Welcome to Amanda Zips It Up and (something that looks a lot like) SUMMER.
This week, we check out all the madness at the Met Gala 2024, which takes place on the first Monday of every May, and really kick-starts summer for me. A who’s who of A-listers roll up in the craziest elaborate couture, designed to shock that red carpet. It’s a feast for fashionistas’ eyes.
But, as with everything fashion, there’s high-end and low-end. And to prove that point, this week I was sent this press release best described as “out there”. Prepare for more madness…
Welcome to Pee-Stained Denim.
JORDANLUCA embraces “fashion erotica” at every turn. Well, that’s one way of looking at it. While kinks and gimmicks have become the brand’s trademark, JORDANLUCA’s latest offering went viral – its 2024 pee-stained denim. Or, denim that looks that way.
Already sold out on multiple platforms, JORDANLUCA’s soiled denim boasts a slim leg tapered at the ankles, with a discoloured wash and darkened urine stains around the zipper. (Apparently) inspired by the contradicting nature of capitalist consumer culture, JORDANLUCA’s spotted denim observes ‘cannibalistic financial systems that never slow down — even for the bathroom’.
JORDANLUCA’s pee-stained jeans are available at select stockists for £635 GBP (approximately $800 USD). Don’t all rush out to buy them at once…
Told you it was all madness.
As well as the Met Gala, in this instalment we discover ‘DAD FASHION’ and the facial side effects of the OZEMPIC weigh loss drug that everyone is loving right now.
Dresses made out of sand, corsets and power poses and NUDE was the colour.
Arguably the most important fashion event of the year, the annual MET GALA in NYC offers glamour and drama aplenty, year-in year-out. But when it comes to the event’s theme, which changes each instalment and is always a central focus of media attention, not everyone seems to get the memo…
Each year, on the first Monday of May, a key NYC museum transforms into a stage for some of showbiz’s biggest names, who have the opportunity to get creative and showcase some very quirky sartorial choices.
The worst: Kylie Minogue in Diesel is just one of a number of takes on the naked dress. ‘It’s meant to look as though she’s been sleeping in this dress for hundreds of years.
The driving force behind the whole shebang is Vogue’s Anna Wintour, who presides over it all, as per tradition. She is also in charge of that all-important guestlist and event theme, along with the choice of museum. Once again it was at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
Anna Wintour
This year, the vibe was ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion’, which has been described by the Met’s Director as ‘an innovative show [that] will push the boundaries of our imagination and invite us to experience many facets of a work. The theme was JG Ballard’s 1962 short story ‘The Garden of Time, which made references to decay, lots of florals and more than one look that seemed to have nothing to do with anything.
Here’s my pick of the best…
Most people wore Maison Margiela, formerly Maison Martin Margiela, which is a French luxury fashion house founded by Belgian designer Martin Margiela and Jenny Meirens in 1988 and headquartered in Paris.
What is Maison Margiela known for? Known for deconstructive and avant-garde designs with unconventional materials, Maison Margiela has traditionally held live shows in unusual settings, for example empty metro stations and street corners. Models’ faces are often obscured by fabric or long hair to direct attention to the clothes and design.
For her inaugural Met, the singer turned to Balmain to help her bring her fantastical look to life. Latching onto time as the operative word from the night’s Garden of Time dress code, the Balmain team fashioned Tyla a dress made of sand—a nod to the sands of time.
We’ve all got this outfit at home
For some people, showing up in a wet T-shirt to a fashion event that garners millions upon millions of viewers would be a haunting nightmare. For Doja Cat, it’s a fun fashion statement for the first Monday in May. Yes, that is correct: Doja Cat wore a wet T-shirt dress.
The rapper, ever one to subvert style expectations, didn’t precisely follow the “Garden in Time” dress code in her soaked-through maxi tee. Doja Cat’s wet dress, by Swiss luxury fashion house Vetements, clung to her body—as wet T-shirts tend to do.
Made-up in Pat McGrath
For those of you who don’t know, Pamela wearing makeup at the MET Gala was kind of a big deal. The 56-year-old stopped wearing makeup after her longtime makeup artist and friend, Alexis Vogel, died from breast cancer in 2019.
At the time, she said: “She was the best. And since then, I just felt, without Alexis, it’s just better for me not to wear makeup.”
Pammy’s usual look..
Co-chair Jennifer Lopez looked like a regal jellyfish in custom Schiaparelli.
If boho-chic now comes Met Gala-approved, the fields and tents this festival season are going to be home to more than their fair share of noughties-inspired looks. Here Sienna Miller, Greta Gerwig, Emma Mackey and Zoe Saldana, pose with the designer behind the resurgence, Chloé’s Chemena Kamali.
The first of Zendaya’s looks, this Maison Margiela gown by John Galliano plus thin eyebrows and plum lipstick.
Never one to miss an opportunity to wear a good suit, Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) went for a dusky pink Saint Laurent design.
The brooches, the white gloves, the double sunglasses. Jeff Goldblum goes hard on the accessories – hopefully his keys are amongst them so he can go home at the end of the night. Not sure about the label – but he looked good.
Rita Ora’s Marni dress was, according to Ora, made using beads collected from Europe and Northern Africa during the 1st century BC. Her husband, the film director Taika Waititi, looked like he could have borrowed his trousers from Theresa May’s Vogue shoot.
Penélope Cruz wore a Chanel dress crafted using parts of dresses from the ’40s and ’50s.
This Thom Browne design took over 13,000 hours and 70 people to make it. No wonder Gigi Hadid needed the help of five people to carry it up the Met steps.
Another year, another take on the naked dress, this time from model and writer Emily Ratajkowski.
Lil Nas X in a design by Raul Lopez of Luar looked surprisingly understated despite the 50,000 Swarovski crystals embellishing the outfit.
Kim Kardashian in this ‘armoured lace’ look from John Galliano for Maison Margiela added fuel to the idea that hard/soft is the new high/low in fashion. She had to leave her vital organs at home for this outfit.
Kendall Jenner in a Givenchy couture number from 1999. She is the first-ever person to wear it, and though the house didn’t permit any tailoring to the dress, it fit perfectly.
Kylie Jenner in a Oscar de la Renta dress.
Model Cara Delevingne in a Stella McCartney chainmail hoodie.
Naomi Campbell in an aqua sequin Burberry dress.
Shakira wearing Carolina Herrera.
Tennis player Serena Williams in custom-made Balenciaga couture.
Lizzo in a sculptural look by Paris-based label Weinsanto.
Cardi B basically shut down the Met carpet in Windowsen couture – with more than 10 assistants helping her fan out her gigantic gown and blocking the way for everyone.
Did you know that April 26th was National Wallabee Day? Yeah, neither did I. But happy Wallabee Day to all those who celebrate. And why not indulge in a nostalgic new embroidered pair from Clarks, because THEY’RE BACK!
Is there a shoe more famously linked to the history of dance music?
To some people, a shoe is a shoe. To others, a certain style of footwear tells a cultural and musical story. From mods, rockers and ravers to modern day streetwear via 90s hip hop (and the shoes of my early raving days): never has one shoe made such an impact on so many diverse subcultures as theClarks Originals Wallabee.
The Wallabee was born in 1967 and has since become a design classic. The upper shoe was initially based on an old German moccasin called the ‘Grashopper’, while the soles were set using the distinctive Clarks sole, making the eye-catching, and instantly recognisable, silhouette.
While the Clarks brand is steeped in British heritage, the impact that it had across various movements spreads much further afield.
They became part of Jamaican “Rude Boy” culture, making the shoe a favourite amongst young Jamaican criminals – so much so that sister shoe the Desert Trek earned itself the nickname ‘The Bankrobber’.
Over the decades, the Jamaican influence spread globally and, before long, the streets of New York were awash with Wallabees. Famously worn by 90s hip hop stars Wu-Tang Clan, they were just one of many big names to be part of the rise.
Back in Europe, the rise of acid house saw popularity boom in the late 80s and early 90s. I remember thinking they were mad when first seeing them. They looked like your grandma’s old comfort shoe – mine were mint green, however I don’t recall buying them from Clarks. Back then, you weren’t allowed to wear trainers in many clubs so they were one of the only cool shoes you could arrive in. Saying that, they weren’t practical with all the filth on the floor at The Haçienda and some of the London warehouse parties. Britpop further cememted the Wallabee’s countercultural position with Blur and Oasis being keen ambassadors and The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft wearing a pair on the cover of 1997’s ‘Urban Hymns’.
After falling out of fashion through the noughties, largely thanks to the rise of sneaker culture, Clarks has pushed its way back into global fashion. The brand has hooked up streetwear labels, rappers and more for reworks of the Wallabee, with everyone from Drake to Nas sporting them of late. More recently, Carhartt have had a crack at creating a fresh iteration of the shoe, with this collab with Clarkes. So it’s time to re-visit your youth.
With 86,700 tagged videos on TikTok, and celebrity fans including OPRAH , KK and Elon Musk, the world is fascinated with OZEMPIC – the injectable weight loss drug.
Everyone has lost weight with Ozempic in Hollywood
Ozempic, one of the most well-known drugs of its type, is actually a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, improving blood sugar to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular incidents. The Ozempic guidelines outline that the drug – which is injected – ‘may help you to lose some weight’ but specifies that it is ‘not for weight loss.’
While Ozempic is used to treat type 2 diabetes, Wegovy – another form of the ingredient semaglutide, under a different name – is used to treat ‘adults with obesity or excess weight who also have weight-related medical problems’, its website reads.
But the problem is this: these drugs are increasingly being framed as a ‘quick fix’ to trigger weight loss, reinforcing undesirable stereotypes around body image. And when taken without medical guidance, users can run into big problems.
Plastic surgeons reveal the celebs suffering from gauntness ‘because of weight-loss drug’
Weight loss drugs shouldn’t be messed around with lightly. And one side effect, termed ‘Ozempic face’, is proof of that. But what is it? And what are the dangers of taking semaglutide incorrectly?
Basically, it causes sagging, ageing and lacklustre appearance of the facial skin and structures,’ according to Dr Adil Sheraz, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson.
He comments: ‘The face has a layer of fat that essentially stretches the skin. Ozempic results in rapid weight loss and does so very effectively. This, of course, will lead to rapid loss of subcutaneous (under the skin) facial fat.
‘The overlying skin however will not be able to shrink at the same rate, resulting in a sagging, droopy and wrinkled appearance.’
Experts say ‘Ozempic face’ is becoming more common. It may be more of an issue in older individuals, as there is less collagen and elastin in our skin as we age, therefore its ability to adapt reduces.
As we’re officially entering the first of the summer months – May – it seemed about time to have my roots touched up, because sunlight (quite literally) shines a light on any dark (or grey) stray hairs on the crown and parting.
Whilst at my salon, I noticed lots of products promoting hair growth, which is an issue most women face as they get older. Whether you’ve messed around too much with your hair using colours and extensions, or you’re reaching the menopause or you have naturally thinning hair, there are now so many shampoos to help.
Joining the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and the rest, Rita Ora the latest celebrity to dip her toe into the beauty world.
Teaming up with global beauty entrepreneur and Vida Glow founder Anna Lahey, Rita brings us ‘TYPEBEA’.
Taking three years to perfect, TYPEBEA is a formulated range of unique, and clinically effective products with one goal in mind – to redefine your relationship with hair, no matter its type.
This nightly serum helps increase hair density, for strands in need of extra body. £43.
So where did the idea come from? Well inspired by Rita’s personal hair challenges and the deep-rooted connection between hair and self-confidence, Rita initially connected with Anna through her global marine collagen brand at a dinner party.
he TYPEBEA co-founders found common ground over Anna’s own traumatic struggles with hair loss and Rita’s desire to find a hair growth solution that would help rebuild her confidence, after years of damage from extreme heat and excess styling.
So while you ponder of all of that, check out the new collection by Victoria Beckham at MANGO, the best sunnies for men this summer 2024 and Tennis Fashion as seen on Zendaya.
A selection of latest sunglasses worn by very famous men
The headline says it all really. From Cillian Murphy’s Ray-Ban Wayfarer to Timothée Chalamet’s Gentle Monster Loti, these are the supreme shades to generate a cool vibe in summer 2024.
It’s part of the uniform – when you’re famous you need a solid pair of sunnies – with privacy infringed every time you leave the front door. A pair of sunglasses brings down the shutters, and keeps any ‘too many late nights’ tabloid speculation at bay.
But also, because sunglasses are historically and universally cool. Indeed, they can make even normal guys feel famous. That’s why I now present a selection of my favourite pairs of Hollywood’s finest, that I believe all guys should be rocking this year,
A$AP Rocky
We know A$AP Rocky probably has a house full of achingly cool menswear, but on the days that he wants to be a little more under the radar, he slips on these sunglasses from Gucci. They’ve got an extra oversized build if you’re planning on going incognito, and a wider-than-usual design that’ll suit most FACE SHAPES.
Gucci GG1262S Sunglasses £395
Cillian Murphy
The moody star of Oppenheimer, Cillian likes to keep things low-key. So ,it’s not all that surprising that his sunglasses of choice would be the Ray-Ban Wayfarer in the OG shape. These have been a Hollywood staple since the early ’50s, and they come in a bunch of different lens colours.
Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer Sunglasses £156
Jacob Elordi
Saltburn’s Jacob models for Saint Laurent. But Versace’s got the pair that he wants the most. Part of the XXII line, these frames were originally designed for women, but they look pretty unisex. What’s more, the Italian house has slightly jazzed them up with studs to the frame.
Versace XXII Sunglasses £549
Jake Gyllenhaal
Jake showed up at Milan Fashion Week earlier this year, the looking awesome. The guy has been the face of Prada since 2021, and the PR A04S frames just look so good on him.
Prada PR A04S Sunglasses £440
Lewis Hamilton
The racing driver has an insanely cool wardrobe. And that’s exactly what we saw recently when he dressed from head to toe in the latest Dior, including the ultra-futuristic DiorXplorer that looks like something straight out of a techno tent at Coachella.
Dior DiorXplorer S1U Sunglasses £650
Pierce Brosnan
At 70 years old, the ex-007 is still one of the coolest guys alive.. So what sunglasses do you get when you’re this level of legendary? The Oliver Sun Madhappy, that’s what.
Oliver Sun Madhappy Sunglasses £382 by Oliver Peoples
Ryan Gosling
So, you’re performing one of the year’s biggest hits in front of some of the world’s most talented actors and actresses. No pressure. But what shades are you gonna wear? Well, Ken (sorry Ryan) chose the Kate by Saint Laurent. With a dramatic cat-eye design, they’re inspired by the label’s very famous Kate handbag.
Saint Laurent Kate Sunglasses £325
Timothée Chalamet
Speaking of cat-eye sunglasses, Tim also a big fan of this similar frame. But rather than going for a European fashion house like everyone else, he’s opted for South Korea’s Gentle Monster instead. They’re crafted from glossy black acetate, and what makes them even better is that they’re not quite as expensive as the big labels.
Gentle Monster Loti Sunglasses £225 at FARFETCH
Tyler, the Creator
When you’re the owner of your own very successful fashion brand (GOLF), why wouldn’t you wear your own stuff? He has got loads and loads of sunglasses, but he always goes back to the Bel-Air from Golf Le Fleur. It’s a lot more understated compared to some of his other accessories (especially from his LOUIS VUITTON collab), but that makes them a lot more wearable, too.
Golf Le Fleur Bel-Air Sunglasses £200 at GOLF LE FLEUR
First of all, it’s about time VB collaborated with the high street, because let’s face it, every other high-end designer has of late, and it’s the only way us mere mortals can afford anything she designs, right?
BUT… Victoria Beckham’s new Mango range has received backlash over its limited sizing. I had a quick look at the collection this week and I can confirm – it’s TINY – but it does look beautifully timeless.
Credit and debit cards at the ready because, just like any designer collaboration, this will not be around for long. It is the perfect blend of classic British luxury and contemporary design. The range has been touted as being relatively ‘affordable’ – though you can still expect to pay £180 for a suit jacket and £115 for some trousers.
The collaboration comes at an iconic moment in Mango’s 40-year history, and celebrates the two brands’ shared values – style, quality and femininity.
Inspired by the film La Piscine from 1969, starring Jane Birkin, you’ll find nods to 70s style, pure sophistication and pieces that will carry you from day-to-night with ease. Plus, you’ll also encounter impeccably cut tailoring, feminine lingerie dresses, knitwear and accessories.
The whole collection is created from natural fabrics, such as linen, cotton and silk, with luxe pieces in a neutral palette of white, black, ecru, butter with touches of blue, peach or mauve pink throughout. Tailoring is at its heart, with perfectly cut patterns on blazers, sharp shoulders and waists, paired with extra-long trousers in relaxed flare cuts – all Victoria Beckham’s iconic signature style.
So, what’s the problem then?
Victoria Beckham’s Mango collection is being criticised online because of its lack of size inclusivity. Shoppers have realised that the former singer’s high street line doesn’t cater to all.
Ordinarily, Mango offers clothing ranging in sizes XXS to XXL, and in sizes 4 to 16. The Spanish retailer also has a Plus Size range, beginning at size 16 and going up to size 26 – though not every piece is available in all sizes.
Most items in Victoria’s new range are far more limited, however. Some garments in the line start at size 6 and go up to size 14, though most items only go up to a size 12. Other pieces, including a suit jacket, range from XS to L.
We are now in an era of body positivity, with shoppers demanding more inclusivity on shop shelves when buying attire – and rightly so. On social media, many girls complain – ‘The Victoria Beckham collection for Mango stops at a 14 – in case you wondered whether her having a daughter made VB think any differently about young women’s body images”.
Mango responded and said the complaint will be sent to the ‘corresponding department’. One onlooker commented ‘Not really a response – are you ok with the idea that only people who look a certain way can wear your clothes? It’s a yes or no question.’
Representatives of Mango told Metro: ‘We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment caused by size availability in the Victoria Beckham x Mango collection. Your feedback is incredibly important to us, and we recognise the importance of offering options to cater to all body types. We would like to inform you that there is an ongoing process to introduce a broader range of sizes in our collections. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.’
Sounds like an AI-delivered generic response to me. Let’s wait and see.
Tenniscore: centre-court chic smashes it this fashion season
A new movie starring Zendaya puts tennis on the big screen And the sport that brought us Lacoste and Fred Perry is inspiring today’s style players – on and off court.
With her new movie CHALLENGERS opening last weekend, American actor Zendaya has been seen on a lot of premiere red carpets and chat show sofas in recent weeks. And, from shoes with tennis-ball heels to a party dress patterned with rackets, the former teen idol’s outfits have been a very chic take on tennis. Much like the film itself, in fact.
Whilst some us might lack suitable occasions to wear a plunge-fronted floor-length neon dress decorated with a tennis ball, it will be hard to miss the “tenniscore” trend this year, as clothes inspired by, or worn for, the sport will be seen everywhere.
On the second-hand fashion resale app Depop, searches for tennis skirts and polo shirts are up 52% and 53% respectively. Fashion labels including Miu Miu and Celine have explored tennis style recently too.
Though a very current trend, the connection between fashion and tennis is longstanding. Tennis stars René Lacoste, Fred Perry and Stan Smith all lent their names to clothing, with their names still in many a modern wardrobe.
A pavé diamond bracelet is known as a tennis bracelet thanks to America’s Chris Evert wearing one in the 1978 US Open. Then there are the competitors who made style statements by challenging the traditional whites – from John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg in the 80s, to Steffi Graff’s and Andre Agassi’s neons in the 90s.
Other notable fashion moments on court include Billie Jean King’s button-through dress worn for the “battle of the sexes” match in 1973 and Serena Williams’ black catsuit with a red band at the 2018 French Open.
You watch the rugby or football through the winter, when it’s pouring with rain. Whereas tennis always takes place in amazing sunny locations. There’s inherent glamour to it.
The game has also long had a connection to the rich. Tennis players were perceived as ‘good enough’ to wear high fashion, whereas footballers weren’t. There’s probably a higher percentage of tennis players who have endorsement deals with watch and perfume brands than in any other sport. Beauty brands like tennis because it’s not too sweaty.
The UK’s Emma Raducanu is a Dior ambassador; Jannik Sinner, the highest ranked Italian player in history, works with Gucci, and Carlos Alcaraz, 2023 men’s winner at Wimbeldon, is in adverts for Louis Vuitton.
Agassi didn’t play Wimbledon for three years because they wouldn’t let him wear neons. It’s strictly all-white.
I love the trend have just bought two little tennis style dresses from Zara – in BLACK because I’m not brave enough to wear white… yet.
Welcome to this week’s instalment of Amanda Zips It Up.
This was in the Balearics and NOT THE UK!
Although it doesn’t feel like it in the UK right now, we are getting ever closer to summer – and that means WEDDING SEASON to many of us.
Perhaps the biggest expense of all is THAT engagement ring, since diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Call me old-fashioned, but there’s something about a diamond sparkler on our finger that just makes us feel special.
But have you heard of lab-grown diamond engagement rings? They’re the new way to feel bougie on a budget, and we’re so down with that.
Lily Arkwright is the leading retailer of lab-grown diamond engagement rings, a budget-friendly alternative to the traditionally mined diamond. You can often save up to 75% via this method, but it’s not just a great price tag that sets lab-grown diamonds apart from the mined variety.
Rather than relying on the randomness of nature to create something special, lab diamonds use the best technology to create a product that appears identical to natural diamonds, and come in an array of colours and cuts to suit any preference. Plus, they don’t rely on mining practices that are often damaging to the environment.
One of my favourite picks is the Lulu, which features a round lab diamond on an 18k band. The rose gold band adds a vintage touch and it’s a harmonious design for stacking with a wedding band.
The Florence ring boasts a stunning emerald-cut diamond that’s truly timeless in style, whilst the Honor features a round centre stone which is showered with pairs of pavé diamonds set in a marquise-shaped frame.
Check out their eye-catching rings and have a browse. You’ll be spoilt for choice! Plus, you guys out there, you are left with no excuse!
Onto this week’s instalment, and we continue the summer vibe with Kim Kardashian’s new swimwear range, chart the return of the worst summer trend ever, plus take a look at the new H&M collab, as the Marathon has just happened – this should have motivated us all to get out there and run? Well if it has, then I have all the gear you need.
The caption accidentally revealed what size the 5ft2in siren wears: turns out it is an XS. “@KimKardashian wears the SKIMS Swim Triangle Top and Dipped Tie Bottom, size XS, in Snake Print,” the SKIMS caption explained.
The images were taken by British photographer Nick Knight. One look consisted of a bandeau top with plain briefs that made the most of her famous curves. Another featured a red and black number that showed off her abs. Also revealed was a snakeskin print, plus a bikini top, bottoms and a jacket. Overall, it was a mix-and-match collection with red triangle tops being paired with snakeskin briefs and skirts.
“You can hide the pieces you want to hide and accentuate the ones you want to accentuate”, she noted. So, if you want to cover up and use a sarong, you can. If you want to cover your arms, you can, and if you want a triangle top or to fully cover your chest, different kind of bottoms — you just pick and choose.
SKIMS is an American shapewear and clothing brand co-founded by Kim in June 2019.
It focuses on body positivity and inclusivity across the brand, practising inclusive sizing. The company was valued at over $3.2 billion in January 2022.
