London Fashion Week Streetstyles AW26

OUTSIDE THE SHOWS
*That’s London Fashion Week AW26

written LE MILE

Beyond the curated cadence of catwalks and official showrooms, London Fashion Week AW26 played out on its streets, in the lively interstices between presentations and the unchoreographed gestures of a city steeped in creative flux. This season, the capital’s mood carried equal parts resilience and reinvention. Established houses revisited heritage with renewed focus, emerging voices amplified cultural narratives, and design vocabularies were read through lenses of inclusivity, texture, and urban poise.

In the in-between moments — arriving guests, impromptu clusters at side streets, front-row departures and post-show conversations — London’s style set assembled its own dialect of expression. Classic British tailoring appeared alongside bold colour juxtapositions; sculptural coats and ballet-flat combos shared pavements with purposeful layering, kitsch accoutrements, and subcultural inflections. Rain-ready outerwear, unexpected colour duos and inventive accessories punctuated everyday movement, revealing how personal style reflects and disrupts the season’s formal narratives.

Captured by Ian Kobylanski in the heart of London’s fashion-week flux, Outside the Shows turns its gaze toward the characters who populate these spontaneous spaces — individual storytellers forging distinctive looks from the season’s fragments. Seen and documented across late winter streets and show day thoroughfares, the series traces style in motion, observing how fashion is performed, adjusted and recalibrated beyond the frame of the runway.

all visuals
(c) IAN KOBYLANSKI

London Fashion Week FW26, February 2026

Copenhagen Fashion Week at 20 - Cecilie Bahnsen and Fine Chaos

Two Generations of Copenhagen Fashion

In The Designers’ Words

written JUSTINA SNOW

Do you remember the time when you turned twenty? It seemed like from now on you would enter a different era, and everything would be different. You feel more professional when ‘-teen’ is no longer attached to your age, and you feel like now you will finally be taken seriously.

Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 / Cecilie Bahnsen by James Cochrane

Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 / Cecilie Bahnsen by James Cochrane

Copenhagen Fashion Week just turned 20. And even though Copenhagen has long been a major city on the fashion map, it still is a big milestone. Maturity really shows here - Copenhagen Fashion Week has developed its own values, which include sustainability - it’s the only fashion week that has mandatory standards requiring at least 50% of collections to be certified, recycled, or upcycled. It is also the only fashion week where 70% of the brands on the schedule are women-led.

As it’s so appropriate for a bright young thing, it is very progressive and fast-changing, and it also has so much power to influence other cities. I met two brands from different fashion generations — Cecilie Bahnsen and Fine Chaos — to discuss about how they view the fashion industry change in Copenhagen (and as a whole), to reflect on its past and future, and to see if any generational differences exist, even in fashion.

Designer Portrait / Cecilie Bahnsen

Cecilie Bahnsen, who began working as an assistant to Danish designer Anja Vang Krag in 2007, is now one of the most well-known and successful Danish fashion names. I met Cecilie Bahnsen in a bookstore, where she hosted a signing event for A Magazine Curated by, marking the first time the magazine was curated by a Danish designer, with her name standing alongside Martin Margiela, Riccardo Tisci, and other fashion legends. Cecilie revealed that she is also a collector of the magazine.

Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 / Cecilie Bahnsen by James Cochrane

Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26 / Cecilie Bahnsen by James Cochrane

Justina Snow
You founded your brand more than 10 years ago. What changes in the fashion industry, and in Copenhagen specifically, have you noticed since you started the brand?

Cecilie Bahnsen
For me, being part of Copenhagen Fashion Week was a way of finding my Scandinavian voice - or my brand’s voice - and embracing it. When I started, it was amazing to see so many Danish designers beginning to establish their Scandinavian identity. Seeing how far Copenhagen Fashion Week has come over the past 10 years, and being part of that journey, has been very special.

Copenhagen Fashion Week is the only major fashion week with so many women-led brands on its schedule. Why do you think Copenhagen has this, while other fashion weeks remain more male-dominated?

I think life happens at a different pace here, and I see more balance, which gives room for collaboration and creativity. The inspiring environment and calmness of the city also make it easier to thrive and seem to encourage and motivate this focus on women-led brands.

You’re very active internationally. How does the experience of being in Paris compare to being in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is an amazing base - it’s home, but it's also true that the brand is very international. First, moving to Paris was really incredible. For me, the couture and the romance are deeply inherited in the brand. I spent a few years in Paris before moving back to Copenhagen (Cecilie was interning for John Galliano in Paris early in her career), and now I feel like my heart belongs to both places. It’s incredible to come back to Copenhagen but also to show collections in Paris.

And I think it´s a perfect balance because your brand in the context of Paris feels and looks very different.

Yes. But also nowadays fashion weeks are collaborating more, which is really exciting.

A slightly wishful question: we’re now celebrating 20 years of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Looking ahead, where do you see Copenhagen fashion in another 20 years?

I hope it continues to celebrate creativity, personality, and uniqueness. I appreciate that you see the brand as established, but I remember when I was a student, the first show I saw in Copenhagen was Henrik Vibskov and it was a big thing for me. That energy of creativity was something important to hold on to. It’s about staying inspired, following your creative vision, and seeing how far you can take it.

Designer Portrait / Fine Chaos

The young, ambitious brand Fine Chaos also hit major milestones in their career this time. While only having their first show in 2023, they recently expanded their creative team, which helped them develop their jewelry and accessories line, creating an even more immersive, futuristic, yet still underground universe. Tone-Lise, who is now the head of design, started at the brand founded by Marc C. Møllerskov as an intern and emphasizes the importance of community in fashion.

Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26 / Fine Chaos by James Cochrane

Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26 / Fine Chaos by James Cochrane

Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26 / Fine Chaos by James Cochrane

Justina Snow
You started the brand in 2021, with the first show being in 2023, and a lot of growth has happened since then. In the grand scheme of things, five years is not a lot, but do you already see a difference in the fashion scene from when you started to now?

Fine Chaos
I think consumers are reaching a turning point where they need to have a story behind the garment. Also, before, the fashion industry was very closed off, and we’re trying to open it up to everybody, to be seen as humans and not as somebody who sits on their throne. It’s important not to be a private party, because at the end of the day we are all expressing ourselves through it.

If you had to pick only one thing about Fine Chaos, what are you most proud of?

That people are so open-minded within the brand, and that it feels like a family. When I started as an intern, I was actually homeless, and it always felt like home. Also, the ability to sense what is going on in the world and to communicate it through clothing. You can turn off your phone, turn off the TV, but we still try to confront people using fashion as a medium.

I liked the phrase on your homepage that ‘you as a brand are not yet sustainable.’ That’s very honest. Do you think the fashion world would benefit if more brands admitted that?

Definitely, because there’s no brand that’s truly sustainable. It’s not possible to produce something new without impacting the planet. It’s about taking accountability and thinking about how to make it better. That’s why, for us, it’s very important to be responsible, because we are also part of the burden on the world. It’s also important that consumers see value in what they’re buying - it has to be an investment.

Copenhagen is the only fashion week where the majority of brands are women-led. Why do you think this happens here and not in other fashion capitals?

I would say we see each other more as equals here. In our brand, too - Mark and I - we are equals. It’s funny, because a lot of internship applicants we get are mainly women. We haven’t had a man apply for a design internship, which actually would be great too. In other fashion cities, however, sexism in the fashion industry is a huge problem. I think some people are still drawn to how it was back in the day, and it has become seen as ‘how it should be.’ My brain is sobbing thinking about this. I hope one day they will look at Copenhagen as one of the leading fashion weeks and take it as an example.

We are celebrating 20 years of Copenhagen Fashion Week. If we look 20 years from now, what kind of fashion industry would you like to find yourself in?

To be honest, I would love to see fewer brands, with all of them understanding how their production affects the planet and people. I would also like to see fashion be more open to everybody, not like a private party, as we talked about before - because everybody is wearing clothes, regardless of whether you are into fashion or not. And more women.

Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26 / Fine Chaos by James Cochrane

Copenhagen Fashion Week FW26 / Fine Chaos by James Cochrane

Berlin Fashion Week - New Generation of German Fashion

Berlin Fashion Week frames a New Generation of German Fashion

A review of the BFW Fall/Winter 2026 Collections

written KLAAS HAMMER

New and emerging labels, established talents and brands that found their way to the city through "Intervention" initiated by Reference Studios all presented their collections, while at the very beginning only one topic was on everyone’s minds: the icy cold.

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / IOANNES seen by Lewin Berninger

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / IOANNES seen by Lewin Berninger

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / IOANNES seen by Lewin Berninger

IOANNES

Friday evening opened with one of the most hyped brands on the schedule. Ioannes, the label by designer Johannes Boehl Cronau, delivered a show that practically screamed chic and expensive. The looks were undeniably sexy, defined by sharp cuts, confident tailoring, and styling that paired pointed-toe stilettos with sleek, polished sunglasses. For what he describes as his final traditional runway collection, Cronau delved deep into his own archive to distill what "Ioannes-ness" means today. Looking ahead, he plans to step away from the seasonal fashion calendar altogether, evolving the brand into a holistic lifestyle project that will eventually include furniture and objects. Berlin, he explains, is the ideal place to pursue this vision—a city that allows him to build on his own terms, free from the crushing weight of heritage or the immediate pressure of commercial perfection.

The collection itself drew heavily on the aesthetics of the 1990s: sleek silhouettes reminiscent of his mother’s black Jil Sander office suits, sharp yet relaxed in their execution. There was a distinct Euro jet-set mood hovering somewhere between glamour and ennui. Yet playfulness was never far away. Cronau employed pyrography, burning wood, to transfer floral motifs onto garments, describing it as a "tension between the precision of tailoring and the rawness of the burn on bodycon dresses." Trousers flared subtly at the hem, while outerwear leaned into tactile textures, with coarse, hair-like surfaces that nodded to retro luxury without directly imitating it. With this collection, Cronau made it clear that he is no longer interested in proving relevance. For him, true resonance cannot be measured by algorithms; it can only be felt. Watching the show, I felt it instantly: I want to be a person who wears Ioannes.

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / MARKE seen by Andreas Hofrichter

MARKE

The next label to watch is MARKE by Mario Keine. What Ioannes represents for women, MARKE positions itself as a compelling counterpart in menswear. For those drawn to precise tailoring and classic silhouettes with a subtle, playful twist, this is a name worth remembering. The new collection combined clean, corporate forms with historic materials, highlighting the tension between discipline and emotion, individuality and conformity. It would not be surprising to see a major VIP step onto a red carpet in one of Keine’s designs in the near future. Like few others, MARKE manages to feel timeless and contemporary at once. Born from a sense of helplessness triggered by the constant flow of information on social media, where context and knowledge often dissolve into fast-consumed, surface-level content, the collection explored a softer side of masculinity. Black veils, roses, and long draped silhouettes brought emotion and vulnerability into sharp tailoring.

On a cold, grey winter day in Berlin, the looks, especially those in shades of grey, felt striking, quietly powerful and unexpectedly sensual. They were the kind of pieces you immediately wanted to take home, look after look. As the fashion crowd moved on to the next show, Keine remained by the exit, visibly relieved and content.

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / SF1OG seen by Tom Funk

SF1OG

SF1OG presented a runway show that explored the tension between privacy and visibility, guided by the central question: "Who are we when no one is watching?" Designer Rosa Marga Dahl and Jacob Langemeyer drew inspiration from intimate paparazzi images of early-2000s pop stars and the Victorian era’s mourning dress, using fashion as both a shield and a form of expression. The collection played with contrasts—revealing versus hiding, softness versus structure—through layered silhouettes, high collars, hoods, and garments designed to obscure the body and face. Tailoring appeared in new, sculptural forms shaped away from the body, while slim-fit denim referenced early 2010s youth culture, a bold move that resonated strongly with international buyers. Materiality remained central to SF1OG’s identity: reused antique linens, leather, and shearling were combined with silk, sequins, and velvet, creating pieces that felt worn-in rather than pristine. Signature elements such as bar jackets with flared peplums were paired with oversized knits and scarves, reinforcing the idea of clothing as emotional protection.
Set in a brutalist postwar building in Berlin, the show emphasized SF1OG’s clear point of view and increasing confidence as a brand. SF1OG continues to position itself as one of the most relevant emerging labels shaping the future of German fashion.

Taking place on February 2 during Berlin Fashion Week, INTERVENTION V is a one-day festival combining runway shows, talks, and listening formats at Kraftwerk Berlin. The former power station serves as a multidisciplinary venue for fashion, music, and contemporary culture.

The program opens with the first-ever collaboration between Reference Studios and TED, bringing fashion and design into TED’s cultural dialogue for the first time. Runway shows unfold across Kraftwerk’s ground and first floors, featuring BUZIGAHILL, Kenneth Ize, DAGGER, JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN, and GmbH, offering a focused snapshot of independent, globally minded fashion today. Let’s have a look at our two favorite shows:

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / John Lawrence Sullivan seen by Lewin Berninger

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / John Lawrence Sullivan seen by Lewin Berninger

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / John Lawrence Sullivan seen by Lewin Berninger

JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN

One of the new brands to arrive in Berlin through INTERVENTION was John Lawrence Sullivan. Founded by Arashi Yanagawa, who worked as a professional boxer before turning to fashion, the label has previously shown in Tokyo, Paris, and London. After the show at Berlin’s Kraftwerk, it was clear that John Lawrence Sullivan fits seamlessly into the city’s often dark, raw aesthetic.

The collection featured long coats, tailored jackets, and bomber jackets, with hero pieces shaping the body into a forward-leaning posture reminiscent of a boxer’s fighting stance. A predominantly dark color palette, well suited to Berlin’s nightlife, was complemented by snow white and icy silver tones that evoked Nordic nights and a sharp sense of cold. Stud and spike details on boots and bags, along with sheer mesh long sleeves, completed the subculture-inspired looks, perfectly aligned with a fashion crowd moving through the city in temperatures as low as minus ten degrees. The womenswear followed the same concept as the menswear, with exaggerated shoulder silhouettes as a key visual element.
Speaking after the show, Yanagawa cited Norwegian black metal as a major influence, emphasizing themes of strength, independence, and looking forward. A strong and convincing Berlin debut from the former boxer.

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / GMBH seen by Lewin Berninger

GMBH

One of the most anticipated shows of Berlin Fashion Week, GmbH returned to its hometown with a powerful runway presentation that reaffirmed fashion as a political voice. Designers Benjamin Huseby and Serhat Işık continue to position the brand as an advocate for marginalized communities, using clothing as a form of resistance and expression.

Titled "Doppelgänger," the collection responded to a world shaped by violence, fear, and manipulation, referencing the idea of distorted realities where power, greed, and ideology blur truth and fiction. Drawing inspiration from Berlin’s early 1980s experimental music scene, particularly industrial and synth influences the show reflected a time when the city stood for counterculture and utopian ideals. The collection featured signature GmbH pieces: over-the-knee boots, leather trousers with zipper details, fur bomber jackets with oversized collars, and sharp tailoring with trousers in focus. Voluminous silhouettes were balanced with slim long-sleeves and loose tops, while long scarves softened the structured looks. A mostly neutral palette was interrupted by a striking black floral print on white. Beyond the clothes, the show emphasized community and solidarity. The casting brought together men of different backgrounds and body types, reinforcing GmbH’s inclusive ethos. Presented in freezing temperatures, the designers also used the moment on Instagram to call for donations to Berlin’s "Kältebus", underlining their commitment to action beyond the runway. With this show, GmbH once again proved why it remains one of Berlin’s most relevant and politically engaged fashion brands.

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / GMBH seen by Lewin Berninger

Berlin Fashion Week FW26 / GMBH seen by Lewin Berninger

Taakk - Fall/Winter 2026 Review

Taakk FW26 - Over 2,000 Years in the Making

A review of the Taakk Fall/Winter 2026 collection

written MALCOLM THOMAS

A rain of mist fell on La Tour d'Eiffel, its imposing presence seemed to devour the streets around it. Standing proud amongst its subjects, gazing in awe. Perhaps its purview extended to Taakk’s Fall/Winter 2026 show held at the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine on January 25, for which anyone should certainly be proud. Undoubtedly, Japanese designer Takuya Morikawa, who delivered his strongest collection to date. 

Paris Fashion Week FW26
TAAKK Fall/Winter 2026 Menswear

Inspired by the Jōmon, an early Japanese hunter, gatherer, and agricultural society spanning 10,000 years (roughly 14,000-300 BCE), much like the Jomon themselves, Morikawa wanted to pay tribute to the land, “living in harmony with nature; the forest, ocean, rivers and all,” the designer wrote in his program. 

This started from an unlikely and controversial place—fur, which was collected from production byproduct and pieced together to create the most beautiful and ethical jackets, bags, and trimmings—a new offering for Taakk. To gradient fabrics and masterful embroidery techniques. Warping cotton on denim to imitate tree bark, raw and unpolished, is one of many Morikawa innovations over the years.

After the finale, models stood for guests to marvel. People cheered, took out their phones, ran their hands through the textiles, and wondered why they hadn’t discovered Taakk sooner. I imagine Morikawa must’ve felt this, too. Now it was time for people to pay tribute to him.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
TAAKK Fall/Winter 2026 Menswear, Final

Paris Fashion Week FW26
TAAKK Fall/Winter 2026 Menswear, Takuya Morikawa

about the editor
When not reviewing shows or writing features, Malcolm spends his time as Founder & Editorial Director of Malcolm + Friends Agency. A full-service agency powered by a global community of freelancers, consultants, and creative partners from leading brands and institutions.


all images (c) TAAKK Press

Paris Fashion Week Streetstyles AW26

OUTSIDE THE SHOWS
*That’s Paris Fashion Week Menswear FW26

written LE MILE

Outside the official schedules and away from the controlled choreography of the runway, Paris Fashion Week Menswear FW26 revealed its most telling moments in motion, on the pavement, between shows, in passing glances and improvised silhouettes. This season unfolded against a backdrop of recalibration. Many houses leaned into clarity over spectacle, refining archetypes. Tailoring returned with sharper intent, volume was handled with restraint, and references to utility, workwear, and heritage were filtered through a more personal lens. Elsewhere, softness crept in through colour, texture, and gesture, suggesting a quieter confidence shaping contemporary menswear.

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
RICK OWENS

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
RICK OWENS

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
TAAKK

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
TAAKK

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
KIDSUPER

Captured by Ian Kobylanski, Outside the Shows turns its focus to the characters who animate this in-between space. Individuals assembling their own visual language from fragments of the season: elongated coats, experimental layering, archival gestures, subcultural echoes, and moments of playful disruption.

Shot during the final days of the Paris circuit in late January, the series reflects a city momentarily transformed into a moving archive of ideas. Outside the Shows shows how fashion is lived, negotiated, and reimagined in real time.

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
Michèle Lamy, COMME des GARÇONS

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
COMME des GARCONS

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
White Mountaineering

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
KIDSUPER

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
AMIRI

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
LOUIS VUITTON

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
HERMES

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
LOUIS VUITTON

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
DIOR

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
Pharell Williams, SACAI

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
JOON.J

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
JOON.J

Paris Fashion Week FALL-WINTER 2026
DOUBLET

all visuals
(c) IAN KOBYLANSKI

Paris Fashion Week Menswear FW26, January 2026

Celine - Inside the Fall/Winter 2026 Menswear Collection

How Michael Rider Is Reframing Celine Menswear for Fall/Winter 2026

A review of the Celine Fall/Winter 2026 menswear collection

written MALCOLM THOMAS

“We took the frame of menswear, and what Celine stands for, and then talked a lot about the energy of today, the here and now, the way people live and want to look,” said Celine Creative Director, Michael Rider.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Celine Fall/Winter 2026 Menswear

Officially, his second collection for the house. It appears Rider’s approach is more Phoebe Philo than Slimane, and entirely more down- to-earth, 16 Rue Vivienne, to be exact, the brand’s headquarters and showroom, where his under-the-radar second collection was presented. Unlike his debut, there was no runway show. No flashing lightbulbs, no V.I.P. wrangling or seating politics, this season. No pomp and circumstance. Instead, a well-merchandised presentation, a tower of American-style blue jeans, an S-curve footwear assortment, and a thoughtfully curated edit of key looks to peruse with champagne and hors d’oeuvres in hand. “Character over costume,” was the designer’s directive.

An electric blue button-up paired with trousers and a camel coat first caught my glance; the same blue also made an appearance in a shirt jacket and matching sweater. Then there were the bolder pieces: the single shoulder button pin leather jacket, for instance, rock n’ garde remnants of Monsieur Slimane’s time at the house, featuring hippie hugger sayings like “Hugs Not Drugs,” and “It won’t be a party if I’m not invited.”  You know the saying, once a bad boy…

But while Slimane was more likely to rock the boat, Rider is more likely to steer it.

Who wants to get wet anyway?

about the editor
When not reviewing shows or writing features, Malcolm spends his time as Founder & Editorial Director of Malcolm + Friends Agency. A full-service agency powered by a global community of freelancers, consultants, and creative partners from leading brands and institutions.


all images (c) CELINE Press, seen by Zoe Ghertner

Algieri - Paris Fall/Winter 2026 Show Review

Algieri Paris: Fashion and a Show

A review of the Algieri Paris Fall/Winter 2026 show

written MALCOLM THOMAS

Deep in the 14th arrondissement on a cold night, I sat inside the Chapelle Sainte Jeanne D’Arc, a Neo-Gothic church so remote even a Parisian taxi driver couldn’t find it. The grand darkness of the church, named after patron saint Joan of Arc (you know the one), was as much of a character as the performance itself.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Algieri Paris Fall/Winter 2026 Show

A ghoulish fog hung over the stage as a DJ appeared, and shortly after, a chanteuse unveiled her bejeweled-encrusted gown that shimmered as her voice soothed even the darkest corners of the church. Dancers in white enveloped her like a dying flower come back to life, then made their way to the tables populated with silver dishes in the center of the floor. They began staining their white uniforms black. One let out a scream, and the fashion part of the show began.

The collection, entirely in black, created (mostly) in deadstock fabric and exaggerated and restrictive structures and silhouettes in varying cashmere, leather, lace, feathers, metal, and stones, needed no such introduction.

Yet, the full-bodysuits, one made entirely of feathers, the voluminous floor-length fur, and the chainmail dress made of keys cling-clanging as it walked past to a melody of its own, were their own kind of show. 

Founded in 2022, Algieri Paris has a vested interest in the re-contextualization of gender and body norms, often collaborating with local drag queens and underground celebrities. Raphaël Algieri’s sex-positive avant-garde design language was honed at L’Institut Supérieur des Arts Appliqués (LISAA) and École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC). Nods to Louise Bourgeois and the sensuality of Robert Mapplethorpe’s famous black and white portraits can also be found in Algieri’s work. Named after the designer’s Italian great-grandmother, Filomena Algieri, who decided not to marry and to pass down her name instead. There is not an inch of Algieri that isn’t rich with subversion. 

When the show ended, I walked the eighteen minutes to the nearest metro in the rain. I laughed to myself. I almost missed this show. I’m glad I didn’t.

about the editor
When not reviewing shows or writing features, Malcolm spends his time as Founder & Editorial Director of Malcolm + Friends Agency. A full-service agency powered by a global community of freelancers, consultants, and creative partners from leading brands and institutions.


all images (c) Algieri Paris Press

H&M and e.l.f. Cosmetics - Translating Everyday Beauty Into Fragrance

Why This H&M and e.l.f. Cosmetics Collaboration Thinks About Scent as a System

written LE MILE

Fragrance rarely enters the world quietly. New launches tend to arrive wrapped in mythology, spectacle, or aspirational distance. The collaboration between H&M and e.l.f. Cosmetics takes a different route, it begins with recognition.

Eau de parfum bottles from the H&M and e.l.f. Cosmetics
fragrance collaboration inspired by Power Grip, Halo Glow and Camo

The limited eau de parfum collection represents a first for both brands. H&M enters a formal beauty partnership for the first time. e.l.f. introduces fragrance into its product universe for the first time.
Power Grip, Halo Glow and Camo are already embedded in everyday use. They are functional, widely used products with established emotional associations. Translating them into fragrance is a practical decision as much as a creative one.

Power Grip – Salty Drip is built around eucalyptus, cedarwood and sea salt. The structure is clear and restrained. Cooling notes meet dry woods and mineral elements, resulting in a fragrance that feels direct and purposeful. It carries a sense of clarity that mirrors the product line it references, something designed to hold, to stabilise, to stay in place.

Halo Glow – Luminous Cloud moves into a softer register with magnolia, vanilla and amber. The scent develops gently, staying light and consistent over time. It reflects the visual logic of Halo Glow as a product known for diffused radiance and subtle warmth.

Camo Blend – Nude Canvas brings vanilla, musk and palo santo together in a composition that sits close to skin. The scent develops gradually, shaped by body heat. There is a quiet depth to it, one that mirrors Camo’s long-standing association with adaptability and coverage.

All three eau de parfums are vegan and positioned at an accessible price point. Scale, inclusion, and everyday use have long shaped both brands’ identities, and the fragrance collection reflects that continuity. The campaign supporting the launch reinforces this approach. Directed by Tanu Muino, it centres on movement. An original track titled “spritz. walk. waft.” provides rhythm, while choreography demonstrates how scent travels through bodies in motion. Fragrance is treated as physical and spatial.

watch film by TANU MUINO

Launching globally on 29 January 2026, the collection will be available in selected H&M stores and online.

all images (c) H&M Press

Christian Louboutin - Jaden Smith Debuts Menswear Collection FW26

Jaden Smith Debuts Menswear Collection For Christian Louboutin

A review of the Christian Louboutin Fall/Winter 2026 menswear collection

written MALCOLM THOMAS

When it was announced last September that Christian Louboutin had appointed its first-ever Men’s Creative Director, it marked a bold new chapter for the brand. A brand that, at that point, had already left its global footprint on one of fashion’s most lucrative categories.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

Emerging not just as another shoe brand, catered to women on the rise but as a sexy symbol of status, most notable for its blood red soles, known en masse as red bottoms, and framed in perpetuity as “bloody shoes” by Cardi B in her chart-topping smash, Bodak Yellow, a song that ironically did as much for her career as it did to cement Christian Louboutin in the culture.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

It was over 15 years ago that Louboutin launched its menswear line. A sub-category which now accounts for 24% of its business, and it was more than six years ago when the designer began a dialogue with then, 21-year-old, Jaden Smith. A child of parents who in their own right, had a part in shaping culture. A dialogue between the two seemed fitting— his appointment as a creative stakeholder seemed shocking—remember that bold new chapter?

Unveiled Wednesday at an elaborate exhibition in Paris, somewhere between cinema and mythology, the Fall/Winter 2026 menswear collection was displayed. Heroed by shoes, of course, merchandized on antiquity-inspired columns throughout, with accompanying wall placards, the same kind you might find in a gallery or museum. The positioning was clear. Less status. More art.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

From the virality of the campaign imagery, projected full screen on the wall and in a viewing area, Smith’s bare-chested body, painted in red, also on display—a kind of nod to the rapper’s full creative immersion, to the role itself, these were made for see and be seen moments. Some moments, bolder than others, fur boots for instance, worn by Jaden Smith, himself in the video, certainly not made for wallflowers, but rather a temperature check of how far Christian and Jaden are willing to go. Wax-dripped boots were another editorial moment, which I think may also have a retail moment too, as well as logo-ed belts and a utility bag with titled pockets and compartments, stone masons and scribes among Smith’s inspiration and romanticization of the working man.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

Next: a full collection slated for runway and sale next season, and the capsule collection in select boutiques and on christianlouboutin.com. Available now.

Paris Fashion Week FW26
Jaden Smith Menswear Collection for Christian Louboutin

about the editor
When not reviewing shows or writing features, Malcolm spends his time as Founder & Editorial Director of Malcolm + Friends Agency. A full-service agency powered by a global community of freelancers, consultants, and creative partners from leading brands and institutions.


all images (c) Christian Louboutin Press

Pitti Uomo 109 - The Future of Menswear FW26

Threads in Motion
Pitti Uomo 109

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Everything is movement, transformation, story and progression: the theme chosen for the winter edition of Pitti Immagine unleashes a tale of dynamic expression, alongside the many inspirations that stem from this idea of movement.

Motion is a concept that transcends all manner of disciplines from politics to cinema, but also stands as a commitment and as an ability to to bring together an energy that leads to new figures in fashion. Movement, like the word itself, refers to something that evolves, breaking away from tradition and returning to it: it becomes a voice for ideals, cultures, connections and commitment. It also adapts to the body and, by dressing it, amplifies its presence by becoming a gesture and identity. Motion also becomes an emotion: a poetic flow, an energy of becoming and a movement of the soul.

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season

Antonio De Matteis, President of Pitti Immagine, has a positive mindset of this edition. “If we have this quality across the board, we need to be thankful for the commercial partnerships between institutions and the brands,” he opined at the press conference. “Let’s look at the beauty of what we do, and the effort of our entrepreneurs — Pitti Uomo is the only fair on an international scale for menswear that was able to grow and scale its weight globally. It’s not easy to renovate a fair every six months, but it’s all down to the exceptional team work we pour in. We have the most important buyers in the world in town, and the distribution — given by the key retailers — helped some of the smallest names who started from here, who grew so much.”

There’s some highlights of this season, including the FW26 collection from Sebago which revolves around three creative worlds. Preppy Heritage evolves the iconic brand aesthetic by combining tradition and urban spirit with modern materials, updated lines and sartorial details. Fly Fishing draws inspiration from fly fishing and outdoor life in Maine, with functional garments, textured fabrics and natural colour palettes reminiscent of forests and water. Ranch, on the other hand, reflects the more rural and mountainous side of the American outdoors, with sturdy garments, handcrafted finishes and an authentic, raw aesthetic reinterpreted in a contemporary key.

GAS decisively reaffirms its essence: denim.
 A fundamental element and hallmark of the brand, denim once again becomes the starting point for a story that spans cities, cultures and attitudes, transforming itself into a universal language capable of adapting to different styles, genres and contexts. Under the theme Urban Souls, the collection explores the dynamic, metropolitan soul of the season, giving life to Collective Denim Identities: a choral narrative in which denim becomes a symbol of freedom, personal expression and belonging. A versatile material that transcends barriers and transforms itself depending on how it is worn, moving from everyday to special occasions, from essential to fashionable. At the heart of the collection is a wide Wash Spectrum, which spans all shades of indigo – from the deepest raw to the lightest and most authentic shades – creating a solid, recognisable and contemporary denim offering. The colour palette is based on essential neutrals, the ideal base for essentials and fashion items, enriched with seasonal accents.

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season / brand SEBAGO

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season / brand SEBAGO

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season / brand SEBAGO

Consinee, a leading Chinese group in the global market for fine yarns and cashmere fibres from certified and sustainable supply chains, has entrusted the artistic direction of its new project for Pitti Uomo 109 to Sara Sozzani Maino, involving designer Galib Gassanoff at the helm of creative development, presenting Echoes of Craft. Continuous experimentation combined with a deeper understanding of the fibre's versatility are the cornerstones of Consinee's non-commercial creative platform, which evolves from season to season to create new, free and stimulating narratives.

Sara Sozzani Maino, creative director of the Sozzani Foundation, invites Galib Gassanoff, a designer renowned for his creativity and strong vision, to embark on a new aesthetic exploration through raw materials, developing an original narrative in which artistic heritage becomes a return to our roots, to which we remain anchored.

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season / brand Consinee

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season / brand Consinee

ANTIK BATIK founded, directed and creatively designed by Gabriella Cortese, a Paris-based stylist and entrepreneur, the iconic French Maison with its bohemian-chic style will present its Autumn-Winter 26/27 men's ready-to-wear collections at Pitti Uomo. Gabriella Cortese will be present throughout the show to meet international buyers and press representatives.After more than thirty years dedicated exclusively to women's wear, Gabriella Cortese introduced the ANTIK BATIK men's collections in 2024 with a first capsule collection, presented in Paris during Paris Men's Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2024. Since then, the men's line has grown steadily, establishing itself as a natural and consistent extension of the brand's DNA. This evolutionary path now leads ANTIK BATIK to Pitti Uomo, marking a new and significant strategic milestone for the Maison.

Pitti Immagine Uomo 109
FW26 Season / brand ANTIK BATIK

.selected *JS . THONET

.selected
REDEFINING AN ICON
JS . THONET – A Personal Interpretation by Jil Sander

written Amanda Mortenson

Certain names shape the way we see objects. Thonet, with its pioneering tubular steel furniture, and Jil Sander, with her legendary approach to purity and precision in fashion, have each left a lasting mark on the culture of modern design.

Now, these two forces meet in JS . THONET – A PERSONAL INTERPRETATION BY JIL SANDER, a collaboration that sees the acclaimed designer translate her unmistakable visual language into the world of furniture. Jil Sander, globally celebrated for her minimalist aesthetic and unwavering pursuit of quality, has stepped for the first time into the sphere of furniture design, selecting the iconic Thonet S 64 P as her canvas.

S 64 P Serious 03 graphite green - Detail
MARCEL BREUER* 1929 / 1930
Edited personally by Jil Sander, 2025

S 64 P Serious 03 graphite green
MARCEL BREUER* 1929 / 1930
Edited personally by Jil Sander, 2025

Originally conceived by Marcel Breuer in 1929/30 (artistic copyright: Mart Stam), the S 64 was already a symbol of Bauhaus innovation, pairing steel with wood and the graphic lightness of Viennese canework.

Sander’s interpretation, created for the Signature Collection JS . THONET – A PERSONAL INTERPRETATION BY JIL SANDER, does not seek to disrupt the past, but rather to renew it—amplifying what makes the classic truly timeless.

Two design lines define her approach. SERIOUS and NORDIC. In the SERIOUS edition, the S 64 P takes on a new presence with a titanium-like gloss on the frame, high-gloss lacquered wood details, and seat and backrest options in four nuanced shades of leather or a deeply stained Viennese canework named DARK MELANGE. Sander draws inspiration from the lacquer of Steinway grand pianos, the soft leather upholstery of vintage English automobiles, and the understated sheen of matte nickelsilver found in architecture. The result is a chair that feels meticulously crafted and unmistakably contemporary—a new level of sophistication for a Bauhaus classic.

The NORDIC version offers a lighter touch, with gentle woods and calm surfaces that evoke the clarity and balance of Northern European design. Both lines express Sander’s core philosophy; reduction without compromise, elegance in every gesture, and material quality that is felt before it is seen.

S 64 P Serious 03 graphite green
MARCEL BREUER* 1929 / 1930
Edited personally by Jil Sander, 2025

S 64 P Serious 03 graphite green
MARCEL BREUER* 1929 / 1930
Edited personally by Jil Sander, 2025

S 64 P Serious 03 graphite green
MARCEL BREUER* 1929 / 1930
Edited personally by Jil Sander, 2025

This vision extends to the complementary B 97 side table, another Thonet classic reinterpreted by JS . THONET – A PERSONAL INTERPRETATION BY JIL SANDER. Originally designed in 1933, the B 97’s newly adapted construction includes an open side, allowing the tables to be pulled over sofa, armchair, or bed, or nested efficiently when not in use. The table tops are finished to match the chairs, available in high-gloss lacquer in four shades or in Nero Marquina marble, providing continuity and a sense of holistic design. Every piece in the JS . THONET collection is discreetly engraved with Sander’s facsimile signature—a subtle mark of authenticity and creative exchange. This is a meeting of legacies, each detail testifying to Sander’s conviction that true luxury lies in restraint and attention.

JS . THONET – A PERSONAL INTERPRETATION BY JIL SANDER is a study in transformation. The S 64 P, through Sander’s eyes, becomes something at once deeply familiar and refreshingly new: a piece of living history, distilled and elevated for a contemporary audience. It stands as a quiet but powerful invitation to rethink the classics—through a deep and reverent dialogue with the past.

discover more www.thonet.de
content produced lemilestudios

HEIGS - Beurre

HEIGS
*Beurre Was Here Before You Noticed

written GINEVRA VALENTE

Some bags enter quietly and settle quickly, and others arrive too loudly to be believable; Beurre, from HEIGS, does neither and both simultaneously, occupying space with the ease of something that had an appointment, then forgot about it entirely and appeared anyway, not bothering with apologies, because leather has better things to do.

HEIGS calls the leather calfskin, full grain, uncorrected, words that carry meaning only until touched, after which language feels slightly beside the point, since texture does all the talking anyway, saying something precise about discretion without caring if it’s overheard, and allowing the grain to gather impressions quietly as the weeks slip by and nobody notices. Beurre remains Swiss in conception and French in assembly, two facts delivered with subtlety usually reserved for more questionable claims, suggesting a production process hidden somewhere in the kind of quiet European atelier where coffee breaks stretch indefinitely and stitching happens as if each line were the first ever sewn and the last worth doing.

The clasp holds Heidi and the lion, an emblem placed quietly inside, a detail included thoughtfully, precisely positioned where the hand finds it naturally, offering a subtle reassurance rather than explanation, a private recognition intended exclusively for whoever chooses to carry it.
The bag holds its presence quietly, never needing to raise its voice to enter the conversation, assured enough to wait for occasions to form naturally around it, confident that purpose emerges without being predicted.

The shape remains clear, quietly leaving space for whatever might accompany it, confident enough to allow purpose to emerge naturally, trusting that its presence alone provides all the context required. Beurre moves through rooms with quiet assurance, settling naturally beside everything already present, suggesting gently that adjustments are unnecessary, since good design anticipates life without needing acknowledgment. It's leather intended for living, softly prepared to age, comfortably ready to darken, unconcerned yet always aware of its own worth.

team credits

seen KANG MINJE / www.kangminje.com
styled LEE AHREUM
model LEIA HOLTWICK

Paris Fashion Week AW25

THE FABRIC OF NOW
*Paris Fashion Week 2025 Highlights

written ALBAN E. SMAJLI

Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025-2026 unfolded as an encoded manifesto, where fabric became language and silhouettes spoke in tongues. Designers unearthed buried histories, reconstructing past blueprints into a future without borders.

The runway was an evolving stage—DIOR dismantled gender constructs, LOUIS VUITTON mapped the velocity of movement, VALENTINO engineered intimacy as spectacle. Vans infiltrated Valentino, threading rebellion through the needle of luxury. This was a transmission. CHLOÉ reactivated an artifact, the Paddington bag, as an emblem of memory in motion. ZIMMERMANN stretched the seams between myth and reality. Vans infiltrated Valentino, threading rebellion through the needle of luxury.

Paris Fashion Week FW25
VALENTINO Show

VALENTINO Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2025/2026

Alessandro Michele’s Fall/Winter 2025-2026 collection for VALENTINO continued his redefinition of the house’s identity, expanding on the foundations set in his debut. The show, titled Le Méta-Théâtre Des Intimités, transformed the runway into a dystopian, Lynchian space, evoking the surreal ambiance of a public restroom—an environment stripped of traditional constructs, where personal and collective identities dissolve.

Structured ‘70s-inspired suits, sculptural coats, and richly embellished dresses unfolded in deep VALENTINO red, ivory, and ink black, carrying an almost ritualistic quality. The collaboration with VANS introduced a new dimension, reworking the classic Authentic sneaker in bold checkerboard patterns and an “I Love My Vans” motif intertwined with VALENTINO’s logo. Lace veils layered over raw-edged tailoring, gloves extended beyond the elbow, and sculptural accessories punctuated the silhouettes with a sense of quiet subversion. Michele’s vision explored intimacy as a performative space, where identity is neither fixed nor singular but constantly in flux, layered like fabric, revealing and concealing with each movement.

Paris Fashion Week FW25
VALENTINO Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
VALENTINO Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
VALENTINO x VANS

Paris Fashion Week FW25
DIOR Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
DIOR Show

DIOR Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2025/2026

Maria Grazia Chiuri's Fall 2025 collection for DIOR was a sartorial journey through time, drawing inspiration from Virginia Woolf's "Orlando" to blur the lines between masculinity and femininity. The runway transformed into a theatrical spectacle, with models navigating a set adorned with mechanical pterodactyls and looming icebergs, evoking a sense of timelessness and evolution.

Chiuri revisited the archives, paying homage to predecessors like Gianfranco Ferré and John Galliano. The reimagined white shirt, a nod to Ferré's architectural approach, became a canvas for exploration, featuring detachable ruffled collars reminiscent of Elizabethan ruffs, symbolizing the fluidity of identity. The collection's palette transitioned from somber blacks to ethereal whites, mirroring the narrative of transformation. Lace gowns juxtaposed with military-inspired coats underscored the harmonious blend of strength and delicacy. The revival of the "J'adore Dior" T-shirt, an emblem of Galliano's era, was recontextualized, bridging past and present. Chiuri's exploration of gender-bending silhouettes and the interplay of historical motifs with contemporary aesthetics reaffirmed Dior's commitment to innovation while honoring its rich legacy.

LOUIS VUITTON Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2025/2026

Nicolas Ghesquière's vision for LOUIS VUITTON's Fall/Winter 2025-2026 collection was a love letter to the golden age of train travel, encapsulating the romance and anticipation of journeys. Staged at the historic Gare du Nord, the show immersed attendees in the bustling ambiance of a Parisian train station, complete with the rhythmic hum of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express."

Ghesquière presented an eclectic array of silhouettes, from voluminous midi skirts paired with heavyweight knit vests to pinstriped boiler suits accented with vivid scarves. The accessories were a testament to LOUIS VUITTON's legacy in travel, with models clutching steamer-inspired handbags and oversized duffel totes, reminiscent of classic luggage pieces.

The collaboration with set designer Es Devlin resulted in a runway that mirrored the transient nature of travel, with models embodying characters from various walks of life, each telling their own story. This new collection celebrates the art of travel, highlighting the brand’s connection to movement, heritage, and design, with historical elements woven into a contemporary vision that unfolds as a continuous narrative.

Paris Fashion Week FW25
LOUIS VUITTON Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
LOUIS VUITTON Show

CHLOÉ Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2025/2026

Under the creative direction of Chemena Kamali, CHLOÉ's Fall/Winter 2025-2026 collection was an ode to the multifaceted nature of femininity, exploring the interplay between strength and softness. Kamali studied the archives, reviving the iconic Paddington bag, a beloved accessory from the early 2000s, now reimagined for the modern woman.

The runway showcased a harmonious blend of opulence and practicality, with lavish, embellished dresses juxtaposed against pared-down, utilitarian pieces. Broad logo belts cinched sheer, low-rise maxi skirts, adding a touch of structure to the ethereal ensembles. Ballet flats, poised to become the season's must-have, offered an effortlessly chic touch, embodying the brand's signature blend of elegance and ease. Kamali's exploration of plurality and the influences that shape women's identities resulted in a collection that felt very personal and universally relatable, resonating with women across generations.

Paris Fashion Week FW25
CHLOÉ Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
CHLOÉ Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
CHLOÉ Show

Paris Fashion Week FW25
ZIMMERMANN Show

ZIMMERMANN Ready-To-Wear Fall/Winter 2025/2026

Nicky Zimmermann’s Fall 2025 collection, Hypnotic, built a world where storytelling unfolded in fabric, silhouette, movement. Inspired by the haunting atmosphere of Picnic at Hanging Rock on its 50th anniversary, the collection absorbed the film’s lingering sense of mystery without directly referencing its costumes. Instead, elements from the narrative were distilled into textures, structures, and motifs that shaped each look with quiet precision.

Lace-trimmed lingerie dresses, pinstripe suits, and structured wool coats introduced a balance of softness and strength, while hidden details—maps of Mt. Macedon printed on silk, hand-drawn Valentine’s Day cards stitched between layers of chiffon—wove subtle fragments of the story into the collection. The use of Mongolian shearling, leather-wrapped boots, and braided trims reinforced a tactile complexity, adding depth to the compositions without overpowering their fluidity. A shift in palette from soft, sunlit hues to deep moss greens and midnight blues signaled an evolving mood, with textures becoming richer and silhouettes taking on a more dramatic form.

Polished stone jewelry and an almond-shaped suede bag introduced grounding elements to the collection, serving as counterpoints to the weightlessness of chiffon and the elongation of sleeves. ZIMMERMANN shaped Hypnotic with an attention to atmosphere, allowing the garments to move between clarity and enigma.

Paris Fashion Week FW25
ZIMMERMANN Show

Milan Fashion Week AW25

MILAN AW25
*Runways Framed, Streets Unfiltered

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

In times where society’s downturns are increasingly commonplace, fashion's mission is to exude a profound sense of societal relevance that can create both desire and intent: a purpose to set alight its deep connotation beyond mere conventions.

The Milan shows have proven to stick to a traditional code of conduct: a free of fuss aesthetic, teamed with pared-back, minimalist lines prevail over its British and American counterparts, where everything is blown to the max. The Milan shows, after all, wholly reflect the DNA of century-old traditions, and it's no surprise that the people of the city share that very sentiment. Gucci went back to its roots and archive for Fall 2025, as the house's founder Sabato De Sarno announced his departure earlier in February. This season, the lineup featured a lean towards a new colourway (dark, forest green) and a shift from its red (rosso ancora, as the house used to name it), bringing a newfound sense of femininity and glamour to the apparel.

MFW FW25
during PRADA

MFW FW25

MFW FW25
ICEBERG Show

MFW FW25
during ETRO

MFW FW25
during VIVETTA

Now, speaking of Iceberg, the brand seemed to be eschewing all manners of fuss and grounding to a linear approach and take of tailoring: tones are subdued, maxi logos are a far cry from the visual language and the pared-back appeal seems to be winning the race. On similar territory, Fendi celebrated its centenary this Fall with a collection that harked back to Silvia Venturini Fendi's memories and Karl: the collection renewed its affection for the house's classics, bringing forth a slew of timeless pieces that had sleek silhouettes, embellished details and a sinuous touch overall. Jil Sander, Prada, Moschino and Moschino offered levity and a dash of irreverence to the modern woman. Diesel offered tons of playfulness while Etro, D&G's runway had upbeat tempo ('cool girls', strutted both inside and outside the venue), and Vivetta continued its design path.

MFW FW25
during DIESEL

MFW FW25
during GUCCI

MFW FW25
during MOSCHINO

MFW FW25
during DOLCE & GABBANA

MFW FW25

all visuals

production  ONE.FASHION.AGENCY
art-director Mariia Nikiforova 
project manager Viacheslav Nikiforov
seen by Vitalii Verkhoturov

Fragrances *strangelove NYC afirewithin

strangelove NYC
*The New Fire

written Amanda Mortenson

At strangelove NYC, perfume is narrative, memory, alchemy. The brand carves its place in the olfactory avant-garde, crafting fragrances with raw emotion and elemental intensity.

Each of their scents is a portal, each composition a manifesto of rare ingredients and fearless artistry. afirewithin ignites a new chapter. “Each scent tells its own story,” Elizabeth Gaynes explains. “afirewithin is all about resilience, transformation, and inner strength.” Built around oud, the brand’s signature note, this composition tempers its deep intensity with vanilla’s warmth, cedarwood’s grounding presence, and a glowing trail of incense.

strangelove NYC
afirewithin

“Each scent tells its own story. afirewithin is all about resilience, transformation, and inner strength.”

Elizabeth Gaynes speaks with Amanda Mortenson
for LE MILE .Digital

“We all encounter moments that challenge us,” Gaynes says. “Just like a desert bloom thrives in the harshest conditions, this scent represents the beauty that emerges from struggle.” The opening notes of cypress and chamomile are a breath of clarity. At its core, oud anchors the fragrance in endurance. The base—vanilla, incense, and cedarwood—wraps the wearer in a hushed confidence.

The oud in afirewithin is sourced from sustainable farms in India, ensuring ethical harvesting of this rare and sacred material. “Oud brings a deep, grounding richness,” Gaynes notes, “symbolizing strength and self-reflection.”

The image of a desert bloom defines the soul of afirewithin. “You can feel this journey in the scent itself,” Gaynes reveals. Cypress and chamomile break like first light over cracked earth, oud pulses with quiet resilience, and vanilla settles with warmth.

also read
AMAN Essentials *Scent as Sanctuary

“afirewithin is more than a scent,” Gaynes concludes. “It carries strength, presence, and the essence of transformation.” At strangelove NYC, perfume embodies emotion and depth.

creative content by lemilestudio.creative

Porsche Design x Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom Joins Porsche Design
*The Art of Precision

written MONICA DE LUNA

A lineage of engineering distilled into the hum of an engine, the balance of a curve, the whisper of a second hand sweeping across a dial.

Orlando Bloom steps in as an ambassador, a presence that reflects precision, heritage, and an unapologetic pursuit of excellence. Porsche Design unveils its latest collaboration, embodying its core values in design and craftsmanship. Orlando Bloom becomes a part of this legacy. The campaign unfolds in a palette of obsidian black and sleek titanium, a nod to the Chronograph 1 – All Black Numbered Edition, an evolution of the 1972 design.

Porsche Design
Orlando Bloom, Brand Ambassador

Bloom, a Porsche devotee, moves with intention. "Porsche is a lifestyle," he reflects. "It’s innovation meeting performance, meeting legacy."

The Porsche Design P'8478, first released in 1978, features interchangeable lenses, featherweight titanium, and precision-cut curves. It adapts effortlessly to changing conditions.

"Style is personal," Bloom says. "Authenticity is everything." His choices reflect a commitment to timeless design. Accessories are essential elements of his wardrobe, particularly when they merge function and elegance. Watches and eyewear are more than complements; they shape the way one interacts with the world. The Chronograph 1 – All Black Numbered Edition is at the heart of this campaign. A timepiece that encapsulates decades of design mastery. Conceived in 1972 and modernized in 2022, it bridges generations of engineering. Its monochromatic aesthetic is a study in focus and precision. Handmade in Solothurn, Switzerland, it stands as a testament to Porsche’s seamless fusion of Swiss craftsmanship and automotive ingenuity.

Beyond timepieces, the collaboration highlights Porsche Design’s eyewear. The P'8478 model, a pioneer of modular lenses, remains an icon. Designed by F. A. Porsche, its quick-release mechanism and durable titanium frame provide adaptability and refinement. A vision crafted for the dynamic.

For Bloom, this partnership aligns with his appreciation for innovation and legacy. As a long-time Porsche enthusiast, his connection to the brand extends beyond admiration. It’s a shared understanding of how aesthetics, function, and history converge. Stefan Buescher, CEO of Porsche Lifestyle Group, affirms this synergy: "Orlando Bloom embodies our values of authenticity, style, and a passion for perfection. His global presence strengthens Porsche Design’s resonance with an audience that values excellence."

Porsche Design

Porsche Design

Porsche Design remains committed to timeless innovation, and Bloom steps into this world as an extension of that ethos. A fusion of design and purpose, movement and precision. The Chronograph 1 is worn because it functions with mastery. The sunglasses because they are an optical evolution. This is Porsche Design—where every detail serves a greater vision.

HOKA New Speed Loafer 2025

HOKA Speed Loafer
*A Study in Motion

written MONICA DE LUNA

A design distilled to its purest form, cut to the rhythm of those who move with intention.

HOKA shifts the landscape once again. The Speed Loafer emerges as a sharp statement in movement, fusing a forward-thinking silhouette with the unmistakable energy of the brand’s signature engineering.

HOKA
Speak Loafer

Footwear, in its truest essence, is architecture in motion. The Speed Loafer manifests this ideology through sculpted contours and an unwavering focus on function. Precision-stacked layers of EVA foam deliver a sensation that pulses between structure and fluidity. The silhouette, clean yet assertive, lands with the clarity of a blueprint drawn for kinetic expression.

The upper—a seamless convergence of form and breathability—eliminates excess. A single stroke of engineered materials, composed to contour. Slip-in ease translates to uninterrupted motion, making the transition between states effortless.

HOKA’s DNA hums beneath the surface. The Speed Loafer carves out space for movement, where stability does not compromise agility. The midsole, sculpted for response, amplifies each step with a balance that speaks to both precision and instinct. Every element, from the minimalistic structure to the considered weight distribution, channels a philosophy of forward propulsion.

This release reframes versatility through a sharper lens. Urban rhythm or off-grid escapism, the Speed Loafer adapts to the moment without hesitation. A visual language that aligns with an audience attuned to dynamic design, it defies expectations without the need for embellishment.

---

ALSO READ

From Form to Function with On *The Body Is Art Training Campaign

HOKA’s latest drop extends an invitation—not just to wear, but to move. The Speed Loafer is now available through selected retailers and online, existing at the intersection of motion and intent.

step inside at hoka.com

.selected *BEDU Atelier

.selected
Dining Table Triumph by BEDU Atelier
*The Art of the Everyday

written Monica de Luna

BEDU Atelier´s designs channel energy through their materials, rooted in craftsmanship and modern artistry.

The awarded tables are an invitation to gather. Its contours guide the eye, its surfaces invite touch, and its form brings presence into a space. Every edge and joint reflects a deliberate and poetic process.

BEDU Atelier

LE MILE Magazine names BEDU Atelier
The creator of the Dining Table of the Year 2024

BEDU Atelier’s designs are born from the intrinsic qualities of travertine. This ancient stone’s natural veins, textures, and tonal variations are celebrated rather than masked, allowing each table to tell a unique story. The selection process for materials is meticulous, ensuring every slab of travertine carries an identity of its own, imbued with history and nature’s artistry.

Every table is a result of an unyielding focus on material authenticity. The travertine’s raw beauty is complemented by precise craftsmanship, creating pieces that radiate understated luxury. This balance between the rugged and the refined defines BEDU Atelier’s design ethos, presenting their tables as statements of presence and permanence.

Each table emerges from a process that begins with collaboration. Designers and artisans work together to shape the travertine into forms that evoke simplicity and elegance. Hand-finishing techniques ensure the stone’s natural integrity is preserved, resulting in surfaces that invite touch and admiration.

The 2024 award-winning tables exemplifies this philosophy. Their structures harmonize bold geometric lines with smooth transitions, creating a centerpiece that commands attention without overwhelming its surroundings. Every detail—from the beveled edges to the seamless joins—is a testament to the brand’s pursuit of excellence.

— discover more www.beduatelier.com

BEDU Atelier

At its core, a dining table is a space for connection. BEDU Atelier’s design transcends mere function, offering a platform where stories unfold and relationships deepen. Their tables become focal points for these shared experiences, infusing everyday rituals with a sense of ceremony. The travertine’s natural warmth and grounding presence enhance the atmosphere, making every interaction feel significant.

By reimagining the role of materials and craftsmanship, BEDU Atelier offers a glimpse into the future of design. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their sourcing practices, ensuring the travertine is responsibly obtained and processed. This eco-conscious approach aligns with modern sensibilities, placing environmental responsibility at the forefront of luxury design.

Our recognition underscores the cultural impact of BEDU Atelier’s work.

Their dining tables are markers of a lifestyle rooted in intentionality, beauty, and respect for the natural world.

On x FKA twigs

From Form to Function with On
* The Body Is Art Training Campaign

written AMANDA MORTENSON

On teams up with the visionary FKA twigs to unveil The Body Is Art, Part II, the centerpiece of its Spring/Summer 25 Training Collection, presenting training as an evocative, immersive act of self-expression and artistry.

Under the creative direction of FKA twigs and through Jordan Hemingway’s lens, the campaign pulses with energy inside a raw, industrial London warehouse. Movement emerges as a powerful form of expression, channeling creativity and identity.

On x FKA twigs
The Body Is Art, Part II

On x FKA twigs
The Body Is Art, Part II

With Paralympic athlete Léa Bayekula, IFBB Pro bodybuilder Michelle Mensah, and dancer Nana Yaa, the visuals honor strength and individuality. Each participant embodies the vision of movement as art—a dynamic exploration of purpose and form.

“I’m drawn to bodies shaped by purpose, by life,” twigs reflects. “In The Body Is Art, Part II, strength becomes art. It’s about redefining beauty through function and celebrating what the body can do.” Her words resonate across the collection, which blends technical precision with a minimalist aesthetic to redefine training apparel.

On’s SS25 Training Collection delivers performance-driven designs with a striking edge. The campaign’s highlighted looks — from the streamlined Studio Cut Out Crop and Train Tights Short to the dynamic Train 2-in-1 Crop paired with Train Shorts — are engineered for freedom and resilience. Twigs herself embodies this duality, wearing pieces that flow seamlessly from performance to expression. Completing the aesthetic are On’s signature sneakers, including the versatile Cloudnova X and high-performance Cloud X 4. The wider SS25 line reflects On’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity. From high-intensity staples like the Train-T and Train Shorts to the ultra-soft Studio line tailored for yoga and barre, the collection addresses diverse movement needs while maintaining a sleek, modern look. It’s sportswear that not only adapts to the body but elevates it, making every movement an act of creativity.

watch campaign film
On x FKA twigs Present The Body Is Art, Part II Spring/Summer 2025

campaign credits

creative direction FKA twigs
seen Jordan Hemingway
film Robert Richardson
set design Jabez Bartlett
movement direction Zoï Tatopoulos
styling Georgia Pendlebury
mair Louis Souvestre
make up Tilda Mace

On x FKA twigs
The Body Is Art, Part II

On x FKA twigs
The Body Is Art, Part II

On’s global momentum gains another layer with The Body Is Art, Part II, an expression of its philosophy: movement as a profound force of creativity. Partnering with FKA twigs, the brand shapes training into a multidimensional exploration, one that unites body and soul in dynamics.

PITTI UOMO 107 - 2025

Boys on Fire
*PITTI UOMO 107

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

The winter edition of Pitti Uomo will be held at Florence's Fortezza da Basso from January 14 to 17, 2025. During these days, Fall/Winter 2025 collections from almost 790 brands—of which 45% are international—will showcase the new frontiers of menswear.

Menswear lovers, rejoice! PITTI Uomo is a journey into the world of menswear and its ongoing evolution, a stage for showcasing new ideas, trends, and collaborative projects through an exhibition path divided into five sections (Fantastic Classic, Futuro Maschile, Dynamic Attitude, Superstyling, and I Go Out), and a curated calendar of special events, offering a comprehensive look at the many facets of men’s fashion.

Pitti Uomo

Pitti Uomo

This season will feature two guest designers: Satoshi Kuwata, who has chosen Florence for the first runway show of his brand Setchu, and MM6 Maison Margiela, which has created an exclusive menswear collection for Pitti Uomo. Many other new projects will be presented at the Fortezza, also through special connections with the world of art and photography, from established names to the most innovative research-driven brands, not to mention the lifestyle segment, which is becoming increasingly influential.

This January, Pitti Immagine's winter shows embrace fire as a unifying element to capture the essence and spirit of the upcoming season. FIRE is the theme behind the new ad campaigns for Pitti Uomo, Pitti Bimbo, and Pitti Filati, each uniquely tailored to reflect the character of each event under the creative direction of Angelo Figus, with graphic editing by Alessandro Gori. FIRE will also inspire the design setup at the Fortezza da Basso, curated by Alessandro Moradei.

“It's a recognition of the generative power of this primal element,” says Agostino Poletto, General Director of Pitti Immagine. “Fire brings people together, warming both body and soul, drawing attention and pointing the way. It serves to entertain, amaze, inspire, melt old ideas and habits, and forge new ones—just like fashion does. We'll spark excitement, ignite desires, and focus on challenges and solutions, just as Pitti Uomo always does.”

The Fortezza da Basso, like a grand department store, welcomes Pitti Uomo exhibitors and offers visitors a curated mix of brands and styles that meet market demands. The five sections – Fantastic Classic, Futuro Maschile, Dynamic Attitude, Superstyling, and I Go Out – are confirmed, showcasing the Fall/Winter 2025 collections: from classic to casual, including innovative and outdoor wear. This edition also introduces an exciting new addition: Knees Up Running Space @ Pitti Uomo 107.

Pitti Uomo

Pitti Uomo

The evolution of classic style in its most refined and modern expression. From iconic Made in Italy brands to the pinnacle of international tailoring, this is a journey through the forms and materials of the classic wardrobe, always in touch with the contemporary. The destination: impeccable outfits and formal pieces made to be lived in now, yet crafted to last. A style for today’s gentleman and those of the past, defined by the rhythm of timeless elegance.