Louis Vuitton's Final Fantasy

On his way to St. Barths, NG + LV has unveiled their latest casting coup:

Lightning by tetsuya nomura and visual works of square enix for the new @louisvuitton ad campaign #LVSS16

A photo posted by 🆖 (@nicolasghesquiere) on Dec 26, 2015 at 10:47am PST

Are we seeing a fan (deviant) ort? 

Da who?  

Answers:
No, it izz realz.

The character's name is Lightning, of video game Final Fantasy XIII.

LOUIS VUITTON has collaborated with Square Enix artist and designer Tetsuya Nomura to make the virtual heroine model clothing and accessories from LV's Spring-Summer 2016 collection

The overlap between Final Fantasy XIII fans and people who splash out on Louis Vuitton handbags might be a slim one, but modern marketing is all about exploiting those profitable niches.

- The Verge, Louis Vuitton gains +10 charisma by enlisting Final Fantasy’s Lightning

Lightning for @louisvuitton #lvss16

A photo posted by 🆖 (@nicolasghesquiere) on Dec 28, 2015 at 5:19am PST

He said of his collection presented last October:

I was thinking about this digital frontier, which I wanted to combine in harmony with the world of Louis Vuitton – the craft, the wardrobe. It’s an evocation of cyber, of what comes from digital – these characters or girls that are speaking to their generation.

Check out the latest one featuring Sense8 protanagist Doona Bae:

Striking @doonabae is starring in the new @louisvuitton Series 4 ad campaign SS16 pic by Juergen Teller

A photo posted by 🆖 (@nicolasghesquiere) on Dec 29, 2015 at 5:53am PST

P.S. Have a Happier 2016 everyone!

UPDATED:

LV's Series 4 campaign casting is killing it -- the latest name to pop in the womenswear Spring-Summer 2016 ad is young Hollywood actor Jaden Smith. 

@sarahdonnealia @riannevanrompaey @jean_campbell #jadensmith @christiaingrey in the new @louisvuitton SS16 ad Campaign photographed by Bruce Weber

A photo posted by 🆖 (@nicolasghesquiere) on Jan 3, 2016 at 6:37am PST

It is already 2016 indeed!

Backlog: GUCCI show is going to London

For what's turning out to be a Resort show tour of spectacular venues (LV will show Rio, Chanel in Havana), every fashion insiders' calendar in May-June 2016 is starting to fill up. GUCCI is the latest to announce its base for the excitable 'travelling' cruise collection's showcases and will present in London next year. 

Last June for Resort 2016, he chose another fashion capital, New York City, and brought his eccentric wardrobe to a carpeted industrial warehouse space in buzzy Chelsea.

No further details - regarding date and exact location - have been confirmed at this point.

Maybe next time, they should consider going down under. "Sydney is the ultimate city beach life," Michael Kors said.

See: the Sass and Bide-clothed ANTM finalists 


with other models walked on a raised wood runway in a venue overlooking Sydney harbor. This was in 2007, 2007!

Or this something-recent one: the Ten Pieces collection which was presented at the emptied beachside pool.

Something of a total-immersion experience where the meaning of “croisière‘” is at its warmest. These days, it's Summer there.

Indeed: 2015 is the Year of Destination Runway; And more ..

.. to come (go?) in 2016: LV announces via VOGUE Brasil its escapade in Brazil will be on May 28th (Memorial Day weekend in 'Murica).

Breaking news: a Vogue tem orgulho de anunciar, em avant-première, a data do desfile da @louisvuitton no Rio de Janeiro. @nicolasghesquiere, diretor artístico das coleções femininas, apresentará sua próxima Cruise Collection no dia 28 de maio. Leia mais em www.vogue.globo.com e save the date. Seja bem-vindo, Nicolas! #louisvuitton #LVCruise (foto by Karim Sadli)

A photo posted by Vogue Brasil (@voguebrasil) on Dec 11, 2015 at 5:01am PST

Translation: Breaking news: Vogue is proud to announce , in avant- première , the date of louisvuitton parade in Rio de Janeiro . nicolasghesquiere , artistic director of womenswear , will present its next Cruise Collection on 28 May. Read more in www.vogue.globo.com and save the date . Welcome , Nicolas ! #louisvuitton #LVCruise (Photo by Karim Sadli )

For 2015, indeed, it is all about location, location, location. VOGUE's Sarah Mower reflects:

At some of its frontiers, fashion show production has melted into something more like a movie or theater production—a closer and closer parallel now that actresses are fully involved at every turn in the publicity, except for taking actual turns on the runway. This is fashion as spectacle, for spectators rather than shoppers, entertainment on a grand, broadcast scale. There are franchise wars between fashion conglomerates, just like franchise wars between movie brands. Competition between the big houses—the drive to outdo one another, to up the ante and stand out from the next brand—is the drug that has been causing this year’s extravagant spate of fashion “tripping.” 

In exciting 2016, as Louis Vuitton will brave Brazil, Chanel will be heading to Cuba, and Gucci will go to kooky London. It's the beginning of something.

(Update: Chanel is to kick off the 2016's 'Traveling Resort Showcase' in Havana, Cuba on May 3; whilst Gucci has slated its London showing on June 2 -- Max Mara chose to show in London too -- closely following LV's cruise in Rio.)

Jonathan Saunders Will Close His Label -- and Decamping To .. ?

The presence of charming Scottish-born designer Jonathan Saunders 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TARA DARBY

with his colorful namesake label won't return in London Fashion Week by February next year. 

How? Fashionista reports:

 Jonathan Saunders announced on Tuesday that he is stepping down from his role as creative director of his eponymous label for personal reasons, and that the brand will cease operations. The decision to "wind the company down," as noted in an official statement, comes from both Saunders and his investor Eiesha Bharti Pasricha, who hired the label's first CEO in July. The company will continue to honor and fulfill orders placed on its most recent collection for spring 2016. 

"It is not a decision that I take lightly and I am eternally grateful to my team for all their hard work and dedication," said Saunders. "Eiesha has not only been a fantastic partner over the last year but an incredible support and we remain close. I am very thankful for all of the friends that I have across the industry, and I look forward to working with everyone again soon on future creative projects."

Why? Perhaps, *hint, hint* because DIOR:

Jonathan Saunders to Dior? Maybe. I know a designer or two who were interviewed for the job and LVMH wants them to close their lines.

— bryanboy (@bryanboy) December 8, 2015

Hmmm. Indeed: Dior's creative director is one of the prize posts in fashion. Need we to be reminded?

Backlog: Fashion Consultant Jean-Jacques Picart on the Fashion Shows's System

In a very reflective interview for Vogue.com, French fashion consultant JPP tackles his career-spanning thoughts on the ins and outs of the fashion world.

On fashion shows:
“Today’s ‘super-production’ show formula is at a tipping point. Up until the Internet, fashion shows were for professionals; now they’re for general consumption. But the message for the industry is not the same as the one for the street: Professionals can decode the runway and get excited about things that are ‘unwearable,’ but the general public takes it at face value, and then copiers can take the unwearable and make it palatable—all of that worries me.

“And forget standing ovations like the one Alber Elbaz got for his Spring 2003 collection for Lanvin: People hardly applaud anymore because their hands are occupied with their smartphones. People have one eye on the runway and the other on the screen. Who can concentrate like that?

“Do we really need to spend so much when money is hard to come by for almost everyone? You can’t have one show serve two objectives. A spectacle is entertainment for fashion lovers, social networks, and buzz; they should happen when the clothes are in-store because people want to buy clothes when they see them, not six months later. I’d love to see the fashion houses with means do a beautiful, scaled-down presentation during Fashion Week, and a spectacle later, which anyway would be a better advertising strategy. Cash-strapped young designers could just focus on the clothes. Later, when they are established, they can get into entertainment if they want. It’s time to reinvent things, but the answer is going to come from the younger generation—not from an old guy like me.

Chanel goes When in a Roman Holiday

Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel told writer Paul Morand (The Allure of Chanel [Pushkin Press]), “Fashion should express the place, the moment.”

For its annual Métiers d’Art (alongside Resort) held in special places every December (and May for Resort/Cruise), Karl Lagerfeld does exactly that.


With the fashion fans, press and retailers gathered in Roma today for Chanel’s Pre-Fall 2016 outing, here are feel-good movies set in the Eternal City.


Rome has such an amazing history and when you visit the city, you get to see this history, as shown in Roman Holiday.

And the food. Of course; it was the first to-do in Eat, Pray, Love.

And oh, our childhood favorites:

When In Rome with MK (Related: MARY-KATE OLSEN AND OLIVIER SARKOZY REPORTEDLY MARRIED ON BLACK FRIDAY) and A O.; and

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (wehehehe)

Karl Lagerfeld's short Once and Forever starring Kristen Steward will debut at Rome's Cinecittà studios, as part of the spectacle. That, and we'll see how KL and Co. imbues Rome, Italy. into the latest Chanel collection.

Who is your #APEChottie?

As a parody of the recent interview of Senatoriable Alma Moreno (but hey publicity is publicity) by news anchor Karen Davila (don't tell me you don't know memes like this?

or this?), 

something from the APEC summit (Ano ang APEC? Ano naman ang problema sa APEC?) emerged in social media :

Karen Davila: Team Nieto or Team Trudeau?

Estamos listos para relanzar la relación bilateral México-Canadá, a partir de la llegada del nuevo Primer Ministro, Justin Trudeau. Un gusto reunirme con él, por primera vez, aquí en Turquía.

A photo posted by Enrique Peña Nieto (@penanieto) on Nov 15, 2015 at 11:26pm PST

Alma Moreno: Kailangan pa bang sagutin 'yan?

(Watch the interview to get the reference.)

Jeah boy, we were right about their charm.

Nieto is President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and Trudeau is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. 

Even a major broadsheet seems to be perving over them too, inaykupo!

Amidst his abrupt popularity in the country, the people from his home nation don't get us.
(Mexicans not happy with President Enrique Peña Nieto's popularity among Filipinos by Coconuts Manila)

Which makes the second contender all the more likeable.

He can read you poetry. Or even do a striptease for charity.

Need I say more?

Either way both are truly #APEChottie.

#APEChotties in their Barong Tagalog attire. Kagabi pa kami abangers sa Swim Wear Portion. Ano na?!?? pic.twitter.com/ttJuQqCwfb

— Edgar (@who_is_egay) November 18, 2015

Humahabol: yet for attainability's sake, how about this Viking of a reporter named Per?

This reporter is so damn #APEChottie pic.twitter.com/Or0yUrUXcs

— Euei (@eu_berr) November 17, 2015

Last night, Pres. Nieto bid adios while PM Trudeau left you feeling unwanted this morning.

Have a great weekend!

Justin Trudeau is one foxy headturner

We feel very excited about Canada’s new prime minister, Justin Trudeau — even when we don’t live in Canada or have any knowledge of Canadian politics. 

Amidst threats after the Paris attacks, the headturner is still poised to attend the Philippine-hosted

Via

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting.

Via: RAPPLER

We are already hoping that his visit will mean hearing out the "take back" petition of sending back to Canada the 'imported' pile of garbage "50 40-footer container vans containing mixed waste(non-recyclable plastics, used adult diapers, broken bottles and glasses, waste paper, household/kitchen waste)" dumped in Manila way back July 2013.

The Zorro-esque President of Mexico, His Excellency Enrique Peña Nieto 

is one of the high-profile delegates joining J.T. in the summit.

Read on RAPPLER's APEC explainer. (At least) be in-the-know.

Say A Lil Prayer; #PrayForParis

The Attacks in Paris: What Happened at Each Location

French television and news services reported that dozens of people were killed and many more wounded in multiple attacks across Paris on Friday night.

Walter Van Beirondonck A/W 15

 In other news, Strong 7.0-magnitude quake hits off Japan coast: USGS.

Make that, #PrayForEverybody.

Marga Esquivel in Topshop's Holiday 2015 Campaign

The British high street retailer gathers a girl gang of rising models, including 1/2 of Hadid sisters: Bella, and Keith Richard's granddaughter: Ella 

We love every Filipino making waves in the in*ernational fashion scene. As near-far the year of 2015 has gone, one Pinay notably walked in Chanel Fall 2015 Haute Couture show. 

She is called Marga Esquivel. 

Photo by Giampaolo Sgura

For Topshop's Holiday 2015 ad campagin lensed by Giampaolo Sgura, the lady known for her silvery grey hair (described as "scene-stealing" by VOGUE.com) (rightmost, below) joins them up-and-coming models, namely (from left):

Imman Hammam, Bella Hadid; Aneta Pajak; Sophie Ahrens, Grace Hartzel, Malaika Firth, and Ella Richards.

Models Mayhem

Some of the models in the line-up of the VICTORIA'S SECRET Fashion Show

The Angels:

• Adriana Lima - BRA - (since 2000; first runway show: 1999; absentee in 2009)
• Alessandra Ambrosio - BRA - (since 2004; first runway show: 2000)
• Behati Prinsloo - NAM -(since 2009; first runway show: 2007)
• Candice Swanepoel - RSA - (since 2010; first runway show: 2007)

• Lily Aldridge - USA - (since 2010; first runway show: 2009) 

She will wear this year's "Firework Fantasy Bra".

Hey LA!!! The secret is out! Come meet me and see the 2015 Fantasy Bra in Santa Monica today. I'll be signing autographs at the Third Street Promenade Victoria's Secret store from 3-4PM 💎 #VsFashionShow2015 #DreamComeTrue #ComeSayHi ❤️❤️❤️

A photo posted by Lily Aldridge (@lilyaldridge) on Nov 2, 2015 at 8:12am PST

The 10 newest Angels in Class of 2015 are:

• Lais Ribeiro - BRA - (since 2015; first runway show: 2010; absentee in 2012)
• Elsa Hosk - SW E - (since 2015; first runway show: 2011)

Remember this?

• Jasmine Tookes - USA - (since 2015; first runway show: 2012)
• Sara Sampaio - POR - (since 2015; first runway show: 2012)

• Martha Hunt - USA - (since 2015; first runway show: 2013)
• Jac Jagaciak - POL - (since 2015; first runway show: 2013)

VOGUE Germany / June 2013

• Kate Griegorieva - RUS - (since 2015; first runway show: 2014)
• Taylor Hill - USA - (since 2015; first runway show: 2014)
• Stella Maxwell - NZL - (since 2015; first runway show: 2014)
• Romee Strijd - NED - (since 2015; first runway show: 2014)

Way too many ANGELS now, eh?

The Brazilian Bombshells are well-represented: 

• Izabel Goulart (She was an Angel from 2005-2008 

and has been in the show since 2005.)

• Daniela Braga
• Gracie Carvalho

• Barbara Fialho (She is notably the VS brand's fitting model since 2013.)

Joining new recruits Gigi Hadid - USA -

Tommy Hilfiger / Spring/Summer 2016

and Kendall Jenner - USA - 

GQ magazine / May 2015

are 9 more rookies:

• Bruna Lirio (another Brazilian)
• Flavia Lucini (make that 2 another Brazilian) 
• Bridget Malcolm -AUS -

With Matthew Terry / July 2014

• Leila Nda - BDI Burundi

VOGUE Italia / September 2015

• Leomie Anderson - GBR -

Paper Magazine / April 2015

• Megan Puleri - USA -
• Pauline Hoarau - REU Reunion Island -

VOGUE India / July 2015

• Rachel Hilbert - USA - (As per WIKI,  She is best-known for being the official spokesmodel for Victoria's Secret younger line, PINK)
• Sanne Vloet - NLD -

Style.com/Print magazine / November 2014

• Valery Kaufman - RUS - (she is a rumored girlfriend of actor Jared Leto)

Paco Rabanne / Spring/Summer 2015

• Vita Sidorkina - RUS -

Should be, a hundred times should be Angels:

• Constance Jablonski

• Lily Donaldson

• Magdalena Frackowiak






• Joan Smalls

A total of 44 (edited to correct:) 47 ladies will walk on Tuesday evening in the 2015 edition of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in New York for its filming in front of a (very lucky blue) live audience. It airs on CBS on December 8.

Head to VOGUE.com to vote for the BEST VICTORIA'S SECRET ANGEL *of all time*. We see Gisele is onto a landslide win.

VICTORIA'S SECRET Time of the Year .. Once More

Come next week is the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show with its bombshell models in signature sexy-wavy hair and gorgeous glow.

This year will mark not only for the show's 20th year and its comebacking to New York Cit-ehhh but also as the debut year for VS virgins, them social top models, Gigi Hadid (dreams do come true, if you are Gigi, that is)

We love surprises…and we just gave a BIG one to @GigiHadid at today’s #VSFashionShow castings 👏🏼 🍾 See you on the runway, Gigi 😉

A video posted by Victoria's Secret (@victoriassecret) on Oct 29, 2015 at 4:23pm PDT

and, proving the speculations right, Kendall Jenner (we mere mortals don't get celebrate birthdays with an announcement to walk the VS Show).

@VictoriasSecret the best birthday present of ALL TIME. #SoDamnHappy!!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

— Kendall Jenner (@KendallJenner) November 3, 2015

As for its musical programming, following news Rihanna had to back out, the producers has named Ellie Goulding as a musical performer . She will join The Weeknd (so, her model-girlf and Gigi's sister Bella might walk in the show as well) and Selena Gomez onstage.

We will be all over social media for glimpses of the VS fashion show's taping on November 10. The 2015 edition of the lingerie giant will air on CBS on December 8. 

Nicolas and Raf on 'Fashion' and 'Pop Culture'

With Anna W.

I find it most enjoyable when fashion specifics like creativity and sustainability are given an in-depth, insightful treatment.

Fashion has never been so in fashion. All of a sudden we’ve arrived at a place television, music, media, and advertising have enjoyed for a time; fashion has been vastly democratised, which is excellent, but it’s also become pop culture. Everyone wants to be part of it, or to own a piece of it, to appear interested and aware. The fashion world used to be relatively marginal. it could be prestigious, but it was also considered to be a toxic world of crazies – was it not dangerous and unwholesome in a way?

- Nicolas Ghesquiere on his interview with Jonathan Wingfield in December 2012 (just some days after his depature at BALENCIAGA) for inaugural System #1

Fashion became pop. I can’t make up my mind if that’s a good or a bad thing. The only thing I know is that it used to be elitist. And I don’t know if one should be ashamed or not to admit that maybe it was nicer when it was more elitist, not for everybody. Now high fashion is for everybody.

- Raf Simons speaking to Cathy Horyn in early 2015 for System #6 Fall/Winter 2015 (Read the full article: - BoF)

Ghesquiere is now doing great strides at LOUIS VUITTON, while Raf has recently ended his tenure at DIOR.

Wainwright of Rag & Bone hinted this year's CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund's Winner, Winner, Winner

Apparently.

In an article from Business of Fashion, Rag & Bone's managing partner Marcus Wainwright says,

"We’ve been talking about Gypsy Sport, Jonathan Simkhai, Brother Vellies quite a lot. Maybe more to the point is who we haven’t been talking about."

CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund announces 3 grand winners --

-- A first, without a runner-up

Aurora James of Africana-inspired ethical footwear line Brother Vellies; 

With Zendaya, both in Brother Vellies shoes, naturally

Jonathan Simkhai with his namesake womenswear label; 

Side by side with model Taylor Hill

and Rio Uribe for streetwear-focused Gypsy Sport 

With Fernanda Ly

bag the CFDA/V FF 12th edition's top prizes.

The three equal winners will each "receive $300,000 to invest in their respective labels, as well as a yearlong mentorship with an industry veteran."

Just a thought I thought: Simkhai and Uribe could be cousins, don't you think?

Congrats!