Taking an opposite approach, the designer normally begins with the case and then creating bracelets or straps to complement it.

The Bangle watch is a bolder expression of femininity, inspired by the elegant geometry of Art Deco and the strong forms of 20th-Century Modernism.

The Pre-Spring 2021 collection also echoes within LANVIN’s traditional history. LANVIN’s emblem, designed in 1923 by Paul Iribe, inscribes rounded buttons like the bottle of the 1927 LANVIN parfum Arpège, with LANVIN blue as a key shade.

Paying tributes to LANVIN’s founder Jeanne LANVIN and designer Armand-Albert Rateau, the modernist Pencil Box handbag is re-launched with sleek lines and a contrasting arched feline handle. The iconic pillowy Sugar Bag from LANVIN mid-2000s is also revived in the Pre-Spring 2021 collection.

Jewellery underscores the house of LANVIN. The ‘Arpege’ line, inspired by the fragrance’s flaçon and stopper, is escalated with rose and daisy petalshaped gemstones – Marguerite, which means daisy flower in French and is also the name of Jeanne LANVIN’s daughter. Nature is sublimated into parures of cascading cast-metal petals.

Jeanne LANVIN, founder of LANVIN, values collaboration across industries. Evoking the 1920s, LANVIN teamed up with the French artist Romain de Tirtoff, also known as Erté, whose work was considered a synonym of aesthetics at that time. Within the collection, his lavish art deco designs become elegant prints sprinkled throughout, from womenswear to the Pencil Box handbag, illustrating a theatre of the absurd and revealing human subconscious desires.

The collection comes to life at the Palais Idéal in Lyon, southern France, built by a French postman Ferdinand Cheval over 33 years. This fantastic medieval castle has become, over time, a place of gathering and pilgrimage for famous artists such as André Breton, Pablo Picasso and Max Ernst.

Ferdinand Cheval’s work is commemorated in an essay by Anaïs Nin, a major figure in art and literature. Living the fantasy, the Pre-Spring 2021 collection from LANVIN anchors the imagination, crafting artistic pieces for fashion reveries.

Women are always in search of a bag that is perfect in every way, just like the perfect man. This is my first encounter with D’AUCHEL, a French luxury leather goods brand. Stepping into its maison and atelier located in the heart of Central, I found my love at first sight – THAIS, a timeless bucket bag that stands out from the crowd.

There is a fascinating story behind THAIS. The founder of D’AUCHEL, Olivier Dauchez, is the descendant of a French noble family. Boasting 20 years of experience in the industry, he oversaw the manufacturing of fine leather goods for the world’s most recognisable luxury brands. Having a grandfather who was a master craftsman of silk scarves, led Olivier to develop an exquisite eye for the details of luxury since an early age.

While I was admiring THAIS, out of the blue, Olivier walked out and greeted me with a friendly smile. I was so flattered. With the manner and style of a modest gentleman, Olivier conducted himself nobly. Gently taking out THAIS from the display shelf, he placed it on a leather table mat and demonstrated various styles to carry this handbag.

Picking up the handbag for a closer look, I was astonished by the lightweight of this large capacity leather bag. Olivier explained that they have a very high standard for leather, insisting all handbags to be entirely hand-assembled by master French artisans using the finest imported leather, threads, and hardware from France, in order to achieve flawless and long-lasting results.

In fact, all artisans working at D’AUCHEL are required to have a minimum of 10 years experience at high-end ateliers. D’AUCHEL also seeks talent from top institutions, including Compagnons du Tour de France, to ensure their bags are made with the highest possible standard.

The classic handbag THAIS is certainly one of Olivier’s brainchildren. The simple and sleek design gives THAIS a timeless style. Featuring a sexy, slouchy silhouette collapsible by lightly structured straps, THAIS can be worn 3 ways with versatile styles, either casual or classy by your choice.

Putting THAIS back on the shelf, Olivier took out another artistic handbag, which turned out to be a piece from the global limited-edition collection collaborated with British visual artist Allan Banford. Putting abstract paintings on the finest leather, this meticulously crafted handbag is truly a masterpiece of art and another proud work of Olivier.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Feauting a simple zipper design on the top, and a delicate metal lock buckle for embellishment, the handbag is hand-painted with a harmonious mix of patterns and colours by Allan Banford, bringing the leather alive. With Allan Banford’s signature printed on the back, every handbag is given a unique character and soul.

A handbag is personal, truly authentic, and quintessential luxury. Finding your perfect bag is like searching for a soulamte, anything worthwhile takes time.

FANELIE

CHRISTINE

01 The case is made from modern, lightweight aluminium, and then anodized and satin-finished.
02 The straps are easily interchangeable thanks to HUBLOT’s exclusive patented One-Click system.

Fashion trends are always one step ahead. Before stepping into 2020, all major fashion brands have already launched their 2020 spring and summer collections in the fashion week, putting their ingenious designs on the shelves.

Yohji Yamamoto, an influential Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris, continues to carry out his avantgarde tailoring into its Spring/Summer 2020 collection of Yohji Yamamoto, his eponymous brand. Every piece of garment is carefully crafted to reflect his ultimate pursuit of perfection.

In the Spring/Summer 2020 women’s wear series, the theme “Surrealism” is expressed in terms of artwork, which liberates human nature by releasing the subconscious between dream and illusion. Taking the classic painting – “Persistence of Memory” by Spanish modern artist – Salvador Dali as an inspiration, the melting clock presents an irregular shape, corresponding to the bold and curly asymmetrical skirts in the series, seemingly elusive yet easy to wear with functional details, while the styling iron wire inside the skirt can be dismantled for easy preservation.

Another theme of the women’s wear series is “Cubism”, which can be seen from the geometric dresses. Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by European painters like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Yohji Yamamoto turned to minimalist dresses, using simple geometric cuts like circles, triangles and squares for a strong shoulder cutting, celebrating the theme of “Cubism”.

The series also featured a large amount of exquisite embroidery, handmade by Shanagar, an embroidery company in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, India. Yamamoto first cut the embroideries into pieces, reconstructed them, and then resewed them on the collection, while some of the patterns were first painted by Japanese emerging artist Yuuka Asakura, and then hand-replicated by Japanese craftsmen, making this garment the most enticing piece in the series.

Interestingly enough, the men’s wear series is actually inspired by womenswear, focusing on the flowy fabric. After much experimentation and research, Yamamoto decided to use a light and wrinkled material, especially on the coats, which perfectly deduces the theme of spring and summer men’s wear series “Flowing Elegance”.

Teamed up with Japanese painter Suzume Uchida, Yamamoto summoned up different “monster” patterns, conveying the theme of genderless, breaking through gender boundaries and constrictions. The details such as the drapes of the hem and the flared cuffs also echo the theme of “Flowing Elegance”.

Inspired by the costumes worn by French knights in tournaments in the 1940s, Yamamoto adopted eye-catching prints from the cover of ancient medieval books in the spring and summer men’s wear series, as well as velvet fabric to demonstrate his hazy, unique aesthetic.

“The foot needs to be celebrated with jewel. It shouldn’t be hidden.’’ Italian luxury footwear and fashion designer Giuseppe Zanotti once said. For this spring and summer, Giuseppe Zanotti took flowers as an inspiration and twined them throughout the women’s collection, complementing the elegant convex curve of women’s legs, bringing you the spring’s bounty every step of the way.

Picture the blazing rose buds bloom under your feet, as if the red hot passion is fused into your grace and elegance. Sandals are decorated with camellias, delicately covered in a multitude of crystals, blossoming as a fair lady in the alluring spring. While stiletto sandals are dressed up in leather lilies by true Italian artisanship, the lively floral petals are so capturing and unique that one will be tempted to pick on them.

Bows are a pure expression of romance, elegance and femininity. High heeled stiletto sandals are tied with large silk bows that recall the exaggerated silhouettes of couture pieces, making a glaring fashion statement. If you find maxi bows too loud for your style, opt for a pair of clear vinyl mule slides that stand out for almost disappearing. With a heel covered in translucent crystals, the shoe casts the foot on a gleaming, silvery lake as if it was a dream.

Red has many types of definitions, but there is one that none will argue about. Just a peek, whether man or woman, will be enchanted by this shade of red. This red – red sole, to be precise – is named as Christian Louboutin.

Taking three years to realize, Christian Louboutin finally launches his retrospective at the Palais de la Porte Dorée in Paris! Christian Louboutin: L’Exhibition[niste] – curated by Olivier Gabet, Director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs – is considered as the largestever exhibition of this internationally renowned footwear designer. A journey to probe into his thirty years of largerthan-life imagination is filled with his iconic creations, key inspirations, artworks of personal collection and loans from public collections.