Sandra‘s Closet

OMG! The latest breaking news in the world of fashion… according to BOF, designer Daniel Lee is set to leave Bottega Veneta. A surprise move the group described as a «joint decision», especially as according to Bain, sales rose 2.2 % to nearly €1.2 billion in 2019 under Lee who managed to keep the company growing slightly even during the pandemic in 2020.

Bottega Veneta has set a new standard for luxury since its birth in Vicenza in 1966. Inspired by Italian culture with a global outlook, the House is defined by a distinctly refined attitude. Bottega Veneta uses noble materials to create considered pieces that become part of their owner’s lives. The House embraces a core philosophy of style, innovation and luxury, applied to a full offer for women, men and home.

Daniel Lee was appointed Creative Director in 2018. Born in Bradford in the North of England, Daniel studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and graduated in 2011. Having worked for fashion Houses in London, New York and Paris throughout his career (for example in the studio of Phoebe Philo’s Celine and at Donna Karan), Lee bought a distinct understanding of modern luxury to Bottega Veneta.

He is the brainchild behind the new must-have color green. During his three-year tenure, he played with the texture and proportion of the house’s key intrecciato leather to create must-have bags, such as The Pouch or The Point, and shoes that fashionistas around the world drooled over. His designs have been copied not only by the high street labels but also from other luxury houses.

The must-have Lagoon bubble-insole leather sandals in green.

«My time at Bottega Veneta has been an incredible experience,» Lee said in a statement. «I am grateful to have worked with an exceptional and talented team and I am forever thankful to everyone who was part of creating our vision.»

One of Lee’s best designs for Bottega: The Pouch large gathered intrecciato leather clutch.

Kering chairman François-Henri Pinault thanked Lee for a «singular vision» that «made the House’s heritage relevant for today and put it back to the center of the fashion scene.»

Bottega Veneta Salon 01 S/S 2021

A new creative organisation for the brand will be announced soon, Kering said. Stay tuned!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Bottega Veneta and by Streetstyleshooters / Getty Images
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Yesterday I really felt gloomy about the future, for the first time while being in quarantine. I was shocked in regards to my work when I received the news that after Net-à-Porter had closed its distribution centre in the US last week, the company is shutting down e-commerce operations for Net-à-Porter and Mr Porter in the UK/Europe/Middle East as well. The only space to shop left is the Asian site. It’s not clear when the websites will be back up and running. At the moment, they are not able to accept customer returns, and have extended the window for product returns to a timeframe of 60 days instead of 30.

For me, as I am working with e-commerce, this decision has hit me pretty hard. Somehow, preparing my posts, doing some online shopping or at least looking at the sites, gave me a sense of normality. Now, not being able to generate revenue as much as I used to, leaves me uncertain of what will be next.

The upcoming men’s and haute couture shows in Paris, that would have taken place in July 2020, have been cancelled and Milan’s next men’s fashion week has been postponed and will be merged with the city’s women ready-to-wear week in September 2020.

The retailers that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 crash.

The question is should the fashion industry skip a season? A question, BoF is asking in today’s article. Many companies have not the possibility to work at the moment on their collections. Some might not be able to afford skipping a season but let’s be frank, what will happen with all the merchandise that is left now, that cannot be sold due to closed shops and shut down e-commerce websites. When stores eventually re-open, there will be so much unsold product in the market that analysts are predicting a wave of discounting similar to that seen in the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2008.

In terms of my blogging industry, I can see a tremendous shift happening. Some large fashion and beauty retailers have paused affiliate link programmes as the coronavirus pandemic depresses sales, throwing a fundamental element of the social media economy into turmoil. Right now, it is happening in the mass market, with houses like Dillard, Ulta and Macys, but I am convinced others will follow. Is this the end of the influencer era as affiliation programs are driving a lot of our income?

With so many questions arising, I am sure that we will have difficult times ahead, with also lots of new chances popping up. In the meantime, I am wishing you lots of good energy while enjoying yourself at home. I will try to entertain you as much as I can. Isn’t it quite ironic that we got the corona virus from China and now it is only the Asian warehouse that is open…

IF YOU LIKE TO SHOP ON NET-A-PORTER’S ASIAN SITE, CLICK HERE PLEASE.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, Net-à-Porter and BoF
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Recently, I was wondering what Justin O’Shea has been doing lately and just when I was thinking about the former global fashion director of MyTheresa and street style figure, I read the news on BoF: O’Shea will launch his own brand, SSS World Corp. This marks his return to design following his departure from Brioni in October where he worked as creative director for only one season. The runway debut of his new self-funded menswear brand will take place in Paris in June during the menswear shows. It is said to have a luxury streetwear price-point.

O’Shea’s one capsule collection at Brioni

As BoF states: «SSS World Corp will have advice, production and manufacturing support from Berlin-based 032c, the contemporary culture magazine and clothing line helmed by Joerg and Maria Koch. It will launch a full wardrobe, with product categories including outerwear, tailoring, shirts, t-shirts, swimwear, footwear and jewellery.»

“People don’t want to buy into a label, they want to buy into an idea,” O’Shea tells BoF of the concept behind the brand. “There needs to be some kind of element of contradiction and something which makes them feel like they’re getting individuality rather than something that’s a blank approach.”

«It’s that mixture between formal and street, which inevitably I think is the trend that will go forward.»

O’Shea says he is confident about SSS World Corp’s launch and positioning. “You take what Demna [Gvasalia’s] doing at Vetements, they’re doing whatever they want and they’ve now paved the way because they stayed on their own trajectory. That [attitude] is lacking in menswear compared to womenswear and that’s where I found my relevance.“

Good luck, Justin, I am curious to see the new collection…

LoL, Sandra

Photo: Courtesy of Justin O’Shea, Getty Images