Top Fashion Stories of the Week: November 4

Fashion made strides this week, on both business and sartorial fronts alike. Among the many standout moments, Riccardo Tisci unveiled his first design under his namesake fashion brand in 17 years, Kering reportedly engaged in advanced discussions about acquiring Tom Ford, and Bottega Veneta launched a lifetime warranty. It was a big week for fashion campaigns, too. Rising to the top, Harry Styles fronted in his own Gucci HA HA HA visuals, and Balenciaga and adidas unveiled their very-New-York SS23 campaign.

Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top fashion stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.

Riccardo Tisci Revealed His First Design Under His Eponymous Label in 17 Years

Riccardo Tisci has reopened his namesake label, 17 years after shutting it down. At the London premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Thursday, Michaela Coel walked the red carpet wearing a custom gown by the designer.

The actress donned Tisci’s all-black, silk bodysuit, with a lace skirt wrapping her waist and refined floral tights exuding class. The romantic ensemble was crafted in collaboration with Tisci, Coel and her mother, Kwenua Osborne, according to Business of Fashion.

“We knew this premiere in London—a city so close to both of us— would be the best moment to bring our conversations to life in a very special way,” Tisci said of the custom-made gown’s debut in a statement. “It felt like the perfect time to celebrate Riccardo Tisci, the house that brought me so many opportunities and which led me to where I am today.”

Harry Styles Fronted His Own Campaign for Gucci HA HA HA

Gucci unveiled the HA HA HA campaign, providing an all-new look at what’s on the horizon for Harry Styles and Alessandro Michele‘s collaborative capsule.

For HA HA HA (a moniker that fuses Harry and Alessandro’s first initials), Gucci tapped Mark Borthwick to not only capture photography and videography but also conduct music for the video component. The whimsical campaign shows off the collection that debuted in June. The line includes gingham check suits emblazoned with playful graphics, original reinventions of the signature Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag, teddy-bear necklaces, bowties and more.

On the campaign, Styles said: “I’m so happy to see this project finally come to life. I’ve known Alessandro for years now, and he’s always been one of my favorite people. I’m always inspired watching him work, so doing this collaboration with my friend was very special to me.”

Kering Is Reportedly in Advanced Talks to Acquire Tom Ford

French luxury conglomerate Kering is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Tom Ford. According to the Wall Street Journal, the luxury giant is competing with beauty company Estée Lauder for the company, though Kering is allegedly the frontrunner.

Business of Fashion reports that Tom Ford has been looking to potentially sell since this summer. In August, Estée Lauder was reported to be in discussions about purchasing the company in a deal that valued Tom Ford’s imprint at $3 billion USD.

Kering has not yet commented on the potential Tom Ford acquisition.

Bottega Veneta Launched a Lifetime Warranty for Its Bags

Bottega Veneta announced a new lifetime warranty program for its line of high-end bags. Titled the “Certificate of Craft” program, the launch provides protection for the label’s distinctive accessories via complimentary services.

With the warranty, customers can request free refreshes and repairs in order to ensure the longevity of their investments. “Bottega Veneta is an extraordinary craft with exquisite design and creativity. The Certificate of Craft is born out of a desire to offer our clients a superior service of long-term preservation of their products,” said Leo Rongone, Bottega Veneta CEO, in a statement regarding the Certificate of Craft program. “Our vision remains consistent with the one of our founders. They wanted Bottega Veneta to represent the most elevated and refined form of luxury. We count days, not hours, to make our products. They are designed to last forever.”

Beginning in November, every bag purchased from Bottega Veneta will arrive with a physical and digital card that includes a unique serial number for inclusion in the program.

A$AP Nast Teased a Stüssy and Dries Van Noten Collaboration

Earlier this week, A$AP Nast took to his Instagram Stories to reveal a selection of items from an upcoming collaboration between Stüssy and Dries Van Noten.

The rapper shared photos of a hoodie decorated with spray-painted motifs and enlarged, dual-iconographic embroidery. There was also a khaki-green cap donning an eight-ball patch, with similar co-branding on the back, and a matching gray denim jacket and jeans plastered with all-over neon graphics.

Stüssy and Dries Van Noten have not yet made an official announcement regarding the collection. Stay tuned for more updates.

Balenciaga and adidas Unveiled Their SS23 Campaign

First debuted during a stock exchange-inspired showcase, Balenciaga and adidas presented their Spring/Summer 2023 campaign this week, starring international mavericks inside Manhattan offices. 

Within New York skyscrapers, actresses Isabelle Huppert and Han So Hee appear on break, and boxer Jermell Charlo stands next to Khadim Sock and Bella Hadid, who wears the collection’s Balenciaga-embossed football shirts and signature Three Stripes wide-leg track pants. Elsewhere, the campaign features mock neck tees, layered crewnecks, branded puffer jackets, matching track suits, leather goods and more.

The collection is available to shop now via both brands’ websites, in-store at select adidas and Balenciaga locations globally, and at exclusive pop-ups in Bangkok, Dubai, Los Angeles, Osaka, Seoul, Tokyo, and Toronto.

Pharrel’s First JOOPITER Auction Son of a Pharaoh Reached $5.25 Million USD in Sales

Pharrell Williams’ digital-first auction house JOOPITER on Wednesday announced the results of its first auction, Son of a Pharaoh. After bidding closed on November 1, the newly-debuted entity reported a total of $5.25 million USD in sales.

The figure soared past the sales high forecast of roughly $3.2 million USD, after approximately 94% of the 47 lots sold, with almost 66% selling for higher than predicted. The auction presented a collection of personal artifacts from Pharrell’s career, including his 18K Blackberry that appeared in his legendary freestyle on BET, a gilded Sony Playstation PSP, a Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk in “Black/Multicolor” monogram and more.

Among the high-priced items, the Jacob & Co. N.E.R.D. Character Pendant Chain sold for an impressive $2.184 million USD, which was more than nine times the iconic custom chain’s high estimate.

Notably, a portion of profits from JOOPITER’s inaugural action will benefit Black Ambition’s work to fund bold ideas and organizations led by Black and Latinx entrepreneurs.

Jacquemus Announced a Slew of Suprise Dates for the Rest of the Year

Jacquemus took to Instagram to share a slate of surprise announcement dates through the rest of this year.

Among them, a Tekla collaboration will arrive on November 30, a new colorway for the Jacquemus x Nike Air Humara LX will land on December 5, a surprise show titled “Le Raphia” will take place on December 12, the “Le Bisou” bag will release on December 13, and the brand will close the year with a surprise Christmas delivery on December 25.

See the full announcement below.

Rihanna Dropped the Official Savage x Fenty Show, Vol. 4 Trailer

Rihanna dropped off the official trailer for her upcoming Savage x Fenty Show, Vol. 4.

The spectacle will include performances from Anitta, Burna Boy, Don Toliver, and Maxwell, along with special appearances from Ángela Aguilar, Avani Gregg, Bella Poarch, Cara Delevingne, Damson Idris, Irina Shayk, Joan Smalls, Kornbread, Lara Stone, Lilly Singh, Marsai Martin, Precious Lee, Rickey Thompson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Simu Liu, Taraji P. Henson, Taylour Paige, Winston Duke, Zach Miko and many more. As always, Rihanna is executive-producing and creative-directing the show.

Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty Show, Vol. 4 will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on November 9. Fans can expect the new collection to include “disparate textures, unexpected detailing and unconventional proportions.” Sizes will range from XS-XXXXL. Watch the trailer above.