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Welcome to another edition of The Launch, your monthly one-stop shop for all things fashion news. May is a particularly exciting time, with the Met Gala at the top of the month followed by 31 days of fresh spring style before summer inevitably hits. We’re starting things off with Mugler’s highly anticipated H&M collection, Swatch’s collab with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Puma’s new Formula 1 partnership, and more. Come back to this page for all the best fashion news, launches, and collaborations you need to know about.
The Mugler H&M Collaboration Is Officially Available to Shop
Who: Mugler and H&M
What: Collaboration
Where: Online at hm.com and in H&M boutiques worldwide
Why: It’s official: the highly coveted, much-talked-about collaboration between Mugler and H&M is finally live. The instantly recognizable silhouettes from Mugler Creative Director Casey Cadwallader, from mesh cut-out bodysuits to slinky gathered dresses (like this knockout neon green number), are now available at a price point fans and admirers can get behind. If you see something you like, don’t hesitate: many of the styles are already sold out. That’s the power of a truly great partnership, people!
Weekend Max Mara Heads To Paris For Pasticcino Bag World Tour
Who: Weekend Max Mara
What: Pasticcino Bag World Tour in Paris
Where: Online at weekendmaxmara.com
Why: Weekend Max Mara’s signature Pasticcino bag got a dose of Venetian love last year with an update by local artisans in the art-loving city. For the brand’s second stop on their world tour honoring local craftsmanship, they’re heading to the city of love to celebrate their renowned savoir-faire. The delicate guipure lace is made by Master Dentellier Andre Laude, whose specialists has been making the textile for almost 200 years. To fete this special collaboration, fashion documentarian Loïc Prigent made a special video highlighting the making of these veritable works of art.
Christopher John Rogers Presents Collection 012 Pre-Order
Who: Christopher John Rogers
What: Collection 012 “To Have and To Hold, A Happy Cry” pre-order
Where: Available through May 19 at christopherjohnrogers.com
Why: Christopher John Rogers presented his sexiest, most mature collection yet in Brooklyn right before the Met Gala, demonstrating that he has the range and technical savvy to build the next greatest American brand. Yes, his signature knits and stripes are present, but the most enticing pieces are his slightly perverse take on lady dressing, like skirts with exposed hems, svelte sleeveless maxi sweaters with cutouts, and this ruched lace-up dress with colorful grommets. There’s truly a bounty for every CJR squirrel here.
Swatch Launches Line With Jean-Michel Basquiat
Who: Swatch
What: Jean-Michel Basquiat watch line
Where: Online at swatch.com and in Swatch stores
Why: The legacy of Basquiat is one that’s always been in the public consciousness—especially recently: a group of red-hot collaborations in the fashion and lifestyle space both honor and take inspiration from the iconoclast’s body of work. The latest: the watch aficionados at Swatch have paid tribute to three of his most famous works to create a triptych of watches that are bold, sleek, and entirely unique.
Nordstrom Enlists Casablanca for Exclusive Capsule
Who: Casablanca
What: Capsule with Nordstrom
Where: Online at nordstrom.com and casablancaparis.com, and at select pop-ups in Nordstrom locations
Why: Casablanca is a unicorn of fashion, spanning the worlds of art, style, and sport with its signature rainbow color palette and easy, Euro-style vision for relaxed, sporty clothing. The brand’s newest capsule, available exclusively at Nordstrom, provides the ideal summer wardrobe, whether you’re hitting the tennis court or laying out at the beach. We’re particularly obsessed with this court-ready track jacket and scalloped skirt combo, which doubles as the antidote to hot city days.
Puma Teams Up With Formula 1
Who: Puma and Formula 1
What: Exclusive partnership
Where: Online at puma.com and at all Formula 1 races starting February 2024
Why: Rev your engines: Formula 1 announced a new partnership with Puma during the Miami Grand Prix, making the brand the exclusive licensing partner and retailer at all F1 races beginning next year. At a trackside press event attended by ELLE, Puma CEO Arne Freundt and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali popped champagne to celebrate the news. “We see that F1 has amazing momentum, we see that spectatorship is at an all-time record [high], and we see new consumers,” Freundt said at the event. Also at the press conference was Stichd CEO Nina Nix, who will oversee fan retail stores on race weekends. Race car driver Naomi Schiff—who moderated a panel with Freundt, Domenicali, and Nix—talked about the importance of getting more women behind the wheel. If you’re not hitting the track, take note: all Puma x Formula 1 merch, from shoes to accessories, will be available at Puma stores worldwide and puma.com in 2024.
Chloé Partners With ERES on Beachwear
Who: Chloé and ERES
What: Exclusive beachwear collection
Where: Online at chloe.com
Why: Swimsuit season is upon us, and Chloé is getting in on the fun by collaborating with ERES on an exclusive beachwear collection that includes bags, shoes, eyewear, and hats that riff on the house’s signature codes (winged silhouettes, floral patterns, and the instantly recognizable “C” hardware). It’s also eco-friendly: the swimwear is made using ERES’ proprietary Pear Douce material derived from castor oil-based polyamide, so you can look good and feel even better.
Wolford Taps N°21 For a Minimalist Capsule
Who: Wolford
What: Capsule collaboration with N°21
Where: Online at wolfordshop.com, net-a-porter.com, numeroventuno.com, and in Wolford and N°21 boutiques
Why: Wolford’s spot at the top of every fashion girl’s list for hosiery and form-fitting garments isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Between its cult-favorite tights and bodysuits, Wolford has also been crafting collaborative capsules that combine the world of Wolford with other brands. The latest collab with Alessandro Dell’Acqua of N°21 melds the designer’s fiercely feminine vision with Wolford’s technical savvy, resulting in a line of dresses, bras, and bodysuits with cutouts and rich lace detailing that are sleek, sexy, and give all the drama every going out look needs.
Tommy Hilfiger Collabs With Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Awake NY
Who: Tommy Hilfiger
What: Capsule collection with Awake NY and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team
Where: Online at tommy.com and shop-us.mercedesamgf1.com, in select Tommy Hilfiger stores, and at designated tracks over upcoming Grand Prix weekends
Why: Calling all F1 fans: Just in time for Miami’s Grand Prix, Tommy Hilfiger has joined forces with cult streetwear brand Awake NY and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team for a warm-weather collaboration modeled by none other than F1 legend Lewis Hamilton himself. The Americana-infused range consists of baseball shirts, sporty tees, and rugby-inspired pullovers that merge the worlds of racing, American sports, and archival Tommy that is sure to delight both casual and diehard racing fans.
Staud Debuts Swimwear
Who: Staud
What: New swimwear collection, Staud Sea
Where: Online at staud.clothing and in Staud stores
Why: Fresh off the heels of its bridal debut, Staud is flexing its range by introducing another new category: swim. The contrasting colors and sturdy design one can expect from the It-girl brand translate perfectly to the beach, with mix-and-match bikinis, coverups, and this perfect rash guard that takes design cues from the brand’s signature cabana stripes. If this isn’t a great reminder to plan that last-minute Memorial Day trip, then what is?
Saint Laurent Introduces Fine Jewelry
Who: Saint Laurent
What: Fine jewelry collection debut
Where: Online at ysl.com and in select Saint Laurent boutiques
Why: The market for fine jewelry has never been hotter, with a plethora of luxury brands leaving an indelible mark in 14k gold. Saint Laurent’s debut into the space includes fan favorites like the Cassandre logo on a bangle rendered in white and yellow gold, plus a carefully selected curation of cuffs, earrings, and necklaces that range from the dainty to the chunky, and fit with everything, depending on your mood.
Jacquie Aiche Teams Up With Timex Again—This Time on Heart-Shaped Evil Eyes
Who: Jacquie Aiche
What: Timex watch collaboration
Where: Online at jacquieaiche.com starting May 4
Why: The buzzy collaboration from cult jeweler Jacquie Aiche and Timex is back, thanks to overwhelming demand for her colorful take on the watchmakers’ classic shape. This time around, the collection is called “Sweet Romance,” and features lapis lazuli, sandstone, and Aiche’s signature evil eye in a heart motif to ward off negative vibes…in an adorable way.
What Goes Around Comes Around Unveils Shoppable Karl Lagerfeld Retrospective
Who: What Goes Around Comes Around
What: Karl Lagerfeld retrospective
Where: Online at amazon.com; view more at whatgoesaroundnyc.com and in-store at WGACA in New York City
Why: Ahead of the first Monday in May, a.k.a. the Met Gala, the vintage purveyors at What Goes Around Comes Around are paying tribute to the night’s theme by honoring the extensive, almost overwhelming work of Karl Lagerfeld, the polymath behind Chanel, Fendi, and his eponymous label, with a retrospective at its new atelier in NYC. For those who aren’t able to make it in person, fear not: the collection is shoppable online via Luxury Stores at Amazon. Why not treat yourself to a piece of fashion history on fashion’s biggest night?
Buzzy NFT Project Solana Hills Lauches Merch
Who: Solana Hills
What: Debut, limited-edition clothing collection
Where: Online at Solana Hills
Why: Even the Web3 uninitiated have taken note: the fashion world buzz surrounding the metaverse and digital wearables has waned. Enter Solana Hills, one of buzziest digital art projects on the scene, thanks in equal parts to their stellar PFP art and a commitment to bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 communities by educating the crypto curious through an IRL clothing brand. Incorporating design elements of the NFTs and crypto slang such as DYOR (Do Your Own Research), the collection also takes its cues from Solana Hills’ West Coast roots with oversized, unisex apparel, a nod to surf and skate culture and an overarching message of inclusivity that’s much welcome in the space.
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