Rethinking backpacks
MANILA, Philippines - Belgium-born designer Kris Van Assche, current head of his own namesake label and artistic director of Dior Homme, has been tapped by Eastpak to design a capsule collection of backpacks for them. With multipurpose use in mind, the collection is made out of seven designs: two backpacks easily transformed to be used in multiple ways, an attaché case and a bowling bag that can be turned into a backpack, a messenger bag, a carry case and a pouch. This association between city and sportswear is apparent through the choice of fabrics: structured twill 100-percent nylon in either beige, light blue or black is mixed with a soft gray marl jersey, similar to T-shirts. In the past, Eastpak has had collaborations with the likes of Raf Simons, Kenzo Minami, Nicomede Talavera and Danish brand Wood Wood.
The Eastpak x Kris Van Ascche collection is exclusively available at Bratpack Greenbelt 5, Robinson’s Ermita and Alabang Town Center.
Next in line
Ten-year-old Romeo Beckham is following in his father David’s footsteps — but not onto the football field. The little heartbreaker has been cast alongside models Edie Campbel and Charlie France in Burberry’s spring/summer 2013 ad campaign by creative director Christopher Bailey and Mario Testino. Arriving on set without his parents, the staff revealed that he was “amazing, incredible and a little joy.” According to his father, “Romeo is the fashion one, so he’ll go for skinny jeans and a vintage T-shirt and funny hats. One Christmas he asked for a pair of Spats shoes.” Victoria agrees saying, “Romeo likes to get involved. He likes to go out in a suit with a bowler hat… he’s a real fashion lover.” Suri, eat your heart out.
And since it’s supposedly the end of the world, here’s the Ikea Monkey in a shearling coat “posing” in a Marc Jacobs “ad,” not photographed by Juergen Teller. Enjoy.
Runway reshuffle
“If the challenge was to make something for a 70-year-old woman to go sit in a mall and get back to the house early so she could watch television, you succeeded.” That’s not just any metaphor/insult. It’s one of designer Michael Kors’ many colorful critiques that spawned their own Tumblr page during his 10-season run on Project Runway. Earlier this week it was announced that he would no longer be sitting beside Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Tim Gunn due to scheduling conflicts and would be replaced by Zac Posen who tweeted, “So excited to be the new judge on @ProjectRunway Season 11!!” While Posen is certainly very charming, we’d like to see him come up with something as harsh as “It’s an unbelievably tight race for hideous today.”
Burying the hatchet
Just in time for the new year comes the news that New York Times critic Cathy Horyn and Oscar de la Renta have made peace and stopped throwing metaphoric fast food fights because it was kind of awkward. Hotdogs? Hamburgers? Seriously, are we in grade school? WWD reported that Horyn was spotted sitting front row at ODLR’s pre-fall fashion show this week and even popped backstage before the show and wore one of the designer’s dresses. According to de la Renta, “She came to see me before the show and I told her we probably approach fashion in two different ways. I respect her way and I hope she respects my way. My vision of fashion is for my customers,” he told WWD. “I read every single article she writes on fashion. I never hold grudges.” Now let’s see if Hedi Slimane and Lady Gaga follow suit.