Jacquemus is Going Hollywood
Amid retail instability, Jacquemus cuts through the noise officially unveiling its West Coast arrival with the opening of a Los Angeles boutique in West Hollywood with a sun-drenched space imagined as both storefront and sanctuary. Designed with the warmth and charm of a country home, the boutique mirrors the personal aesthetic of Simon Porte Jacquemus, drawing inspiration from his Paris office to create an intimate yet expansive environment. Spanning 255 square meters on a single floor, the shop greets visitors with olive trees, calming lavender, and interiors clad in terracotta bricks and clay stucco, anchored by striking 10-meter-long yellow linen sofas. The space brims with curated treasures: Jean Royère Chaise Croisillons, Brutalist stools, vintage candelabras, a Frank Lloyd Wright lamp, and custom ceramics—all echoing Simon’s collector’s eye and poetic sensibility. To mark the launch, the label is offering exclusive tickets selling yellow bouquets and banana ice cream at their pop-up market from April 24–27, where a lucky few will score vouchers redeemable for butter yellow accessories, including the Rond Carré clutch and the the newly debuted “La Bateau” Timberlands.
Chanel Taps Kendrick Lamar As Newest Ambassador
Kendrick Lamar’s appointment as a Chanel ambassador feels less like a brand move and more like a natural progression. Officially joining Chanel on April 22 via an eyewear campaign shot by Karim Sadli alongside Lupita Nyong’o, Margaret Qualley, and Nana Komatsu, Lamar joins a shortlist of male talent that has represented the brand along Timothée Chalamet and G-Dragon. Despite Chanel’s traditional focus on womenswear, Lamar joked, “Since they don’t make clothes for men, I knew it would have to be glasses.” Still, that hasn’t stopped him from embracing the house’s codes, with his relationship with the brand beginning in 2023 with a custom Virginie Viard-designed quilted bomber paying homage to Karl Lagerfeld, worn just after he declared himself “the best-dressed moving forward” on “The Hillbillies.” In 2024, Lamar’s creative agency pgLang deepened the collaboration with Chanel, producing the short film The Button and designing the Spring Couture 2024 runway set. His fashion evolution, guided by stylist Taylor Mcneill—who also styles Timothée Chalamet, the face of Chanel’s men’s fragrance—signals a broader shift in his public image, also hinting at Chanel’s potential expansion into menswear under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy.
L’Oréal Paris Taps Harold James as New Global Makeup Artist
L’Oréal Paris has tapped Harold James as their new global makeup artist. The 37-year-old French artist succeeds British makeup artist Val Garland, who held the role since 2017. Delphine Viguier-Hovasse, L’Oréal Paris’ global president, shared, “Harold James’s work celebrates women’s infinite diversity through makeup. Along with his tremendous capacity for listening to each woman’s needs, he uses his considerable talent to reveal each woman’s individuality and unique worth. We welcome Harold to the family, where his innovative spirit and timeless style make him a natural choice to steer the makeup vision for L’Oréal Paris.” In his new role, James will oversee makeup direction for ad campaigns and contribute to product development. However, due to the beauty industry’s lengthy lead times, the first products under his direction are expected to hit the market in two to three years. James’ debut campaign as global makeup artist will be for the Infallible Skin Ink, a hybrid product that combines foundation and concealer set to be released in the coming weeks. James is also gearing up for a busy season ahead, with the Cannes Film Festival approaching. L’Oréal Paris has been an official partner of the event for 28 years. Additionally, James will oversee the makeup for L’Oréal Paris’ next runway show during Paris Fashion Week in September, with the brand continuing its partnership with the event. [Vogue Business]
Mytheresa Completes Acquisition of Yoox Net-a-Porter
Mytheresa has officially completed its acquisition of Yoox Net-a-Porter (YNAP), with plans to become a 4 billion-euro business. As YNAP’s sole shareholder, Mytheresa intends to integrate the company under the MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. umbrella. The new parent company will be rebranded as LuxExperience B.V. and will continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trade name “LuxExperience,” with a new ticker symbol, “LUXE,” starting May 1st. In the deal, Richemont received 49,741,342 shares in Mytheresa, representing 33 percent of the company’s fully diluted share capital post-issuance of the consideration shares. In return, Mytheresa acquired all shares of YNAP, along with a net cash position of 555 million euros, with no financial debt. Nora Aufreiter, Chair of the Supervisory Board of MYT Netherlands Parent B.V., stated, “Our company will become a group that includes some of the best retail banners in digital luxury. We will use our proven strength to execute on our strategic plans and create even more value for our shareholders, brand partners, customers and employees. We are confident that in the course of the integration and restructuring we will become one of the strongest and most resilient global players in the digital luxury sector.” [WWD]
Kering Sales Drop 14% in Q1
Kering reported a 14 percent decline in revenues, totaling 3.88 billion euros for the first quarter of 2025, driven by weak store traffic and disappointing wholesale performance at Gucci, where sales dropped 25 percent on a comparable basis. This decline stands in stark contrast to Kering’s luxury competitors, with LVMH experiencing a 3 percent dip in first-quarter revenues to 20.31 billion euros, while Hermès bucked the trend with a 7.2 percent increase, reaching 4.13 billion euros. In 2024, Gucci had already recorded a 24 percent drop in organic revenues in the fourth quarter, despite accounting for 63 percent of Kering’s operating profit for the year. In the first quarter of 2025, Bottega Veneta saw a 4 percent increase in sales, driven by strong growth across all product categories. Kering Eyewear also posted a 3 percent increase in sales at comparable exchange rates. On the other hand, Saint Laurent experienced a 9 percent decline, and the “other houses,” which include Balenciaga, McQueen, Pomellato, and Brioni, saw an 11 percent drop. Kering is hoping that new creative director Demna will turn the tide, but initial investment analyst reactions have been cautious. Concerns about the aesthetic direction Demna might take and the timing of his first collection, given that he’s still wrapping up his tenure at Balenciaga in July with a couture collection, have led to uncertainty. [WWD]
Director & Photographer Daniel Sannwald On Creating Digital Dreamscapes
Few image-makers traverse the boundary between high-tech fantasy and emotional realism quite like Daniel Sannwald. The German-born photographer and director has carved out a singular aesthetic defined by high-gloss surrealism, digital manipulation, and a visceral intimacy, shaped early by the rediscovery of his late father’s archived artwork. In his latest film for Models.com, Sannwald teams up with cultural visionaries like Arca, Kali Uchis, and Isamaya Ffrench to reflect on finding his voice, forging friendships through collaboration, and the time he pitched crashing a magazine’s homepage with a digital virus—all in the name of art. Find the full interview here.
MDC Selects: These Model Rookies Are Pose Professionals
These New Faces are posing professionals! Learn who plays the cello, who had a wardrobe malfunction during their ballet routine, and who showers multiple times a day if they sweat. Click the link here to find out more.
And don’t forget new additions to the Top 50 and Money rankings.
