In the wonderful world of fashion, everyone — and everything — is connected. We’re taking a look at who and what made waves in the past seven days, and weaving a common thread between them. From new ecommerce sites to banned perfume ads, this is your one-stop style-story shop.
1. Zara.ca. Soon Canadians will be able to go online to order of-the-moment fashions from this popular Spanish-based retailer. Zara has announced it will be launching an ecommerce site in Canada this spring or summer. With online shopping already up and running in Europe, the U.S., China and Japan, it was more than a little disappointing to discover none of the sites shipped to Canada. But come spring, anyone from Sault Ste. Marie to Sidney will be able to purchase that perfect poly floral maxi dress.
Do you know who else is looking for a perfect floral dress?
2. Eva Mendes. Not only is she looking for the perfect dress, she’s designing it herself…kind of. Mendes is collaborating with New York & Co. to create four capsule collections a year titled Eva by Eva Mendes. While she won’t actually be designing the looks, she will have the final say on what goes into the collection (which will focus on dresses and accessories, both areas New York & Co. chief exec says is missing from their portfolio and Mendes has mastered on the red carpet). The company sited Mendes as the celebrity its customers “most aspire to be.” Maybe there should have been a follow-up question: why? Answer: Ryan Gosling.
Speaking of celebrity/designer relationships, do you know whom Lanvin was missing from its celebrity-styling portfolio until now?
3. Minnie Mouse. In honour of Disney Paris’s 20th anniversary, Lanvin has custom designed a lovely sparkly frock for Minnie Mouse to wear to the celebratory parade. It’s cobalt blue (trend alert!) and structured with puffed sleeves and a pile of crystal embellishments — it’s the dress that every little cartoon mouse dreams of when she was a pup.
Do you know whose Parisian parade was cancelled?
4. Kiera Knightly For Chanel. Kiera Knightley’s Chanel Coco Mademoiselle TV ad has been deemed too racy for young impressionable minds and will not be shown around French children’s programs and films. In the commercial Kiera speeds around Paris on a custom-painted Ducati motorcycle and partakes in a saucy photo shoot wearing nothing but a bed sheet. Chanel says the ad is "playful and sensual", while the Advertising Standards Authority that pulled the ad called it “sexually suggestive.” Perspective is everything.
Do you what else is giving another group of people a new perspective?
5. Vittorio Missoni’s Bag. Over a month has gone by since the small plane carrying the heir apparent of the Missoni empire, Vittorio Missoni, went missing off the coast of Venezuela. Another bizarre piece of the puzzle has turned up this week: his bag. Last week, another passenger’s bag was found on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, and this week Missoni’s on the neighbouring island of Bonaire. The search for Missoni continues in Venezuela.