Ballet shoes - for men?

Delicate is not a word usually used to describe men’s footwear. Chunky is more the norm, or rugged. And so when Jonny Johansson, the creative director of Acne, wore what looked like ballet pumps to the opening of his brand’s new London store the other week, all eyes were drawn to his feet. Was he about to plié?
Johansson was actually wearing shoes that were appropriate for the Mayfair location of his Dover Street store. His dress slippers were from the traditional shoemaker Tricker’s and hark back to the dandified heritage of the area, when dress slippers would have been an evening norm, worn whenever there was to be dancing, complete with their comfortable, quilted lining. “I’m not really a dressed-up guy, more of an easy guy,” he says. “I’m drawn to the mix of formal and informal, and the slippers just seemed suitable. Formal wear is very flattering for a man, but I like it when it’s more relaxed, more nonchalant

Marc Jacobs launches new fragrance with a Bang

The great and the good of London's fashionable set turned out in style last night to help New York fashion designer Marc Jacobs celebrate the launch of his new men's fragrance 'Bang' at Harvey Nichols.
Jacobs' decided to mark his first new fragrance for a decade by stripping off and posing for Juergen Teller as poster boy for the campaign, oiled-up and draped provocatively on silver paper with only a giant bottle of Bang to hide his modesty (if indeed he has any).
DJ duty was covered by the dynamic duo of Scissor Sister’s front man Jake Shears and Madonna’s toyboy (and part time model) Jesus Luz, who sent the crowd wild when he ended his set with her Madgesty’s hit ‘Celebration’.
The guest list was a mixed bag, which saw upcoming poplets Diana Vickers, Pixie Lott and Eliza Doolittle, rub shoulders with rock and roll legend Anita Pallenberg and erstwhile Marc Jacobs model Daisy Lowe.
Find out who else put in an appearance to cosy-up to the main man and throw some shapes on the dancefloor.

Revival of Worth continues

Heritage is one of the most important aspects of a brand’s DNA when it comes to fashion. Few names can claim a lineage as distinguished and enduring, however, as that of Worth.
The name belongs to one, Charles Frederick Worth, an Englishman, from Bourne, in Lincolnshire, who opened his maison in Paris in 1846 and is widely regarded as the ‘father of haute couture’. In his time, Worth dressed the rich, the titled and the famous, from the Empress Eugenie to the actress Sarah Bernhardt and the singer, Dame Nellie Melba, relishing in the cult status which today is enjoyed by the likes of Prada and Louis Vuitton.

Paul Smith launches children's wear

Paul Smith, one of Britain’s most successful designers and fashion businessmen, is launching his first collection of children's wear.
Paul Smith Junior will go on sale in September at major stockists including Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Brown Thomas.

The new range, sized for newborns up to 14 years old, and priced between £34 and £250, bears all the familiar hallmarks of Smith’s quirky classics-with-a-twist approach to design, and has a playful, child-like charm. The bright, punchy colour palette and the familiar silhouettes have been ‘borrowed’ from the main men’s and women’s collections and ‘downsized’ to suit.
The girls’ range includes rose-print, silk dresses and cute, fairisle cardigans; soft, jersey, long-sleeve T-shirts to layer under wool smocks; tiered peasant-skirts, corduroy jackets, wool pea-coats and kilts, tweed shorts, and masses of vibrant stripes. The key pieces in the boys’ collection include multi-stripe and floral shirts, graphic-printed padded jackets, quirky Tees, khaki parkas, pinstripe jackets and luxurious cashmere knits.
Sir Paul Smith (he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2000) is one of the best-known and best-loved names in fashion. Born in Nottinghamshire, his first ambition was to be a professional racing cyclist, a goal cut short by a terrible accident, which, inadvertently led to the start of his fashion career - during six months’ recuperation in hospital he made new friends, several of whom were art students; Smith’s interest was aroused. He began to take evening classes in tailoring and then joined Lincroft Kilgour in Savile Row where his designs were worn by celebrities including George Best. With the help of his then-girlfriend (now wife), Pauline Denyer, who was a Royal College of Art graduate, and a small amount of savings, he opened his first shop in Nottingham in 1970.
His approach of incorporating upper-crust tailoring, with something upbeat and unexpected, proved the key to his success. Menswear led to women’s wear; to shows in Paris; to a hugely-lucrative business in Japan; and to Smith ultimately heading a massive, multi-million pound global empire.
He once said:”The reason I’ve been successful is because I’ve just got on and packed boxes and I know that VAT means Value Added Tax and not vodka and tonic.”