Dolce & Gabbana Evoke the Dolce Vita during Milan Fashion Week

A model presents a creation by Dolce&Gabbana during the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, 18 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO CORNER
A model presents a creation by Dolce&Gabbana during the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, 18 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO CORNER
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Dolce & Gabbana Evoke the Dolce Vita during Milan Fashion Week

A model presents a creation by Dolce&Gabbana during the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, 18 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO CORNER
A model presents a creation by Dolce&Gabbana during the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, 18 January 2025. EPA/MATTEO CORNER

To bling, or not to bling is the eternal question at Dolce & Gabbana — and the designing duo had it both ways Saturday during the Milan Fashion Week menswear preview for the next cold weather season.
The elegant show invitation in winter-neutral Burgundy — suggested an understated collection and the runway silhouette was loose and effortless. Emblazoned with the word paparazzi, there was also a hint of look-at-me flash.
Evoking the Dolce Vita Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's collection for Fall/Winter 2025 evoked the Dolce Vita of easy men’s dressing with two moods: pulled-together daytime casual and red (or make that burgundy) carpet/evening formalwear.
Denim jeans provided the clean canvas for statement outerwear: star-sized faux fur jackets, a leather bomber-trench combo and a long leopard coat. Knitwear with loose cargo pants were easy to wear, functional and contemporary. Except for a bright sequined jacket, the colors palette was timelessly and reassuringly neutral.
The essence of the daywear was distilled in a dark tank top worn with loose tweed trousers and matching cap, and a tech-bro gray T-shirt secured with double-belted trousers.
For evening or formal events, elegant suiting incorporating cummerbunds, tasseled silk scarves and wide lapels were accented with crystal brooches, all the better to glisten as two risers of paparazzi snapped from the runway.
Trend Watch Watch for high-neck faux fur dickies, fastened with silken ribbons for extra warmth and luxury. Bow ties and brooches finishing suits — because why choose? Low-soled sneakers and mid-calf biker boots finish the looks. Capacious soft bags in high-end leathers suggest someplace to go. Key fobs on belt loops, reminders of home.
Paparazzi on the Inside, Fans on the Outside Risers of flashing paparazzi set the mood inside the designers’ Metropol theater.
Outside, Lucien Laviscount sprung like a gazelle over barriers and crossed tram tracks in front of the theater to greet cheering fans after the show. The “Emily in Paris” actor wore an elegant double-breasted pinstripe suit with gold neck chains, worthy of his stylish businessman character Alfie, as he signed autographs and snapped selfies.
Just as obliging but not quite as adventurous as the track-crossing Laviscount, South Korean actor Jung Hai-in, wearing a burgundy ensemble, and Thai actor Hirunkit Changkham, in black-and-white diagonally stripped knitwear and Bermuda shorts, also waved to screaming admirers before being driven away.
Front row guests also included James McAvoy, Levi Dylan and Rocco Ritchie.



Hermes Beats Sales Expectations, Sees Positive Signs in China

The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)
The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)
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Hermes Beats Sales Expectations, Sees Positive Signs in China

The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)
The logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Paris, France, April 24, 2020. (Reuters)

Hermes, whose handbags sell for $10,000 and more, on Thursday reported stronger than expected fourth-quarter revenue growth, lifted by strong sales in the United States and Japan.

Thanks to its ultra-wealthy clients and large order backlog, the group has weathered a luxury sector slowdown better than most of its rivals, consistently increasing revenue while sales at other luxury groups, like LVMH and Kering , have been under pressure.

"The group is going into 2026 with confidence," said CEO Axel Dumas, adding that this year's ‌price increases would ‌be around 5-6%, down from a 6-7% rate in ‌2025, ⁠attributing the slower pace ⁠to currency shifts.

Hermes shares gained 2% in early trade, Reuters reported.

Chiara Battistini, luxury equity analyst at J.P. Morgan, said the price increases Hermes imposes on its deep-pocketed customers this year will be key for the company's growth outlook.

Many of its rivals have put the brakes on price rises due to falling sales. Gucci owner Kering's CEO earlier this week said a price hike "bonanza" post-pandemic had contributed ⁠to the company's revenue slide.

Sales of products, including Birkin and ‌Kelly bags, silk scarves and perfume, grew ‌by 9.8% in the fourth quarter in currency-adjusted terms, compared to an analyst consensus compiled ‌by Visible Alpha of 8.4% growth.

Sales in the Americas region, mainly ‌the United States, rose by 12.1%, beating expectations of around 9%, while sales in Asia excluding Japan - a region mainly driven by China - grew 8%.

POSITIVE SIGNS IN CHINA

In a call with analysts, Dumas said he was seeing positive signs in China, ‌a major luxury market that has slowed significantly in the past few years due to the impact of ⁠a property crash on ⁠the country's economy.

"I do not see the situation deteriorating," he said. "There are positive moves, in particular the way they are managing the property crisis."

Revenues in Hermes' leather division, which accounts for most of its profits, grew by 14.6% organically.

Hermes' full-year operating profit came in at 6.57 billion euros ($7.79 billion), with a 41% profit margin, slightly ahead of estimates of a 40% margin. The company said it would pay a dividend of 18 euros per share.

Hermes has grown its overall annual sales by around 38% in the past three years even as most of the luxury industry stalled. Its shares are up 36% over the same period.

With just 25,000 staff globally, family-controlled Hermes has become France's second-largest company by market capitalization after rival LVMH.


‘Saudi 100 Brands’ Showcases Heritage-Inspired Fashion Presentation at Saudi Cup 2026

The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA
The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA
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‘Saudi 100 Brands’ Showcases Heritage-Inspired Fashion Presentation at Saudi Cup 2026

The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA
The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, supports emerging Saudi designers. SPA

The Saudi Fashion Commission announced the participation of the Saudi 100 Brands program in the Saudi Cup 2026, set to take place on February 13-14 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, marking the initiative’s fourth consecutive presence at the global sporting and cultural event.

The participation reflects a celebration of the history and evolution of Saudi fashion, as the initiative presents national heritage through a dynamic and innovative fashion presentation.

The showcases will run over two days, with each day featuring presentations by three Saudi fashion brands, in addition to the participation of three jewelry and accessories brands displaying selected pieces at the accompanying exhibition. This provides a unique opportunity for Saudi designers to present their work to a global audience.

The presentations will highlight the fusion of traditional Saudi heritage with contemporary design, offering a fresh perspective on the Kingdom’s creative identity, with the participation of a selection of Saudi brands.

“Since 2022, the Saudi 100 Brands program has been an integral part of the Saudi Cup, positioning fashion as a cultural expression within one of the Kingdom’s most globally visible events,” said Saudi Fashion Commission chief executive Burak Cakmak.

"This platform has enabled brands to bring together heritage and contemporary narratives that reflect identity, creativity, and innovation. This year represents a natural evolution from an exhibition to a curated showcase, reinforcing fashion’s role as a dynamic cultural platform within the Saudi Cup.”

The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Saudi Fashion Commission, continues to support emerging Saudi designers by providing them with the tools, expertise, and platforms needed to expand their reach and influence in the global fashion industry.

The showcased pieces draw inspiration from heritage motifs, textiles, and storytelling, reinterpreted through innovative design to resonate with modern aesthetics and international audiences. The presentations aim to celebrate national identity, highlight the depth of local creative talent, and showcase the distinctive direction of Saudi fashion as part of the Kingdom’s cultural evolution.

The showcases also offer visitors an opportunity to explore the intersection of craftsmanship and cultural expression, while introducing global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s vibrant and expanding fashion ecosystem.

This participation underscores the Saudi Fashion Commission’s broader vision to foster a thriving fashion sector rooted in cultural heritage and driven by international ambition, by blending cultural narratives with innovative design and creating pathways for Saudi fashion to contribute meaningfully to global creative industries, while nurturing talent and positioning Saudi brands for sustained success.


Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2026 Collection a Mix of Romantic Adventure with Metallic Flair 

A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)
A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)
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Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2026 Collection a Mix of Romantic Adventure with Metallic Flair 

A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)
A model walks the runway during the Ralph Lauren Fall 2026 Collection fashion show in New York, on February 10, 2026. (AFP)

With more than 50 years in fashion, Ralph Lauren is still looking for adventure. Lauren took his celebrity guests on an adventure into the English countryside Tuesday for his fall 2026 runway show.

Set amid the beaux arts architecture of the Clock Tower building in Manhattan, Lauren delivered a stylish take on softness and strength, pairing luxurious earth-toned rich fabrics with metallic detailing for his latest collection.

Lauren’s ethereal models with their hair flowing behind them strutted on opulent rugs as celebrity guests including actor Anne Hathaway, singer Lana Del Rey and actor Lili Reinhart looked on from antique style chairs; a romantic painted landscape canvas filled the walls surrounding them.

In his show notes, Lauren described his muse as a woman whose style is not defined by time.

“I love the adventure of fashion,” Ralph Lauren wrote, adding his fall collection “is inspired by that kind of renegade spirit and the confidence of the woman who will wear it in her own personal way — to tell her own story.”

The 86-year-old designer has never been one to follow trends but drive them. At Tuesday’s show, accessories added a modern flair from leather gloves paired with a knit off-the-shoulder dress to shimmering silver detailing.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid opened the show in a wool corseted top and maxi skirt accentuated with a silver waist chain. Other models walked the runway with silver belt chains and metallic brooches that stood in an edgy contrast to Lauren’s romantic Victorian tops and tailored jackets. Lauren pinned metallic glimmering brooches to lush wool cloaks that were elegantly draped over models’ shoulders in a show of strength.

In a modern twist on Joan of Arc, Lauren designed a chain mail top that delicately peeked out from underneath one model’s tweed jacket. Lauren complemented the look with a printed scarf and leather pants.

“There were several looks that had this beautiful chain mail kind of detailing,” actor Ariana DeBose told The Associated Press. “What a way to give a woman beautiful armor.”

Even with his contemporary additions, Lauren’s collection still included his signature touches from his riding boots, exquisite tailoring and elegant high neck blouses.

Lauren’s brand is an American staple that continues to prevail in an ever-changing industry. As part of his enduring legacy, Lauren was once again tapped to design the uniforms for Team USA at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan, marking his sixth time designing for the games.

“From being in Italy with the greatest athletes in the world and then coming here to New York City to put on a fashion show that’s so elegant, it’s two different sides of Ralph Lauren and two different sides of what an American company can do to reach the world,” David Lauren, the company's chief branding and innovation officer, said.