Proenza Schouler Opens Hong Kong Store @ Elements Mall

Club 21 announce the opening of the first Proenza Schouler store in Hong Kong at Elements Mall. Located in the heart of Kowloon, the store takes its design inspiration from the brand’s flagship boutiques in New York, including the signature Proenza Schouler triangle monogram steel screen. Designed in collaboration with Adjaye Associates and Uli Wagner, the 1230 square foot boutique features graphic minimal lines, and a material palette of sandstone marble, onyx and concrete, with an open plan layout optimal for shopping the collection.

Founded in 2002 by designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Proenza Schouler is known for its fusion of craftsmanship and attention to detail with a sense of refined ease. Inspiration drawn from contemporary art and youth culture is combined with an emphasis on tailoring and the use of custom developed fabrics.  Proenza Schouler Hong Kong will carry ready-to-wear with a main focus on bags, footwear and accessories, starting with the brand’s FW2014 Collection. This season, the designers explored the themes of color, abstraction and spontaneity. The store will carry 25 exclusive PS1 Tiny handbags created for Club 21. The limited edition handbag, in cobalt and black lux leather, is embossed with the Proenza Schouler logo and a special edition number. The Proenza Schouler Hong Kong store opening continues the strategic partnership with Club 21. Proenza Schouler plans to open additional stores throughout Asia in Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Macau and Malaysia.

BOTTEGA VENETA @ KNOT Eau De Parfum

BOTTEGA VENETA KNOT eau de parfum is a natural extension of the Bottega Veneta philosophy as the scent is subtle luxury that is individual and transformative with rare and luxurious ingredients such as mandarin, neroli, lavender, peony and tonka beans. Tomas Maier’s vision for Bottega Veneta’s new fragrance, Knot, conjures an escape to the Italian Riviera. Situated in the lush hills there is a home, a sanctuary from reality, overlooking the sparkling sea. The interior is illuminated by sunlight streaming in through its windows, which are open wide, ushering in a bracing saltwater breeze tinged with the scent of peonies from the garden and the redolence of clementine trees from the hills nearby and afar, combined with the essence of freshly laundered linens. In the bedroom sits a woman, captured in the moment, savoring both time and place.

The Knot’s bottle is inspired by Venetian glasswork and the traditional Italian carafe, having naturally evolved unto itself. Combining soft, rounded curves and powerful lines, the bottle is an object of timeless beauty and pleasing simplicity. The bottle’s oro matte cap is its most distinctive design element; as the fragrance’s name is an homage to Bottega Veneta’s beloved Knot clutch, Tomas Maier designed the cap to echo the bag’s iconic knot-shaped closure. The result is a vessel with the luxurious feel of the finest of jewelry. Master perfumer Daniela Andrier’s task to translate Tomas Maier’s vision of a meditative seaside interlude into a unique olfactive experience evoking the essence of the Italian coastline, precisely illustrating the elements into different accords. First impressions are shaped by an exotic and bright Clementine Tree accord, based on mandarin, limette, neroli and orange flower. At the fragrance’s heart are intense notes of lavender, a key aspect and unusual addition that lends to the uniqueness of the fragrance, gesturing toward the green hills, and the sense of crispness reminiscent of freshly laundered linens within an Italian seaside home. Rich floral notes of rose and peony provide lush sensuality, while musk and Tonka bean serve as a counterpoint to the fruity notes while embuing a lingering texture and earthiness. All together, the bright, floral fragrance is meticulously layered to offer an unexpected, delightful experience; an identity of its own, that is destined to leave a lasting memory.

PRADA @ FW2014/15 Women Collection

PRADA FW2014/15 Womenswear catwalk show can be considered ACT II of a theatrical performance that opened with the Prada Menswear FW2014/15 presentation. The catwalk set is once again an experimental stage.

The theme explored the German avant garde period of the 70s and 80s, referencing the political and cultural debate addressed by the north European intelligentsia in that period, and particularly the work of Pina Bausch and Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

The music, directed by Frédéric Sanchez, is a mix of electronic sounds alternating with traditional German tracks from the period, played live by a group of wind instruments and string quartet. The voice of Barbara Sukowa gives the set a truly unique feel.

The pieces present a mix of high "glamour" and "poorer" touches: the finishes are leather-embellished, there are no embroidered motifs and shearling is used as a decorative element. Oversize outerwear, inspired by a masculine and military touch and with ample shoulders, dominates the show. Jackets and coats are enriched by gold and silver leather profiles or by shearling edgings.

Lightweight dresses are defined by the graphic design of the contrasting leather trims. Prints, inspired by the 1970s and 1930s, are geometric and graphic, for some garments highly defined, while others are treated with a 'washed' effect as though hand-painted with a naive touch.

The overall feel of the collection is one of simplicity, on the surface low-key and stark, catching the eye with a colour palette of red, purple, yellow and ochre.

The shoes feature perforated steel heels resembling the industrial vibe of the times, which alternated with more feminine silver and gold versions.

ETRO Opens First Boutique in Macau

ETRO opens its first boutique in the Four Seasons Hotel in Macau with more than 3,800 square feet over two levels. Being the largest Etro boutique in the Greater China offering womenswear, menswear, and accessories collections. The new boutique represents the world of Etro, which is synonymous of “Made in Italy”. The interior represents the latest generation of Etro boutiques. The inspiration behind this project is the Art Déco design: the furniture has a light structure showing bright tones like silver metal combined with elegant stitched suede and lacquered surfaces. The walls are conceived in a warm gray alternating the use of fabrics with lacquered panels and the floor is characterized by a grey sophisticated marble.

SAINT LAURENTMOUJIK Bracelets

SAINT LAURENTMOUJIK bracelets is bold, edgy and contemporary, Silver and gold plated pieces offer a modern opulence, the strong shapes lend themselves to a distinctive finish and style.

JIMMY CHOO FW2014/15 Women Collection

JIMMY CHOO FW2014/15 Women Collection is full of lust, desire, passion and romance, all palpable emotions. Creative Director, Sandra Choi continues to experiment with new proportions whilst remaining focused on a refined cut, shape and form. The concept of an affair is pivotal to the collection, the sense of illusion and deception, things are not what they seem at first, design details that trick the eye inviting closer inspection and entrapping the beholder.

Modern architectural heels and silhouettes are juxtaposed with pieces that reference the extremism of the Ancien Régime and the seduction and revenge idolised in Les Liaisons Dangereuses. A colour palette of decadent hues abound in ink, dark orchid, mirto, evergreen and  blue grey creating a covetable colour palette, a Jimmy Choo signature, leopard printed pony is seen in striking smoke paloma.

 The collection heralds the birth of new heel signatures, a triangular heel with lacquer finish that deceives the eye playing with reflections, finished with a pointy toe, it is presented in the VANISH boot and LEGION shoe with ankle strap detail. The MACAW and CARTEL present an evolved silhouette with a refined wedge.

Amongst a muted colour palette of tonal suede and leather, a romantic William Morris inspired English floral print commands attention, ornate printed satin decorates minimalist silhouettes across court shoes (LUST), booties (LUTHER) and sneakers (TOKYO & CANNON). Playing to the theme of illusion, Rousseau-esque zebras hide mischievously amongst the innocent inky blue florals waiting to be discovered.

Velvet panels and flocking lends a sensuous tactility to pointy toe flats, tough heeled day boots and skate shoes giving a sense of depth and caressable texture. Translucent lace devoré in mirto, black and blue grey creates a feminine yet sensual sentiment in pointy toe pumps with delicate ankle tie details and Mary-Jane flats. The HOURY pump features an innovative asymmetric leather panel, wrapping the front arch with an elegant ankle strap detailing to one side.

Daywear sees the Jimmy Choo woman on a mission, featuring a tougher, sometimes androgynous silhouette with a focus on boots and a chunkier heel, linings of fur and shearling feature for luxurious warmth. HATCHER, a powerful combat boot is given a wink of softness with a jeweled cluster of crystals adorning the toe cap. Sneakers play an important role representing a luxurious take on sportswear, the CANON sneaker with monk strap detail features a rubber sole encased by an innovative transparent plastic.

  

Nightfall calls for drama, The DWYER shoe bootie features colour blocked folds of satin layered with a concertina effect evocative of a beautiful sea anemone. Perspex is used to balance the decadence of black satin and intricate lace up detailing on booties. Strips of lace create a peekaboo effect courting lingering glances. Soft fur teases the front of sandals (LOCKE) and lace corsages titivate court shoes　(DARLING). A statement bootie (KAMARIS) features a high lace ruff detail framing the ankle as an erogenous zone. The TUCAN pump binds the ankle with balletic satin ribbons.

Handbags explore minimalist silhouettes and maximalist decoration. The AVA mini cross body strikes a balance playing with texture finished with luxurious rabbit fur combined with python, a combination of Perspex is used inlayed with nude lace and leather giving lingering flashes of transparency that tease the eye. Gazelle animates the CARRIE and ZADIE bags with playful Mohawk detailing.

The CHARLIE bag features a soft and streamlined silhouette creating a blank canvas animated by a myriad of finishes of gazelle, python and long haired pony all complimented with a sleek brushed gold panelling at the base. Irresistible fur jackets blanket the EVIE bucket bag. The CLOUD clutch with knotted leather netting becomes a literal representation of a web of desire.

Noomi Rapace in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci

Noomi Rapace in a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci FW2014 Black grain de poudre tuxedo with satin details, worn with black viscose bodysuit, black nappa leather clutch and black velvet sandals at the Louis Vuitton Fondation in Boulogne-Billancourt, France recently.

ROBERTO CAVALLI FW2014/15 @ A Dance of Energy Women Collection

ROBERTO CAVALLI FW2014/15 A Dance of Energy Women Collection is a hypnotizing dance of fire circles the runway: an equestrian atmosphere alternates with flashes of elaborate flapper dresses. A parade of tweed, Donegal, leather, military shapes and enveloping blanket coats makes a powerful entrance:  like a modern day hunting party that blends with the symbols of the Maison. A show of classics - the uniform coat, the python trench lined in leather and the white mink trench, a pant with side stripes and the new Chivalry pant are cut with sartorial precision in the Roberto Cavalli tradition, but animated with sanguine details.

Lion and horse heads, straps and riding crops, foulards that become dresses. Leather and fringe inserts, fur with animal stripe inlays, all signs of the Cavalli military Neo Chivalry. The dance intensifies when the Cavalli woman reveals flashes of light and movement in the flapper dress: this woman who takes shape among the prints, the intarsias, the lace and the embroidery is a modern Lee Miller, the muse of Man Ray and of the most hypnotic debut du siècle. A time of sinuous outrageousness, revisited today by Roberto Cavalli with complex workmanship.

The femininity of the twenties and the geometry of the thirties weaves in and out of the collection in the dresses below the knee that are open-ended with slit or fringed hems.

 Hems that reveal games of lace and chiffon, feathers and crystals, that cut through the prints, make the butterflies embroideries fly, and that make petals open.

A circling that catches on fire when from black and white the dresses inflame with red in a pure fire print, on fox fur or a feather print to then become deep blue or black, like a night that’s illuminated by the Cavalli woman.