It’s odd how trends work. Quite often, I’m wondering if it’s the chicken or the egg that comes first, as designers unveil their new collections. Former Chloe designer Phoebe Philo is revitalizing Celine, where she recently became Creative Director; a debut collection of chalky-hued and leather-trimmed garments have been photographed alongside Alexander Wang’s sepia-stained Spring 2010 collection. We wait, mouths agape, for a chance to shimmy into those leather shorts and blouses. We don’t know which house broke the neutral trend first, but both Elle UK and The Gentlewoman showcase the minimalist look this month.
The fashion tomes we look to for all sorts of inspiration tread the trend waters themselves. 2005 marked the year of the men’s magazine, with the launch of Jefferson Hack’s Another Man and Jop Van Bennekom’s Fantastic Man. Acne Paper also hit stands five years ago, and while it’s certainly aimed at both sexes, the magazine is very much the product of Acne Creative Director & Editor-in-Chief Thomas Persson, the clothier behind one of our favorite denim brands.
Women’s magazines are far easier to come by, but it seems a niche is being formed, an elegant alternative to the Vogue’s and W’s. Rika is a magazine made by girls for girls, featuring regulars we’re hardly sick of – Daisy Lowe graces one of the five covers, Liberty Ross tell us what she smells like, and Christina Kruse goes grunge for an exquisite editorial photographed by Marc Hom. The creator is a model herself, and launched her handbag line in that pivotal year, 2005.
The German magazine I Love You is timeless; a bit of their Manifesto reads, “Women are Beautiful. Women are Sexy. Women are Clever and Intelligent.” Editor Christiane Bördner gained a fan in me when she told Judith Puckett-Zinella of The Moment blog that her “heart beats for magazines, photography, and I love paper.” We love you, too.
