep on giving: iconic bags, ultra-chic wool accessories (made in collaboration with JW Anderson!), fantastic candles and eternal denim. No fillers, pure (French) magic.

Here are couple of my A.P.C. picks for this festive season: