The CFDA X Vogue Fashion Fund Applications Are Open
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue have announced the opening of applications for the 2023 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, which will close on March 15th. The 2023 fund will revert to its regular format, awarding a competition winner, while two runners-up will receive monetary compensation, business mentorships, and a pathway to success. In 2021, the Fashion Fund generously began granting funds and mentorship to all ten finalists due to the American fashion industry’s challenges. Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA, stated, “We are witnessing a generational shift in American fashion with an exciting group of young designers who, through their work, powerfully address the time and culture we live in. As CFDA and Vogue embark on the 19th edition of the Fashion Fund, we look forward to shaping the future and continued success of the fashion industry.” To be eligible to apply, designers must have been in business for at least two years, have their primary business based in the U.S., have no more than 30 full-time employees, and not exceed a total revenue of $10 million annually. The selection committee members are Anna Wintour, Mark Holgate, Chioma Nnadi, Aurora James, Roopal Patel, Eva Chen, Sam Lobban, Paloma Elsesser, Nick Molnar, and Thom Browne. [WWD]
Tiffany & Co. Taps Lauren Santo Domingo As Its First-Ever Home Artistic Director
Tiffany & Co. has expanded its home category by appointing Lauren Santo Domingo as its first-ever artistic director for the home section. Santo Domingo, a socialite, Vogue contributor, and co-founder and chief brand officer for Moda Operandi, has been working with Tiffany’s housewares design and production team in an advisory role since the fall of 2022. Her primary task is to modernize what was once a critical category for the jeweler. Alexandre Arnault, Tiffany’s executive vice president for product and communication, hired Santo Domingo for the role. On her appointment, Santo Domingo stated, “Tiffany & Co. has played a key role in some of the biggest milestones in my life. Like everyone, I have been watching Alexandre breathe new life into the brand, and it is an honor to work with Tiffany’s design team to help execute his creative vision.” Santo Domingo’s first collection for Tiffany will be launched in April, coinciding with the newly renovated Fifth Avenue flagship unveiling. The collection features six new tabletop motif collections, including Tiffany Berries, Tiffany T True, Tiffany Wisteria, Valse Bleue, Tiffany Toile, and Tiffany Audubon. Additionally, the collection will feature “a range of four hand-blown glassware collections called Tiffany Twist, Tiffany Moderne, Tiffany Colorblock, and Tiffany Essentials.” The pieces will be available in Tiffany stores worldwide and on the jeweler’s website in April. Select pieces will also be available on Moda Operandi, Tiffany’s exclusive wholesale partner for the home category. [WWD]
Louis Vuitton Headed to Italy for Cruise Show
Louis Vuitton is going to Isola Bella in Italy for its cruise show in May. Before then, the brand will make a quick stop in Seoul, South Korea, to debut its pre-fall collection in April. Nicolas Ghesquière, who has been leading the women’s collections for the brand since 2013, has gained a reputation for selecting breathtaking architectural destinations for their cruise shows. According to WWD, “Isola Bella is a celebrated example of Italian Baroque style and has been owned by the Borromeo family for some four centuries.” The upcoming cruise show will make history as it will be the first time the Borromeo family, led by Prince Vitaliano XI Borromeo and his wife Marina, have allowed such an event on their property. The Vuitton show is scheduled for May 24th on the small island located on Lake Maggiore, approximately 33 kilometers from Milan Malpensa airport. [WWD]
Victoria’s Secret Is Returning to the Runway
After a four-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is set to make a comeback. Victoria’s Secret CFO Timothy Johnson announced that they plan to invest in the marketing spend to support the new version of the show, which is set to air later this year. The annual show was canceled in 2019 due to declining sales and the company’s association with Jeffrey Epstein, a financier charged with the sex trafficking of underage girls. The show was also criticized for its lack of diversity and size inclusivity, especially in comparison to Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty show, which debuted in 2018 with a diverse cast of models. Lizzo, an artist who recently launched her own inclusive shapewear line, expressed her thoughts on the news, stating on Twitter, “This is a win for inclusivity for inclusivity’s sake. But if brands start doing this only because they’ve received backlash, then what happens when the ‘trends’ change again? Do the CEOs of these companies value true inclusivity? Or do they just value money?” [Harper’s Bazaar]
Carolina Herrera First Resort Show Is in Rio de Janeiro
Carolina Herrera is set to hold its first resort show outside of New York in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Creative director Wes Gordon expressed his excitement, saying, “I am thrilled to be staging our first-ever show outside of New York in Rio de Janeiro. It’s an inspiring city for so many reasons. The lively color palette, the unique blend of its universally loved music, the breathtaking Modernist architecture of Oscar Niemeyer, and the exuberance of its traditions, which I have immense respect for.” Alongside the show, Carolina Herrera has partnered with Spectaculu, a non-profit organization based in Rio de Janeiro that provides professional training for underprivileged youth working in the creative industries, including art and entertainment. The show will take place on June 1st. [Fashionista]
“Kaiser Karl” a TV Show Based on Karl Lagerfeld TV Show Is Coming to Disney+
Fashion TV show enthusiasts, get ready for the new Disney+ series Kaiser Karl, as German actor Daniel Brühl has been cast to portray the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. Brühl will play a young Lagerfeld in the series, which depicts his rise in the French fashion industry during the early 1970s. Arnaud Valois and Alex Lutz will portray Lagerfeld’s rivals, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, while Quebec actor Théodore Pellerin will play Lagerfeld’s love interest, Jacques de Bascher. Agnès Jaoui has been cast as Gaby Aghion, the founder of Chloé, who was one of the first in the industry to recognize Lagerfeld’s talent. The series, based on Raphaëlle Bacqué’s eponymous biography of the fashion designer, is currently being filmed in France, Monaco, and Italy. [Hollywood Reporter]
Models.com Interviews Boy Ewald for Model of the Week
Models.com spoke to newcomer Boy Ewald about her debut at Prada and her love for acting and aliens. You can find the interview here.
Glenn Martens Pushes the Boundaries of Textile Deconstruction for Y/Project F/W 23
Yet again, Glenn Martens proved his denim deconstruction expertise with his latest Y/Project F/W 23 Show. The show occurred at a construction site at the Institut Français de la Mode, setting the perfect stage for Martens’ innovative prowess in distorting heavy textiles like leather and frayed denim into a disentangled theme featured throughout the collection. Cast by Anita Bitton, the collection’s color palette was rich and varied, with jewel tones and earthy hues peeping through the denim fringes that adorned sweaters, jeans, tops, collars, and hoodies. Find the rest of the review here.
Street Style Coverage From Fashion Month
That’s a wrap on street style coverage for now! To check out the entire fashion month off-duty coverage shot by Melodie Jeng, go here.
Meet the Six New Faces for MDC Selects
Empowering women worldwide, meet these six inspiring, new faces who are boxers, novelists, and singers when they’re not posing for cameras. Follow along as they share their stories and discover more here.
And don’t forget some of this week’s Models.com Fashion Week coverage from PFW, including a behind-the-scenes glimpse backstage at Versace, Chanel, and Givenchy with Mika Schneider, Ella Mccutcheon, and Fanfan.
