Latest news with #couture
Times
22 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Welcome to my boudoir — the most beautiful perfume bottles
Elsa Schiaparelli, who will be the subject of an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2026, was ahead of her time. In 1927 the avant-garde, Rome-born couturier founded a fashion house defined by bold, surrealist-inspired creations that are reflected in the house's recent revival under Daniel Roseberry. Schiaparelli also pioneered the idea of the artist-designer collab, enlisting a number of her friends in the surrealist art scene to work on elements of her designs — from the writer, artist and film-maker Jean Cocteau's line drawings rendered in sumptuous embroidery to Salvador Dalí's input on the iconic lobster dress and shoe hat. Schiaparelli also engaged her artist friends to collaborate on different perfume bottles. In 1947 Dalí produced a design that recalls a golden monstrance-style altar piece for Schiaparelli's Le Roy Soleil perfume — created in crystal in a limited run of 2,000 by Baccarat, and presented in a large, gilded, satin-lined metal shell. On receiving the perfume, the Duchess of Windsor declared it 'the most beautiful bottle ever made… It has displaced the duke's photograph on the coiffeuse!' • This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue The earliest-surviving perfume bottles date from ancient Egypt in the 2nd millennium BC and would have contained any of the many perfumed oils that the Egyptians used both in religious rites and beauty regimes. The trend spread throughout the ancient world and beyond, with perfumed waters, oils and distillations stored in a variety of shaped vessels made not only from glass but also terracotta, porcelain and metal. The most luxurious examples were highly decorated with enamel, elaborate filigree work or even gemstones. This trend continued in the 18th century — the highest end of the market saw whole bottles carved from the most expensive stones such as lapis lazuli or made from ever-thinner glass — and the 19th, with glass etched or painted with playful scenes, or heavy crystal bottles made by firms such as Baccarat. By the 20th century these leading glass and crystal manufacturers were working on both mass-market perfume containers and limited-edition runs. The modern era has taken such bottles to new heights — with the most expensive perfumes yet sold being as much about the bottle as about the scent. Shumukh by The Spirit of Dubai, presented in a 3-litre bottle adorned with over 3,500 diamonds, topaz, pearls and gold, holds the record at about £1.3 million. Limited editions of mass-market fragrances can also fetch impressive sums. A 2016 reissue of Dior's J'adore was topped with a 'bow' featuring 30 round-cut diamonds and 10 pear-cut diamonds —at a cost of £50,000. Viktor & Rolf celebrated the 15th anniversary of its celebrated Flowerbomb scent in 2020 with a 10-piece run of a special bottle 3D-printed in gold, costing more than £2,000 each. In 2011 a one-of-a-kind bottle of DKNY's Golden Delicious was designed by the jeweller Martin Katz and studded with 2,909 precious stones, including 2,700 white diamonds, 183 yellow sapphires, a 7.18-carat oval Cabochon sapphire from Sri Lanka, a 1.6-carat turquoise Paraiba tourmaline from Brazil, a 3.07-carat oval-cut ruby, a 4.03-carat pear-shaped rose-cut diamond and a 2.43-carat flawless, yellow Canary diamond that featured on the cap. These were meticulously hand-set into a golden Big Apple-inspired silhouette over the course of 1,500 hours. The bottle was priced at $1 million (or over £600,000), with proceeds going to the charity Action Against Hunger. Artistic collaborations have also endured. Before Schiaparelli partnered with the surrealists, many artists who were then unknown but would go on to achieve greatness designed perfume bottles. Kazimir Malevich, the radical Russian painter, designed a graphic, glacial perfume bottle for the Severny fragrance for Brocard, featuring a polar bear atop an elongated iceberg. In the 1910s René Lalique, the founder of the eponymous crystal company, partnered with the perfumer François Coty, for whom he made a series of perfume bottles. A century later the architect Zaha Hadid worked with Donna Karan to create a monumental design for the bottle of Donna Karan Woman. Dalí himself designed more perfume bottles, both for other brands and, later, under his own name. In 1983 he designed the Baccarat-crafted bottle for his eponymous fragrance, released in a limited run of 1,500 bottles each priced at £2,500. The bottle, shaped like a nose and lips, was inspired by the artist's rendering of a classical statue, the Aphrodite of Knidos, in his 1981 painting of the subject. Carrying on the surrealist theme is a launch from Lalique inspired by the Belgian artist René Magritte's 1950 work La valse hésitation. Known for his pipes, bowler hats and apples, Magritte's work is always wry and dreamlike. La valse hésitation (alluding to a type of waltz that sees participants pause momentarily) is no exception. It depicts two green apples — the only signs of life in a flat, arid, barren landscape — wearing carnival masks. The latest of Lalique's art and fragrance pairings interprets this as a symbol of hidden realities, producing a single masked apple that mixes transparency and satin finish, light and texture, clear glass and coloured (£2,100). Available in a numbered edition of only 250 pieces, each bottle is handcrafted at Lalique's workshops in Alsace and filled with an extrait de parfum, by the perfumer Véronique Nyberg, with notes of pink pepper, ginger, shiso, jasmine absolute and musk. If you're looking to add a little artistic flair to your dressing table, here are four more of the prettiest perfume bottles to buy now: This limited-edition bottle of the Spanish fashion house's Agua fragrance has a cap in the shape of a handcrafted porcelain flower, hand-painted in blue, with a pale green calyx. Inspired by sunlight sparkling on water, the fragrance itself carries notes of Spanish rockrose, bergamot and orange flower. £800, The feminist contemporary artist Judy Chicago has created an exquisite mini trunk that pays homage to Catherine Dior, Christian Dior's sister and a member of the French Resistance in the Second World War. The velvet interior of the trunk is decorated with quotes by Catherine Dior, and it is covered in a delicate blue floral print. The trunk holds a bottle of the Miss Dior scent in a lively iteration by the perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. £12,600, Gucci's recently launched The Alchemist's Garden range is inspired by both the history of Florence and the practice of alchemy. Suitably, therefore, the bottles evoke apothecary's flacons. This version, in clear white, decorated with a golden drawing of a dragonfly, is built around a floral bouquet to mix freshness and earthiness. £265, This classic cuboid flacon is all about restrained elegance, until you reach the cap with its decadent purple stones. The perfume itself features notes of bergamot, ginger and ylang ylang. £2,500,
Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Designer Manish Malhotra makes heads turn with India's first couture party
Designer Manish Malhotra is a creative genius and he has proved that creativity and fashion have no format. At the India Couture Week, Manish hosted a couture party, skipping the traditional ramp show format. A redefining moment in the history of haute couture and fashion weeks, the world over. As soon as the news went out, the glitterati world was abuzz with curiosity. The fashion press went to town with the news. The couture party invite wasn't giving away much either. He wanted to 'redefine and reimagine a couture night'. And he didn't want to do a formal runway for sure. He clearly wanted a larger-than-life royal party. By definition, a fashion couture party is a high-fashion event, where designers showcase their latest couture collections in an exclusive, intimate setting. Unlike traditional runway shows, these parties emphasise a more immersive and social experience, blurring the lines between designer, model, and guest. They often feature elements like live performances, curated decor, and opportunities for guests to interact with the designs and the designers themselves. After more than five years, Manish decided to do something unusual. So, we spoke with the man himself. 'After over five and a half years, coming back to India Couture Week felt incredibly special and I knew I didn't want to return with just another show. It had to be personal. It had to be different,' Manish said in an exclusive interview to City Times. The couture party was held on July 26 at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. Models glided through the venue wearing ensembles from Inaya, the designer's newest collection, merging eveningwear with global glamour and Indian craftsmanship. The event also featured a curated archival showcase of Malhotra's most loved creations and an exclusive presentation of his high jewellery line, bringing style and heritage under one roof. 'No formal runway, no front rows, just a couture celebration with music, legacy, food, flowers arranged just the way I like them at home, and an energy that felt like home,' he said. 'From showcasing cherished archival pieces and our high jewellery collection to debuting Inaya in the most intimate, immersive way, this night was about you, and me, and all of us, celebrating the spirit of couture together.' The highlight of the evening were the iconic costumes from Manish's archives that were on full display. Bollywood to Met Gala An exclusive set up was done with mannequins placed one after another wearing creations that made history. From Bollywood to Met Gala, every piece that made news and created memories was on display at the party. They included Kajol's famous neon green lehenga from the evergreen Bollywood hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kareena Kapoor Khan's outfit from the song Bole Chudiyan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Natasha Poonawalla's Met Gala gown, Rekha's unforgettable look for Vogue cover and many more from the designer's timeless archives. This was a beautiful way to tell the story of these timeless creations. The highlight at the party was Brazilian supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, flown in exclusively for her first-ever collaboration with an Indian designer. Making her debut as 'the muse' in The Lady Crystal Diamond, a bespoke creation by Manish Malhotra, she embodied the spirit of the evening: global sophistication fused with Indian artistry. The look, featuring crystal embroidery and structured draping, shimmered with restrained opulence, cementing its place as the most talked-about couture moment of the season. For her second look, Ambrosio unveiled The Pearl Story, an evolution of the couture house's signature pearl ensembles, following the iconic appearances of Adriana Lima and Coco Jones. Ambrosio wore a structured crinoline skirt paired with a layered tulle corset, drenched in cascading pearls and sequins. The evening also marked the launch of a trend forecast by Manish Malhotra: cocktail saris with crystal pallus, envisioned to redefine after-dark dressing for the modern Indian woman. Alongside these were swirl skirts with hypnotic movement, contoured and rouged gowns, and sculpted blouses, each designed to bring a sense of fluid glamour to the night. For men, sculpted silhouettes came through in sharply tailored suits, cropped bandhgalas, and elevated eveningwear that redefined the rules of formal dressing. From regal brooches and heirloom jhumkas to sculptural cufflinks and collar pins, the Manish Malhotra High Jewellery showcase added an opulent dimension to the night, enhancing both womenswear and menswear with signature sparkle and precision craftsmanship. The guest list Every VIP, socialite and influencer wanted to be on the guest list. Celebrities included the acclaimed actors Tamannaah Bhatia, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Taha Shah Badussha, Shalini Passi, Kalyani Saha and many more. But the party was something more exclusive, according to Saha. 'Fashion shows are a colossal expense. As important as it is to showcase every season, I feel the need to do it depends on the commercial viability of mainly sales and also branding which is necessary,'she said. 'But a party such as this, also cleverly showcasing the brand, is a brilliant idea instead of having the usual format. Models, celebrities alike wearing the brand but also socialising and having fun. Most importantly, Manish always does everything so beautifully and tastefully. The Couture Party was definitely so much fun and special,' Kalyani said. Fashion shows are getting saturated indeed. During fashion week, shows can be overwhelming — crowded seating, delayed starts, and a mad dash to the next event. In contrast, after-parties offer a welcome respite, providing a more relaxed and intimate setting for designers, celebrities, and industry friends to unwind and socialise after a hectic day of shows. 'These exclusive gatherings allow guests to shed the formality of the runway and connect with others in a more laid-back atmosphere. So what Manish did is perhaps pick a cue from there and create his own magical world and termed it a couture party. This one was very inclusive, everyone was interacting, enjoying a beverage while showing some fab fashion,' content creator Saru Mukherjee Sharma said. The ambience was designed to reflect Manish Malhotra's signature style, with moody lighting, mirrored accents, and sculptural florals that brought his vision of decor to life in Delhi. Without a traditional runway, the evening flowed naturally and allowed guests to engage more closely with the couture as it moved through the space. So, will India fashion weeks see the couture party trend becoming a norm anytime now? Diet Sabya, an anonymous yet popular fashion watchdog on social media, said, 'I don't think so. It'll take a special kind of designer to pull it off because guests, clients and editors hate watching a show standing. Like they hate it. They want to be seated. So probably a one-off.' For the first time ever, the designer featured an all-women line-up of musical talent. DJ Kayan opened the evening with her distinct blend of electronica and soul, followed by noted singer Jonita Gandhi's live vocals and Lush Lata's genre-bending sounds that kept the energy unexpected and dynamic throughout the night. It was also good to see iconic model Sonalika Sahay walk for the designer. One of the highlights of the evening was the expansive grazing table, personally curated by Malhotra. Cascading blooms, subtle pastel palettes, and unstructured wild textures by Interflora India transformed the venue into an extension of Manish's world making it feel both elegant and personal, bringing his signature decor vision to Delhi in a beautifully organic way. It depicted a celebration of couture and most importantly a celebration of Manish Malhotra's history with fashion, creativity and Bollywood. 'Couture party is a fantastic idea. Manish's attention to detail is incredible and he loves to come up with fun ideas. Couture Party is a trend to watch out for. It's interactive, free flowing and intimate,' says Shalini Passi who wore a vibrant yellow sari gown for the party. The couture party's creative direction and set design was led by Sumant Jayakrishnan, known for his cinematic approach to immersive storytelling. Jayakrishnan worked closely with Malhotra to ensure the spatial design aligned with the vision: intimate, fluid and unbound by convention. Amid all the media madness, fashion commentary, glitterati and showbiz, there's a valid point that Manish is trying to make: fashion has a history and it must be told. 'I created an archival of my work as I wanted the audience to watch, observe, admire and honour the fashion icons who have worn my creations and made them iconic,' he said. 'Be it Rekha- ji, Kajol, Kareena, Natasha, Coco Jones, Rihanna and so many more. Every look of these celebrities tells a story,' he said. 'It's 35 years of my work in cinema and 20 years of the label. It is the brand's commitment to artistry and craftsmanship. I don't want couture to be serious. I want people to have fun with fashion, fashion that creates history.'
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jenna Ortega's Latex Dress On The Red Carpet Is So Stunning, You Literally Have To See It
Jenna Ortega is a certified fashion girl! There! Who says? Me, an idiot with a keyboard! So there! Oh, you're not being defensive? Well, I couldn't come up with another introduction, so it's staying! ANYWAY, Jenna has been turning looks lately, from wearing actual glass to referencing a Carrie Bradshaw look. CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images, Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images Related: So it's minimally surprising that the 22-year-old just showed up to the London premiere of Wednesday Season 2 wearing one of her best dresses to date: The look is fresh from the Ashi Studio Couture Fall-Winter 2025/26 runway, comprising of a waste corset and latex top and skirt. It was styled by Enrique Melendez. Kristy Sparow / Getty Images, Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland/WireImage Related: The collection was inspired by a "world in chaos," with a press release noting, "The silhouettes in this collection reflect a range of obsessions and tributes to the past century, an old Paris, the richness of ancient cultures, a sense of decay, or the work of great photographers; yet always touched by contemporaneity." Amid a sea of nude dresses dominating the red carpet over the past decade, it's personally refreshing to see one that pushes the envelope, doesn't appear over hetero-sexualized, and suits the theme of the event (like, spooky). Related: As for the makeup, which notably includes the bleached brows look, it's by Mélanie Inglessis in partnership with Dior. Melanie Inglessis / Via Instagram: @ Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland/WireImage As for the veeeery long braid, it's done by Cesar Deleon Ramirez. Cesar Deleon Ramirez / Via Instagram: @ Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland/WireImage Consider the evolution from Season 1: Related: And here's the rest of the cast, for posterity: An inspiration to short people everywhere! Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cardi B Channels Dolly Parton With Bird's Nest Hairdo at the Balenciaga Fall 2025 Couture Show in Paris
Cardi B took a style cue from Dolly Parton with bombshell bird's nest hair at the Balenciaga fall 2025 couture show in Paris on Wednesday morning. The artist's voluminous hairdo reached new heights with foot-long extensions that were tied and teased on top of Cardi B's head; her ends maintained the shape of the wide-barrel rollers that formed them. The inky tresses stuck out behind her, falling from the BumpIt positioned on the crown of her head. More from WWD Katy Perry Plays With Proportions in Balenciaga's Surreal Space Pump at Paris Couture Week Celebrities Front Row at Balenciaga Fall 2025 Couture: Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Nicole Kidman and More Kim Kardashian Pays Tribute to Demna With Her Signature Pantaboot Flair at Balenciaga's Fall 2025 Couture Runway Show Cardi B isn't the only celebrity to revert to protruding roots and thick extensions recently. TikTok-er-turned-pop star Addison Rae just sported the same dramatic aesthetic in the music video for her new hit, 'Times Like These,' which sees her undergo a major transformation from wet to wind-blown hair. Rae's grandiose style was designed by hair artist Lucas Wilson, whose client list includes models Gabbriette and Emily Ratajkowski. Cardi B's hair was most likely designed by Tokyo Stylez, her go-to hairstylist, with whom she's worked with on cover shoots and concert looks. Her makeup, on the other hand, bore a unique resemblance to trends from a later era. Her finely plucked, angled eyebrows, a burgeoning brow theme these days, harked back to the beauty aesthetics of the late '80s and early '90s, as did her bold red lip and shimmery purple shadow. Nothing about her visage spoke to the 'clean girl,' no-makeup trend that's consumed the online mecca since 2020. In fact, her made-up countenance drew comparisons to Doja Cat's punky makeup at the 2025 Met Gala in May. There, the 'Streets' vocalist wore aquatic shadow up to her skinny brows and matte lipstick in a dark crimson hue. For her fashion at the Balenciaga presentation, Cardi B donned a delicate long-sleeve, floral gown with intricate beading woven into the mesh fabric. She paired the sultry garment with sheer stockings and pointed-toe pumps. Elsewhere at the show, Lisa Rinna sported a relaxed, toned-down ensemble, consisting of a cocooning cobalt tracksuit and a straightened black bowl-cut wig similar to Anderson .Paak's signature 'do. Celebrities Front Row at Balenciaga Couture Fall 2025 Show Photos View Gallery Launch Gallery: Celebrities Front Row at Balenciaga Couture Fall 2025 Show Photos Best of WWD A Look Back at Fourth of July Celebrations at the White House Princess Diana's Birthday Looks Through the Years: Her Sleek Black Jacques Azagury Dress, Vibrant Colors and More Lauren Sánchez's Fashion Evolution Through the Years: From Her Days as TV News Anchor to Today Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
How the high society designer behind Sarah Ferguson's wedding dress 'fell out' with Carole Middleton after being given surprising request
When the Duchess of York commissioned Lindka Cierach to design her wedding dress on July 23 1986, the couturier catapulted her into the limelight, earning her nothing but praise for the lavish gown. She founded her own company, Lindka Cierach Couture, in 1979 and her first commission was a wedding dress for a Bahranian princess, which drew attention from the Middle East. But it was not until she designed Fergie's £35,000 ivory duchess satin gown, with its 17½ft-long train, that her place was cemented in fashion history. The dress, with a waistline which dropped to a point and a scooped neckline, proved a foil for her veil and headdress. Manolo Blahnik created her shoes, which were beaded with bees and ribbons in pearls and diamante. Initially Fergie wanted teddy bears and helicopters embroidered on the dress, but Cierach pointed her in a different direction. But, in the four decades since that historic day, Fergie, 65, has been in and out of the headlines for her romantic entanglements, financial disasters, and struggles with cancer and mental health. While she and Prince Andrew were divorced ten years later, the parents of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, still live together in the £30 million mansion Royal Lodge in the heart of Windsor Great Park. Now, in an extraordinary parallel, Cierach, 73, has had her own share of adverse publicity as she has negotiated life in the aftermath of the Royal wedding. Five full-time beaders then embroidered the bride's own coat of arms on the garment with thistles and bees interwoven with the couple's heraldic initials and naval anchors with waves and hearts But it was not until she designed Fergie's £35,000 ivory duchess satin gown, with its 17½ft-long train with an S and an A in silver beads, that her place was cemented in fashion history The London College of Fashion graduate, who once dated TV supremo Michael Grade, eventually gave up on the fashion world to become a sound healer after a public fallout with the Princess of Wales' mother Carole Middleton. She fell out with Carole Middleton over her outfit for William and Kate's wedding. She selected the couturier to design her outfit, spending four months attending many secret fittings, before ditching her at the 11th hour. The designer, who numbers Queen Rania of Jordan and Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones amongst her clients, has always refused to discuss the dispute. But reportedly Carole asked the couturier to deliver the unfinished outfit to her home, so she could show it to her friends, and Cierach would only allow the garment to leave her studio if she accompanied it. According to a source, Cierach was taken aback when Middleton claimed the designer was 'unaccommodating' and said she no longer wished to wear the outfit. She was reported to have been left surprised by the 'unconventional' request and 'completely bemused after all the hard work she had put into creating the outfit'. It is now 12 years since Cierach teamed up with Newcastle University graduate Cherub Sanson, to found the Sister Sound Circle, a 'sacred space, celebrating and supporting women in our community.' 'I used to get very drained by being with difficult people,' she said pointedly in an online comment explaining about her new path.' 'I started Sister Sound Circle in 2013, with my spirit mama, Lindka Cierach,' wrote Sanson, 'through my own desire to sing in a safe environment with a sisterhood, who's (sic) ethos was to complete each other, not compete with each other. 'It's been an epic journey, from starting out - not sure how to hold a circle, or what it should consist of - we kept holding them under the light of every full moon, and our Sister Sound Circle grew and grew. 'Ten years on, we have opened our circle to women both living in and travelling through London from all over the world….Together we sing, drum. share, laugh, cry, meditate and elevate our consciousness as one tribe.' Born in Lesotho, Cierach spent her early years in Africa, with her siblings Kasia, who ran a soft furnishing studio, and brother John, who ran a wet fish and food business. Her father Edek, who was Polish and a devout Catholic, spent much of World War II in a Siberian concentration camp, building the trans-Siberian railway, and went onto map Africa for the British Government. Her mother Diana taught her how to sew. 'My mother helped to develop my love of sewing,' she once said, 'as I used to watch her doing embroidery and smocking. 'She has a fine intellectual mind, and her dream was to have a career - but her father poo-poohed all her ambitions and sent her to Africa to be 'tidied up'. That is where she met my father.' Cierach attended a convent school in London and worked at Vogue magazine before studying at the London College of Fashion. On graduation, she was apprenticed to Japanese designer Yuki. She soon gained a reputation for designing exquisite wedding gowns for society brides such as Lady Rose Cecil, daughter of the Marquess of Salisbury, Jocelyn Stevens's daughter Pandora, and the heiress Charlotte Monckton. 'I was overwhelmed and delighted to get a call from Sarah Ferguson the day after her engagement,' she said afterwards. 'I had never made anything for her before, although I had met her at a couple of social occasions. 'She wanted me to do some wedding dress sketches, and I sketched like crazy. I even dreamed I had a vision from the vaults of Westminster Abbey. 'On the morning, she was due to ring me back, there was total panic. I locked myself out of the house and stood on the doorstep hearing the telephone ring, but we managed to get together the following day. 'Once I started to work with her, I realised what was appropriate. She has strong looks and a wonderful body. And we had great fun, although she was under tremendous pressure. 'We joked about putting bumble bees and helicopters into the design. Seriously, I felt the dress had to be something that would live through history.' Five full-time beaders then embroidered the bride's own coat of arms on the garment with thistles and bees interwoven with the couple's heraldic initials and naval anchors with waves and hearts. Afterwards Fergie wrote in her memoir: 'Lindka was a genius; I knew she could make the most flattering gown ever, and she had. It was amazingly boned, like a corset. After a traditional wedding breakfast for 120 guests at Buckingham Palace, the married couple and some 300 guests moved to a party at Claridge's hotel 'We'd chosen duchess satin because it is the creamiest material in the world. It never creases. It is smooth as glass and hangs beautifully, without a single bulge; it made my reduced figure look even better.' The following year Cierach was named Designer of the Year. Jilly Cooper based her fictional designer in the 2002 bestseller Pandora on her and she took part in the 2006 ITV series Ladette to Lady, tutoring foulmouthed young girls to speak nicely. But, no matter how many diverse projects she has been involved with, she will always be remembered for Fergie's flattering wedding gown…
