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Vogue
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
TWP Resort 2026 Collection
While some designers create their resort collections for glamorous types who vacation in St. Barths or Aspen during the cold-weather months, Trish Westcoat Pound of TWP has a far more practical customer in mind: the one who has to regularly face the outside world and all its elements. 'Rain, rain, go away,' she says as she shows off a water-repellent anorak jacket, made in a cotton canvas and gabardine fabric. A skirt and jacket were likewise cut in the weather-proof treatment. There are also chunky navy cable knit turtlenecks for cold winter nights and several coats—from classic felts in cognacs and limes to a reversible trench that works both in multiple seasons. (Notably, instead of using the term 'resort,' she calls this collection 'pre-spring.') Westcoat Pound says that her inspiration this season—and, frankly, all seasons—is utility: 'I design clothes that women want,' she said, although she challenges the idea that function comes at the sacrifice of form. That aforementioned sweater has a funnel neck collar, whereas a pair of pants has exaggerated bubble hems. Wide-leg trousers come woven with a sparkle finish. While TWP's shirting—mainly cropped and oversized Italian cotton shirts—remains the brand's most well-known offering, Westcoat Pound noted that pants have seen a surge of interest among customers. 'They really do look good on a lot of different women with different shapes,' she said. Her eveningwear is where she makes her strongest statement. An ivory silk bias-cut gown is embellished with delicate silver beaded straps that drape down the back, whereas she makes tops and skirts in a glittery, woven mesh. Maybe you can wear these clothes in St. Barths after all.


Vogue
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Rodarte Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear Collection
The Rodarte fall collection began with a singular hue. 'It all started with this lavender dove gray color that we wanted to work with, and that basically told the story of just wanting something that felt gothic and moody,' said Laura Mulleavy. 'When you think of these gothic stories you see a moonlit color palette, and I think we were thinking about seeing color through moonlight.' The light shade of gray did indeed evoke the moon, on soft voluminous charmeuse mutton sleeves, and on a gathered chiffon caftan whose ruffled hem gently pooled around the model like a cloud. The palette extended to a midnight crimson red, an otherworldly mint green, and the blackest black—from velvet. The lineup of dresses was imbued with the Mulleavy sisters' signature romanticism and playfulness—albeit in a more austere form than recent collections. That's not to say that the designers shied away from embellishment, but rather that their opulence glowed subtly from within, as opposed to blinding with razzle dazzle. White lace appliqués decorated bodices and delicately trimmed necklines and collars that at times hinted at a monastic feeling; the direct opposite of a simple slip dress was embellished with glitter, and another strapless column was made from sequined crochet. 'It was really fun to pick materials that felt like they created texture [and light] within themselves,' said Laura. 'Most of the dresses are not shiny, so it was the idea of seeing what would happen if you had a window and you're staring at someone and your only source of light is the moon.' 'For us, it's always been so personal; what we put forth is whatever inspires us in the moment,' added Kate. 'I always felt the person that was choosing something of ours also had an emotional attachment to it—I always think, when you can have anything you want in the world, why are you choosing this one dress?' The final gown, with its lace appliquéd Victorian bodice, princess sleeves, and white-on-black floral inlay fabric that looked as if it could glow in the dark seemed to answer that question.


Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
This label could be the British answer to Toteme
Probably the best thing I can tell you about the new label Akyn, is that when I wore some of it last week to a couple of events, people kept commenting how beautiful it was, how snatched the sleeveless jacket made my waist look and how good those natural fabrics feel. I could write this without mentioning the 'E words' once. It's tempting. If there are three words that seem to switch many consumers off more than environmentally-friendly, ethical and eco, they currently elude me. People would rather read about a bag that costs £16,000 (perhaps they're hate-reading) than regenerative wool or a factory that puts humans, animals and the countryside ahead of profit. Maybe discussing the Es is too depressing, or finger waggy. So let me tell you instead that this is a brand new British collection, intelligently designed in London, with a multiplicity of different body shapes and lifestyles in mind. It's a dress it up, dress it down, built-to-last kind approach for those who like effortless sophistication with the subtle codes of labels such as the Row, Toteme or Cos. The name is a play on kin – family and community. 'I didn't think women needed to be walking around with my name on their backs,' says Amy Powney, Akyn's founder and creative director. I was going to say that what Akyn isn't, is a style blueprint for an evening out with Lauren Sanchez, but actually, if you wore that waistcoat on its own (no trousers) with 110 mm rhinestone heels, a generous valley of bronzed cleavage and a mountain of backcombing, I reckon you'd be fine. Powney designed Akyn for anyone who leads a layered life and needs clothes they can layer. (That's why Tamara, Sarah and I, all with different styles and at different life stages, were keen to test drive them, see our comments below). As a business woman and creator with two young children and a cockapoo, Powney knows all about the compressed demands of modern life. Dog walking, child-herding and a board meeting within three hours are a contemporary norm. In launching Akyn she set out to provide a versatile, striking capsule wardrobe that fits those needs without dating within a couple of seasons. That's partly because in this tightly edited debut collection of around 30 items, there's a roster of well-cut classics: pleat front trousers, the aforementioned waistcoat, blazers, smocked midi and maxis dresses. Additionally, Powney creates her own rules about timelessness by running certain styles for years on end. If you like the aesthetic, she's not about to undermine it by making it seem passé in six months. Sol Black Jeans, £240; Savane Sand Trousers, £220 If that seems honourable but naive, remember that Chanel's famous quilted 2.55 bag (created in 1955) and tweed jackets, from the 1930s, are still going as strong as ever – to the extent that Chanel is a $20 billion-a-year brand. You won't hear Powney projecting telephone numbers, ever. A committed eco-warrior, (damn, there's that word) she sees the irony of her situation more clearly than anyone. She spent her formative years in a caravan with an outside shower, while her parents built their own house. She's been battling the contradictions of what she believes is best for the planet and humanity, with what she loves doing professionally, ever since she was a fashion student and read No Logo, Naomi Klein's excoriating 1999 book about globalisation and the hegemony of branding. Her graduate collection was made from sustainable wool and alpaca. 'Intellectually I grapple with my job all the time. There have been many moments when I think I should quit designing clothes, go off-grid and grow all my own veg because if you really want to cut down on consumerism that's what makes most sense…but on the other hand, if you're not in the room then you can't direct the conversation. If I can sell enough to pay my stuff and my bills, then great'. On a personal note, she walks the talk, or rather cycles the 40 minutes every morning and evening from her home in north London to Akyn's studio in east London. She has a tiny wardrobe of clothes (two black T-shirts, a handful of jeans and three coats). She rarely gets the urge to shop, perhaps because she's subsumed in designing – but when she does, she buys second-hand clothes for her children on Vinted, or investment buys for her home – sparingly. The fact is, if Powney, an outspoken doer in the realm of beautifully made (in every sense) clothes stopped doing what she does, that just leaves more space for manufactures and designers who couldn't care less about the impact their clothing has on the world so long as they hit their bonus. She adores her job and she's good at it. In an industry that endlessly warbles on about its planet-friendly initiatives (hyperbolic greenwashing is endemic), it's hard to think of many others who combine her talent for design and tailoring with such a deep knowledge of how and where to get non-polluting clothes made to scale. Fighting the indifference of many in the fashion industry, she's become such a trailblazer that, in 2022, Fashion Reimagined, a documentary following her on her quest to find the best practices, was released in cinemas. You can find it online; it's a compelling watch. It's tremendously hard running a fashion business at the best of times but try sourcing natural fabrics produced without toxic chemicals and you're doing it with your head in a vice and your hands tied. It's bruising. Powney knows this. If her name's familiar, that's because she previously ran Mother of Pearl, a label originally set up by Maia Norman, Damian Hirst's ex-wife . The idea was to have a rotating case of artists designing each season. As a commercial blueprint you can see the problems. Powney, who joined the label almost two decades ago straight out of design school, swept the floors, made the coffees and eventually worked her way up to overseeing everything; willing it into a beacon of stylish sustainability with hot-ticket catwalk shows during London Fashion Week. A force of nature, Powney even steered it to a point where she collaborated on homeware and clothing with John Lewis, which introduced MoP to a far wider market. But with success came compromises. 'When everyone started going mad for Ganni around 2018, we were under huge pressure to bring our prices down. We were chasing our tail. The fact is, thoughtful production comes at a certain price.' Chanah Brown Undyed Wool Trench, £890 She left Mother of Pearl with regret but invaluable experience, knowledge and a few of the signature designs she'd introduced there. The beloved pearl studded drop shoulders have come with her, notably in the form of a luxurious sandy coloured linen coat. Along with much of this debut collection many of the yarns are undyed, and all the lovelier for it. Where there are blacks – and for winter, aubergine and pale pink – the dyes are extracted from vegetables. While the minimalist spirit of Mother of Pearl remains, the feel is far more indulgent. It sits alongside Toge and Victoria Beckham (the latter re engineered her pricing three years ago so that her line costs at least a third less than than the most expensive La Ella and is finally doing well. 'The difference is that at Mother of Pearl we'd have used cotton and Tencel mixes. At Akyn, higher prices means we use wools and linens and some mixes (see below's glossary). 'The clothes look better and last far longer.' The site launched on Friday and looks gorgeous. There's jewellery too, from her sustainable collaboration with Monica Vinader. She hopes further down the line, to have a preloved section where customers can sell their old Akyn. Inevitably, that might eat into her own sales of new pieces. 'That's life,' she says. 'I'm not doing this to make millions. If I can make clothes women love, that don't wreak havoc on nature and I can pay my staff and my bills, I'm happy.' The Telegraph verdict Tamara Abraham Tamara wears: Ulla linen and wool blend jacket, £620 and Perla lyocell and wool blend trousers, £380 (both Akyn) If I were to start from scratch, the Akyn collection comes pretty close to what my ideal capsule wardrobe would look like. It's all very good versions of timeless staples (wide-legged trousers, T-shirts, effortless dresses) without being boring. Powney knows that details like fringing and (micro) slogan tees are irresistible, but also that nobody looks good when they're not comfortable (hello elasticated waistbands). The tabard/tunic piece is the kind of thing that makes you look like you know about fashion, without trying too hard. I can see these pieces having a similar kind of place in the modern woman's wardrobe as labels like Toteme or rising Amsterdam-based label Rohe. Sarah Bailey Channah wool coat, £890 and Selena tencel dress, £570 (both Akyn) Leather sandals, £200, Bobbies I've always been an admirer of Amy's and was very curious to see what she would do next. At Mother of Pearl she was a dab hand with a hero coat and this Akyn number did not disappoint. I admit I was slightly fearful when I saw it on the rail that it might drown me, but the sleek lines looked so elegant on the body (and for me, at least, the coat was the perfect length to wear with a dress). I also liked the blonde wheat-y colour which is an uplifting tone to wear all year round. The dress also looked a tad unprepossessing on the hanger, but proved to be a subtle, clever design when on. The gathered v-neck was a new shape for me, but nicely flattering and let us give thanks for a smocked waist which shapes the body without garrotting it: Lovely! Lisa Armstrong Leia wool and linen blend waistcoat, £460 and Perla wool trousers, £390 (both Akyn) Leather sandals, £89, Dune I was surprised by just how sleek Akyn's tailoring is. At Mother of Pearl, where Amy previously worked, she never really got the chance to showcase her tailoring talents. But at Akyn, it's is a cornerstone. Yet it all feels relaxed and very contemporary. There are no rigid shoulders or constricting silhouettes and its all easy to mix with more casual items such as T-shirts and faded old blouses. The pleat front trousers are ultra flattering and the perfect degrees of floppiness. I'm impressed too by the feel and handle of the fabrics – nothing hairshirt-y about any of this. It's deluxe but at fair prices. It's not cheap but it feels as though it would last. If you bought this from an established European house it would be at least twice the price. We've given you the style. Here's the substance. If you think sustainable shopping's complicated: here's a glossary to help you on your way, by Molly Gymer Organic Cotton Unlike conventional cotton, organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, preserving soil health and cutting pollution. The fabric uses 60 per cent less energy and 90 per cent less water and avoids toxic dyes, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Hemp From the Cannabis plant's stalks, hemp fabric is a strong, soft like cotton canvas which absorbs more carbon dioxide than most plants, making it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Lyocell Lyocell is the generic name for a semi-synthetic fabric made from the wood pulp of trees like eucalyptus, birch or oak. The most sustainable version of lyocell is by Lenzing, an international textile conglomerate based in Austria. It's called Tencel™ and is known for its softness and breathability. ECOVERO ECOVERO™, also by Lenzing, offers similar benefits. It's another semi-synthetic fabric made through a closed-loop process, designed to be soft, breathable and eco-friendly. Bamboo Lyocell Bamboo Lyocell is made from fast-growing bamboo using non-toxic solvents. It's lightweight, soft and extremely biodegradable with a decomposition rate of just 8 days. Modal Modal fabric is spun from beech tree cellulose. It is water efficient to produce, feels silky in texture and has twice the softness of cotton. Linen Linen is natural, biodegradable and microplastic-free. Made from flax, which grows with little water, linen is durable, quick drying and moth resistant.


Times of Oman
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times of Oman
ROHM announces winners of Violetta design project
Muscat: The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) , in collaboration with the Scientific College of Design, announced the winners of The Violetta Project: A Journey into Fashion Design, a special initiative inspired by its recent production of Verdi's La Traviata. This project invited fashion design students to explore the character of Violetta through the lens of costume design, reimagining her emotional journey in fresh, creative ways. As a place of learning and cultural enrichment, the Royal Opera House Muscat continues to open its doors through educational initiatives that make opera and the arts more accessible. This project encouraged students to approach opera from a new perspective, deepening their engagement with narrative, character, and historical context. After a series of curated workshops that supported students in translating Violetta's dramatic evolution into visual design, two standout participants, Nihal Al-Khaziri and Shadan Al-Malki, were selected for their compelling work. Their designs impressed judges with their ability to capture the complexity and transformation of Violetta's character, blending narrative insight with innovative fashion interpretation. The project fostered both technical and creative growth, equipping young designers with professional tools in storytelling and character development while inspiring a deeper appreciation for opera and its emotional richness. Acclaimed performances The initiative coincided with two acclaimed performances of La Traviata on May 1 and 3, conducted by the legendary Plácido Domingo with the Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro Carlo Felice, under the direction of Marta Domingo. The production starred Juliana Grigoryan in her faultless and emotionally bruising debut as Violetta and Yusif Eyvazov as Alfredo, his fabulous tenor voice offering the perfect partnership. The production featured striking visuals and flamenco-inspired choreography by the Antonio Gades Company.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Has Traded in Designing Lingerie for Kids Clothes in a Vulnerable New Update
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is proving yet again that her creativity knows no bounds; and it's now going from her lingerie design to children's clothing design. On May 14, the Mad Max: Fury Road star revealed that she's now dabbling in fashion design for kids! She shared the update to her Instagram with the caption reading, 'After years of dressing my children in @kongessloejd, I'm delighted to now be sharing a collection we've created together— launching May 21st at 12pm CEST on This collaboration has been a very special one— the brand has been a part of our family life for nearly a decade, and it's been a joy to work closely with their team on pieces that feel both playful and timeless.' More from SheKnows Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Reveals How Jason Statham Being a 'Big Kid' Affects Their Parenting She added, 'There are personal touches woven throughout, including a few design elements inspired by Jack and Bella's own drawings— something that made this project all the more meaningful to us! I can't wait for you to see it. #rosiexks #kongessloejd #rosiehwxkongessloejd #rosiehuntingtonwhiteley In the post, we see pics of Huntington-Whiteley consulting people to make the designs, showing off how it has sayings on it like 'Ciao Bella' and her initials. We also see her kids in her checkered designs, looking as adorable as can be, and both of them showing off their lil artistry skills. The family that creates together, stays together? We're pretty sure that's how the new saying will go. But for now, let's talk about how cosmic it is that Huntington-Whiteley can design it all. Back in 2012, the supermodel launched a lingerie collaboration with retail titan Marks and Spencer's, first making a series of vintage-inspired silk lingerie sets, camisoles, French underwear, and kimono-style robes; moving onto more sexy lingerie. But now, it seems she's going into her mommy instincts with style. For those who don't know, Huntington-Whiteley and her fiancé Statham have been together since 2010, soon after meeting at a party in London. They later got engaged back in early 2016, and now have two children together: a son named Jack Oscar, born on June 24, 2017, and a daughter named Isabella James, born on Feb 2, 2022. In a previous interview with SheKnows, Huntington-Whiteley revealed how she loves learning from fellow moms, especially from those in her #MomSquad. 'I'm always fascinated to learn how working moms juggle it all. How all moms juggle it all. Because it's a juggling act whether you're working or not,' she said. 'I personally always leave conversations with other mothers feeling that I learned something or feeling inspired or comforted by their advice or opinions on things, and I certainly hope other mothers leave conversations with me feeling the same.' Before you go, check out who are fashion icons in the making. Best of SheKnows 19 Celebrity Stepparents Who Have a Tight Bond With Their Stepkids I'm 29 Weeks Pregnant, & Comfortable Sandals Are a *Must* This Summer—These Are the Best Ones on the Market Recent Baby & Toddler Product Recalls Every Parent and Caregiver Should Know About