SINGAPORE (Apr 30): Victoria’s Secret has a new ambassador, Fenty goes synthetic and wedding gowns go online.
Zhou Dongyu is the new Victoria’s Secret ambassador for China
Lingerie manufacturer Victoria’s Secret — best known for its ‘Angels’ who are among the sexiest models on the planet — has enlisted Chinese actress Zhou Dongyu as its new ambassador. Many are saying this is a surprising development that could herald a change of strategy for the famous brand in China. An award-winning starlet known throughout China, Zhou Dongyu has been chosen by Victoria’s Secret to be its new face in the Middle Kingdom, reports Women’s Wear Daily (WWD). The move is expected to boost the lingerie giant’s visibility in the country for years to come. Zhou, who is an actress and a model, first rose to fame in the film Under The Hawthorn Tree and then built on that success with such features as My Old Classmate, Us And Them and Better Days. These series of roles have won her acclaim at prestigious ceremonies like the Asian Film Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards. It is not yet known if the 28-yearold will act as a general spokesperson in China or represent a specific line like Victoria’s Secret Pink. Zhou is also Burberry’s ambassador for China, regularly featuring in campaigns for the British label.
Fenty presents a capsule in synthetic leather
Launched by pop star Rihanna in collaboration with LVMH in 2019, the Fenty brand has caused a sensation with each new collection. The label’s latest capsule, made entirely of synthetic leather and available online through Fenty.com, is also likely to meet with this continuing success. An extension of the collection launched in February, the new capsule draws its inspiration from the Small Trades series by Irving Penn, focusing on mid-20th-century uniforms. Not surprisingly, the resulting garments are marked by functional design, which forms a pleasing contrast with the softness and flexibility of synthetic leather. The overall look is laid back with an attractive impression of freedom of movement. Among the key pieces is a hoodie decorated with two drawstrings, an asymmetric oversize shirt, baggy trousers with lateral pockets, and a corset dress and skirt. The colour palette for the creations offers a choice between Jet Black and Latte. The collection is already available from Fenty’s online store, expect to spend US$540 ($770.42) for a skirt, US$630 for a shirt, and US$850 for a dress.
Lockdown: Three good reasons to order a wedding gown online
While made-to-measure outfits — with its many fitting and alteration sessions remains a dream for many brides-to-be — an increasing number of brands and designers are also offering wedding dresses to buy from their e-shops. This trend is likely to continue during lockdown measures imposed by many public authorities, which have completely disrupted the usual wedding season. It could also convince more dressmakers to embrace web sales in the near future. Here are three good reasons why you might want to order your wedding gown online:
Managing the unexpected
Amid a global health crisis that is preventing brides-to-be from picking up their dresses and leading to numerous wedding postponements and cancellations, it is worth remembering that limiting trips to the dressmaker may help you avoid small unforeseen events that could mar preparations for an already stressful ceremony. By ordering your wedding dress online, you can be sure that you will receive it at the right moment with enough time for any last-minute alterations. The good news is that there are more quality models to choose from, with dresses to suit every taste as several designers and brands like Fabienne Alagama (Fabiennealagama.com), Maison Floret (Maisonfloret.com), Lorafolk (Lorafolk.com) and Laure de Sagazan (Lauredesagazan.fr) are already offering bridal collections along with accessories and lingerie online.
More affordable
Gowns bought online are also likely to be more affordable than those from bridal boutiques and workshops. Why? Firstly, models in online collections are more ready-to-wear than couture. They also do not require the same number of fittings and alterations that are usually needed for bridal wear. At the same time, many ready-to-wear brands — like La Redoute, H&M, Asos and C&A — are now marketing ranges of wedding dresses and outfits, either independently or in collaboration with specialized houses, with models that retail for less than EUR 200 online. Inexpensively priced dresses are often an attractive option for brides-to-be who are eager to devote more of their wedding budget to other aspects of the big day such as the ceremony or the meals, for example.
A positive gesture for the planet
Think of the environment and recycle: That holds true when buying an outfit online. Yes, a custom made outfit is a dream come true for many. But let’s face it, custom wedding dresses are used only once before they are consigned to storage at the back of a closet. However, less sophisticated models can be worn over and over again on a variety of different occasions. This is especially the case for trousers and ensembles (which can be combined with casual pieces) and also dresses (that are not traditional bridal wear but are nonetheless perfectly appropriate for the big day). Another environmentally friendly way is to opt for a vintage dress. Head to second-hand platforms likeVinted (Vinted.com) and Vestiaire Collective (Vestiairecollective.com), they offer a wide variety of wedding dresses in perfect condition that might be just right for your big day.
