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Virgil Abloh Appointed Menswear Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton (The New York Times)
Virgil Abloh has been named artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear. Abloh, who first established buzz from his street-centric label Off-White, will be the luxury house’s first African-American artistic director. “I feel elated,” Abloh told The New York Times‘ Vanessa Friedman. “This opportunity to think through what the next chapter of design and luxury will mean at a brand that represents the pinnacle of luxury was always a goal in my wildest dreams. And to show a younger generation that there is no one way anyone in this kind of position has to look is a fantastically modern spirit in which to start.” The appointment is the latest installment in a dizzying version of designer musical chairs — most of which are shifts within the LVMH stable. Kim Jones, Abloh’s predecessor, left Vuitton to replace Christian Dior’s Kris van Assche last week. Abloh previously interned at Fendi along with Kanye West about 12 years ago. “I was really impressed with how they brought a whole new vibe to the studio and were disruptive in the best way. Virgil could create a metaphor and a new vocabulary to describe something as old-school as Fendi. I have been following his career ever since,” Louis Vuitton’s Michael Burke said of West and Abloh’s internship. “I paid them $500 a month!”
Fendi To Launch Logo-ed Out Capsule (WWD)
Fendi is banking on logomania making a comeback. The brand is launching a new FF-laden capsule exclusively on Net-a-porter on April 13. The collection will subsequently become available at select Fendi stores and on fendi.com on May 14. The iconic logo was first conceived by Karl Lagerfeld in 1965 and stands for Fun Fur. Both the archival square-shaped version of the logo as well as the updated rectangular iteration will be used in the lineup. The collection spans from parkas, raincoats, and hoodies to a range of handbags and sneakers. When asked by WWD if the significance of the logo has evolved of the years, Silvia Venturini Fendi said “absolutely, in the Eighties, it was more ostentatious, a logo was meant to show that you had made it. Now young people like it and they are at the beginning of their professional life. It has a fashion connotation, it stems from the street, it’s a sign that you belong, and it’s often paired with sportswear.” And while it hasn’t been confirmed to be pieces from the capsule, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Hailey Baldwin and other It Girls have been sporting some Fendi-logoed ready-to-wear in the past few weeks— perhaps they’ve already got their hands on the capsule?
Chanel To Launch Ski and Swimwear Capsules (WWD)
In other luxury capsule news, Chanel will unveil a pair of them — one for ski, one for swim. Coco Beach will hit stores in June while Coco Neige will be released in July and August. Lagerfeld reportedly first came up with the concept while summering in Saint-Tropez, where he noticed a dearth of beach gear at the Chanel flagship. “We have around 30 stores in seaside locations, and during the months of June and July, when towns such as Cannes, Nice, Capri, Barcelona and [cities in] Florida are incredibly busy, the stores are carrying winter collections,” Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion at Chanel, told WWD. “These tactical launches are designed to better satisfy the needs of our customers and to find the best way to communicate to them the fact that these items exist.” Coco Beach will range from bikinis and terrycloth cover-ups to beach bags and espadrilles. Coco Neige will launch in tandem with Chanel’s fall collection and will target wintery locations such as ski town Courchevel. The collection boasts mountain-ready technical pieces (ski pants, down jackets, etc.) as well as casual hoodies and shearling trimmed boots.
Adwoa Aboah Sues Former Modeling Agency (WWD)
Adwoa Aboah has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan court against her previous modeling agency The Lions. The model alleges that the agency is withholding $190,000 of her earnings “as a form of ransom” stemming from her decision to leave in August — before her three-year contract was up. In the suit, Aboah notes that the agency’s refusal to issue payment is illegal, adding “models are not indentured servants and are entitled to receive payment for their modeling services.” She signed with The Lions in January 2015 and left this past August to join DNA. Her paperwork also claims that Aboah earned $670,000 in gross fees (e.g. the agency’s cut of her earnings) in that duration.
Adwoa Aboah (Patrick McMullan)
Claire Foy Addresses Pay Inequity Controversy Surrounding The Crown (EW)
The Crown’s Claire Foy recently opened up about the controversy surrounding the recently-exposed pay inequity between herself and male co-star Matt Smith, telling EW: “I’m surprised because I’m at the center of it, and anything that I’m at the center of like that is very very odd, and feels very very out of ordinary,” Foy said. “But I’m not [surprised by the controversy] in the sense that it was a female-led drama. I’m not surprised that people saw [the news of the pay inequality] and went, ‘Oh, that’s a bit odd.’ But I know that Matt feels the same that I do, that it’s odd to find yourself at the center [of a story] that you didn’t particularly ask for.” The actress had remained mum on the issue until Friday and, similarly, Matt Smith has yet to issue comment.
Claire Foy and Matt Smith in “The Crown”.
Jake Gyllenhaal Lands A Cartier Campaign (WWD)
Jake Gyllenhaal is the new face of Cartier’s Santos de Cartier watch. The actor will appear in a film advertisement for the timepiece due to release this spring. This is the first celebrity Cartier has ever featured in its advertisements. “Jake Gyllenhaal reveals a new side to his talent with every film, performing a wide variety of roles. Cartier was drawn to his invincible style and fearless spirit,” the brand said in a statement to WWD. Check out the behind the scenes imagery below — hubba hubba!
Jake Gyllenhaal wearing a Santos de Cartier watch (Courtesy).
Paris Hilton and Fiancé Chris Zyllka Hit Armani Bash
Armani threw an A-list blowout at the W South Beach in Miami to toast it’s “New Energy, New Spirit” campaign — part of the brand’s A|X relaunch. Armani is repositioning A|X in an effort to become the go-to brand for Italian streetwear. The party coincided with the tehcno-heavy Ultra music festival and drew Cara Delevingne, David Guetta, Desiigner, Paris Hilton and Chris Zyllka.
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- Paris Hilton (Courtesy)
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- Cara Delevingne (Courtesy)
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- David Guetta (Courtesy)
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