HERMÈS FALL 2025: GALLOPING THROUGH PUDONG

Chapter Two

Hermès. A brand that doesn’t so much make fashion as it curates it—with the same breezy disdain as a third-generation heiress waving away a 2012 champagne vintage because it “tastes like middle-class ambition.”

The second chapter of the Fall 2025 collection wasn’t a runway show—it was a manifesto. Set against the throbbing skyline of Pudong, where glass, steel and light tried to hold their own against a cashmere coat so refined even unicorns would avert their eyes in shame. Hermès didn’t offer wearable clothes; it delivered emotional architecture with mother-of-pearl buttons.

Modularity and function—terms you’d expect from a Silicon Valley engineer designing his first trench coat. But don’t be fooled. Every clasp, every seam, every quilted line whispered, “Sure, I could run a horse stable outside Lyon. But I’d rather acquire your company and decline your offer—politely, of course.”

The color palette? Earthy, naturally. But Hermès doesn’t do beige. It does “late-November Seine-side sand at dusk.” And that wasn’t just burgundy—it was “essence of ripe figs eaten slowly on a terrace in Saint-Rémy.”

Among the silhouettes, coats reigned supreme—monumental in scale, like mobile sanctuaries for the chosen few. The kind of women who know true freedom only begins with their third pair of custom riding boots. Structure? Architectural. Draping? Barely perceptible—like the emotional range of an aristocrat at an engagement dinner.

And yes, there were accessories—decadently unnecessary, as they should be. Handbags that looked like they carried diplomatic passports. Calfskin gloves so soft they could double as the PR team’s response when you ask about prices. Because darling, if you have to ask, you’re not ready.

And finally: “She Is Ready to Gallop.”
And us? We can only trot politely toward the Hermès boutique, praying that at least the perfume is still within reach. But that’s the point—Hermès isn’t for everyone. Because really, who wants to be for everyone?

Photos courtesy of Hermès / Filippo Fior

 

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FRANCE SAYS “NON” TO FAST FASHION

Finally! Someone had the guts to say it out loud – and more importantly, to vote it through. France, the cradle of haute couture, perfumes that cost more than a month’s rent in Warsaw, and nonchalance served on a baguette, is banning fast fashion. Voilà.

The French Senate has just passed a law that might shake the plastic-saturated world pretending to be stylish. From now on: an ecological tax of up to €10 per item of clothing that looks like it was designed by AI after a cheap bottle of wine, and – applause, please – a ban on advertising ultra-fast fashion brands by influencers. Yes, dear influ-folk – no more Shein hauls where plastic corsets are proudly worn as if they came straight out of Vivienne Westwood’s atelier.

But fear not, the biggest ones will surely find a way around it – perhaps by preaching “conscious fashion” while posing in a €2.49 crop top, shot in a kitchen pretending to be a Parisian loft. Or they’ll return to promoting whitening toothpaste – now with a side of climate responsibility.

Zara and H&M have miraculously dodged penalties (which probably means the right people in the right suits got the right kind of welcome). But the whole initiative sends a crystal-clear message: enough of throwaway fashion and outfits “from OneFashion_99’s discount code.” It’s time to promote quality, craftsmanship and – oh, I don’t know – real style, not algorithm-generated dress-up.

The new regulations aim to support sustainable production and introduce an eco-score system – essentially a badge of shame for clothes that harm the planet more than your daily almond milk cappuccino flown in from California.

France is setting an example – and hopefully, the EU will copy it faster than the ballet flats trend. Maybe, just maybe, it’s time for fashion to stop being a circus of content creation and return to its rightful place: a world where aesthetics meet quality, not just the number of likes under a mirror selfie in the elevator.

Photo courtesy of ArtMajeur

 

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#SEPTEMBERISSUE: WARSAW FASHION WEEK

 

“Because Who Said the Vistula Can’t Have a Runway?”

Ah, Warsaw… a city once associated with queues outside Zara, now rubbing shoulders with the front row elite and fashionistas draped head-to-toe in obscure Berlin designers no one dares pronounce. And finally, the moment has arrived: Warsaw Fashion Week – yes, you read that right – the Polish capital now has its very own fashion week. Bravo, us.

Between September 4 and 6, 2025, Warsaw will transform into a sequin-strewn battlefield of style. The event – according to the official announcements – will take place at the sleek Ms Mermaid Conference Center on the Vistula River, but… here comes the plot twist, quite literally. Whispers from impeccably dressed circles suggest that the main shows may in fact be staged in the courtyard of the Royal Castle. Because if we’re doing fashion, we might as well do it royally. Literally.

But that’s not even the juiciest part.

Apparently – and please, put down the caviar – Anna Wintour herself, the high priestess of fashion, the woman who can end careers or launch empires with a single glance, may be a special guest. Yes, THE Anna Wintour. Rumor has it, she might already be tracing a route through Central Europe in search of “Warszawa.” If that’s true, even the Met Gala might feel a little nervous.

Organizers are keeping their lips sealed. Everything is wrapped in a veil of mystery — and most likely the very expensive scent of niche perfume. So far, we only know this: Warsaw Fashion Week has officially made its way onto the FashionWeekOnline calendar, right next to New York and Milan. The rest? That’s gossip for backstage whispers and speculation among those with access to PR mailing lists.

Meanwhile, the event’s official website has released a preliminary schedule for September:

Thursday, September 4, 2025 – Designer Avenue:

The opening day focuses on the showroom zone. “High Fashion for Everyone” is a vibrant fashion fair where Polish designers will showcase their standout creations — according to the official event description.

Friday, September 5 – A Day for Slow Fashion:

The second day is dedicated to slow fashion, featuring sustainable brands, conscious design, and labels that know style doesn’t have to cost the planet.

Saturday, September 6 – The Grand Finale:

Day three is all about the main runway show, featuring the top names in Polish fashion. Invitation-only (and ticketed, of course), this is the most anticipated moment of WFW. “We are honored to present Poland’s most exceptional designers — and that’s not all… more surprises to come!” organizers tease.

Are we ready for a weeklong invasion of oversized blazers, micro-bags, and sunglasses bigger than your favorite influencer’s ego? Probably not. But we’ll all be there anyway – even if just to post a selfie with the hashtag #WFW, pretending it’s completely normal that Anna Wintour is sipping champagne beneath King Sigismund’s Column.

And if anyone still doubts that Warsaw can shine brighter than the camera flashes at a Balenciaga show – well, it’s high time they caught up. Because when the Polish capital steps onto the world’s fashion stage, the only question isn’t if, but what to wear.

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#MásEsMás: YOUR HAIR, HER STORY

There’s nothing quite like entering the beauty market with the grace of a dancing lioness – and that’s exactly what Shakira just did. If you thought the singer had already checked every possible career box (millions of records sold, iconic performances, and those famously honest hips), well… you were mistaken. Now, it’s time for shampoo.

Her new brand, Isima, is a haircare line inspired by the artist’s personal experiences. Sounds like classic marketing lingo? Good – because we, the premium consumers, aren’t buying shampoo. We’re buying a story. And this one has it all: the Caribbean, volume, the scent of success, and the tagline “Más es más” – more is more, especially when it comes to hair, Botox, and followers.

Natural? Of course. But the curated kind of natural – the one bathed in soft lighting, enhanced with filters, and supported by a stylist crouching off-camera with a volumizing mousse in hand. After all, life is a stage, and your bathroom is the backstage of your personal brand.

Until now, Isima has existed purely in the digital realm – but take note: the products officially launch on June 16, 2025. So yes, you’ve got a few days left to mentally prepare, clear out your shelf (read: dispose of your drugstore embarrassments), and set a calendar reminder like you would for a luxury sneaker drop.

Will this be a revolution in haircare?

We don’t know. But one thing is certain – it will be stylish. And let’s be honest, in the world of haircare – much like in life – it’s not about what works. It’s about what looks good on your story.

So if you’ve ever dreamed of your hair screaming “global goddess with a musical past and a heart of gold”, Isima might just become your new ritual. Or at the very least, the perfect excuse to post a selfie with the hashtag #MásEsMás and the caption: “Yes, it’s that shampoo.”

Photos courtesy of Isima 

 

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ZEGNA SPRING 2026: LIGHTNESS, EASE, AND (SURPRISINGLY) ELEGANCE

This wasn’t Milan. It didn’t even pretend to be. In a gesture so self-assured it borders on aristocratic indifference, the Italian fashion house Zegna unveiled its Spring 2026 collection in Dubai — a city that feels less like a place and more like a monument to the idea of money itself. Because truly, if you were going to present a collection crafted from fabrics lighter than regret and more technically advanced than half the aerospace industry, would you do it in the rainy north of Italy? Of course not. You’d do it in the desert, with a skyline that glitters like a diamond bracelet, and an atmosphere soaked in golden, meticulously curated light.

Alessandro Sartori, Zegna’s artistic director and textile whisperer, didn’t merely present a collection — he conducted a kind of sensory ceremony. What walked that runway wasn’t clothing, per se. It was an argument for existence on a higher plane. The garments seemed to float, stitched together from air, science, and a healthy disdain for anything as vulgar as trendiness.

The materials? Let’s be clear: these are not “fabrics” in the pedestrian sense. They are engineered experiences. They breathe, stretch, hold, release — they likely have better cardiovascular performance than most humans. And yet, for all their technical wizardry, they wear with the serenity of linen and the poise of silk that has been privately educated. This is innovation not for show, but because anything less would be unacceptable.

As for the colors: that particular strain of muted luxury that seems designed to confuse algorithms. Are they beige? Taupe? Celadon mist at dawn? The point is that you’d never find them on a screen. You have to be there. You have to know. This is a color palette that refuses to perform for you. It simply exists — as should you, if you’ve achieved enough to be draped in it.

The tailoring, naturally, is the kind that looks effortless but was clearly calculated down to the molecule. Jackets that dare to forego linings, trousers that suggest both freedom and structure, and layering so precise it borders on choreography. This isn’t about “looking good.” It’s about being above the conversation entirely. These are garments for men who glide through airports without touching the ground, whose calendars are managed by people whose names they don’t remember. Men who don’t ask what time it is — because they decide when things happen.

And what a stage. The choice of Dubai wasn’t just a logistical flourish. It was a philosophical one. The backdrop of sand and steel wasn’t symbolic — it was essential. Here was a collection that could only make sense under a sun that never sets on ambition, against a skyline designed for gods with bank accounts. This wasn’t fashion week. This was an apex event for the global style literati, the sort of affair one doesn’t attend unless one is flown in. Privately, of course.

Zegna Spring 2026 doesn’t beg to be understood. It’s not here to be liked or shared or worn by people with wardrobes that include the word “essentials.” It exists for the few who live outside the algorithm. For those who know that true luxury never needs to explain itself — it merely waits for the rest of the world to catch up.

If you don’t get it, don’t worry. You were never supposed to.

Photos courtesy of Zegna

 

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