You know how some weeks you just can’t keep up with all the fashion news flying around? This has been one of those weeks where I’m scrolling through my phone during my daughter’s ballet practice and suddenly there’s like six major stories happening at once. I mean, between trying to figure out if Emma needs new leotards and dodging the other parents who want to discuss the school fundraiser, I’ve been keeping track of some genuinely interesting industry stuff.
I’ll be honest – most fashion news doesn’t really affect my day-to-day life of Target runs and playground duty. But some of these stories actually made me stop mid-scroll and think “huh, that’s actually worth knowing about.” Whether you’re someone who follows every creative director musical chairs situation or you’re just trying to figure out which stores might actually be worth visiting next time you escape for a solo shopping trip, there’s some stuff here that’s genuinely interesting.
So here’s what caught my attention this week, compiled during naptime and between loads of laundry.
The Hermès news actually surprised me, which doesn’t happen often anymore. Grace Wales Bonner is taking over as creative director of menswear, and it’s apparently the first time they’ve hired someone from outside the company for this role in decades. I’ve always admired Wales Bonner’s work – there’s something so thoughtful about how she approaches design, like she actually cares about the craft and the story behind each piece rather than just chasing whatever’s trending on Instagram this week. The fact that she’s keeping her own label going alongside this new role makes me respect the move even more. Finally, a luxury appointment that feels like it was made for actual creative reasons instead of just following the hype cycle, you know?
Speaking of complete aesthetic transformations, Bella Hadid’s full cowgirl era continues to fascinate me. She showed up somewhere this week in head-to-toe Western wear that would make the most committed Nashville transplant feel like a fraud. But here’s the thing – I actually admire the commitment? Like, she’s not doing that annoying celebrity thing where they wear one Western piece ironically with their usual designer stuff. She’s gone full ranch wife, down to what I assume are actual functional boots, and honestly it suits her way better than all those European yacht party looks ever did. There’s something refreshing about a celebrity actually committing to a whole vibe instead of just dabbling.
Meanwhile, American Eagle is apparently trying to make a comeback on UK high streets after closing all their stores there years ago. They’re betting that Gen Z’s nostalgia for early 2010s mall culture will translate into actual foot traffic and sales. I’m not entirely convinced anyone under 25 actually wants to shop in physical stores for basics they can get delivered next day, but I appreciate the optimism? It’s like watching someone try to bring back something from your own past and wondering if it’ll work or just feel desperately outdated.
The Jasmine Tookes runway story is one of those things that should be completely unremarkable but somehow still makes headlines. She walked a runway visibly pregnant, looked absolutely radiant, and everyone’s acting like it’s revolutionary. The fact that we’re still treating pregnant bodies on catwalks as newsworthy rather than just normal says way more about the fashion industry than it does about the models. I mean, when I was pregnant with Jackson I could barely walk to the mailbox without feeling exhausted, so honestly more power to her. But also – can we please get to the point where this isn’t considered unusual?
Nicholas Daley’s collaboration with Carhartt WIP caught my eye because it’s the kind of partnership that actually makes sense for once. You’ve got Daley’s jazz-age references meeting Carhartt’s utilitarian heritage, and instead of just being a logo-slapping exercise, it looks like they found genuine common ground. The pieces look wearable too, which feels refreshingly adult in a fashion world that’s been obsessed with unwearable statement pieces for way too long. Sometimes I think the best collaborations happen when both brands bring something real to the table instead of just chasing viral moments.
The Shanghai Fashion Week buyer roundup from WWD was actually useful – it’s always interesting to see what industry people think will actually sell versus what dominates social media. Apparently buyers are gravitating toward practical cuts, considered colors, and thank god, a move away from the ultra-maximalist pieces that have been everywhere recently. Maybe wearability is making a comeback? As someone who needs clothes that can survive playground duty and grocery store trips, I’m here for this shift toward things people might actually wear in real life.
Here’s something that made me laugh – luxury brands are apparently seeing their profits decline even though sales are still strong. They’re getting squeezed by rising costs and the ridiculous amounts they’re spending on marketing and those elaborate runway shows in remote locations. Like, who could have predicted that flying everyone to a desert in Morocco for a 15-minute show might be expensive? The Financial Times piece about this was fascinating because it might actually force some efficiency into an industry that’s been coasting on “brand heritage” and inflated margins for way too long.
The Pierpaolo Piccioli at Balenciaga situation is still developing, but his first campaign dropped and it’s… interesting. He’s bringing his signature romanticism to what’s been a pretty austere brand under Demna, and I’m curious whether these aesthetics will create something genuinely new or just confuse everyone. The fashion industry loves a good creative director shake-up, even when it’s not entirely clear anyone actually asked for one. But Piccioli’s work at Valentino was always thoughtful, so maybe this’ll work out better than some of the other recent musical chairs situations.
You know what strikes me about all this news? Most of it confirms what those of us watching from the outside already suspected. The industry is still trying to figure out what comes next after a few years of everything feeling kind of chaotic. Luxury brands are discovering that spending enormous amounts of money on marketing actually costs money (shocking, I know). And we’re still at the point where a pregnant model on a runway is considered revolutionary instead of just Tuesday.
I find myself paying attention to fashion news differently now than I did in my twenties when I worked in PR. Back then I cared about every appointment and every collection because it felt like it all mattered equally. Now I’m more interested in the stories that say something about where things are actually heading, not just who’s moving where for the sake of movement.
Anyway, that’s what caught my attention this week while I was supposed to be paying attention to other things. Now I need to figure out if my current shoe situation can handle the walk from the car to preschool pickup in what looks like incoming rain. Spoiler alert – it probably can’t, but here we are.
I’ll keep tracking the actually interesting stuff and report back next week, probably from the same spot on the sidelines of Emma’s activities while trying to look like I have my life together. See you then.
