A Mini Week in Fashion: 20th-23rd June

1.Here come the boys 

Menswear Fashion Week kicked off over the weekend with highlights including Prada’s golf inspired collection and a whole lot of dandy at Gucci. Stefano Dolce and Domenico Gabbana have dedicated a booktacular tribute to their wonder boy David Gandy and there’s a new kid on the block as Karl Morrall makes a staggering sartorial rise from cashier (at Morrisons) to catwalk (at Prada). Also noted – an atypically demure Anna Dello Russo at Moncler sans oversized watermelon headwear, is this the sign of a new ladylike ADR to come? 

                                ADR looking demure in Mui Mui A/W11

2.Monroe goes Mega

The swishy white dress that set hearts a-flutter in ‘The Seven Year Itch’ went for a casual £2.8 million at private auction. Sold off by actress Debbie Reynolds, who failed to perusade a museum to house her fash-abulous movie collectables, the question remains – just who was the mystery bidder? 

                                  The iconic Blonde Bombshell
 

3.Fashion players

As John Galliano goes on trial this week, there's yet another round of fashion whispers as to his successor. With Azzedine Alaïa reportedly declining the offer, flattered yet 'not wanting to be part of the next chapter', it raises the question as to why a designer of Alaïa’s age would have been initially approached. Eluding to show at the biennial fashion weeks, the mere entering of Alaïa’s name into the running is a corroborative sign that the position at Dior is still very much anyone’s. And across the Channel, Carine Roitfeld is reportedly launching an independent title focusing on championing young talent. We wait with bated breath. 

4.The return of the model

After seasons of perusing celebrity-endorsed ad campaigns (yes Emma Watson, we’re looking at you), it’s with pleasure that we note the comeback of the model-as-muse. With a new crop of young faces forming the backdrop of Prada’s latest offering, Jean Paul Gautier opting for veteran Kristen McMenamy and Versace eschewing a blonde Hollywood starlet in favour of androgynous beauty, Saskia de Brauw – things are looking promising.

                                 Saskia de Brauw for Versace A/W11

And in other Versace related news – Swedish giants H&M have confirmed Versace as their next designer collaboration (yes it’s worth another mention). Offering ‘quintessential Versace’ from the archive designs, we anticipate loud prints, studded dresses and Regent Street chaos.

5. And the Brit Award goes to...

The nominees for the WGSN Global Fashion Awards have been announced and it’s another smattering of Brit names on the shortlist. With Christopher Bailey, Erdem and Jonathan Saunders up for Most Influential Womenswear Designer and Michael Van der Ham in the Breakthrough Designer category, we look forward to October’s ceremony!

                            Michael Van Der Ham's A/W11 catwalk show