Can we please stop fashion-bashing

If I hear one more person saying “we shouldn’t be buying fashion at a time like this”, I think I’ll scream. Try saying that to the thousands who’ve lost their jobs at Oasis, Warehouse, Cath Kidston, Animal, Laura Ashley, Harpenne and other brands, plus the millions with no means of support in supplier factories in…

Gen Z shopaholics: what they want, how they feel

Gen Z consumers are emotionally fragile; addicted to (but also concerned about) spending time on social media; directly affected by what influencers think, say, do and wear; and love spending time in physical stores. It seems the old idea of ‘retail therapy’ is still alive and well for them but less as the indulgent splurging…

Met Gala: Bye-bye austerity, hello excess

The Met Gala was the biggest news in fashion on Monday evening and it seems that as each year goes by, the red carpet choices get ever more OTT. This year’s exhibition theme (Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination) certainly lent itself to excess with a wild mix of angels, bishops, noviciates, a few…

Resort 2019: Chanel sets sail

Pre-summer, resort, cruise. Call it what you will, but in Chanel’s case last week, Cruise seemed like just the right name. Karl Lagerfeld chose to show his latest collection in the Grand Palais, Paris, with the set design looking less palais, more cruise liner.