Fashion editor’s picks: What’s in my shopping bag this month

Tiffany Hardwear small single wrap yellow gold necklace, $25,000, Tiffany & Co.

Credit: Tiffany & Co.

1/28

The New York brand recently introduced eight new Tiffany Hardwear styles and three new Hardwear timepieces. We love the versatility of the necklaces, whether worn short, long, or layered with another piece, as they never fail to make a statement. Inspired by a bracelet from 1962, discovered in the house’s archives, the Tiffany Hardwear collection embodies the edgy yet classic urban soul of New York City. First launched in 2020, this collection captures the essence of the city’s dynamic spirit.

Ginkgo leather clutch, Bvlgari

Credit: Bulgari

2/28

In her debut collection for Bvlgari as its new creative director of leather goods and accessories, Mary Katrantzou reinterpreted the intricate mosaics of Rome’s Terme di Caracalla, specifically the iconic fan- shaped polychrome design, in playful and glamorous ways. She explains: “The motif, a sensuously curving fan, embodies a compelling femininity and universality, connecting with other cultures and meanings. It links to the ginkgo leaf and the calla lily.”

Limited edition suede Zurich sandals, $299, Birkenstock

Credit: Birkenstock

3/28

This year, Birkenstock marks 250 years of shoemaking tradition, and to celebrate the Zurich sandal’s 60th anniversary, the German company presents the limited edition Zurich collection in four archive-inspired colourways. The Zurich style is Karl Birkenstock’s second sandal to feature a built-in footbed – a key design element in every Birkenstock shoe. This footbed provides natural support, even weight distribution, as well as arch and foot support, while preventing unnatural pressure points from heel to toe. The iconic Zurich model embodies a clean, gender-neutral design, inspired by Brutalist architecture.

Puma Palermo Sneakers in Hyperlink Blue-Frosted Ivory, $149, Puma

Credit: Puma

4/28

Dua Lipa and Emily Ratajkowski are fans of this sneaker, first introduced in the ’80s. Once popular among football fans, the Puma Palermo has since made a big comeback. Adding to the buzz is the brand’s latest face – Blackpink’s Rose sporting the sneaker in a signature colourway. Her partnership will focus on Puma’s catalogue of iconic silhouettes, including the “Rewrite the Classics” collection, which has become a nostalgic streetwear staple.

Maridenim matching denim shirt and jeans, Marimekko

Credit: Marimekko

5/28

After 73 years in the fashion business, Finnish heritage brand Marimekko has released its first-ever denim collection – Maridenim. Among the splashes of colour and the beloved, blown-up Unikko print, three denim cuts have been unveiled: the Legacy Straight, Classic Wide, and Cool Barrel. The brand’s current creative director Rebekka Bay and her team have followed The Jeans Redesign guidelines by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. As a result, the denim is made with monomaterial cotton with no stretch, comprising 80 per cent organic cotton and 20 per cent recycled cotton.

Brooklyn leather bag 39, $950, Coach

Credit: Coach

6/28

Thanks to Bella Hadid, I’ve found a work bag that’s practical, chic and stylish all at once. Coach is dropping its latest Fall 2024 bag, known as the Brooklyn, this month, and it comes in two sizes. I love its simplicity, the trending hobo shape (which is also an all-time classic), and the attractive price. While it’s designed to be a workhorse, it still looks polished and pretty on your day off. I just adore how Bella styles the bag with chunky gold bangles and a cute tank top.

Vivienne Fashionista bag charm, $1,870, Louis Vuitton

Credit: Louis Vuitton

7/28

These cuties are back! Refresh your old bags with this season’s Vivienne bag charms. Vivienne, the house’s iconic mascot introduced in 2017, has been reinterpreted as a fashion icon in this year’s Fashionista capsule. Featuring its own bag, jewellery and clothing inspired by the Parisian house’s iconic designs, signature motifs and patterns, Vivienne is crafted in calfskin with a plush fur Monogram Flower around her face. She also sports LV earrings and a miniature handbag in gold-tone metal.

Premiere Sound watch, $21,450, Chanel

Credit: Chanel

8/28

The Premiere Sound watch has been Chanel’s best-selling timepiece since its 1987 debut. This year, it has been reimagined as a versatile three- in-one accessory, in the form of a long sautoir necklace, watch and wired headphones (with a microphone and remote control for volume control, audio, video playback and phone calls). Seen recently on our favourite Chanel doll Jennie, the 18K yellow gold quartz watch is compatible with smartphones and audio devices. The Premiere Sound watch will be available in Chanel boutiques from September.

Flamenco Surplus bag, Loewe

9/28

Championing Loewe’s sustainable Surplus Project, the Flamenco Surplus bag is created from leftover leather from previous collections, using a technique that removes thin layers of the surface to reveal wavy layers of colour. In the Pre-Fall 2024 collection, the Flamenco Surplus clutch was introduced in various colour combinations. First introduced in the ’80s, the Flamenco bag was revived in 2015 by current creative director JW Anderson. It takes its inspiration from the “Flamenco skirt effect”, created when the roll buttons are pulled back to tightly close the bag. Made of soft leather, the bag is easy to transform, and can be carried in three ways: hand, shoulder or crossbody.

XT-4 OG sneakers, $339, Salomon at Limitededt.com

10/28

Do fashion people have a thing for “ugly” things? It does seem so. Thanks to Bella Hadid, who was spotted leaving the gym in New York City last year in an oversized Nike polo shirt and a pair of bright- red Salomon hiking-and-running sneakers, the shoe brand has been popping up on the feet of fashion’s most stylish. If you want to get your hands on the XT-4 Advanced sneakers, good news: A Salomon standalone boutique has just opened at Bugis Junction. With its hiking-meets-gorpcore aesthetic, complete with drawstring closure, this design has received stamps of approval from It girls like Emili Sindlev, Emily Wells, and Rihanna, who wore an all- red pair for her Superbowl performance last year.

Rodeo medium handbag, $6,350, Balenciaga

Credit: Balenciaga

11/28

It may look suspiciously similar to another iconic bag we all know and love, but there’s something about Balenciaga’s version that I’m kind of obsessed with. I think what draws me in is its nonchalance – the deliberate “slouchiness” with the front compartment intentionally left open. In terms of practicality, it’s a winner as well. It has two spacious compartments lined with premium lambskin, two patch pockets on the back, and reinforced side snap buttons on the pleats that allow the bag to be expanded as needed. While I love the bag quiet and clean without any embellishments, I also stan the Spring/Summer ’24 runway versions that were overtly cluttered with bustles of keys, heart-shaped mirrors, thick woven tassels, and souvenir-style adornments. Which style makes your heart skip a beat?

Gazelle sneakers, $159, Adidas

12/28

Another day, another new pair of cult sneakers you should know about. Consider giving your Sambas a rest and hop into the world of Adidas Gazelles instead. Harry Styles and Jacob Elordi have been sporting a pair for some time, and all the “It girls” – Kendall, Hailey, and Gigi – just love their Gazelles. To the untrained eye, the Gazelle might seem similar to the Samba. The differences are subtle, but the main differences are the all-over suede, a higher midsole, and the slightly longer tongue. For the uninitiated, the Gazelles earned their “cult-status” stripes in 1986 when the hip-hop group Run-DMC released the track My Adidas. The band then earned a reported US$1 million in sponsorship deals as a result of the massive hit. Not only was that deal a first for any hip-hop group, it was also the first-ever made between an athletic brand and a non-athlete spokesperson.

Sheer silk blouse, Chloe

Credit: Chloe

13/28

Boho is back, and Chemena Kamali’s appointment as creative director at Chloe is one of the main reasons why. Says Kamali, who has worked at Chloe twice before being appointed as creative director: “I think there’s this longing for undone-ness and freedom, and softness and movement.” For her Pre-Fall 2024 collection, her debut for the Parisian house, Kamali wanted her clothes to be anchored in reality, with the aim to build timeless and iconic wardrobe pieces that are recognisably Chloe, just as its founder Gaby Aghion envisioned. Aghion wanted her clothes to have a certain lightness and freedom, so you can work and live your life in them. If I were lucky enough to someday build my dream Chloe wardrobe, I would start with this beautiful easy-to-wear white blouse.



 

Lynda Benglis x Loewe Glitter Fragment sterling silver and crystal ring, $4,550, Loewe

Credit: Loewe

14/28

I first spotted the Lynda Benglis x Loewe jewellery collection on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways last year, and it’s finally available for sale on Loewe. com. Benglis, an American sculptor and visual artist known for her free, abstract forms, designed this collection using unconventional materials like foil, mesh, clay, wire, and polyurethane. She later meticulously reimagined these into luxurious items such as rings, cuffs, brooches, earrings, and pendants crafted from a mix of 18K gold, sterling silver, aluminium, enamel, and crystal. “There is something about Lynda Benglis’ experiments of the 1970s – the liberation, friction, and violence – that I’m drawn to. This collection of jewellery harnesses some of that energy, the dynamism of materials in motion, captured in moments and fragments from her studio,” says Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson.

Classic Panier raffia and calfskin hobo bag, $2,750, Celine

15/28

This gorgeous summer bag made its debut last year as part of the brand’s Summer Plein Soleil capsule collection. This year, for the 2024 Plein Soleil collection, the shape is back and in a new white colour. Due to its very attractive price point, the bag sells out quickly, so I’m not going to make the same mistake I made last year by letting it sit in the shopping cart!

Kate Gommino Bubble leather loafers, $1,000, Tod’s

Credit: Tod's

16/28

It is one of the most iconic pairs of loafers and well-loved by many including royalties from the late Princess Diana, to Queen Rania of
Jordan, supermodel Elsa Hosk and Hollywood A-listers Anne Hathaway and Selena Gomez. First introduced in 1979, each individual shoe can take up to 35 pieces of leather to make. The new Kate Gommino bubble loafers is a contemporary take on the classic style as the gommini on the sole and heel are larger (hence the name bubble) and it is designed with vibrant colours that are either contrasting or tone-on-tone.

Hanging lamp wood/ paper, Ernst Gamperl

Credit: Loewe

17/28

I have been a longtime fan of artist and master craftsman Ernst Gamperl’s wooden sculptures and vessels. His expertise is working with wood primarily the European oak tree and selects his logs from sustainable sources – either from trees that could not stand their ground against the wind or were felled due to decay. Gamperl’s ingenuity and extraordinary craftsmanship exhibit the infinite possibilities of woodworking. Together with 24 other artists, Gamperl, who won the first Loewe Craft Prize in 2017 was invited
this year for Salone del Mobile 2024 to create the Spanish brand’s collection of new lamps. This is the first time Gamperl and many of the featured artists have created lamps. The project has enabled them to utilise a wide range of mediums, pushing the properties of each material to create unexpected interactions with light.

Scalloped off-shoulder blouse, $199, and matching miniskirt, $159, Susan Fang x & Other Stories

Credit: & Other Stories

18/28

Fans of Blackpink’s Jisoo will be pleased to know that they can cop the Susan Fang floral dress she wore in the music video for her debut solo single Flower. For her collaboration with & Other Stories, the London-based Chinese designer wanted to include the dress, but made with a lighter fabrication for increased wearability and in a different colour – blue – for the exclusive collection.

Another standout piece is the oversized floral choker worn by Danielle from New Jeans on the cover of V magazine last year – the exact same choker is available in the collection. While these two looks take centre stage, my personal favourite – the white cotton scalloped top and bottom – is something simpler yet equally elegant. I’d wear it as a matching set, but these scalloped separates also shine on their own when paired with your everyday basics.

Low Key MM supple grained calfskin hobo bag, $5,650, Louis Vuitton

Credit: Louis Vuitton

19/28

Ever since the hype surrounding the super-chic and understated design of The Row’s Margaux bag, many luxury fashion houses have taken note and jumped on the bandwagon to create bags with timeless appeal. Some frontrunners include Balenciaga’s Rodeo handbag and Bottega Veneta’s Andiamo tote. Personally, I’m particularly drawn to Louis Vuitton’s new Low Key hobo bag from the Flight Mode collection for Summer 2024. From its discreet (yet still iconic) logo and padlock to its clean and unfussy silhouette and spacious interior, it not only excels in practical design, but also in its price point.

Keyhole cuff in brass and shearling, $3,060, Schiaparelli

20/28

It’s been in the backseat for a while, but it looks like the statement cuff is slowly trickling back into our wardrobes this spring. We liked how the cuff was paired with a striped shirt at Dries van Noten and worn over leather gloves at Fendi and Saint Laurent. But don’t stop at just one cuff – take a cue from Carolina Hererra and stack em’ up.



 

Calfskin sandal with Kelly buckle, $2,550, Hermes

21/28

The idea of dressing down took an interesting route this season with sandals/flip flops leading the conversation. At Hermes, Nadege Vanhee paired all the 65 looks on the runway with woven calfskin Greek-style sandals, pairing it with luxurious fabrications like summery dresses in leather and lambskin pencil skirts. Viriginie Viard made a case for it with models in tweed jumpsuits and skirt suits wearing Chanel logo flip flops while cord-styled leather sandals made numerous appearances at Miu Miu.



 

Faux fur pumps, $1,560, Balenciaga

22/28

One of the biggest trends this season is a play on texture and the colour black. The predominance of black on the Spring/Summer runways is perhaps a reflection on the designers’ take on the current state of the world. However, even amidst challenging times, it's heartening to observe that this hasn't stifled creativity and imagination.

One of the highlights of New York Fashion Week last September was catching the Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2024 show. Initially, I wasn’t always such a stan but the new Tory Burch circa 2020 however, exudes a sense of coolness and approval from "It girls," epitomised by Hailey Bieber donning a freshoff-the-runway pink dress just a week after the Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week.

Her latest collection has caught my eye, particularly with directional pieces like the asymmetrical dresses with hoop skirts, chic embellished hair barrettes, and cute coloured jelly purses. I admire Tory's aspiration for her pieces to be viewed as wardrobe staples rather than collectibles – such as the famous Tory Burch pierced mules, which could become a coveted vintage piece one day. Tory is in her "Toryssance'' era, and I'm here for it.

I've always admired Alaia and dreamed of owning their signature knitted bodycon dresses, hooded pieces, or bodysuits, but unfortunately, my devotion hasn't been met with unlimited cash. However, that might be changing now. The Parisian brand, founded by Tunisian-born designer Azzedine Alaia in 1964, was primarily renowned for its ready-to-wear line. But since Belgian creative director Pieter Mulier took over in 2021, the brand has experienced a remarkable surge in popularity again.

While Mulier has respectfully preserved the brand's signature hourglass silhouette and unapologetic glamour, he has also propelled it forward with new categories like denim and a range of accessories, all at a more accessible price point. From the viral fishnet and studded ballet flats to the Le Coeur handbag and now the Le Teckel bag, Mulier's strength lies in his consideration of how women want to dress every day. He has transformed Alaia's collections to be more relatable without compromising what the late Azzedine stood for in the first place. Bravo.

When American actor and model Hunter Schafer graced the red carpet at the Golden Globes earlier this year, the power of the Prada dress she wore was undeniable. While hers was the red carpet version, if there's anything worth splurging on this year, it's the runway version of the dress – now available in boutiques and online. Yes, it comes with a five-figure price tag, but it's one of those iconic pieces to own and wear proudly, especially if you're a bride-to-be. Just imagine this sheer, gauzy, pastel dress with gossamer tendrils billowing in the wind, creating a surreal and cinematic effect as you walk down the aisle.

When Rebekka Bay joined Marimekko as creative director in 2023, one of the first things she did was to identify the brand’s key silhouettes and work around it. “[The brand] has always been about the art of printmaking and we are famous for our patterns but we were never really famous for silhouettes,” she explains. Her task at hand was figuring out how to create collections that are print-heavy but wearable. The solution? Working with prints that are more toned down and a base with a more muted colour palette. “That way, the collection feels calmer and you can pair the more vivid Marimekko prints with basic and neutral separates so it feels more subdued and sophisticated.”

Twin sisters Lizzie and Kathryn Fortunato started the brand in 2008 as Lizzie recalls “from the sofa of her Lower East Side apartment”. All the jewellery are handcrafted in their New York studio in Soho and pieces are limited as the sisters only want to produce what they can sell. I first discovered the brand through their whimsical necklaces - love the unexpected beads and colour combinations - but now I am also obsessed with their irregular shaped resin and pearl earrings. My default “lazy day” get-up (but I still want to look cute) is a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, a cap and a couple of Lizzie Fortunato beaded necklaces (a mix of dainty and chunky styles).

I am in my coquette era (and I’m sure many of you are too) so I’m drawn to anything with bows and ribbons. I was looking for a dress to wear at a friend’s wedding but I wanted to find one that’s versatile enough for a beach vacation, brunch with the girls, on date night – you get the memo, something timeless. So I’m happy to report I found just the dress from Vanina. This Beirut-based brand is also great for bridal pieces and stunning pearl beaded purses. I am always game for anything halter-neck (and in black) but the bonus is the pretty baby bows all lined up in a peek-a-boo fashion at the side of this dress. It looks great styled with heels at a wedding or dressed down with sandals on a lunch date. Now all I need is a hot date to the wedding.