Tag: Haute Couture

Fit & Fabulous

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour Shifts into High Gear with Jaipur’s Motorcore Showcase

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour drove fashion firmly into the fast lane as it arrived in Jaipur with an electrifying showcase that blended the thrill of motorsport with the boldness of high-fashion innovation. Marking the next chapter of the Tour’s evolving narrative, the Jaipur edition celebrated “Fashion’s Next Move,” transforming the runway into a space where speed, precision, and style collided.

In collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the showcase reimagined the traditional catwalk as a dynamic motorsport circuit. Leading designers Namrata Joshipura and Abhishek Paatni embraced motorcore-inspired aesthetics, drawing from racing silhouettes, metallic finishes, tactical forms, and the raw energy of the racetrack. Their designs created a symphony of movement and power, giving the audience a futuristic vision of where India’s fashion is headed.

Adding to the spectacle, Harnaaz Sandhu captivated as the show’s finale showstopper, exuding glamour and confidence with each step. Rapper Raftaar closed the night with a performance that matched the pace and pulse of the showcase, blending sound, rhythm, and attitude into an electrifying climax. Together, they embodied the seamless fusion of culture, celebrity, and contemporary creativity that defines the Tour.

The experience unfolded across three conceptual laps—The Start Line, The Pit Lane, and The Glam Night—each segment offering a new layer of storytelling. The stage shifted continually, evolving from sharp racing silhouettes to sleek chrome-driven ensembles, ending with a high-voltage display of glamour. The night culminated with a thrilling sports car stunt that elevated the audience’s excitement and reinforced the theme of speed and power.

This edition amplified India’s cultural and creative frequency, capturing a mood that is sharp, fast, and unstoppable. The Tour positioned itself as a catalyst for shaping new conversations in the world of fashion, blending craftsmanship, technology, performance, and bold creative direction. Pernod Ricard India CMO Debasree Dasgupta shared that the Tour’s ambition has always been to shape cultural narratives, and the Jaipur chapter took this aim further by uniting motorsports and fashion in an immersive experience.

Designers Abhishek Paatni and Namrata Joshipura echoed this sentiment, expressing how the collaboration allowed them to experiment with new energies, aesthetics, and forms. Their collections demonstrated a fluid yet powerful integration of speed and couture, presenting a vision of fashion that moves boldly towards the future. Harnaaz Sandhu described her experience as an adrenaline-filled moment of confidence, while Raftaar praised the Tour for pushing fashion onto an entirely new track. FDCI Chairman Sunil Sethi highlighted the synergy between two major fashion institutions joining forces to set new creative benchmarks.

With Jaipur leaving a blazing trail of fashion and adrenaline behind, the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour now heads to Kolkata. There, designer Anamika Khanna will reinterpret craftsmanship through a contemporary lens, with Ishaan Khatter as showstopper on December 20. The Tour continues its journey by constantly reinventing the runway and steering Indian fashion toward fresh, powerful, and forward-moving expressions.

Fit & Fabulous

Maria Grazia Chiuri Appointed Artistic Director of Fendi, Ushering a New Era

Tanisha Cardozo

A historic chapter closes and another begins at Fendi as Silvia Venturini Fendi hands over the creative reins to Maria Grazia Chiuri. After more than thirty years defining the aesthetic of the Roman maison, Venturini Fendi steps back while remaining Honorary President, allowing Chiuri to usher in a new era that balances heritage with modernity.

Born in Rome and trained at the Istituto Europeo di Design, Maria Grazia Chiuri has left a distinctive mark on the fashion world, including her pioneering role as the first woman to lead design at Dior. Known for her poetic vision and political awareness, Chiuri champions fashion that is thoughtful, meaningful, and rooted in craftsmanship.

At Fendi, she inherits a house celebrated for its artistry, bold silhouettes, sumptuous materials, and deep ties to Rome. Her mission is to reinterpret this legacy through her own lens, marrying the discipline of tailoring with imaginative fluidity. Chiuri’s debut collection for Fall/Winter 2026–27 is eagerly anticipated as the first expression of this dialogue between tradition and innovation.

Silvia Venturini Fendi, the last active member of Fendi’s founding family, closes her chapter having shaped menswear, accessories, and countless iconic collections, her influence permanently woven into the house. This handover represents more than a leadership change—it is a convergence of two Roman women whose visions intersect in their respect for heritage and drive for reinvention.

As Fendi enters this new era, Maria Grazia Chiuri is poised to craft a narrative where femininity becomes a declaration, and fashion remains a living art form anchored in the present.

Fit & Fabulous

Marc Newson Transforms FENDI SS26 into a Pixelated Floral Dreamscape at Milan Fashion Week

Tanisha Cardozo

For FENDI’s Spring/Summer 2026 show at Milan Fashion Week 2025, acclaimed industrial designer Marc Newson redefined the runway experience by crafting a surreal and visually captivating set—an undulating field of pixelated color blocks inspired by quilt compositions and the organic randomness of flowers.

Held inside the Palazzo Fendi, the show space was transformed into a pixelated terrain, where boxes of varying heights and sizes were meticulously arranged in tonal shifts of white, yellow, turquoise, red, coral, and pink. From above, it resembled a magnified digital image, with each “pixel” acting as part of a larger, changing mosaic. As models walked, the surface moved slightly beneath them, creating an interactive experience that merged motion, color, and spatial awareness.

This set wasn’t just backdrop—it was integral to the narrative of the SS26 collection. The clothing responded to the set, incorporating many of the same hues and geometric principles. From cropped blazers and balloon hems to oversized cotton coats, each piece was designed to interplay with the environment, enhancing the volume and silhouette against the shifting background.

The materials—organza, jacquard, technical fabrics, cotton, and leather—were chosen not just for texture but for the way they interacted with light and motion. The garments explored fullness, void, and contrast, amplified by the moving, polychromatic set.

Musical direction by Frédéric Sanchez added another sensory layer to the experience. The score included excerpts from Italian opera and cinema, combined with electronic music, forming a sonic environment that evolved with the models’ steps. The music mirrored the dynamic shifts in both the set and collection, bringing rhythm and emotion to every look.

Marc Newson’s vision for FENDI’s SS26 show presented a dialogue between fashion, technology, and landscape—a reminder that the runway can be both a canvas and a collaborator. The result was a multi-sensory display of transformation, color, and form, solidifying FENDI’s position at the intersection of craftsmanship and future-forward design.

Fit & Fabulous

Stray Kids’ Bang Chan Wows at Fendi SS/26 Runway During Milan Fashion Week

Tanisha Cardozo

On September 24, amidst the grandeur of Milan Fashion Week, Stray Kids’ leader Bang Chan made a commanding appearance at the Fendi Spring/Summer 2026 runway show. As Fendi’s global ambassador—announced earlier in 2025—this moment reinforced his emerging status as a style icon bridging K‑Pop and high fashion.

Chan stepped onto the runway in a striking ensemble: a black sheer, lacy shirt layered with matching black trousers, and topped with a charcoal gray leather coat. To complete the monochrome aesthetic, he accessorized with Fendi earrings, a coordinating ring, and a sleek black bag. The look was simultaneously bold and elegant, capturing attention for its refined interplay of texture and tone.

Fans online were quick to laud the pairing. On X, one fan wrote, “Bang Chan looks like a fantasy character, and the outfit is a masterpiece.” Another gushed, “It’s as if Fendi created this look specifically for Chan… the combination becomes a work of art in itself.” The hashtag wave—#BANGCHANXFENDISS26 and #FENDISS26—trended among K‑Pop fashion fans and Fendi followers alike.

This runway appearance is not Bang Chan’s first outing for Fendi. He debuted in Fendi’s sphere at Milan Fashion Week prior to his ambassador role, wearing all‑cream ensembles at their FW25 show, and has since become a regular in Fendi styling.

Before the show, Chan also attended the inauguration of Fendi’s flagship store in Milan, wearing a voluminous beige fur coat over neutral tones. The juxtaposition of that softer look and the bold runway outfit demonstrates his versatility as a fashion muse.

The Fendi SS/26 show itself, directed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, leaned into playful elegance and craftsmanship—sheer fabrics, bold silhouettes, floral motifs, and leather details took center stage. Chan’s styling and presence aligned well with the collection’s aesthetic, reinforcing his synergy with the brand.

In a fashion world increasingly influenced by pop culture and global fandoms, Bang Chan’s presence at Fendi’s runway underscores how music and style are converging. For fans and fashion insiders alike, his appearance is more than a guest spot—it’s proof that he’s a creative collaborator, an ambassador, and a muse capable of carrying both the weight of brand legacy and the energy of K‑Pop fandom into the next era.

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Giorgio Armani Dies at 91: A Titan of Fashion Who Redefined Elegance

Tanisha Cardozo

Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with elegance, precision, and power, has died at the age of 91. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Armani changed the language of fashion—removing stiffness from men’s tailoring, empowering women with refined suits, and leaving an unmistakable mark on red carpet culture.

Born in 1934 in Piacenza, northern Italy, Armani came from humble beginnings shaped by war and scarcity. He originally pursued medicine and served in the army before beginning his career in fashion as a window dresser. It was there, on the shop floor, that Armani’s acute understanding of fabric, form, and what people wanted to wear was forged. Rising through the ranks, he became a buyer, then a designer, eventually working for Nino Cerruti before founding his own label in 1975 with his partner Sergio Galeotti.

Together, they built an empire that challenged convention. Armani softened menswear—introducing more fluid shapes and luxurious fabrics—and hardened womenswear, with sharply tailored suits that reflected women’s growing presence in the workplace. His designs communicated quiet power and modernity, worn by some of the most influential figures of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Hollywood embraced his vision early on. In 1980, Richard Gere wore Armani in American Gigolo, launching the designer into global stardom. From there, he became a red carpet mainstay, dressing stars like Julia Roberts, Cate Blanchett, Zendaya, and Russell Crowe. He created stage outfits for Lady Gaga and film costumes for The Untouchables and The Wolf of Wall Street. Armani understood better than anyone that image was power—and his garments delivered it.

He was also a man of principle. In 2006, he became the first designer to ban underweight models from his runway shows, following the tragic death of Ana Carolina Reston. His business remained fiercely independent, resisting outside investment while expanding into beauty, fragrance, hotels, music, and sport. With annual revenues exceeding £2bn and a personal fortune estimated at $13bn, Armani was one of the last great independently owned fashion houses in the world.

Tributes poured in from across the globe. Donatella Versace called him “a giant,” Julia Roberts described him as “a true friend,” and British designer Paul Smith praised his “staying power” and “down-to-earth nature.” Actor Russell Crowe recalled Armani being present for many significant moments in his life, while Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him “an icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best of Italy.”

Even in his final years, Armani remained creatively active, presenting his last collection remotely from Milan in July 2025. His March show earlier that year was a call for global harmony—his design always reflecting the times, always evolving with the world.

Behind the discipline and minimalism was a deeply private man who lived with quiet intensity. He swam daily in a specially designed pool just one yard wide. He worked tirelessly, never satisfied, always in pursuit of perfection. Armani once said, “I never give up until I’ve achieved the results I want.”

He is survived by the brand he built, the style he transformed, and a legacy woven not only into fabric but into the very way people see themselves. Giorgio Armani wasn’t just a designer—he was a revolutionary. And he will be remembered as one of the greatest ever to shape the world of fashion.