Saks Fifth Avenue Unveils Here for the Future Spring Campaign Starring Tiffany Haddish and Maluma

Saks Fifth Avenue unveiled its Spring campaign, Here for the Future, starring comedian, actress and producer, Tiffany Haddish and global Latin music idol, Maluma. The 360-degree campaign celebrates forward-looking, innovative designers, artists and activists that are shaping the future of their industries and who Saks believes are creating the future. Here for the Future underscores the luxury retailer's focus on evolving for the future to continue delivering the best in fashion and beauty through a personalized and seamless experience.

"Saks is committed to using our voice to engage with our customers in meaningful and authentic ways," noted Emily Essner, Chief Marketing Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue. "As an arbiter of fashion, culture and lifestyle, Saks strives to elevate timely and relevant topics that are of interest to our customers. Here for the Future reflects the important issues impacting our world today and our focus on championing voices who are using their creativity and passion to help secure a bright future for us all."

Here for the Future spotlights an array of designers who push boundaries and deliver unique points of view through their collections, including A-COLD-WALL*, BruceGlen, Busayo, Christopher John Rogers, Farm Rio, Kimberly Goldson, Reese Cooper and Tove.

Saks' women's Spring 2021 Fashion Book includes the Saks It List, a forecast of the season's must-have trends, such as easy breezy dresses, statement earrings and knit dressing. Similarly, the men's Spring 2021 Style Book features Need Now, with trends like loungewear, high-top sneakers and sport luxe.

"As a fashion authority, Saks is focused on delivering the most distinctive and powerful luxury assortment for our customers," said Tracy Margolies, Chief Merchant, Saks Fifth Avenue.

"Our customers look to us for inspiration and to provide the best and latest in fashion. This season provides us with an amazing opportunity to use our platform to bring emerging designers to the forefront, so they can continue to pave the way for the future of luxury fashion."

The campaign, which can be found across Saks print and digital channels, is also featured in the iconic Fifth Avenue windows of the Saks New York flagship. The women's and men's Spring Books can be found in Saks stores or online at saks.com/c/content/catalogs.

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Fifth Anniversary Blue Jacket Fashion Show Featuring Billy Porter, André Leon Talley and More Goes Virtual

Billy Porter wearing Thom Browne at the Blue Jacket 2019 runway show during NYFW.

The fifth annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation will be held virtually—and with a newly personal approach—at 7:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, February 4, 2021, which is also World Cancer Day. Janssen Oncology, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, will return as the official healthcare sponsor of the event, which helps raise awareness about the devastation of prostate cancer and the importance of screening and early detection, as well as treatment options across the disease continuum.

The event will again unite the fashion, entertainment, healthcare and media worlds to openly discuss prostate cancer, with a new emphasis on racial disparities and underserved communities—and with the models' individual homes and personal spaces standing in for a shared runway. The behind-the-scenes glimpses into participants' personal lives will hope to inspire viewers to take charge of one's own health and treatment.

The program will feature virtual one-on-one discussions with leading celebrities and fashion, medical and research experts, and conclude with a socially distant version of the initiative's traditional Blue Jacket runway show.

Event participants include fashion industry icon André Leon Talley, actors Billy Porter, Mario Cantone and Dominic Fumusa, TV personalities Mike Woods, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Don Lemon and Bill Nye, and celebrity stylist Ty-Ron Mayes. Top fashion designers including Michael Kors, Thom Browne, Stephen F, Duckie Brown, Nick Graham, Ben Sherman, Tommy Hilfiger, Bruno Magli and Michael Strahan and Joseph Abboud for Men's Wearhouse will reimagine the traditional "blue jacket" that participants will then model in their own unique ways.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer. Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime. Risk factors for prostate cancer include increasing age, African ancestry, family history of the disease, certain inherited genetic conditions, as well as other factors (e.g., diet, chemical exposure, smoking). Men should talk to their doctors about prostate cancer screening options starting at age 50, or 40 if in a high-risk group.

"Janssen Oncology is thrilled to be a part of the Blue Jacket Fashion Show once again to raise awareness of prostate cancer. This year, we are especially proud to help shift the focus to reflect patients most impacted," says Rodney Gillespie, VP of Sales & Marketing at Janssen Oncology, and himself a participant in the event. "Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Black men, who are also twice as likely to die from the disease as white men. Janssen Oncology is committed to raising awareness of the disproportionate impact of prostate cancer in Black communities as we work to eliminate health inequities for those living with and impacted by prostate cancer."

"As we discover how genes work in prostate cancer in order to detect it far earlier and treat it far more precisely, we accelerate the end of death and suffering from prostate cancer," says Jonathan W. Simons, MD, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. "The Prostate Cancer Foundation prizes our partnership with the Blue Jacket Fashion Show. It heightens awareness of prostate cancer, encourages every man to talk to his doctor about personal and family risks, prioritizes screening and stylishly encourages a healthier lifestyle."

To reserve a "seat" at the 2021 Blue Jacket Fashion Show, you can register at www.bigmarker.com/blue-jacket/2021. All attendees must register by Wednesday, February 3, 2021. After the event, the show will be available for viewing on Blue Jacket's YouTube channel.

Donations toward prostate cancer research can also be made on the Prostate Cancer Foundation's website at www.pcf.org/bluejacket.

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Hublot Launches New Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Orange Sapphire

Transparent, black, yellow, blue, red – Hublot has mastered the creation and machining of sapphires with exclusive shades for its watchcases. With the new Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Orange Sapphire, the brand has once again achieved a world first by adding a completely new color to its palette of through-tinted sapphires. This unprecedented technical and aesthetic feat is combined with an entirely new tourbillon movement not only equipped with self-winding (a rarity for a tourbillon), but also with a reinvented architecture with its micro-rotor visible on the dial side and three sapphire bridges. A new fusion of daring and transparency, in a limited edition of 50 pieces.

In line with its winning spirit, Hublot has produced a new exceptional innovation by unveiling the world's very first case in orange sapphire. Our manufacture has also reaffirmed its watchmaking expertise by unveiling a new automatic tourbillon calibre, entirely designed and manufactured in-house, and on which the spectacular visible dial side architecture underscores the innovative design of the watch. The "Art of Fusion" in all its glory according to Ricardo Guadalupe, HUBLOT CEO

Orange sapphire, a world first

If there's one area where Hublot's own "Art of Fusion" is expressed in all its boldness and radiance, it's definitely that of cutting-edge materials, particularly manufactured sapphire. Over the years, the brand (which has its own Metallurgy & Materials laboratory) has already released numerous very illustrious watches where the sapphire cases and dials, available in novel colors, act as transparent settings for sophisticated mechanics – such as the Big Bang Unico Sapphire (transparent), All Black Sapphire, Big Bang Unico Red Sapphire and Blue Sapphire, and the recent Spirit of Big Bang Yellow Sapphire. Today, Hublot continues to innovate with this extraordinary material by reinterpreting the Big Bang Sapphire Tourbillon in an entirely new orange shade – a world first for a through-tinted sapphire – achieved thanks to the incorporation of titanium and chromium in a skilful manufacturing process. This surprising and dynamic colour is a breath of fresh air for haute horlogerie, and is in perfect harmony with Hublot's culture of excellence. The fascination of the translucent bezel and case in finely polished orange sapphire is enhanced by the technical tone of the six H-shape titanium screws that characterize the iconic Big Bang design.

An entirely new self-winding tourbillon calibre

A revolutionary case with an innovative movement. Hublot illustrates its unrivalled watchmaking expertise – and its mastery of the tourbillon, which has been constantly developed since 2007 – by accommodating an entirely new tourbillon movement at the heart of the orange sapphire, completely designed and produced by the brand. Unlike traditional tourbillon movements, equipped with manual winding, this exceptional calibre makes a name for itself thanks to its self-winding system ensuring a minimum power reserve of three days (72 hours) – a very noticeable improvement for the wearer. It is equipped with ceramic ball bearings and the latest Hublot technical advances in its winding system. The manufacture has also reasserted its uniqueness by reconstructing the movement in its entirety in order to make the micro-rotor visible from the dial side. This innovative layout not only represents an additional technical challenge for the designers, but also breathes new life in aesthetic terms, by strengthening the spectacular appearance of the dial and its very contemporary design. The perpetual movements of the micro-rotor set at 12 o'clock echo the rotation of the tourbillon, its regulating organ, positioned in perfect symmetry at 6 o'clock. The grey 22-carat gold micro-rotor is set off by exquisite decoration (bevelling, sunray-brushing and sand-blasting), as well as by signature Hublot openwork in the precious metal.

Hublot has also continued in its quest for transparency by using more sapphire in the movement itself. The manufacture calibre on the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Orange Sapphire is equipped for the first time with three sapphire bridges – a barrel bridge, an automatic bridge and a tourbillon barrette. The lightweight effect of the skeleton work is accentuated by heavily open-worked and sandblasted platinum. The tourbillon cage at six o'clock, revolving on its axis every minute to compensate for the pull of the earth on the movement's direction, is distinctive for its pure geometry affording a glimpse into the mechanical heart of the model. The legibility of the open dial is enhanced by hands and indices with a luminescent coating. The transparent orange rubber strap with a lined relief – with a patented express One Click interchangeability system and titanium deployant buckle – completes the cutting-edge look of this limited edition release of 50 pieces.

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Professor Jimmy Choo Announces The Launch Of A New Fashion Academy To Find The Next Generation of Fashion Designers

Luxury footwear pioneer Professor Jimmy Choo OBE, today announces the launch of a dynamic new higher education fashion academy in the heart of London, which is on track to become the UK's newest university exclusively dedicated to fashion.

Opening its doors this September, the JCA | London Fashion Academy, has been established through a shared ambition of Professor Choo and the founding team.

Situated in London's Mayfair, the Academy is set to develop the next wave of global fashion designers. Delivering a fresh and transformative take on fashion higher education, the Academy's courses combine the latest teachings in contemporary design with the entrepreneurial skills required to set-up and drive successful fashion brands of the future.

Revolutionising higher education, the JCA introduces a ground-breaking incubation model where students will be nurtured as emerging professional designers through a mentored approach and will be provided with a level of access to internationally recognised design leaders unrivalled by traditional colleges and universities.

"The Academy has been years in planning, so we are delighted to be opening its doors this September," said Professor Jimmy Choo. "London is a global fashion hub and has created many of the world's most exciting and ground-breaking designers. Rarely though do these designers leave higher education armed with the combined knowledge, skills and resources needed to create, launch and build brands successfully on the global stage. The Academy will help bridge those gaps and truly nurture internationally-focused and highly entrepreneurial design talent."

The JCA | London Fashion Academy has curated a syllabus inspired by Professor Jimmy Choo's experiences in building his own luxury super-brand as well as the multi-faceted skill sets which fashion designers increasingly need in today's ultra-competitive multi-channel global landscape.

"It is brilliant to see new exciting and innovative institutions expanding the boundaries of higher education as a result of Government reforms," states Universities Minister Michelle Donelan. "It is vital that students gain the practical skills and hands-on experience that employers and industries need and the JCA's revolutionary approach can help students hit the ground running into a successful career."

Students discover more information about the JCA and apply for courses from today via the website, www.JCA.ac.uk. The Academy will also offer bursaries to a select number of students.

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Get Stylish With Jenna Lyons on HBO Max

I’ve been glued to HBO Max the last few days. Stylish With Jenna Lyons is a must-watch tv HBO Max series / reality show sans the bullshit drama. It’s all about fashion, style, beauty and decor, trust me, there’s plenty of drama there.

My first introduction of Jenna Lyons came in 2010 via The Fashion Fund - a docu-series about the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund finalists. (This is another binge-worthy series!) Ever since then, I’ve had a slight fascination with Jenna - not in a weird, creepy way - she’s just a really cool chic. Seems pretty “real.” I like that, so when I learned of Stylish With Jenna Lyons, I put The Crown on pause and said hello to another queen.

After 27 years with J. Crew, Jenna left to create her own brand. Stylish With Jenna Lyons is fun, sassy, raw yet polished. Jenna’s team: fashion stylist / creative director Sarah Clary and Chief of Staff Kyle Deford play integral roles in the show and business (and are quite fabulous).

Episode 1 sets the stage, so to speak, and the design show / competition introduces the creatives - a group of young, unique, emotional characters who are competing for a stylish space in the Lyon’s den. Sarah and Kyle oversee Jenna’s design challenges for the aspiring associates. By the final episode, you’ve formed tv-relationships with the cast and the show takes an unforeseen turn. I watched, with empathy and thought: “WOW…” I won’t spoil it - you’ll just have to watch. It’s that good!

Jenna Lyons and her team are inspiring and refreshing. The show feels unscripted, at least for Jenna’s precious pup Popeye who steals the spotlight by pooping on it and barking at everyone - you can’t script that! Jenna offers useful design advice in a segment called Just The Tips and we learn of yet another business she’s started that sells fabulous faux lashes, Loveseen. Watch Stylish With Jenna Lyons on HBO Max, you’ll love it and if you’re still feeling stalkerific and just can’t get enough, this New Yorker interview will tell you way more about Jenna than I have : ‘Afterlife…’

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Moissanite is Here to Stay

Gone are the days where the old adage is only applicable to diamonds! Humans have been using diamonds as precious stones for hundreds of years, and from the more famous applications, such as the Crown of England, to everyday applications, like engagement rings, diamonds have been the stone of choice to denote stability, prosperity and hope. But diamonds come at a far higher cost than just being expensive. Their history is also rooted in blood, conflict and corruption, as natural areas are decimated for their mining, and poor workers exploited and abused for below minimum pay. This major ethical consideration is driving more and more people to a kinder alternative.

Goodbye diamonds, hello moissanite

Moissanite is a mineral compound that was discovered by a scientist named Henri Moissan, from whom the stone takes its name. However, the initial site of discovery was near a meteor impact site, and the original silicon carbide crystals could not be used as moissanite directly. A series of scientific interventions must occur in order for the silicon carbide to be usable in the form of moissanite as we experience it. Visually, there are several significant similarities between diamonds and the more affordable moissanite such as the fact that they are of similar brilliance and hardness.

Advanced laboratory processes ae used to manufacture moissanite jewels. Although far cheaper than diamonds they provide a high-quality, ethical alternative, which not only benefits those with restricted budgets, but also those with ethical objections to the use of diamonds.

Getting the best Moissanite Gemstone

A great stone does not come into its own without a great setting. Its neutral color allows the band to be set in almost any color metal, such as yellow, rose, or white gold. Like diamonds, the right cut is also crucial to get the right degree of fire from the stone. Moissanite is well known for its refractive abilities, creating a rather spectacular rainbow effect. It also has a far higher sparkle value than a diamond, making it appear far more radiant. Buying a moissanite will also have you considering weights and measurements, which is similarly measured in carats. The big difference comes into the price to weight ratio. For a stone of equal size, you can expect a significant and pocket-pleasing difference in price.

Taking the first step

Engagements, birthdays, anniversaries – you can be sure that there is a moissanite out there that will meet your needs. I cannot reiterate the value of the correct setting enough – remember that you are not dealing with a cheap diamond replica – you are dealing with a significant jewel in its own right, and the money you spend will be wasted if the setting is poor. Make sure that you go through your buying process in the right way and get the full value of the money you spend. All that remains is to enjoy the extreme sparkle and beauty of your new purchase. Because there are no ethical considerations attached to them, you can breathe easy and know that you are not contributing to anything sinister through your purchase.

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Vitra and Virgil Abloh drop limited edition "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" collection on Basic.Space

Swiss design company Vitra and Virgil Abloh have collaborated to drop three limited edition "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra" products, available to U.S. consumers for the first time via online marketplace Basic.Space. Products will be available for sale globally through the site's digital storefront, which will livestream the collection and a special DJ music performance by Pedro Cavaliere from a 6-day pop-up installation in Miami's Design District. The installation was created by Abloh's London-based studio Alaska Alaska and is powered by Cash App as part of the company's ongoing efforts to support the creative community. Additional, Abloh and Vitra CEO Nora Fehlbaum will have a conversation about the collection that will air on Abloh's IGTV channel.

"Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" explores the urgent need for inclusivity in design, and invites people of all generations, races and backgrounds to have conversations about both social issues and design topics. Virgil Abloh is known for pushing boundaries and using creativity to communicate socio-political messages while Vitra has a long history of undertaking experimental projects with designers, architects and artists that test the limitations of design's predicted norms.  Driven by the new mindset of Generation 'Next' – a forward-thinking psychographic that transcends age, gender, race, ethnicity and income – Basic.Space provides forward-thinking brands such as these with an innovative approach for reaching new audiences, turning the traditional retail model on its head. The Basic.Space community of creatives makes it possible for brands to speak and connect with this new generation that is changing the way we see the world.

"My mission has not changed. My hopes for this collaboration are to further strengthen this bond with the new generation, providing them with further inspiration, as well as room for thought and a sense of inclusion. This collaboration invites the new generation into the conversation – my work is meant to open doors for them," says Virgil Abloh.

"What I find particularly inspiring about Virgil Abloh is that he comes to the table as an outsider, with a fresh look at our collection and a different pace, free of constraints," says Nora Fehlbaum, CEO. "I'm interested in the way that he structures knowledge and passes it on to a new generation in such a condensed manner. He manages to shift the topic of design classics away from the discourse of an intellectual elite to make them accessible to a wider public."

"We're excited to partner with Virgil Abloh and Vitra on this thought-provoking collection, one that embodies inclusivity and design, while inviting a new audience to experience something unique.  This collaborative release captures the essence of Basic.Space where brands and creatives can manifest their vision effortlessly both online and offline," said Jesse Lee, founder of Basic.Space.

"Basic.Space offers a unique shopping experience that seamlessly integrates our digital and physical worlds. The platform is authentic, socially conscious and design-centric -- traits that are inherent to our company and important to our customer. This partnership allows Vitra to interact with a new audience and the opportunity to meet the next generation of young design collectors," says Melissa Shelton, Vitra North American President.

The "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" collection is a spin-off to an earlier collaboration that dropped in 2019 on Vitra's Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany during Art Basel alongside a futuristic exhibition TWENTYTHIRTYFIVE. The three pieces – a Ceramic Block, along with the Petite Potence lamp and Antony armchair originally designed by Jean Prouvé, are reimagined in baby blue that Abloh intends to stand alone as an object with a function. The "hacked" Prouvé pieces represent the power of design to evolve in order to speak to a new generation.  

"Jean Prouve worked as a craftsman, designer, manufacturer, architect, teacher, and engineer - he truly was a multifaceted designer and not limited to one "discipline". His many talents translate through his work – intertwining art with social consciousness. I feel interconnected with Prouve in light of, I too, work within many worlds; art, fashion, music and philanthropy– meshing my ideas from these many realms together for a greater message to the world," says Virgil Abloh.

"Practicing and welcoming inclusion – I created the "Post Modern" Scholarship Fund in effort to do just that. The mission of the Fund is to foster equity and inclusion within the fashion industry by providing scholarships to students of academic promise of Black, African-American, or African descent; recipients will not only be provided with funds, but will also be given access to vital career support services and mentoring. Art and good nature can change the world, I refuse to believe otherwise," says Virgil Abloh.

"The teenager of today has become a creative doer who transforms his memories and experiences, all of the cultural and social influences, into his or her own products, thereby finding a personal field of activity,' says Fehlbaum.

The "Virgil Abloh c/o Vitra: US Edition" installation takes place at 140 NE 39th Street in the Miami Design District, and is open to the public December 3-7, from 11am EST to 7 pm EST, limited to five visitors allowed into the exhibition space at a time, in accordance with city guidelines and enhanced safety measures in place. Visitors can purchase limited edition and numbered pieces and enjoy live and digital experiences at the space.

Ceramic Block 
In the installation, the visitor's gaze is directed to the future with a wall of consecutively numbered bricks: the Ceramic Blocks. These glazed ceramic objects are not just a structural element but also take on a life of their own as storage objects in Virgil Abloh's concept. The limited exhibition edition comprises 999 Ceramic Blocks, in baby blue, each with a noticeable numeral that makes it unique, and can be purchased directly at the Basic.Space "gallery," modifying the structure of the installation, or on the curated online marketplace Basic.Space from December 3 to 7.

Petite Potence
Jean Prouvé created the Potence wall lamp for his home in Nancy in 1942, and the design was soon produced in a range of sizes. Virgil Abloh is fascinated by the industrial clarity of this concept and integrates the smaller Petite Potence in his installation. He has accentuated the 'industrial DNA' of the design with a baby blue lacquer finish that gives it a new visibility, while a striking LED bulb in an oblong cage further enhances the appearance. Virgil Abloh's version of Petite Potence is available in a limited and numbered edition of 150 pieces. 

Antony 
The armchair Antony was developed by Jean Prouvé in the early 1950s for the university halls of residence in Antony near Paris. With its dynamically curved wooden shell and characteristic metal base, this small armchair was one of the French designer's last furniture creations. Virgil Abloh pays tribute to the iconic design with an updated version in his installation, he has transformed the armchair by giving it a frosted plexiglass shell, which is further accentuated by a baby blue lacquer finish. This version is available in a numbered edition limited to 150 pieces.   

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