For visitors of the V&A, the exhibition outlines Maison Schiaparelli’s history, starting with its first fashion pieces and continuing to its current form under creative director Daniel Roseberry. 

Above photo: Ariana Grande’s 2025 Oscars ball gown on display at the V&A. Photo: David Parry/PA Media Assignments.

Related story: Bold Sunglasses for Spring 2026

The exhibition showcases recent research by art and fashion curators, highlighting Elsa Schiaparelli as a pioneering figure in fashion, art, and performance across Paris, London, and New York between the two wars. 

It highlights her entrepreneurial history and her celebrated yet rarely seen creations. The exhibition is the first to showcase the London branch of Schiaparelli, its independent clientele, and the founder’s involvement.

Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art comprises more than 400 objects, including 100 ensembles and 50 artworks, along with accessories, jewellery, paintings, photographs, furniture, perfumes, and archival material. 

Highlights on display include the 1938 Skeleton dress, the only known surviving example (part of the V&A’s permanent collection), the 1938 Tears Dress, and a hat resembling an upside-down shoe, all conceived in collaboration with artist Salvador Dalí. 

Artworks by Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Man Ray, and Eileen Agar are also on display, along with several of Schiaparelli’s designs for film and theatre. 

Daniel Roseberry’s spectacular creations—including looks worn by Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa—bring the exhibition to a dramatic close.

Schiaparelli’s couture house revolutionized style standards and redefined modern beauty. Today, from its original location at 21 Place Vendôme in Paris, creative director Daniel Roseberry guides the renowned Maison into a new era, producing a body of work that influences and inspires fashion culture worldwide.

Don’t miss the fabulous V&A’s Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art exhibition, running from March 28 to November 8, 2026! It’s a wonderful opportunity to visit London and experience fashion as art.

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Born in Uganda, Jose embodies a unique blend of cultural heritage and contemporary design that challenges today’s throw-away culture. Her commitment to sustainability is evident in every piece she creates, showcasing a new approach prioritizing ethical values and environmental responsibility.

Related story – Eco Fashion Week Australia values diversity among models

Her recent collection, presented at Eco Fashion Week Australia in Perth and Busselton last November, was visually stunning and one of the most unique runway shows during the month-long event. Australian models showcased their fashions in various looks, proving that eco-fashion is anything but boring.

Jose Hendo’s use of barkcloth

Jose Hendo’s designs prominently feature barkcloth, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage material in 2005. Barkcloth is regarded as the oldest cloth created by humans. In Uganda, trees from the family of Moraceae regenerate new bark cloth that can be harvested annually for up to 50 years.

As a fashion designer, she incorporates a range of eco-friendly fabrics, such as organic cotton, silk, hemp, and bamboo, and top-of-the-line materials like linen, wool, and denim. Each creation is not just a garment; it’s a one-of-a-kind piece that promotes the use of organic materials while telling a story about mindful consumption.

By utilizing upcycled textiles and sustainable practices, Jose Hendo crafts stunning eco-fashion pieces and encourages consumers to rethink their choices. In an industry often criticized for its environmental impact, her work stands as a beacon of hope for those seeking stylish yet responsible fashion options. 

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There are no surprises on the list, but luxury travellers’ travel preferences and perceptions have evolved.

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Luxury travel is about creating unique and unforgettable experiences during a vacation.

After months of lockdown, Gen Z and Millennials intend to holiday close to home this year. For those seeking luxury, it’s about high-quality experiences with loved ones, even if it means travelling far.

Luxury travellers now prefer slow travel and extended vacations that combine work and leisure. Many people travel with their laptops to work remotely.

By choosing to travel more slowly, individuals can immerse themselves more deeply in local cultures and engage in more experiences that allow them to explore and truly appreciate their destination. They seek unconventional vacation experiences beyond typical resorts.

We are now seeing a significant demand for wellness travel and immersive retreats. Travellers are ensuring that their vacation plans include time for well-being and that they care for themselves.

Virtuoso, a global network of luxury travel advisors, surveyed its clients and found that five European countries are the top destinations for luxury travel. These countries are Italy, Greece, France, England, and Spain. 

Paris was ranked the top luxury travel city, followed by Rome, Barcelona, Florence, and London.

Italy took the top spot with families, followed by Hawaii, Costa Rica, France, and the United States.

As for honeymoon destinations, Italy was first, followed by Greece, Bali, French Polynesia, and Maldives.

Luxury travellers’ book during the shoulder season to avoid crowds and seek exclusivity and privacy.

In the coming weeks, I will share more luxury travel news on the less-known destinations.

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Dame Mary was one of the most noteworthy fashion designers of the 20^th Century and is held in the same admiration as Dior and Chanel.

Her thigh-skimming super-short hemlines was a world-wide fashion phenomenon which stretched across from London, New York to Tokyo, and which we have not seen since in modern day fashion history.

In 1955 she opened a small boutique Bazaar which sold clothes and accessories and soon became a hot spot for young people and artists. Located in London’s Chelsea district, it soon attracted celebrities such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn.

Some say she freed women’s legs as it also was a time when young women no longer wanted to dress like their mothers and with more young women working, they had money to spend for themselves.

Related story: Four Seasons Hotel Houston offers complimentary handbags

It has been reported that she used a 12-inch ruler for her early miniskirt lengths and said it was a “feeling of freedom and liberation.” As her miniskirt designs allowed young women to move, jump and just have fun.

As a fashion designer, she introduced us to polka dots, geometric designs, and contrasting colours and new fabrics such as PVC, and stretch textiles for a modern and playful vibe.

She showcased her designs with models in provocative window displays overlooking Kings Road which became a live runway show that drew thousands of young British women and became the source of images for international audiences such as American TIME magazine.

In her 1966 Book Quant by Quant, she recalled that city gents in bowler hats beat on her windows with their umbrella while shouting ‘immoral’ and ‘disgusting’ at the look of tights over miniskirts. Even Coco Chanel dismissed the mini skirt as ‘just awful’ as exposed knees was un-lady like.

Dame Mary Quant fashion legend took her designs from the catwalk to the street with stylish, fun and affordable clothes. She challenged the European designer establishment by creating a liberating fashion trend for women across the globe.

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After a hiatus from the runway, the mini skirt made a strong showing for spring/summer 2019. Prada offered ultra-short tennis skirts paired with oversized cardigans. Versace presented preppy inspired skirts with knitwear and smart blazers and Burberry gave us colourful thigh-skimming cow prints.

The return of the mini skirt trend to the catwalks of London and Milan comes at a time when the iconic item is being recognized more broadly for its influence on style and culture. A V&A exhibition, which opened last month in London, celebrates the life and work of Welsh designer Mary Quant who popularized colourful tights, tailored trousers and, of course, the mini skirt.

Mary Quant challenged convention by inspiring women to rebel against the traditional dress worn by their mothers and grandmothers. She ignited a global fashion trend that stretched from America to Asia and beyond. The V&A exhibition, which spans her career, begins with a scene of post-war London which saw the opening of Quant’s experimental shop Bazaar in 1955. Situated on Chelsea’s King’s Road, it was here that she began her career as a fashion designer.

In 1966, Quant began working with fabrics to create 10-inch pleated mini skirts. Worn with flat Mary Janes, zip-up knee-high boots and bright coloured tights, this scandalous short skirt was named after her favourite car, the Mini Cooper. 

Beginning in the 1950s, skirt lengths had gradually become shorter but Quant’s mini skirts sparked outrage from such illustrious figures as Winston Churchill. Coco Chanel described the mini skirt as “just awful”.

In contrast to the disgust felt my many, Quant described the mini skirt as liberating. “The short skirt,” she said in a recent interview with the BBC,  “was so you could move, run and dance.” It was dance that gave Quant the inspiration for the mini skirt, which she followed with designs for hot pants, slip dress and PVC raincoats.

All London teenagers in the late 60’s wore mini skirts along with bright colour tights. Those who didn’t just looked out of place. The trend then began to capture the imagination of young people around the world. I can still remember the day my father took me with him to the bank as a young lad and seeing every woman inside wearing a mini skirt.

Mary Quant’s success with the mini skirt overturned the dominance of luxury couture from Paris. She dressed liberated women and made designer fashion affordable for the working class while transforming the fashion landscape with youthful, revolutionary clothes, inspired by London’s creative scene. It could be said that Quant made making street style the global influence it is today.

Along with The Beatles and the Apollo moon landing, the mini skirt trend represents a keystone cultural moment of the last century. It’s popularity may wax and wane. Hemlines may rise and fell. But, while it may go in and out of fashion, the mini skirt is without a doubt an icon of the 60’s that stills endures today.

Mary Quant Exhibition at the V&A London until February 16, 2020.

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In front of the main entrance, brightly blazing white lights spelled out the signature “VFW”. To hordes of fashionistas, influencers and others ‘in the know’, this signified that local and international designers had descended on the city to showcase their talent over seven fabulous days.

Bright Lights & White Tents

The large white tents, which created the perfect backdrop for the fashion collections, provided a unique energy and excitement to the local community and we hope that this will be VFW’s new home.

Vancouver Fashion Week Spring Summer 2019 Collections

Monday evening was Vancouver Fashion Week’s Opening Gala which featured single ensembles by over 20 designers as well as two designer collections. Phuong My’s stylish collection of women’s evening wear kicked off VFW’s first year at its new location.

Phuong My

Vietnamese-born My, a graduate of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, launched her label in 2013, catering to stylish Asian women, including many celebrities.

Her collection at VFW featured luxury materials and shaped gowns of the sort that would be found on the red carpet in Asia and the Middle East.

Having exhibited her designs in New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Singapore, Perth and Dubai, she now has 30 retail locations in 20 countries stretching from France and Italy to Dubai and Southeast Asia. With her international credentials and global reach, this up-and-coming style superstar was just the right designer to launch Vancouver Fashion Week’s new downtown location.

Above Photos: Phuong My | Simon Lau

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Like many fashion trends, rose gold first appeared on the European runways. In 2012, designers like Roberto Cavalli and Jimmy Choo offered rose gold pieces which have evolved into the metallic looks that we all see today.

Pop culture also played a significant part in this color phenomenon. The release of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2014, with its luxurious pink interiors, captivated audiences worldwide and reinforced the burgeoning trend.

Next was the introduction of the Apple iPhone 6S in September of 2015 which came in four metallic hues. The rose gold version exploded on the mass market. Millennials everywhere wanted a rose gold phone and 40% of pre-sales were for the rose gold model. As a result of its apparent popularity, in 2016 the color became the Pantone Color of the Year under the signature name of Rose Quartz. Today, you can still purchase a rose gold iPhone 7 at the Apple store.

Millennials of both genders have been in love with this unique pink shade – also referred to as Millennial Pink. A truly gender-neutral colour, actresses in all pink gowns and actors in head-to-toe pink suits are now part of the red-carpet scene in Hollywood.

Instagram feeds are a testament to the ubiquity of rose gold. The color can be found everywhere on the popular app, from posts on beauty, fashion and jewelry to images featuring home décor, wedding cakes and bridal couture.

Though the Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is lilac, my European luxury fashion designer colleagues tell me that rose gold continues to be their number one seller especially for jewelry and accessories. In Europe, consumer researchers report that women perceive rose gold as feminine and elegant with a superior value. In Italy, rose gold kitchens are now all the rage.

Walking the fashionable streets of London, Paris and Milan this summer, you will inevitably find rose gold on the well-dressed set. From the runways of Europe to the Instagram feeds of celebrities and influencers, rose gold is still the color to beat. We haven’t tired of it yet. On the contrary, we can’t seem to get enough.

Now, where is my Swiss watch?

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Like the New Year, spring is a time of rebirth and renewal and, in the world of high fashion, the return to captivating glamour is the revival we’ve been waiting for. As one of the top fashion trends for spring 2018, this polished elegant look will resonate with both the new and the old money crowd.

Fashion designers no longer market trends. As consumers now desire clothes that reflect their personal style, designers tend to offer up various looks from which their customers can choose. However, there are some dominant themes running through the Spring 2018 collections. Though they are by no means homogenous, the runways of New York, London, Paris and Milan do give us a sense of direction this spring.

Starting last fall, several fashion designers began eschewing expensive casual attire such as sneakers and sweat suits, offering chic elegant pieces instead. This spring, the trend continued and it seems the fashion pendulum is swinging back to a more polished wardrobe.

In my book, glamour never truly went out of style. But there are several looks from the spring runway collections that point to women dressing up – rather than dressing down – to feel fabulous as we enter spring 2018.

Top Spring Fashion Trends 2018

Disco 2.0

For those who miss the psychedelic haze of the sex-driven club scene of the 70’s and the strobe-lit crystal balls spinning to the soundtrack of Saturday Night Fever, you’ll be pleased to know that disco is back. Mini dresses and catsuits covered with sequins were all the rage with Spanish designer Paco Rabanne. Inspired by the Paris club scene, the Rabane look is perfect for partying and dancing all night long in style.

Busting Out

Some call it the Kardashian effect. Designers continue to present plunging necklines, including sexy waist deep v-necks and low cut square necks, for women of all sizes. New to the mix this spring is the bustier which Alexander McQueen’s collection offered with decorative colored stitching, ruffles and feathers. Still revealing, while celebrating the sensuality of the female form, the bustier provides sex appeal to those who perhaps aren’t quite ready to try a bodycon dress with a deep v-neck.

Glamorous Sheer

When it comes to long skirts, make it sheer. Using tulle and net, Christian Dior and Dries van Noten made transparent, light and airy dressing the dramatic look of the season. Multi-layered or worn waist high, this revealing fabric ensures a glamorous entrance to your next party.

Stylewise, it’s time to break out your heels and dress up! The casual attire of seasons past has undergone a metamorphosis and now awe-inspiring glamour and glitter is what spring fashion is all about.

Above photo: Anna Bella

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The goal of EFWA is to collaborate with fashion designers, artists, the media, industry and government to raise awareness about environmentally conscious fashion. This weeklong event will showcase 44 local and international fashion designers and will include two unique curated shows plus performances by three talented local musicians.

Here are some of the designers I will be watching out for at EFWA.

Elle Evans – Australia

Elle Evans is all about sustainable swim, beach and activewear. Made from 100% recycled fabrics, her garments allow you to be fashionable without negatively impacting the environment. Her mission is to make you look good on the beach, by the pool or at the gym while minimizing your ecological footprint as much as possible.

Selçuki & Ali – Turkey

Selçuki & Ali transforms traditional fibers into unique and wholly- handcrafted fashion and lifestyle products through innovative production methods. Expect timeless, elegant pieces made from natural fibres from this dynamic duo.

John Ablaza – Philippines

John Ablaza is a Manila-based international eco fashion designer who is known for his use of sustainable local materials in his designs. His awe-inspiring collections have graced the runways of Hong Kong, Singapore, London, Bahrain, Sydney and Toronto.

UpCycling Challenge by Marilyn R Wilson, International

The EFWA Upcycling Challenge by Marilyn R. Wilson will feature the works of 21 fashion designers from 12 countries. The designers are challenged to create one runway look from used men’s dress shirts, showcasing their personal perspective on fashion. Though the sky’s the limit in terms of concept, they are required to incorporate at least one detail from the original garment rather than simply using the skirts as fabric.

Eco Fashion Week Australia

November 23 – 27, 2017

Perth, Australia

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The exhibition takes visitors through Saint Laurent’s legendary career and reveals both his artistic genius and his creative process as an haute couture designer. On display at SAM is an exemplary collection of 110 ensembles, many of which have never been shown in public before, showcasing the tremendous achievements of his 44-years in the fashion industry.

As he singlehandedly reinvented the wardrobe of the modern women during the 60’s, Saint Laurent’s importance to the fashion world cannot be understated. By introducing the female cuts of wardrobe staples such as the pea jacket, the tuxedo, the pantsuit, and the safari jacket, he changed the way women dressed and Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style is a testament to this.

Fashions fade, style is eternal

Saint Laurent was born in 1936 in Oran, Algeria and grew up in a villa by the Mediterranean with two younger sisters. From a young age, he liked to create intricate paper dolls and by his early teens he was designing dresses for his mother and sisters. As you first enter the exhibition hall, you will learn about his Paper Doll Couture House, an interactive display which allows you to place colorful dresses over a paper doll.

Saint Laurent studied at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris before he began his fashion career at Christian Dior. Ensembles early in the exhibition focus on Saint Laurent’s formative years when, at age 21, where he was named artistic director for the renowned house after the sudden death of Christian Dior in 1957. Working at the pinnacle of French luxury fashion, his successful 1958 Spring – Summer debut collection for Dior includes his magnificent Eléphant Blanc evening dress made from silk and covered with gold metallic thread embroidery which is a must see piece of this exhibition.

Visitors will learn how Saint Laurent was inspired by art. On display is one of his most famous dresses which features square blocks of primary colors’  red, yellow and blue encompassed by black lines and pays homage to Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. Saint Laurent was influenced by all forms of art and culture from the bright colors and stark lines of pop art to the traditional materials used in African arts and crafts. A raffia coat with a silk dress embroidered with tiny wooden beads is a prime example of the latter source of inspiration.

Dressing is a way of life

In 1962, Saint Laurent launched his own couture house with Pierre Bergé, his lifelong partner both in business and in life. In 1966, they opened the first ready-to-wear designer boutique in London which introduced designer fashions to the masses. He became know as the Beatnik Couturier, drawing inspiration from street life and pop culture and proudly proclaiming, “you no longer need to be rich to have style.”

As fascinating as any of the dresses, and included throughout the exhibition, are the original collection boards from 1962 – 2002 with sketches of and swatches from each outfit of every Saint Laurent couture show covering 40 years of the maison de couture’s history. Plus, one of the eight modules of the exhibition includes a large glass display case the size of a boardroom table filled to the edges with bold and colorful jewelry accessories, demonstrating the total look of the Yves Saint Laurent house.

During the 1970’s Yves Saint Laurent achieved superstar status equal to that of Mick Jagger or David Bowie. He was no longer simply a fashion designer, but also a celebrity, targeted by British gossip magazines and photographers on the lookout for scandals. And he did not disappoint. In November 1971, to promote his men’s fragrance Pour Homme, he released a nude photograph of himself and caused an incredible stir.

Numerous photographs, drawings and production documents offer a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative workings of the fashion house and the private life of the great couturier.

Many of the exhibition displays are on loan from the Pierre Bergé Yves Saint Laurent Foundation which opened its doors on the premises of the former Paris couture house in 2004 with a goal to conserve and promote Yves Saint Laurent’s unique vision after he passed away in his Paris home in 2008.

Elegance is forgetting what one is wearing

The elegance of Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style stands in striking contrast with grunge, Seattle’s contribution to fashion history. Originating from its vibrant music scene, the movement influenced high fashion in the 90s and is making a comeback at youth oriented fast fashion outlets.

Grunge kicked off with the rise of Kurt Cobain’s alternative rock band Nirvana whose music earned its label with its murky and rough sound. Many have described grunge fashion as thrift store chic. Cobain himself had a nonchalant “anything goes” look characterized by graphic t-shirts, Doc Marten boots, distressed light denim, oversized cardigan sweaters with moth holes and, to top it all off, bad hair every day of the week.

In 1993, James Truman, Editor of Details, said that, “grunge is about not making a statement, which is why it’s crazy for it to become a fashion statement.” However, become a fashion statement it did. Marc Jacobs was one of the first designers to showcase grunge as high fashion with his 1993 Perry Ellis collection. In fall 2014, the Hedi Slimane collection for Saint Laurent was a tribute to grunge with luxurious scruffy mohair sweaters and faux-fur coats.

In striking contrast to its grungy past, the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition at SAM brings a touch of luxurious style to the Emerald City, begging the question if Yves Saint Laurent changed the face of haute couture, can he change Seattle?

If you are planning a weekend getaway or just passing through the Seattle area, the Yves Saint Laurent: The Perfection of Style exhibition is a must see for anyone. Whether you have a particular appreciation for the influences of French couture on fashion today or you simply like beautiful things, this exceptional display of Saint Laurent’s work is sure to please.

Don’t delay as the exhibition only runs until January 8, 2017. Afterwards, it will travel to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA where it will be open from May 6 – August 27, 2017.

If you go:

Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave. Seattle, WA

Parking:

Stewart & 3^rd Ave. across from Macy’s. Request a parking voucher from the SAM ticket counter for discounted rates.

Accommodation:

Heathman Hotel Kirkland, 220 Kirkland Ave. Kirkland, WA

Dine:

Trellis Restaurant, 220 Kirkland Ave. Kirkland, WA

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