Raf Simons

Dior re-works simplicity and plays on faux naif Dada & Surrealism

March 1, 2013

I may have to re-evaluate Dior. It’s quite in another veign since Galliano left – not a bad move but decidedly different and relaying the quiet elegance and polished restraint of the new meister at the helm. This A/W’13 show managed to be both modernist mode and charming in extremis, the film-star’s fall-back for good […]

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Raf’s Spring ’13 vision at Dior – But is it Couture?

January 22, 2013

It was one of the most anticipated couture shows of this season and to many it didn’t disappoint but to a few, myself included, it did. This was a show where Raf Simons showed that he undoubtedly had tight vision and an ability to take Dior’s elegance, major inspirations and calling cards (flowers, lightness, a […]

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Ta da! THE KATIES 2012

January 3, 2013

2012 was something of an “annus horribilis” Chez Chutzpah, with both of our lives dogged by personal tragedy throughout. Luckily we’re able to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, open up a whole huge can o’whoopass, and present to you the annual Katie Awards….. AMAZING! OUR UNSTOPPABLE FORCE IN FASHION AWARD – Riccardo Tisci, a designer who […]

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Chutzpah’s Weekly Barometer

November 18, 2012

A light hearted look back over the past week’s good, bad and indifferent including the “don’t even go there’s.” LOVINGDanny Boyle – The architect of this Summer’s brilliant Olympics opening ceremony has spoken out against this Government’s stance on regional theatre and performing arts. Good work fella. Body Shop’s The Sparkler – A brilliant sprizt on […]

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Chutzpah’s Weekly Barometer

July 10, 2012

A light hearted look back over the past week’s good, bad and indifferent including the “don’t even go there’s.” LOVING Giambattista Valli Couture – Yes, Raf blah blah Dior blah etc BUT dramatic Valli-style cape dresses are the frocks La Chutzpah has her eye on for next season. Glorious. The Megabus bomber – The kind of farce […]

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Raf Simons Ice Cool Restraint Wins Hearts & Minds at Dior

July 3, 2012

There will be reams of column inches devoted to ‘did he or didn’t he?’ (win over the fash pack) with his first Dior outing but Raf Simons showed not only his pedigree but his taste level and good manners as he cut a sharp trajectory from Dior’s ’50s past to future with a scintillating sythe […]

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Britannica at Selfridges 1951-1953

May 9, 2012

Last week I attended the opening of Brittanica 1951-1953 in the UltraLounge in Selfridges’ basement, a space often used to highlight the store’s key launches or focus. Britannica 1951-1953 is a new fashion exhibition conceived by esteemed curator Judith Clark in collaboration with illustrious milliner Stephen Jones, exclusively for Selfridges’ as part of the Big British Bang, the store’s all-encompassing […]

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Chutzpah’s Weekly Barometer

May 4, 2012

A light hearted look back over the past week’s good, bad and indifferent including the “don’t even go there’s”. LOVING Trompe L’oeil – The deluge of slimming optical illusion dresses comes thick and fast. From Hollywood A-listers to contestants on BBC1’s ‘The Voice’ everybody’s doing it. Patternity Tights – For The Bauhaus exhibition in May 2012, […]

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Chutzpah’s Weekly Barometer

April 13, 2012

A light hearted look back over the past week’s good, bad and indifferent including the “don’t even go there’s”.LOVING Harvey Nichols Windows – HN’s ingenious General Store windows have managed to create an old style row of shops with the street sign, ‘Fashion Walk’. Well done to HNs and great to see them back on track […]

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Chutzpah’s Weekly Barometer

March 2, 2012

A light hearted look back over the past week’s good, bad and indifferent including the “don’t even go there’s”. LOVING Matthew Terry – Or, for the uninitiated, the new Calvin Klein underwear model. Get used to the name; his crotch is going to be all up in your grill for the next few months (WE WISH). […]