After reviewing the unforgettable fashion events of the first half of 2021, it is essential to look back at the other ten unforgettable events that occurred in the second half of the year. Time is of the essence, let’s review them now!
11. Met Gala to be held again
Affected by the epidemic and postponed for a year, this year’s officially resumed Met Gala was held under strict health measures. As usual, the focus under the spotlight continues to be on the red carpet. Interestingly, the organizers required all guests to adhere to the “mask” rule, but some guests boldly replaced masks with face coverings, turning them into part of their outfits. For example, singer Grimes, and the talk of the town Kim Kardashian, who arrived with BALENCIAGA creative director Demna Gvasalia, wore a special full-body covering outfit.
Of course, the highlights on the red carpet include Lil Nas X in his golden armor, Billie Eilish transformed into Marilyn Monroe, Timotheé Chalamet in Converse and responsible for the opening, music queen Rihanna and her rapper boyfriend A$AP Rocky appearing as a “couple”.
12. Japanese fashion trendsetter Nigo appointed as KENZO’s creative director
Some people leave, and others definitely take their place. One of the most surprising appointments in the fashion world this year is undoubtedly the news of Japanese streetwear icon Nigo taking over as the creative director of KENZO. Since the passing of KENZO’s founder Kenzo Takada last April due to COVID-19, the position of brand designer has been vacant until now. In September of this year, Nigo officially took on the role of the brand’s new artistic director, as reported exclusively by “WWD.” Nigo sees inheriting Kenzo Takada’s craftsmanship spirit and creating a brand new KENZO as the biggest challenge of his 30-year career. The organizers of Paris Fashion Week also confirmed last week that the first KENZO collection presented by NIGO will be showcased on the final day of fashion week, so all NIGO supporters should not miss it.
13. FENDI meets Versace for an unprecedented collaboration
At the beginning of the year, the collaboration between Gucci and BALENCIAGA appeared, and now in the latter part of the year, we welcome another heavyweight collaboration hosted by two major Italian fashion brands FENDI and Versace.
At Milan Fashion Week, the two sides joined forces to create a new sub-line collection called Fendace, with Fendi’s two creative directors Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini creating 25 looks for Versace, while Donatella Versace created the same looks for Fendi. The result was a highly entertaining performance, celebrating Italy’s elegance and wealth, and blending the iconic logos and patterns of the two major brands in unprecedented ways.
This collaboration not only praises Italian fashion, but also showcases an excellent demonstration of brand history, aesthetic vision, and creative style, declaring a rebellious attitude in today’s fashion that refuses to adhere to conventions.
14. MIRROR features Calvin Klein’s sexy performance with three sons.
When it comes to unforgettable fashion moments, one cannot forget the news related to the local super popular male group MIRROR. We are talking about the announcement made by Calvin Klein in September, featuring both “leader” Anson Lo and “boss” Anson Kong in a promotional photo shoot. What really excited fans this time was the rare sight of both Ansoms shirtless, showcasing their muscular and sexy side.
And, a month later, Calvin Klein once again brought another surprise, announcing another MIRROR member Ian Chan as the protagonist of the same advertising campaign. Ian, who has always maintained a sunny and cheerful image, rarely took off his shirt to show off his muscular physique.
15. Matthew Williams’ first physical Givenchy fashion show
After several seasons of subtle exploration, Matthew Williams officially brought Givenchy its first physical fashion show with an audience since taking office in October. This season, MMW gives himself greater power to explore the tension between extravagance and restraint, tradition and modernity. Throughout the entire collection, innovative materials and cuts are combined in a stark contrast, allowing elegant charm and rebellious attitude to remain just right after multiple collisions. He even brought in American artist Josh Smith, known for creating art in unconventional ways, to collaborate and directly unleash his forbidden territory of color aesthetics. It is worth noting that MMW, who has ascended to the fashion hall of fame, will definitely present his first Haute Couture collection early next year (next month), which is not to be missed.
16. Olivier Rousteing publicly reveals tragic fire incident
On October 10th, Balmain’s Creative Director Olivier Rousteing uploaded a rare photo of himself on his personal IG account, along with a lengthy caption. In the photo, he is seen wrapped in bandages, revealing that he finally mustered up the courage to publicly address the explosion disaster at his mansion’s fireplace that occurred a year ago.
At the time of posting, it was the new season of SS22, and also the 10th anniversary of Olivier Rousteing’s appointment as Creative Director of Balmain. In his lengthy post, he shared that he spent three times the usual amount of time reading and creating for that season after experiencing a fire. Regarding the fire, Olivier Rousteing was burned and left with scars on his face, limbs, and other parts of his body. The explosion even left him unconscious, waking up the next morning in the Paris Saint Louis Hospital during the peak of the Paris epidemic. In addition, he specifically mentioned in the post to thank the professional medical staff for taking care of him amidst their busy schedules, allowing him to recover, and also thanked the BALMAIN team and friends for keeping the secret until then.
Olivier Rousteing, who has always been active in the fashion world on social media, shocked many friends in the industry with a post that day. A near-death experience was definitely one of the most unforgettable and heart-pounding events in the fashion world this year.
17. “Squid Game” goes global, Vans shoes sold out worldwide
The ultra-popular Netflix original series “Squid Game” has taken the world by storm, achieving the top spot in over 90 countries and regions on the platform. In addition to the plot development and the attention garnered by several actors in the series, the clothing worn by the participants in the show has also become a hot topic. According to Variety, since the premiere of “Squid Game” in September, various items from the series have become iconic, with the most recognizable being the green and white tracksuits worn by the “participants.” Sole Supplier has reported a staggering 7,800% increase in sales of the all-white Vans Slip-On style worn by the “participants,” with reports of shortages in many places, demonstrating the power of “Squid Game” and its influence on fashion items.
18. Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival Tragedy of Crowd Crush
The Astroworld Festival, founded by the super popular rapper Travis Scott, officially returned in November. It was supposed to be a major event in the American music scene, but unfortunately, on the first day, a stampede occurred, resulting in over 10 deaths and hundreds of people being hospitalized in a major tragedy, involving children as young as 10 years old. The event was immediately canceled by Travis Scott to assist authorities in their investigation. The mayor of Houston revealed that the police have officially launched a criminal investigation into the incident, suggesting that the tragedy may involve drug injection, as needle marks were found on some of the victims.
The incident undoubtedly left unforgettable pain for the local residents, and more than a month after the incident, multiple reports have indicated that many families involved have refused Travis Scott’s assistance and have formally pursued him through legal channels for a substantial amount. Even DIOR, which was scheduled to launch a collaborative series with him next month, has announced an indefinite delay in the release.
19. Daniel Lee suddenly leaves Bottega Veneta, replaced by Matthieu Blazy
In November of this year, less than a month after Bottega Veneta released its Salon 03 collection, its parent company Kering Group announced that Daniel Lee officially left his position as the brand’s creative director, a very sudden and shocking news that immediately shook the entire fashion industry.
Five days later, Bottega Veneta once again unexpectedly announced that the creative director position will be taken over by Daniel Lee’s right-hand man, 37-year-old French designer Matthieu Blazy, once again shocking the fashion world. The suddenness of the event made it a major catalyst for discussion in the fashion world, but the subsequent developments of the two pieces of news became the focus of external attention. Following Daniel Lee’s departure, many “reliable” or “underground” sources have suggested that he will once again work for his “mentor” Phoebe Philo. Matthieu Blazy, who previously served as the design director during the Maison Martin Margiela era, also followed Phoebe Philo and Raf Simons, and worked in the studios of Balenciaga and John Galliano, is now finally able to step into the spotlight after many years, allowing the outside world to see his true abilities, making both pieces of news highly anticipated by the public up to now.
20. LV Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh has passed away at the age of 41.
To end this 2021 fashion event review with this news, whether I am writing or reading this article, it is inevitable to feel regret, sadness, and hard to digest.
On November 28th, local time in the United States, Louis Vuitton’s men’s wear design director and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh’s personal social platform suddenly announced that he had passed away due to cardiac angiosarcoma, at the age of 41. After the statement was released, the well-connected Virgil not only shocked the entire fashion world, but also received blessings from friends in the fields of art, music, and various creative areas. The LV men’s wear department, which he had been in charge of, immediately announced that two days after the incident, Virgil Abloh’s final work, the SS22 collection named Virgil Was Here, would proceed as scheduled. This presentation, held in Miami, featured a giant portrait of Virgil, dynamic lighting effects with the words VA and Virgil Was Here, and the presence of many friends from the industry to show support and serve as models. At the end of the show, a recording of Virgil’s voice expressing gratitude was played again, leaving all guests in attendance hoping that the presentation would never end.
Unfortunately, all of this has now become a bubble, but hopefully this creator can be better known in another more special place, so that everyone can see the creative and futuristic world he pursued throughout his life one day.
After today, 2021 will become history. This year has undoubtedly passed faster than imagined. However, whether good or bad, everything is definitely worth absorbing. Hopefully, after this fashion event review, everyone can take a moment to reflect on the people and things around them. In the new year, I hope everyone is well, and may the world be more beautiful and peaceful.
