My dear fashionistas, welcome to my first summer fashion story on the Mr.M blog pages this season. It is a great honor and pleasure for me to have been able to inspire women in their prime to change their perspective on life and introduce novelty into their everyday life through my vision of fashion. Today I will try my best to present you some new fashion novelties that have arrived in my wardrobe.
This unexpected hobby of mine and writing fashion stories became interesting to me because I noticed that people found my stories interesting and inspiring. Honestly, I didn’t expect my writing to be such a success. I have to admit that your messages have given me extra strength to carry on through the difficult period after the surgery in Egypt and to get back to blogging again.
Today I have the great honor and pleasure to introduce you to an unusual new Belgian brand of luxury leather goods that combines refined simplicity and an unbridled fantasy in the creation of its fantastic bags – DAMIAAN.
DAMIAAN is a new luxury Belgian leather goods brand, created by Christina Zeller and Damian O’Sullivan in 2022. With refined simplicity and unbridled fantasy, their creations have surprised and seduced clients across Europe through elegant eccentricity. Driven by their imagination and passion for leather goods, this creative duo pushes the boundaries of the possible, respecting the rigor of the craft and maintaining the greatest degree of artistic freedom.
An unusual combination of traditional form with bold imagination, DAMIAAN presents a collection of bags that bring an unusual blend of refined and simple elegance and grace combined with a unique imagination without limits. The current collection of the DAMIAAN brand consists of two models of bags: Snakebag and Bootbag, this collection is inextricably linked to the imaginary world of surrealism.
Through its first collection, DAMIAAN begins a new creative journey where each bag will carry its own story to tell together with you. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the creators of this amazing brand of leather goods. Damian O’Sullivan, after graduating from the Royal College of Art, he knocked on luxury fashion heaven where he was met by the then director of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, who immediately liked his designs. This fairytale beginning launched a creative journey that would see him design a monumental tower in London for Thames Water, as well as helping Anish Kapoor build his epic water sculpture ‘Decension’. His career was also marked by moments such as designing shoes for Asics and Camper and many porcelain creations for Royal Delft, Rosenthal and Vista Alegre.
For the past fifteen years, he has worked for the famous French houses Hermès and Louis Vuitton, designing tableware, leather goods and home accessories. After thirty years, Damian returns to his very first love – creating unique bags. You must be wondering, why bags? Although it may not be the oldest profession in the world, bag making goes back millennia. Practical and useful then and now, these days, bags are expected to carry stories, and those are the stories that DAMIAAN wants to tell.
Having earned a master’s degree in journalism, Christina Zeller was not destined for her professional career. On the runway as a model at the age of 23, she discovered the world of fashion, which she has never left since. She worked for the biggest fashion houses and designers in France and Belgium. Karl Lagerfeld gave her wings, boldness, fantasy and the privilege to experiment. Working with Christian Lacroix, she learned the rigor of research that always seeks the exceptional and never settles for second best. Her close collaboration with Riccardo Tisci led to the development of all his fashion accessories. Enriched and emboldened by this experience, she joined Delvaux in 2011, where she spent nine years at the helm of the creative, marketing and communications department, contributing to the brand’s luster and brilliance. She once stated: “I have always worked with passion and I was lucky enough to start each day with a smile. With DAMIAAN, I have come full circle and I can feel all the emotions and excitement as if it were the first time.”
In today’s fashion story, I present to you the Snakebag model that is made in France and its classic crescent design belies its clever construction. How else would you get a writhing snake to hold a bag while holding its tongue? The almost invisible seams require exceptional craftsmanship, which our craftsmen have perfected through trials and tribulations to maintain the allure and mystery of their sinuous tail. As real as the snake looks, if you are afraid of snakes you don’t have to shy away because this charming snake will brighten your day!
Snakebag comes in two sizes: small and medium. This model can be found in several color combinations. The decision was difficult, but I decided on a white Snakebag with black details.
Another interesting model in the DAMIAAN collection is the Bootbag, which is made in Italy, bringing together two separate crafts: boots and bag making. Exceptional skills are required in making this sophisticated handbag model, where one craftsman works hand in hand with another to make the bag look its best. The Bootbag will have you wandering around impervious to all the elements, and its leather sole will withstand even the occasional puddle or two you encounter. Stranded or carried by your hand in the air, the Bootbag isn’t afraid to bare its sole. This bag model is made in one size and there are several price variations.
If you want to stay updated and find out what new products DAMIAAN has prepared for us this fashion season, follow this unusual Belgian brand of luxury leather goods on Facebook and Instagram.
OUTFIT
Blazer: IKKS
Necklace: Bvlgari
Earrings: Cartier
Bag: DAMIAAN
Brooch: Max Mara
Trousers: Loro Piana
Shoes: Jimmy Choo via MYTHERESA
The second brand that I want to introduce you to today comes to us from France and I am sure that many of you have at least one of their creations in your wardrobe – IKKS.
IKKS is a French ready-to-wear brand founded in 1987 by Gérard Le Goff in La Seguiniere. The brand was part of the Kidiliz Group for several years before being sold to the White Knight LBO France fund in July 2015. It is one of the first French players in the ready-to-wear medium and high-end range with wide distribution.
How did the IKKS brand get its name? Gérard Le Goff originally wanted to call his mark “X”. As this name was transferred to clothing originally intended for children, the designer chose the name IKKS, which is actually pronounced “X”.
IKKS is undertaking a sincere process of transformation, a comprehensive transformation, which will be applied to every aspect of the company, retaining the strength anchored in their DNA and improving the weaknesses that are observed today. They engage in a resilience approach because IKKS Group management believes that everyone has their share of responsibility. Sometimes it is also difficult because you have to be able to make firm decisions even if their implementation is not easy. But it’s never too late to question yourself and try to do things right. One of their key initiatives is the decision to stop using one of the biggest scourges in the textile industry: virgin polyester.
A transformation has begun to achieve this ambitious goal by 2025. The IKKS teams are sure that it will be difficult, but they are also sure that this decision will have a big impact on their company and that they will have to make certain compromises, but they feel that it is their moral duty and responsibility to show everyone that it is possible. IKKS wants to change without leaving their DNA, without claiming to be something they really aren’t. Making choices means doing nothing more, and that’s something the IKKS team won’t hesitate to do in the coming months and years.
The responsibility of IKKS concerns the entire ecosystem which consists of: People, the core of their business. That is why IKKS works hand in hand with its partners, suppliers and employees. Traceability, a major issue today, to secure their processes and control their supply chains to guarantee product quality. Their materials are becoming more and more ethical. Their skills, expertise and their integrated operational excellence, especially through their partners. IKKS has obligations for the land, the sea and the environment as a whole, to do something sincere and lasting for the planet.
Their “IKKS works better” program is focused on five priorities: Reduce carbon emissions, Develop more ethical materials to reduce their impact on the environment; Guaranteeing social standards throughout the IKKS supply chain; all information about IKKS products is transparent and available to everyone and the reduction of plastic.
What sets IKKS apart from other brands on the market is the excellence of the unique skills that form the heart of the “IKKS works better” approach. Seamstresses, pattern makers, design office, style studio, quality control, CSR teams: IKKS has all the expertise in conceiving and designing the collections in-house in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges and Paris. It’s local expertise, highlighted every day by a team of passionate people.
As quality goes with things that last, the IKKS teams are dedicated to the task of guaranteeing that customers around the world have desirable and durable products. A team of 22 people based in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges is fully dedicated to prototyping IKKS models, developing more than 2,500 prototypes per year. This phase, which is very important in the creation of IKKS collections, guarantees the quality of the clothes and that they fit well.
Every outfit looks more interesting and chic with the Poppy Red Double-Breasted Blazer. This blazer has a modern cut with two side pockets with flaps, long sleeves. This blazer features an exclusive IKKS jacquard lining with skull motifs. The blazer has a double breasted, button fastening and a straight fit.
If you want to stay updated and find out what all the novelties IKKS has to offer us this fashion season, follow this French fashion house on Facebook and Instagram.
Loro Piana is an Italian company specialised in clothing and textile products. This fashion house is considered the largest producer of cashmere and also the world’s largest artisanal company processing the luxury fiber.
The Loro Piana company has three divisions (textile divisions): a division that deals with the production of high-quality materials using precious fibers such as cashmere and baby cashmere, vicuna, linen and merino wool, a division that deals with the creation of luxury fashion items (production and distribution of men’s, women’s clothing, footwear and fashion accessories) and the interior design department – production and distribution of interior design products.
In today’s post you have the opportunity to see an interesting piece from the latest women’s Loro Piana Spring – Summer 2024 collection, which is just a small part of my favorites this season because of its distinctive elegance and my love for bright colors. The white colored trousers are perfect for all occasions and extremely easy to match with other colors, they are made of silk.
If you want to stay updated and find out which pieces the Loro Piana fashion house has to offer us this fashion season, visit their official online store and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Regarding the story about the jewelry, I got the necklace from my husband as a gift for our 30th wedding anniversary, I remember that we all went to the capital of Italy – Rome as a family to celebrate our wedding anniversary with our children. On the first day while walking around the main street for shopping, I spotted this necklace and told my daughter how beautiful and unusual it was, then we continued our walk. The daughter conveyed my findings to her father and they made a plan to buy the necklace. I was shocked and positively surprised when I saw the Bvlgari shopping bag at dinner the next day when we were celebrating our wedding anniversary and as I needed time to compose myself, Marko unwrapped the box and put the necklace around my neck. I wore this necklace several times during the celebration of important events in our family and today I am sharing this memory with you.
On the other hand, I bought the Cartier earrings when I went on a press media trip with Marko to Qatar last year and I couldn’t resist them. These are my go-to iconic earrings for all time, unique and will be trendy this season as well as seasons to come.
I got the brooch as a gift from my dear friends from the fashion house Max Mara and I think it is now on sale, Marko just told me that he saw it in Berlin a few days ago, so he told me the interesting thing is that it is on a seasonal discount.
I believe many of you have heard about MYTHERESA shopping platform on Mr.M blog, but I would like to introduce you to this electronic fashion paradise. MYTHERESA is one of the leading global luxury e-commerce platforms operating in over 130 countries. Founded as a boutique in 1987, MYTHERESA launched online in 2006 and offers ready-to-wear, shoes, bags and accessories for women, men and children, as well as lifestyle products.
The MYTHERESA online store was founded in 2006 by Susanne and Christoph Botschen and is connected to the multi-brand store in Munich (formerly the THERESA store). In 2014, the THERESA store and mytheresa.com were acquired by the American luxury retailer Neiman Marcus for €150 million, giving Neiman Marcus greater access to international customers and strengthening their e-commerce technology.
During Neiman Marcus’ bankruptcy in 2020, the company began the process of spinning off Mytheresa as an independent entity. In January 2019, Mytheresa launched a children’s clothing category, and in January 2020, Mytheresa Men was launched. In May 2022, a new homeware and lifestyle category followed. In 2022, Mytheresa expanded its luxury offering to include home decor and lifestyle products.
The novelty they presented this year is the launch of certified second-hand watches from over 25 luxury brands, such as Audemars Piguet and Cartier, in cooperation with the Swiss jewelry and watch company Bucherer. As a global retailer, Mytheresa operates in 8 languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Korean.
In today’s post, you will see a fashion piece from one of the brands that you can find on the MYTHERESA online shopping platform – Jimmy Choo.
These Jimmy Choo flats are crafted from the finest suede leather with beautiful floral buckles encrusted with Swarovski crystals. The shoes are extremely comfortable for long walks and very practical and easy to match with other colors. I wanted to emphasize the note of elegance of today’s outfit with these black Jimmy Choo flats and I think I succeeded in fulfilling my mission.
I hope you enjoyed my fashion story today. Soon I will show you other summer outfits that can serve as inspiration for this fashion season. See you in a few days at the same place, with some new interesting story. I will try not to take long breaks and I hope you understand the reason for my unexpected absence, but there will be time to catch up and I am sure I will meet your expectations.
Special note: All my photos from today’s post have been specially edited to meet the expectations of blog partners, as well as the readers themselves while respecting the aesthetics and guidelines of fashion photography. Unfortunately, the face and neck lifting operations did not go well and due to the negligence of the medical team from Egypt, I suffered serious aesthetic and health consequences. In agreement with my legal team, I wrote a post with all the details that can be found on this LINK.
Best Regards,
Rose
This post is sponsored by DAMIAAN, IKKS, Max Mara and Loro Piana brands as well as Jimmy Choo brand in collaboration with MYTHERESA luxury ecommerce platform. This post is my personal and honest review of their products.
Frau. Rose, du siehst wunderschön aus, bei dir ist die Zeit stehen geblieben und ich kann einfach nicht glauben, dass jemand im Alter von 65 Jahren so gut aussehen kann! Ich weiß, dass dies teilweise auf den Erfolg des Fotografen und eine gute Fotobearbeitung zurückzuführen ist, aber es gibt eine große Veränderung in Ihrem Aussehen. Es tut mir leid für alles, was du in Ägypten durchgemacht hast, aber ich wusste, dass du eine starke und mutige Frau bist und dass du alles überleben würdest. Die Farbe Rot erfrischt jede Frau und passt perfekt zu Ihnen, genau wie Ihr schöner Name.… Read more »
Ich habe nichts zu sagen, außer dass ich von Ihrem Auftritt und Ihrer wundervollen Modegeschichte begeistert und verzaubert bin. Sie sind eine Frau, von der man viel lernen kann. Abgesehen davon, dass Sie Stil haben und Ihr Leben mit Stil leben, haben Sie auch eine wundervolle Familie. Ich freue mich, dass Sie mit Ihrem Sohn zusammenarbeiten und Ihre Modegeschichten auf dem Mr.M-Blog fortgeführt haben. Sie sind die ideale Hälfte dieses Blogs, weil Sie Frauen ab 50 einen ganz anderen Blickwinkel auf Damenmode zeigen. Ihre Ratschläge und Ihre Geschichten verhelfen älteren Frauen zu neuer Lebenslust, und andererseits zeigen Sie jüngeren Frauen,… Read more »
Die Tasche ist wunderschön, die Form ist ungewöhnlich und ich liebe es, wie sie die Griffe in eine Schlangenform gebracht haben. Die rote Farbe hat dich noch jünger gemacht, ich würde ehrlich sagen, dass du höchstens 40 Jahre alt bist! Ich verfolge Ihren Blog schon seit Jahren und Sie überraschen mich immer wieder mit Ihren Gedanken und der Art und Weise, wie Sie Weisheiten und Lehren aus Ihrer reichen Lebenserfahrung teilen.
You look amazing, I’m really happy for you! You always reminded me of my mom, but now I’m ashamed to say that you look like my mom, when you honestly look younger than me. You are a rare woman who is honest and admits that she regularly and constantly works on herself in every sense. I believe that people now have a clearer idea of who Marko is such a talented and positive person who made the world read his travelogues and fashion stories. I love you both very much and I wish you the best of luck, I look… Read more »
IKKS is a famous French brand that the French love and we are proud of. This red jacket looks great on you and I ordered it! You are such a wonderful and cheerful woman, I don’t usually read a lot of fashion blogs, but I find your stories very interesting because there is a lot of interesting information.
I’m still incredibly shocked at how you look at 65, I’m 48 and I look like I could be your mother. In addition to the red jacket, she would single out a bag and Jimmy Choo flats! I love the Jimmy Choo brand! You are truly my hero and living my dream life as I imagine it.
Dear Rose, you are truly a person that every person, regardless of gender, should look up to and understand that there is only one life. Many people comment that you are a beautiful woman who takes great care of yourself, but it can be seen that you lead a disciplined and organized life. I started following your son’s blog 8 years ago and I thought that he was a person who was considered to be non-existent and not real, but when I met you I realized that he had a perfect life role model.
As for me, I would wear these Jimmy Choo shoes every day. I have never seen more beautiful shoes than these, these roses and Swarovski crystals, just like from a fairy tale.
Dear Rose, the DAMIAAN Snakebag in white with black details is one of the most genuinely original bag designs I have seen in years the idea that the snake’s writhing body forms the handle while holding its own tongue is pure surrealist genius, and learning that the almost invisible seams required exceptional craftsmanship that the artisans perfected through extensive trials makes the piece even more remarkable. I knew nothing about this brand before today and was immediately drawn in by Damian O’Sullivan’s extraordinary career story: graduating from the Royal College of Art and being received by Hermès director Jean-Louis Dumas… Read more »
Liebe Rose, die Geschichte hinter der DAMIAAN-Marke hat mich wirklich fasziniert! Dass Damian O’Sullivan nach seinem Studium am Royal College of Art direkt vom damaligen Hermès-Direktor Jean-Louis Dumas empfangen und gefördert wurde und dann fünfzehn Jahre lang für Hermès und Louis Vuitton arbeitete, bevor er mit seinem ersten echten Herzensprojekt zurückkehrte dem Kreieren außergewöhnlicher Taschen ist eine außergewöhnliche Karrieregeschichte. Ich finde auch den Bootbag-Entwurf faszinierend, weil er zwei völlig verschiedene Handwerke verbindet: den Stiefelherstellungsprozess und die klassische Taschenfertigung. Die poppyrote IKKS-Jacke mit der exklusiven Totenkopf-Jacquard-Innenfutter ist ein sehr mutiges und gleichzeitig sehr charmantes Detail, das man erst beim näheren Hinsehen… Read more »
Chère Rose, je suis absolument enchantée par la découverte de DAMIAAN à travers votre post! La biographie de Christina Zeller est fascinante une femme qui a obtenu un master en journalisme puis est devenue mannequin à 23 ans, a travaillé avec Karl Lagerfeld qui lui a donné ses ailes et sa hardiesse, puis avec Christian Lacroix pour la rigueur de la recherche, avant de contribuer au développement de tous les accessoires de mode de Riccardo Tisci et finalement de passer neuf ans à la tête des départements créatif, marketing et communication de Delvaux. Quel parcours exceptionnel! La phrase qu’elle a… Read more »
Hello Rose, what a spectacular summer look! The poppy red double-breasted IKKS blazer is exactly the kind of statement piece that transforms any outfit and knowing that IKKS was founded in 1987 by Gérard Le Goff in La Seguinière and that the name is actually pronounced “X” because the founder originally wanted to call his brand simply “X” gives it such a playful French personality. I also love the detail about the exclusive IKKS jacquard lining with skull motifs inside the blazer it is that kind of unexpected, slightly subversive interior detail that separates genuinely interesting fashion from purely decorative… Read more »
Cara Rose, il racconto della collana Bvlgari acquistata a Roma in occasione del vostro trentesimo anniversario di matrimonio mi ha commosso davvero! Quella storia tua figlia che riferisce al padre cosa avevi ammirato in vetrina, il piano segreto per comprarla, e poi la sorpresa alla cena di anniversario con il sacchetto Bvlgari sul tavolo è il tipo di ricordo personale che trasforma un oggetto di lusso in qualcosa di molto più prezioso. Conoscevo Bvlgari come grande maison romana con una tradizione orafa straordinaria, ma sentirne il racconto attraverso un momento così intimo di vita familiare dà alla collana un’aura completamente… Read more »
Beste Rose, wat een verfrissende zomerpost! Ik kende IKKS al een beetje van naam als Frans merk, maar wist niet dat het in 1987 door Gérard Le Goff in La Seguinière werd opgericht en dat de naam eigenlijk gewoon “X” uitgesproken wordt wat een grappig en gedurfd concept voor een merknaam. Het idee dat het IKKS-team een team van 22 mensen in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges heeft die jaarlijks meer dan 2.500 prototypes ontwikkelen alleen al voor de prototypingsfase is indrukwekkend en verklaart waarom de pasvorm en kwaliteit van hun kleding zo consistent zijn. De rode poppy blazer met de verborgen jacquard binnenvoering… Read more »
Dear Rose, the backstory of Damian O’Sullivan is genuinely one of the most interesting creative biographies I have read in the context of a fashion blog post. After his Royal College of Art graduation and that immediate connection with Hermès director Jean-Louis Dumas, his career expanded into territory most designers never even approach designing a monumental tower in London for Thames Water, collaborating with artist Anish Kapoor on the water sculpture “Decension,” designing shoes for Asics and Camper, and creating porcelain collections for Royal Delft, Rosenthal and Vista Alegre, all before returning after thirty years to his first love of… Read more »
¡Querida Rose, qué descubrimiento tan fantástico el de DAMIAAN! La historia de Christina Zeller es verdaderamente inspiradora pasar de un máster en periodismo a convertirse en modelo a los 23 años, luego trabajar con Karl Lagerfeld que le dio alas y osadía, con Christian Lacroix para la rigurosidad de la investigación, y con Riccardo Tisci en el desarrollo de todos sus accesorios de moda, para finalmente pasar nueve años al frente del departamento creativo, de marketing y comunicación de Delvaux, es una trayectoria que pocas personas pueden igualar. El Snakebag en blanco con detalles negros es un objeto verdaderamente surrealista… Read more »
Liebe Rose, die Geschichte Ihrer Bvlgari-Halskette, die Sie zum 30. Hochzeitstag von Ihrer Familie in Rom geschenkt bekamen, hat mich wirklich bewegt. Dass Ihre Tochter Ihren Bewunderungsausruf für die Kette im Schaufenster heimlich an Ihren Mann weitergegeben hat und die Familie dann gemeinsam diesen Überraschungsmoment beim Jubiläumsdinner geplant hat das ist der schönste Beweis dafür, dass Luxusschmuck seinen größten Wert nicht im Preis, sondern in den Erinnerungen findet, die er trägt. Ich besitze selbst eine Bvlgari-Armband, die ich von meiner Mutter geerbt habe, und ich verstehe genau dieses Gefühl. Der DAMIAAN Snakebag ist eine wirklich außergewöhnliche Kreation: die Idee, das… Read more »
Dear Rose, I was particularly struck by your description of the Jimmy Choo flats in this post suede leather flats with floral buckles encrusted with Swarovski crystals that are comfortable enough for long walks sounds almost too good to be true, because Jimmy Choo is a brand I associate primarily with high heels and the kind of beauty that sacrifices comfort. I have a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals from a few seasons ago and while they look stunning, they are not what I would call walking shoes, so this flat model sounds like a genuinely wearable luxury option for… Read more »
Bonjour Rose, la marque IKKS m’est très chère car je la porte depuis des années et je suis heureuse de la voir présentée ici avec autant de détails historiques! Je savais que Gérard Le Goff l’avait fondée en 1987 mais je ne connaissais pas toutes les nuances de son programme de transformation durable notamment la décision courageuse d’éliminer le polyester vierge d’ici 2025 et l’initiative “IKKS works better” articulée autour de cinq priorités incluant la réduction des émissions carbone, le développement de matières plus éthiques et la garantie de standards sociaux dans toute leur chaîne d’approvisionnement. Le blazer rouge coquelicot… Read more »
Cara Rose, il post su DAMIAAN è davvero uno dei più originali che abbia letto su un blog di moda! La storia di Damian O’Sullivan che dopo il Royal College of Art fu accolto direttamente dal direttore di Hermès Jean-Louis Dumas, che amò immediatamente i suoi design, è già di per sé straordinaria ma poi scoprire che ha progettato anche una torre monumentale a Londra per Thames Water, ha collaborato con l’artista Anish Kapoor sulla scultura d’acqua “Decension” e ha creato porcellane per Royal Delft, Rosenthal e Vista Alegre rende il personaggio ancora più affascinante. Il fatto che dopo trent’anni… Read more »
Liebe Rose, dieser Beitrag hat mich wirklich begeistert, weil er so viele verschiedene Themen auf einmal berührt die belgische Luxushandtaschenmarke DAMIAAN, die von einer Belgierin und einem Iren gegründet wurde, die französische Mode von IKKS, die italienische Seide von Loro Piana und die Jimmy Choo-Schuhe, die über MYTHERESA erhältlich sind. Ich finde es besonders interessant zu erfahren, dass IKKS ursprünglich als Kindermodemarke begann und der Name “IKKS” einfach die Aussprache des Buchstabens “X” ist, weil Gründer Gérard Le Goff seinen Brand so nennen wollte. Das rote Doppelreiher-Blazer-Modell mit der Totenkopf-Innenfütterung ist eine wundervolle Überraschung für Menschen, die Mode nicht nur… Read more »
Hello Rose, the story of your Cartier earrings bought on a press trip to Qatar with Marko is such a lovely detail there is something very special about jewellery acquired in an unexpected destination during a working trip, because every time you wear it you remember not just the object but the entire experience of that journey. I have a Cartier Love bracelet that I bought in Paris during a solo trip years ago and it carries all those memories of that particular week in a way that nothing else does. The DAMIAAN Bootbag concept is also genuinely fascinating to… Read more »
Chère Rose, j’ai été tellement touchée par l’anecdote de votre collier Bvlgari reçu en cadeau pour votre 30ème anniversaire de mariage à Rome! Cette image de vous admirant la collana dans une vitrine romaine, votre fille transmettant secrètement l’information à votre mari, puis la surprise du sac Bvlgari posé sur la table du dîner d’anniversaire le lendemain c’est un souvenir qui illustre parfaitement pourquoi certains bijoux deviennent bien plus que des accessoires de mode. Je possède moi-même des boucles d’oreilles Cartier achetées il y a des années à Paris et je comprends exactement ce que vous décrivez sur les boucles… Read more »
Rose, what truly moved me in this post is the reflection you share at the beginning that your readers’ messages gave you extra strength to return to blogging after the difficult period following the surgery in Egypt. Writing as a form of healing and self-proof is something many creative people experience but rarely articulate so honestly, and I think this vulnerability is exactly what makes your fashion stories so much more than style content. The DAMIAAN brand story itself is remarkable in its human depth Christina Zeller’s statement that “with DAMIAAN, I have come full circle and I can feel… Read more »
Lieve Rose, wat een rijke zomerpost! De achtergrondverhalen van de twee oprichters van DAMIAAN zijn echt uitzonderlijk aan de ene kant Damian O’Sullivan met zijn diploma van het Royal College of Art, zijn directe entree bij Hermès-directeur Jean-Louis Dumas, zijn samenwerking met kunstenaar Anish Kapoor aan het waterkunstwerk “Decension”, zijn porseleincollecties voor Royal Delft, Rosenthal en Vista Alegre, en vijftien jaar ontwerpen voor Hermès en Louis Vuitton. Aan de andere kant Christina Zeller die journalism studeerde, model werd op haar 23e, met Karl Lagerfeld werkte, de rigueur van Christian Lacroix leerde, alle mode-accessoires van Riccardo Tisci mee ontwikkelde en vervolgens… Read more »
Dear Rose, I want to comment specifically on the IKKS sustainability story because I find it genuinely impressive and unusually honest for a fashion brand. The decision to stop using virgin polyester entirely by 2025, to develop more ethical materials, to guarantee social standards throughout their supply chain and to make all product information fully transparent and available to everyone these are very specific commitments, not vague green-washing promises. What particularly strikes me is their acknowledgement that “it will be difficult” and that they will have to make certain compromises, but that they see it as their moral duty to… Read more »
¡Hola Rose! Este post me ha parecido uno de los más originales que has publicado en mucho tiempo, precisamente porque DAMIAAN es un nombre que no había escuchado nunca antes y la historia detrás de sus creadores es absolutamente fascinante. Que el Snakebag esté fabricado en Francia y el Bootbag en Italia cada uno aprovechando la excelencia artesanal específica de su país de producción es una decisión muy consciente y sofisticada para una marca fundada apenas en 2022. Las costuras casi invisibles del Snakebag que requieren una artesanía excepcional que los artesanos perfeccionaron a través de numerosas pruebas y errores… Read more »
Liebe Rose, ich war wirklich beeindruckt von der Nachhaltigkeitsvision von IKKS, die Sie in diesem Beitrag so detailliert beschreiben. Der Entscheid, bis 2025 vollständig auf Jungfasern aus Polyester zu verzichten, und das “IKKS works better”-Programm mit seinen fünf Kernprioritäten Reduzierung von CO₂-Emissionen, Entwicklung ethischerer Materialien, Sicherstellung sozialer Standards in der gesamten Lieferkette, vollständige Produkttransparenz und Reduzierung von Kunststoffen ist das ambitionierteste Nachhaltigkeitsprogramm, das ich in letzter Zeit von einer Mode-Mittelklasse-Marke gelesen habe. Als jemand, die sehr auf die Herkunft und Herstellung ihrer Kleidung achtet, finde ich es erfrischend ehrlich, dass IKKS offen sagt, dass Veränderungen schwierig sein werden und Kompromisse… Read more »
Rose, the pairing of the DAMIAAN white Snakebag with the Max Mara brooch gifted to you by the Max Mara team is such a thoughtful combination the delicate white and the clean lines of both pieces create a visual harmony that feels very considered without being overly coordinated. The story that Marko spotted the brooch on seasonal discount in Berlin shortly after you received it as a gift is a wonderfully domestic and human detail in the middle of this very glamorous fashion story. I am also genuinely taken with the concept of the Bootbag the idea that the leather… Read more »
Cara Rose, ho molto apprezzato il dettaglio che racconti sugli orecchini Cartier acquistati durante il press trip in Qatar con Marko c’è qualcosa di molto speciale nell’acquistare un gioiello in un posto inaspettato durante un viaggio di lavoro, perché poi ogni volta che lo indossi rivivi non solo la bellezza dell’oggetto ma tutta l’atmosfera di quella destinazione. Anch’io ho degli orecchini Bvlgari comprati in Italia che associo completamente al posto e al momento in cui li ho trovati. Il fatto che la blazer IKKS abbia un esclusivo forro jacquard interno con motivi di teschi un dettaglio che non è visibile… Read more »
Bonjour Rose, le post sur DAMIAAN m’a immédiatement séduite par la richesse des trajectoires professionnelles de ses deux fondateurs. Ce qui me frappe particulièrement dans le parcours de Damian O’Sullivan est la diversité extraordinaire de ses projets en dehors de la mode pure concevoir une tour monumentale pour Thames Water à Londres, aider l’artiste Anish Kapoor à construire sa sculpture d’eau épique “Decension”, créer des collections de porcelaine pour Royal Delft, Rosenthal et Vista Alegre tout cela en parallèle de quinze années consacrées à Hermès et Louis Vuitton pour concevoir arts de la table, maroquinerie et accessoires de maison. Cette… Read more »
Beste Rose, de blazer van IKKS in poppy rood is werkelijk een oogstrelende keuze voor een zomeroutfit en je draagt hem prachtig! Wat mij opviel in dit artikel is de anekdote over hoe de naam IKKS eigenlijk gewoon de uitspraak is van de letter “X” oprichter Gérard Le Goff wilde zijn merk oorspronkelijk gewoon “X” noemen maar omdat de naam al was overgedragen aan kinderkleding koos hij deze fonetische spelling. Die combinatie van eenvoud en speelsheid in de naamgeving weerspiegelt eigenlijk precies de manier waarop IKKS als merk werkt: opvallend maar niet overdreven, Frans maar universeel. De Jimmy Choo flats… Read more »
Rose, what a vibrant and surprising summer story! The detail that the IKKS poppy red double-breasted blazer features an exclusive jacquard lining with skull motifs designed in-house is the kind of insider fashion knowledge that makes you look at a garment completely differently from the outside it reads as a classic, bold French blazer, but inside it carries this subversive, almost rock-and-roll spirit that tells you everything about the IKKS brand personality. I have one piece from IKKS a printed blouse I bought in Paris about four years ago and I was immediately struck by how thoroughly French it felt… Read more »
Cara Rose, ho letto più volte questo articolo perché ogni volta trovo un dettaglio nuovo da apprezzare! La storia di Christina Zeller mi ha colpita in modo particolare: una donna che studia giornalismo, diventa modella a 23 anni quasi per caso, poi lavora con Karl Lagerfeld che le regala audacia e fantasia, con Christian Lacroix per la rigore della ricerca che non si accontenta mai del secondo meglio, e con Riccardo Tisci per lo sviluppo di tutti i suoi accessori di moda, per poi trascorrere nove anni alla guida della direzione creativa, marketing e comunicazione di Delvaux uno dei marchi… Read more »
Chère Rose, je suis vraiment touchée par le détail de la broche Max Mara offerte en cadeau par vos amis de la maison ces petits gestes de générosité entre marques et leurs ambassadeurs de confiance sont si rares et si beaux quand ils se produisent. Et la petite parenthèse que vous ajoutez que Marko a vu la même broche en solde à Berlin quelques jours plus tard et vous l’a dit est vraiment l’un de ces détails quotidiens et humains qui donnent vie à vos récits de mode au-delà du simple catalogue de vêtements. Le sac Snakebag de DAMIAAN en… Read more »
Dear Rose, the story of IKKS’s commitment to stopping the use of virgin polyester by 2025 and their broader “IKKS works better” transformation programme resonates so much with the kind of fashion values I try to apply when making purchasing decisions. What particularly stands out is their honest acknowledgement that the transformation “will be difficult” and will require making “firm decisions even if their implementation is not easy” that transparency is so much more credible than the breathless sustainability claims most brands make. The fact that their prototyping team of 22 people in Saint-Macaire-en-Mauges develops more than 2,500 prototypes per… Read more »
Liebe Rose, dieser Beitrag hat mich auf sehr unerwartete Art und Weise berührt durch die Geschichte der belgischen Marke DAMIAAN, deren Co-Gründerin Christina Zeller neun Jahre lang bei Delvaux gearbeitet hat. Ich bin ein großer Fan von Delvaux als einer der ältesten Luxus-Lederwaren-Marken der Welt, und zu wissen, dass eine der kreativen Köpfe hinter DAMIAAN so tief in der Delvaux-DNA verwurzelt ist, gibt der neuen Marke für mich sofort eine Art historische Legitimität. Der Snakebag in Weiß mit schwarzen Details ist tatsächlich surrealistisch in seiner Konzeption die fast unsichtbaren Nähte, die die Illusion einer echten Schlange erzeugen sollen, erfordern eine… Read more »
Hola Rose, ¡qué look tan refrescante y lleno de personalidad para el verano! El contraste entre el rojo intenso del blazer IKKS de doble botonadura y el blanco puro de los pantalones de seda Loro Piana es exactamente el tipo de combinación cromática atrevida que muy poca gente se atreve a llevar pero que cuando funciona lo hace de manera absolutamente espectacular. Me ha encantado descubrir el detalle del forro interior del blazer IKKS con los motivos de calaveras en jacquard exclusivo es ese tipo de sorpresa que convierte una prenda en una conversación, porque solo quien conoce el secreto… Read more »
Beste Rose, ik wil even speciaal ingaan op de Jimmy Choo flats die je in dit artikel draagt! Jimmy Choo is een merk dat ik altijd primair associeerde met hoge hakken de oprichter Jimmy Choo begon als schoenmaker in Londen en het merk groeide uit tot een van de meest iconische namen in luxe damesschoeisel mede door zijn populariteit bij Prinses Diana. De combinatie van platte schoenen in suède leer met een bloemengesp bezet met Swarovski-kristallen klinkt als de perfecte zomerbalans tussen elegantie en draaggemak. Ik heb zelf een paar Jimmy Choo sandalen met vergelijkbare kristaldetails en kan bevestigen dat… Read more »
Hello Rose, I have been thinking about the concept behind the DAMIAAN Bootbag ever since I read this post because it is such a genuinely unusual idea a bag that incorporates the craft of bootmaking, complete with a leather sole that can withstand puddles and allows the bag to be placed on the ground without damage. The image of a bag “stranded or carried by your hand in the air, not afraid to bare its sole” is such confident, witty product language that it made me smile. The decision to produce the Bootbag specifically in Italy where both boot-making and… Read more »
¡Querida Rose, qué historia tan bonita la del collar Bvlgari! Que tu hija conspirara secretamente con tu marido para comprarte el collar que admiraste en el escaparate de una tienda en Roma durante la celebración de vuestro 30 aniversario de boda es un relato que convierte una joya en un tesoro de vida completamente distinto a su valor material. Conozco bien la Via Condotti en Roma donde están las grandes maisons de joyería como Bvlgari, y me imagino perfectamente esa caminata familiar por las tiendas y ese momento de paro frente al escaparate. El DAMIAAN Snakebag en blanco con detalles… Read more »
Liebe Rose, dieser Beitrag ist so voller faszinierender Hintergrundinformationen, dass ich ihn zweimal lesen musste. Die Karriere von Damian O’Sullivan ist wirklich außergewöhnlich in ihrer Breite: von seinem Abschluss am Royal College of Art bis zu Jean-Louis Dumas’ unmittelbarer Begeisterung für seine Entwürfe bei Hermès, dann die Zusammenarbeit mit Anish Kapoor an der Wasserskulptur “Decension”, die Porzellanserien für Royal Delft, Rosenthal und Vista Alegre und fünfzehn Jahre als Gestalter für Hermès und Louis Vuitton. Zu wissen, dass hinter diesem sehr jungen belgischen Luxuslabel DAMIAAN eine solche Tiefe an Erfahrung und künstlerischer Vernetzung steht, gibt dem Snakebag in Weiß mit schwarzen… Read more »
Rose, this post has introduced me to three brands I will definitely be exploring further DAMIAAN, IKKS and a deeper appreciation of Jimmy Choo beyond their iconic heels. The story of how the DAMIAAN brand was born in 2022 from the meeting of Christina Zeller’s background in modelling, luxury fashion at the highest levels (Lagerfeld, Lacroix, Tisci, nine years at Delvaux) and Damian O’Sullivan’s cross-disciplinary career spanning Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Anish Kapoor collaborations and porcelain design for Royal Delft and Rosenthal is truly one of the richest founding narratives I have encountered in contemporary luxury accessories. The white Snakebag with… Read more »