Mary Quant has died at 93, and ten designers came together to honor Karl Lagerfeld for Vogue. Find all these stories and more in the top international fashion news of the week.
Mini Skirt Pioneer Mary Quant Dies at 93
Pioneer of the mini skirt, Dame Mary Quant, has died at 93. The fashion icon made waves across the world when she opened a multi-brand boutique, Bazaar, on King Street in London. Most famous for her ultra-short hemlines, she coined the term ‘mini’ after the car and added colorful stockings and bold patterns that helped define the ‘Swinging Sixties’.
Her pieces were far from conventional, and her influence among the youth caused a stir with the rest of the world. In 1966, Quant was given an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) and famously wore a mini skirt for her presentation at Buckingham Palace. “Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing visions,” wrote the Victoria & Albert Museum about her passing.
Designers Honor Karl Lagerfeld for Vogue
An array of designers have created a series of pieces in honor of Karl Lagerfeld for the cover of Vogue. The collection honors the upcoming Met Gala, which highlights the career of Lagerfeld and his lasting mark on the industry. The campaign features ten pieces from Valentino, Balmain, Chitose Abe of Sacai, Gucci, Christopher John Rogers, Thom Browne, Versace, John Galliano for Maison Margiela, and Jun Takahashi from Undercover.
Ten supermodels wore the garments in the special edition of Vogue, shot by Annie Leibovitz at the Grand Palais in Paris. The lineup included Karl’s muses: Adut Akech, Gigi Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta, Anok Yai, Shalom Harlow, Natalia Vodianova, Devon Aoki, Liu Wen, and Kendall Jenner.“I was always very impressed by Karl’s research into modernity,” said Valentino’s creative director Peirpaolo Piccioli. “He was obsessed with modernity… he was never nostalgic.”
Met Gala Hosts Announced
The co-hosts of the Met Gala have been announced. Alongside Anna Wintour as chair will be Dua Lipa, Penelope Cruz, Michael Cvoel, and Roger Federer. Emma Chamberlain will present as the special correspondent for the event. The theme for the 2023 Met Gala is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, with the dress code ‘in honor of Karl Lagerfeld’.
Lagerfeld’s work goes beyond Chanel, of which he was the creative director from 1983 to his death in 2019. In 1958 he became artistic director for Pattou before moving to Fendi in 1967. His other ventures include Chloe, Balmain, and his eponymous brand. The Met Gala will take place on the first Monday of May.
Saint Laurent Announces Production Studio
Saint Laurent is entering the world of film production. Kicking off with three films from well-known directors, the venture aims to take the brand beyond clothing. The fashion house is officially launching Saint Laurent Productions, with its first short film debuting at Cannes Film Festival. This is history-making for the industry – no other luxury fashion house has shown a film at the festival.
The 30-minute Western, Strange Way of Life, will feature Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascale and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. “In some ways, making a film can be more impactful than a seasonal collection,” said Anthony Vaccarello, creative director of Saint Laurent. “For me, it’s a natural extension to another field of creativity that perhaps is more general and popular.”