Category Archives: Fashion

Steampunk

Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century’s British Victorian era or American “Wild West”, in a future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. However, steampunk and neo-Victorian are different in that the neo-Victorian movement does not extrapolate on technology while technology is a key aspect of steampunk. Steampunk most recognizably features anachronistic technologies or retrofuturistic inventions as people in the 19th century might have envisioned them, and is likewise rooted in the era’s perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art. Such technologies may include fictional machines like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules…

Retro style

Retro style is a style that is imitative or consciously derivative of lifestyles, trends, or art forms from the historical past, including in music, modes, fashions, or attitudes. It may also be known as “vintage inspired”. Definition The term retro has been in use since the 1960s to describe on the one hand, new artifacts that self-consciously refer to particular modes, motifs, techniques, and materials of the past. But on the other hand, many people use the term to categorize styles that have been created in the past. Retro style refers to new things that display characteristics of the past. Unlike the historicism of the Romantic generations, it is mostly the recent past that retro seeks to recapitulate, focusing on the products, fashions and artistic styles produced since the Industrial Revolution, the successive styles of Modernity. The English word retro derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning backwards, or in…

Fête galante

The Courtship party (French: Fête galante) is a term referring to a category of painting specially created by the French Academy in 1717 to describe Antoine Watteau’s (1684–1721) variations on the theme of the fête champêtre which featured figures in ball dress or masquerade costumes disporting themselves amorously in parkland settings. When Watteau applied to join the French academy in 1717, there was no suitable category for his works, so the academy simply created one rather than reject his application. Watteau specifically created the fête galante painting style as a compromise between two drives. On the one hand, most of his funding came from private individuals, rather than from the government. On the other hand, Watteau wanted recognition from the government-appointed Académie des Beaux-Arts. The Académie ranked scenes of everyday life and portraits, the paintings most desired by private patrons, as lower than morally educational paintings illustrating history and mythology.…

Look back of Paris Fashion Week Menswear Spring-Summer 2023, Paris, France

Paris Fashion Week Menswear Spring-Summer 2023 marks the inaugural Paris Fashion Week event for the year, la 2023st from 21-26 June 2022. For the spring/summer 2023 season, Parisian-based designers came out in force in a fascinating display of juxtaposition across the brands, from the most subtle of inspirations to avante-garde stylings, where childlike plaything motifs shared the runway with structured workwear and models donning colourful crochet garments followed those dressed in head-to-toe utilitarian styles. Some designers challenged themselves to push the boundaries of physical presentations — from an acrobatic performance at Issey Miyake’s Homme Plissé to a recreation of the namesake designer’s childhood home and garden at Dior Men. Rick Owens returned to his usual haunt at Palais de Tokyo with a runway presentation punctuated by three giant globes that were set ablaze, air-lifted and then dramatically dropped into the building’s fountain pool as models walked around its periphery. At…

Haute Couture fashion industry in Paris, France

Haute couture is the creation of exclusive custom-fitted high-end fashion design that is constructed by hand from start-to-finish. Haute couture is the professional sector in which luxury clothing designers operate. Today, it is organized around “haute couture houses”, some of which are quite old brands, with which many great designers have collaborated over the years. Haute couture played an avant-garde role and her works foreshadowed fashion. Haute Couture is a French exception and as the name of the Federation indicates, it lies at the heart of fashion’s ecosystem. Tremendously modern, it is a permanent gateway between a tradition for excellence in know-how and contemporaneity in creation embodying today manufacturing techniques that are at the cutting edge of innovation. The Haute Couture collections are presented twice a year, in January and in July. Due to its extraordinary nature, it has been granted a special status. Since 2010, its official calendar has…

Look back of Biennale des Antiquaires 2012, Paris, France

The 26th edition of the Biennale des Antiquaires, the premier showcase of art and antiques featuring treasures from the world’s greatest dealers, opens its doors from September 13 to 23, 2012 at the Grand Palais. The Biennale des Antiquaires, which since the 1950s has guaranteed the influence of the antiques profession throughout the world Closely intertwined with that of the 19 th and 20th-century universal exhibitions, the Biennale des Antiquaires is a Parisian feast of antiques, fine art, jewelery and other miscellaneous objects of desire. For its 26th edition, this year’s set was designed by Karl Lagerfeld, with the intent of creating a miniature Paris inside the impressive Beaux Art exhibition hall. With the theme of a giant hot air balloon, it reinterprets the desire for exploration and the unknown in old Paris of the Belle Époque. The fantastical scenography emphasise the immensity and the splendour of the glass roof,…

Guide Tour of the Place-Vendôme district, Paris, France

The Quartier of Place-Vendôme is the 4th administrative district of Paris, located in the 1st arrondissement. This district takes its name from Place Vendôme. The district is order and beauty, luxury, calm and pleasure, full of prestigious jewelers, restaurants, cafes, bars, and many traders. The square is made up of sober and imposing buildings, hosts the most prestigious jewelry stores and fashion boutiques in Paris, also the largest luxury hotels. The Place Vendôme is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It is the starting point of the Rue de la Paix. Its regular architecture by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and pedimented screens canted across the corners give the rectangular Place Vendôme the aspect of an octagon. Place Vendôme embodies the “high bourgeoisie” side of Paris and the luxury that accompanies it, being endowed…

Review of Paris Fashion Week Women Ready-to-Wear collection Fall/Winter 2022-2023, Paris, France

Paris Fashion Week unveil the Women’s Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear collection from 28 February – 8 March 2022. The provisional schedule of shows reveals 95 brands that will showcase their designs. Out of these 95, there was 45 physical runway shows, 37 physical representations, and 13 online collections. Paris Fashion Week is one of the “Big Four” in the fashion world, along with the fashion weeks in New York, Milan and London. During this time, models, designers, famous names from the fashion world, press and important insiders from magazines, agencies and fashion houses come together to see the latest collections on the catwalk. Top designers predicting the forecast for the fall/winter 2022 season. Chanel gave us an homage to tweed, Balenciaga’s Demna Gvasalia addressed the harsh realities of war and climate change, Loewe played with irreverence, and Off-White presented its first posthumous show following Virgil Abloh’s passing last year. High-fashion streetwear brand…

Look back of Biennale des Antiquaires 2014, Paris, France

The 27th edition of the Biennale des Antiquaires, the premier showcase of art and antiques featuring treasures from the world’s greatest dealers. The Biennale des Antiquaires, which since the 1950s has guaranteed the influence of the antiques profession throughout the world, opens its doors from September 11 to 21, 2014 at the Grand Palais. Closely intertwined with that of the 19 th and 20th-century universal exhibitions, the Biennale des Antiquaires is a Parisian feast of antiques, fine art, jewelery and other miscellaneous objects of desire. For art lovers from across the world, the Biennale des Antiquaires has been a must-attend event for more than half a century and quintessentially representative of the French “art de vivre”. Exhibitors the best of their private collections in rows of stands, each crafted to project a cocktail of prestige, exceptional taste and a discreet blanket of opulence. The Biennale des Antiquaires aims to identify…

Brand story and Brief presentation of Chaumet Jewelry collection 2010s-2020s

Chaumet is a French jewelry, jewelery and watchmaking house founded in 1780 by Marie-Étienne Nitot. Fourteen artisans ply their trade in the workshop on Place Vendôme under the direction of foreman Pascal Bourdariat. Official supplier to Empress Josephine and jeweler to sovereigns, Chaumet was also the first jewelry house to set up shop in Place Vendôme, in 1812. As of 2012, it was owned by LVMH. The history of Chaumet has been intimately entwined with the history of France since the founding of the Paris jeweler in 1780. Chaumet very quickly became official jeweler to Empress Joséphine. Marie-Etienne Nitot was appointed to design jewellery for Napoleon and all members of the royal family after his creations for Napleon’s coronation and wedding. The Maison’s high jewelry savoir-faire has been passed down through generations of jewelers for almost 240 years. For five centuries, Paris has been renowned for the quality and creativity…

Look back of Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022, France

Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022 marks the inaugural Paris Fashion Week event for the year, last from 24-27 January 2022. Haute Couture is a French exception and as the name of the Federation indicates, it lies at the heart of fashion’s ecosystem. Tremendously modern, it is a permanent gateway between a tradition for excellence in know-how and contemporaneity in creation embodying today manufacturing techniques that are at the cutting edge of innovation. The Haute Couture collections are presented twice a year, in January and in July. Due to its extraordinary nature, it has been granted a special status. Since 2010, its official calendar has hosted the Finest Jewellery Houses that are affiliated to the Federation. This initiative allows for synchronicity of presentations but also enables the history of two sectors with exceptional know-how and both in a state of endless reinvention to be played out in sequence. The…

Review of Who’s Next fashion trade show, Paris, France

Presenting the new collections of Ready-to-Wear, Accessories, Beauty and Lifestyle brands to fashion industry professionals, Who’s Next fashion trade show is mainly aimed at buyers from all over the world. Agents, journalists, buying offices, stylists, schools and trend forecasters all meet at this leading industry event, to discover the new trends of the sector. Hosted twice per year, In January and September, WHO’S NEXT showcases Ready-to-wear, Accessories, Beauty and Lifestyle brands alongside IMPACT, a selection of sustainable brands, as well as TRAFFIC, an event dedicated to solutions and innovation for brands and distributors. Who’s Next has become the leading international fashion trade show for womenswear in Europe. More than just a trade show, Who’s Next is an unmissable source of inspiration for market trends, with its offer of ready-to-wear, accessories, beauty and lifestyle, as well as a complete programme of conferences and workshops. Who’s Next is an unmissable source of…

Review of Paris Fashion Week Menswear Fall/Winter 2022-2023, Paris, France

Paris Fashion Week Menswear Autumn/Winter 2022 marks the inaugural Paris Fashion Week event for the year, last from 18-23 January 2022. From Kenzo’s debut collection of its new artistic director to a Metaverse-inspired collection, there were many iconic moments. This year’s event was all about bold, beautiful, and brave silhouettes that bid a fond farewell to traditional menswear conventions. Here is a recap and highlights from the brands and the looks. During the men’s shows, giving the fashion crowd a chance to showcase their best looks while attending shows among many more. Much of Paris fashion week took place digitally but the headliners, including Dior and Louis Vuitton, returned to the catwalk with impressive productions. The trends this season with tons of metallic, neon, and monochrome outfits. Many paired outfits with one or two simple statement pieces, whether it be a bold accessory such as a snakeskin, Dior saddle with…

Guide Tour of Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris, France

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris is a museum dedicated to fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in Paris, at 5, avenue Marceau, in the building where the fashion house stood. The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris exhibits the couturier’s body of work on the legendary premises of his former haute couture house, alternating between retrospective displays and temporary thematic exhibitions. The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris will focus on both the couturier’s creative genius and the process of designing a haute couture collection. Beyond its monographic ambitions, the museum seeks to address the history of the twentieth century and the haute couture traditions that accompanied a way of life that no longer exists. The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris is the first museum of this scale dedicated to the work of one of the twentieth century’s greatest couturiers to open in the capital of fashion. This museum, dedicated to one…

Guide Tour of Palais Galliera, Fashion Museum of the City of Paris, France

Fashion Museum of the City of Paris in the Palais Galliera, is a French museum located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, dedicated to the art and history of clothing and haute couture. The Fashion Museum was inaugurated in 1977. It brings the history of fashion to life during prestigious temporary exhibitions, allowing the public to discover part of a rich fund of 90,000 pieces: the sumptuous clothes of the 18th and 19th centuries. centuries like the works of great couturiers and designers keep the memory of three centuries of fashion alive. Jewelry, walking sticks, hats, shoes, bags, fans, gloves, parasols and umbrellascomplete the collections, with also archives of photographs such as those of Henry Clarke, received in 1997. Since 1977, the City of Paris has operated the Palais Galliera as the Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris, a permanent museum devoted to fashion. It displays exhibits…

Masks and Costume in the Carnival of Venice

The Carnival of Venice, rich in history, traditions and enchanting suggestions, is a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the baroque atmosphere of a city full of charm. Venice is full of celebrations that drag the visitor into a kaleidoscope of emotions. The ancient Venetian palaces, architectural jewels, host luxurious masked parties that evoke the transgressive atmospheres, a golden age for carnival celebrations as evidenced by the particular shapes of the costumes worn with pride by the Venetians. Venice Carnival is one traditions with strong foundation in culture with the significance and beauty. The whole world also gathers every year around this time gaze on its grandeur. Every year, the Venice Carnival turns the city into a spectacular riot of pageantry, colour, musical performances, fireworks displays and glamorous Venetian balls. If you want to experience the exotic atmosphere of Venice at its best, carnival is the time to go. Venice…

Review of Venice Carnival 2009, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2009 last from February 14 to 24. Every year the Venice Carnival offers a rich programme of events, attracting thousands of visitors from all over the world. 2009 is no exception, with almost two weeks of celebrations involving all the city with its many cultural centres (the la Fenice theatre, the Bienalle and the Teatro Stabile) in a unique spectacle which always maintains its traditions and sumptuous history. The 2009 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “Sensation”, and ascribes one of the senses to each of the six areas of the city: Sight to San Polo, Hearing to Dorsoduro, Smell to Santacroce, Taste to Canareggio, while San Marco, the centre of the celebrations and heart of the city itself, hosts Intellect. Sensation is the Carnival of the people, for the people, where people are the protagonists. It is an opportunity for fun in…

Review of Venice Carnival 2010, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2010 last from February 6 to 16. The Venice carnival is the most anticipated event of the year in Venice: ten days of masquerade, shows, music, games and colors. The city goes crazy and fills with a cheering crowd. In the living room of Piazza San Marco and in the thousands of other fields you can freely attend theatrical performances and costume parades, concerts and historical re-enactments, entertainment for children and nights of wild dancing, gastronomic tastings and other sensory experiences. The 2010 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “6 senses x 6 sestieri”, the leitmotif of events and shows are the 5 traditional senses combined each with the 5 sestieri (districts into which Venice is divided): smell in Santa Croce, taste in Cannaregio, sight in San Polo, touch in Castello, hearing in Dorsoduro, to which adds the mind in the San Marco…

Review of Venice Carnival 2011, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2011 last from February 19 to March 8. The 2011 edition have the 19th century as its theme this year, with a rich program of shows, musical concerts, recitals and performances spread in the historic buildings, in the fields and in the streets, as well as in the theaters. Venice rediscovers in 2011 the “themed” soul of its great Carnival. Torn between romantic suggestions and turmoil of the Risorgimento, elegant in a frock coat and top hat or in a corset and crinolines. The 2011 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “Nineteenth Century – from Senso to Sissi, the city of women”, a tribute to the Unification of Italy and to women. The suggestions were mainly two: the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy and the coincidence of Mardi Gras with March 8, Women’s Day. The references of the…

Review of Venice Carnival 2012, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2012 last from February 4 to February 21. The 2012 edition, gives a foretaste of the spectacular energy of one of the most fascinating events in the world. with a rich program of shows, musical concerts, recitals and performances spread in the historic buildings, in the fields and in the streets, as well as in the theaters. Many events that was held during the carnival, grand costume balls, fierce mask contests, towering wigs and a parade of preening, enriched with sumptuous costumes and fascinating masks. From circus to music, from literature to drama, the carnival of the Venetian city this year was a generous carnival staging. The 2012 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “Life is theatre! It’s time to get masked”, as suggested by the title, dramatization of life with Venice as the capital of theatre. The Carnival in Venice, from the…

Review of Venice Carnival 2013, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2013 last from January 26 to February 13. From circus to music, from gastronomy to science, the carnival of the Venetian city this year seems to be, despite the crisis, a generous carnival staging. The romantic water city sometimes covered by dense fog, full of stories and mysteries. Many events that was held during the carnival, grand costume balls, fierce mask contests, towering wigs and a parade of preening, enriched with sumptuous costumes and fascinating masks. The 2013 edition, gives a foretaste of the spectacular energy of one of the most fascinating events in the world. The 2013 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “Life in color”, an overwhelming color becomes the protagonist of the events of the Venetian traction: from the Corteo and Festa delle Marie, there is a riot of colors also for the Flights of the Angel and the Svolo…

Review of Venice Carnival 2014, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2014 last from February 15 to March 4. The romantic water city sometimes covered by dense fog, full of stories and mysteries. This most magical of cities fills with a mass of masked party-goers, posing and preening, dancing and philandering, in a slightly surreal re-invention of a great tradition of the city. Many events that was held during the carnival, grand costume balls, fierce mask contests, towering wigs and a parade of preening, enriched with sumptuous costumes and fascinating masks. The 2014 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “Fantastic nature”, a fairytale Carnival, the marvelous and the fantastic linked to animal and plant nature. The goal was to stimulate the audience of the party to rediscover, with individual and urban masquerades, the importance of the fantastic, popular and cultured, esoteric and didactic, in its relationship between man and the environment. East and West,…

Review of Venice Carnival 2015, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2015 last from January 31 to February 17. The romantic water city sometimes covered by dense fog, full of stories and mysteries. As the oldest and most awaited festival in the lagoon city, many events that was held during the carnival, grand costume balls, fierce mask contests, towering wigs and a parade of preening, enriched with sumptuous costumes and fascinating masks. This year Venice offer a very rich book of performances, shows and events related to food and wine and its products of excellence. The literary, theatrical and musical tradition, both national and world-wide, offers many ideas which inspire the artistic and scenographic choices. The 2015 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “The most delicious party in the world!”, good taste, quality and refinement, the 2015 Venice Carnival opens to the triumph of flavors, palate and the pleasures by good food and wine.…

Review of Venice Carnival 2016, Italy

The Venice Carnival 2016 last from January 23 to February 9. The romantic water city sometimes covered by dense fog, full of stories and mysteries. This most magical of cities fills with a mass of masked party-goers, posing and preening, dancing and philandering, in a slightly surreal re-invention of a great tradition of the city. As the oldest and most awaited festival in the lagoon city, many events that was held during the carnival, grand costume balls, fierce mask contests, towering wigs and a parade of preening, enriched with sumptuous costumes and fascinating masks, the pride of Venetian craftsmanship. The 2016 edition of the Venice Carnival revolve around the theme of “Creatum: The Carnival of trades”, the most authentic soul of Venice involving the metropolitan territory. The 2016 edition is a centuries-old symbiosis with the Serenissima and its secrets and Piazza San Marco becomes a “Village of Wonders”, conceived by…