Daisy Street and Tammy Girl Come Back With Scarlett Licensing
Millennials will rejoice at the announcement: iconic ‘00s fashion favourites are set to make a comeback under Scarlett Licensing agency.
Prevent Harmful Emission By Shopping Second-Hand Fashion
The fashion industry, like a big vehicle, produces a considerable amount of CO2 emissions. Shopping second-hand can reduce the issue, Oxfam says.
Now Live: KOUA Studio Limited Edition Collection
Following the debut at the London Fashion Week, KOUA Studio’s limited-edition collection created in collaboration with GENT London is now available.
TOAST Renewed, Repaired Clothing Collection Made To Last
Lifestyle brand TOAST invites you to cherish your clothing with skilled mending, made to last for years to come with their recently launched ‘TOAST Renewed' collection.
Hera X The Salvation Army Clothing Bank
British brand Hera is the next to launch a new charity initiative in partnership with The Salvation Army. Thanks to Hera's brand-new online clothing bank, you can donate what you once loved so much.
TheVWL Launch Recycled Uniforms for a Vegan Generation
This season, TheVWL wanted to give a very clean and comforting feeling to their collection with oversize basic shapes. In line with their ethics, all pieces are made from certified environmentally friendly materials, PETA approved, vegan and certified eco-sustainable.
Philip Karto brings sustainable attitude to Saint Tropez
Originally from Cannes, designer Philip Karto fell out of love with the fashion industry a decade ago, unable to reconcile the huge levels of waste associated with designing clothes and accessories for fast fashion.
Met Gala looks that promoted sustainable fashion
Vintage fashion has never been more popular than it is at the moment, especially on the red carpet. Rather than creating brand new garments, stars are digging into the archives and bringing new life to iconic pieces from fashion history to create a one-of-a-kind moment.
Ph. Robert Bye (Unsplash)
Gilded Glamour, a theme that inspired many celebrities to go for sustainable fashion.
This year's Met Gala was a little different than usual. There are some comments going around social media that many celebrities did not follow the dress code and the theme. I guess the celebrities interpretation of the theme was different than what most of us, but that is what fashion is for - expressing ourselves. One thing that stood out was all the vintage and sustainable outfits we saw on the red carpet
Emily Ratajowski
Model Emily Ratajowski opted with vintage instead of having something new made. Dressed in colour, cutouts, and throwback silhouettes, she presented her interpretation of Gilded Glamour on the red carpet. Taking us back to the 1992 Atelier Versace spring/summer collection. The colourfully beaded Versace outfit was originally worn by former supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri on the runway. The colourful skin-bare dress comes with a halter-top adorned with beading around the neck, a voluminous embellished silk skirt with a dramatic train, and a voluminous embellished sash. Emily commented, while on the red carpet: "I feel very lucky to be wearing this look."
Shawn Mendes
The singer and songwriter Shawn Mendes walked on the red carpet in a consciously crafted Tommy Hilfiger red and navy coat with gold buttons and structured, high-neck collar made of deadstock materials. On the inner lining of the coat you could see his initials embroidered. One thing he also highlighted during his interview was the matching nail polish that also had the logo of the brand. After removing his jacket, Mendes revealed a navy suit underneath, along with a dark turtleneck he was wearing as a base layer. The inspiration behind his look was “Navy Captain” but his fans have other suggestions. Some commented that he looked like a real-life Disney prince, but many have also said that he channelled Mr. Darcy. It is also reported that the look is a preview of an upcoming collaboration between the designer and star, so if you’re a fan keep an eye for some exciting news.
Emma Stone
As she was deciding what to wear to the 2022 Met Gala, Emma Stone took a look inside her wardrobe for inspiration. The actress ended up re-wearing her wedding reception dress, giving a chic twist to Gilded Glamour. As we all know a wedding dress is to be worn once on your special day, but the actress decided to give hers a second life. Embroidered with white feathers and lace detail, the dress was a bespoke Louis Vuitton design. The brand also shared that the creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière, and each ambassador or friend of the house that walked the red carpet wore “an archival or previously worn look with a twist for the occasion.”
Steven Kolb
The chief executive officer and president of the CFDA, Steven Kolb, arrived at the Met Gala with a tuxedo reworked with braille letters and embroidered onto a 10-year-old tuxedo from Shipley and Halmos. The 7,000 Swarovski crystals on the tuxedo were hand applied by Runa Ray, fashion designer and environmentalist. The crystals actually spell a chapter from one of Kolb's favourite books, Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet '' in braille. Kolbe shares that they decided to upcycle the jacket before knowing what the theme was, but he “felt particularly attuned to the universe’s gift of making sure he was on trend walking the red carpet.” If you have been following CFDA’s work recently that would come as no surprise. Working closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, they have committed to supporting more sustainable fashion.
Billie Eilish
A completely upcycled Gucci gown made from pre-existing fabrics was spotted on the red carpet. It was worn by none other than Billie Eilish, who had shown her dedication to sustainability many times and didn’t fail to follow her heart even at the Met Gala. “We didn’t have to waste a bunch of stuff. It all already existed. I just wanted to be as eco-friendly as possible,” said Billie as she revealed her Met Gala look featuring a corset, lace sleeves, and ruched skirt during the Vogue red carpet live stream. The dress was made specifically for her by Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele, but it was made from entirely upcycled fabrics.
Nothing beats seeing celebrities on the red carpet channelling sustainability and promoting climate positivity. They have shown us there is nothing more rewarding than wearing something that makes you feel good and does good for the planet. These are only a couple of the sustainability garments so make sure to have a look at all the outfits of the night.
Why dressing emotionally makes the fashion world work harder
Personal stylist Dress Decanted makes a guest editorial with Fashion Finest on the emotional benefits of buying second hand and how it enhances the fashion industry to do much better.
The emotional process of selecting a piece should be deliberate, not accidental. Ph. Noemie Roussel (unsplash).
One sustainable personal stylist covers the impact of thrift retail that can’t be replicated online.
“Think About Dressing For Your Soul”
Many underestimate the emotional lift when putting some time into your appearance carefully and consciously. Retail cuts that process out whilst thrifting allows you to pause, slow down and awaken the senses. The clothes don’t smell of a warehouse. They hold a story and if it fits your mood, you take home a memory for yourself.
Time and time again, self expression has proven to be the antidote to a dampened spirit. Quenching your soul’s creative thirst can help a passion that’s gone un-nurtured to flourish into action.
“Retail Therapy” Is Therapy. But Not As You Know It"
Scanning through pages of high street or designer clothes waiting for something to grab you by the collar is one way of doing this, however I opt for a more hands on approach that tickles the brain a little more intimately.
Vintage clothes/charity shops and eBay-like merchants give a visceral experience that you can tailor to yourself like a custom suit.
“Engaging true sense of style should be touch, smell and how it sounds when you wear it”. Ph. Tessa Simpson (unsplash).
For example, the sensation of feeling a rugged denim or corduroy when running your hands through a rack of pre-worn trousers and jeans.
The smell of steamed hanging leather jackets is something that can’t be replicated online. However, online doesn’t have to feel cumbersome.
Getting an eBay delivery you almost forgot about and finding out your due diligence of size checking and patience has paid off can be just as rewarding. Carefully curating some of your outfits around second hand clothes allows you to see first hand the themes that defined eras in fashion all over the world, I really like that.
Nothing will give you more ideas than seeing a statement piece of a forgotten time. All these things make my brain marvellously happy. Of course these are only the immediate rewards to changing your creative trajectory.
“Fast fashion” and “sustainability” have been unavoidable terms echoed through every runway and office in the industry. The consumer shouldn’t be obligated or beholden to cure something they had no hand in creating, however the ripple effect of the everyday consumer buying used cannot be understated.
So…if you’re interested in sparking your imagination, and gaining access to a broad array of unique designers, and an endless spectrum of inimitable materials and looks only now being dredged up from the stubborn clutches of time, then here’s how you might do it.
First and most importantly, have all your measurements ready. If you don’t have them, get them. Fit is everything.
If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home; eBay, Vinted, Etsy and Gumtree are all sofa shopping game changers but come with their own merits. Personally for the user base and range of options/filters I’m an eBay loyalist but Vinted appears to have no shortage of praise.
If small excursions to quiet shops you didn’t know existed missed your radar, then searching “used Vintage clothes shops near me” in your browser of choice will yield results that may surprise you. My experience is little weekend escapades to see what catches your gaze may quickly mutate into group trips that spark creative competition.
But the beauty of it all is that it’s all your choice.
More about this guest featured stylist: -Dress Decanted
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BLUE M Collection - La Chafrave
Launching a fashion label does not feel complete without a public presentation; this has been the reality for many in the industry during the pandemic. The time to resume is now. After the standby forced by the pandemic, BLEU M can finally present its inaugural fashion show, 'La Chafrave'.
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