The Best Fashion Collaborations and Launches of 2023 (So Far)

Polo Ralph Lauren Intimates and Sleepwear

There’s a new status waistband to expose strategically beneath your low-slung jeans: Polo Ralph Lauren has ventured into women’s intimates. The assortment is grouped into three categories. Everyday Essentials features bras, underwear and matching sleep slets in second-skin organic cotton. Meanwhile the Iconic Stripes range is a line of pajamas that brings a hint of preppy style to the bedroom. But it’s the Rib Seamless collection that boasts the aforementioned elastic waist—a perfect way to nod to the ’90s. A new campaign starring model Vivienne Rohner gives you all the styling inspiration you need. Shop the full collection now at RalphLauren.com.

Khaite Debuts NYC Flagship & Oliver Peoples Collab

CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year, Catherine Holstein of Khaite, had a very busy New York Fashion Week. Her small, intimate runway show (which received raves from the fashion set) was held at the site of her first-ever brick and mortar store. The boutique, which sits at 165 Mercer Street in Soho, is a model of ’90s Manhattan minimalism. The space’s defining materials—poured concrete, glass, and steel—reference the immensity and grit of the city which Holstein calls home. Awash in natural light from a number of skylights, the space feels cavernous and raw. A smooth-trunked evergreen tree, known as the “Shady Lady,” which appears to emerge from the ground, adds an element of tranquil surprise to the space. On offer at the location are Khaite’s new eyewear collaboration with the LA-based Oliver Peoples. Like everything Holstein touches, the sunglasses are simultaneously sleek, unique, and a natural extension of the designer’s downtown cool aesthetic. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

La Ligne Launches Denim

Jeans have always been part of La Ligne’s classic fashion formula. So much so that for years the brand’s founders Molly Howard, Meredith Melling, and Valerie MacCaulay have been fielding requests for the denim often styled with their popular striped essentials. Now, inquiring minds finally have a solution with the launch of the label’s own line of denim staples. The first collection of three styles—The Molly, The Meredith, and The Valerie—take their name and fit inspiration from La Ligne’s co-founders while the corresponding campaign stars friend of the brand (better known as a member of La Bande), Selma Blair. To shop the collection visit lalignenyc.com.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Takes The Stellar Odyssey to Dubai

Jaeger-LeCoultre hosted Dubai’s glitterati and a mix of international press on the 2nd of February to mark the opening of their The Stellar Odyssey exhibition. Housed in a pavilion that appears to float on the waters of the Dubai Fountain, and boasting the Burj Khalifa as its backdrop, the Stellar Odyssey celebrates the relationship between astronomical phenomena and the measurement of time. On display in the exhibition are a collection of the maison’s most remarkable historic timepieces, as well as its most recent celestially-inspired timepieces. The exhibition also features multi-media installations that take visitors on a virtual journey to the cosmos. Other highlights of The Stellar Odyssey include a new art installation, Passengers: Through Time by the French visual artist, Guillaume Marmin, and a menu of soft cocktails by the world-renowned mixologist Matthias Giroud. Dubai was chosen as the first stop on a tour of major world cities, which will continue throughout 2023 and beyond.

Loewe x Howl’s Moving Castle

Just five months after Loewe’s first collaboration with Studio Ghibli—the acclaimed animator, director, and screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki’s animation and production company—the Spanish fashion house is back with yet another collection inspired by Miyazaki’s fantastical worlds. While the last iteration paid homage to the classic Spirited Away, this particular capsule is a tribute to the 2004 film Howl’s Moving Castle. The movie, which is loosely based upon a 1986 novel of the same name, starred the likes of Christian Bale and Emily Mortimer voicing the characters. So it only makes sense that Loewe would cast some A-list Hollywood talent for its collab campaign. Enter: Bones and All star Taylor Russell, who was photographed by Juergen Teller for the advertisements holding leather goods that bear images from the film, along with a slew of ready-to-wear. The collection will be available at a pop-up Loewe will host at Saks Fifth Avenue from February 2nd-8th, as well as in stores and online.

Future Collective with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson

Call it a major win for fashion editors and stylists everywhere—Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, the global contributing fashion editor at large for American Vogue, has snagged a collaboration with Target’s Future Collective subbrand. Karefa-Johnson’s eclectic and magpie personal fashion sense has led to major cover styling gigs with the likes of Serena Williams, Florence Pugh, and Bella Hadid (as well as an appearance in a fashion story in the pages of W magazine). And now, her diverse approach to playing with proportion, prints, and lots of color has translated to a Target clothing line through the mega-retailer’s Future Collective program. Through Future Collective, Karefa-Johnson will release a collection of almost 100 items over the course of three seasonal refreshes; the first batch will drop on Sunday, January 29. With pieces like dresses, skirts, outerwear, matching sets, and slacks, all available in an inclusive size and price range, there’s something for everyone. Available on the Target website and in select Target stores.

Alaïa Returns to SoHo

It’s been a decade since Alaïa has had a storefront in downtown New York and while much has changed about the retail landscape, the desire for the legendary label’s feminine designs has never wavered. Now a new flagship at 149 Mercer Street affords shoppers the opportunity to get up close to the latest collections while mingling among world-renowned art work and furniture curated by creative director Pieter Mulier. At the boutique-meets-gallery you’ll find pieces by the likes of Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, and Mike Kelly. “I’ve chosen to show works that celebrate American art, from design to painting,” Mulier said in a statement. “I’ve compiled some of my favorite artists, the ones that never stop inspiring me…”

The store is open Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm and Sunday 12pm-6pm.

Cartier Updates the Tank Française

Like so many brands these days, Cartier is revisiting a ‘90s with a refresh of its classic Tank Française. Originally launched in 1996, the style known for its metal bracelet quickly became an important member of the iconic Tank family. Twenty-seven years after its creation, the bracelet has been redesigned by the maison to create a more pure and ergonomic curve that works for all wrists. The launch of this reimagined watch is accompanied by a new campaign featuring friends of the house Catherine Deneuve and Rami Malek in a short fashion fantasy directed by Guy Ritchie.

The Snow Lodge x Guest in Residence

Aspen, Colorado isn’t just a skier’s dream destination. These days, it’s a hub for the rich and famous, with designer boutiques (Dior, Balenciaga, and Prada among them), plenty of sumptuous eats at fine restaurants, and a buzzing nightlife scene. Leading the pack of parties and events in Aspen is The Snow Lodge, the sister location to Montauk’s restaurant-slash-bar-slash-music-venue The Surf Lodge. Much like its Hamptons counterpart, The Snow Lodge—located inside The St. Regis Aspen Resort—features art, music, food, and fashion, with some of the industry’s top names popping up inside Snow Lodge’s walls. The latest celebrity to join in: Gigi Hadid, who collaborated with The Snow Lodge on a capsule for her cashmere brand, Guest in Residence. Consisting of limited-edition, unisex, cashmere pieces—think hoodies and comfy crewnecks—the collection is now on sale at a pop-up experiential and concept store inside The Snow Lodge (you can also purchase online, here). “Guest in Residence uses the finest cashmere to create high-quality pieces intended to be lasting heirlooms, so it will be fun to see the second generation of Snow Lodge patrons wearing it in the years to come,” said founder and creative director of The Surf Lodge Brands Jayma Cardoso.

The Telfar Wallet

If you’ve been holding back on investing in a Telfar accessory, now just might be the time to pull out your debit card. On January 13, the cult-favorite, New York City-based fashion label unveiled a brand-new, upcoming drop: wallets. While designer Telfar Clemens’s style known as “The Brooklyn Birkin” has cornered the market for understated, minimal totes—revitalizing the concept of the “It” bag as a result—this latest release will surely leave fans in a state of panic while they figure out how the hell to cop the piece before it sells out (given Telfar’s record of popularity, there’s a strong chance that it will). Starting Monday, January 23 at 12 PM EST, all 17 colorways of the 100 percent genuine leather wallet will be available for purchase on telfar.net. Set your alarms. Below, a look at all the offerings:

Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Whitney Museum in New York City’s Meatpacking district, Louis Vuitton has opened a pop-up shop celebrating its 10th anniversary collaboration with Yayoi Kusama. Naturally, the store is covered in yellow and black dots, along with silver orbs adorning the floors and shelves—both are immediately identifiable signatures from the Japanese contemporary artist. But the design elements come second to the stunning collection: Vuitton’s Damier print has been remixed by Kusama herself (who, true to form, painted multicolored spots all over the maison’s handbags), and features offerings for all genders. There are sporty and office-ready pieces galore—from sneakers to a pair of standout studded lug-sole loafers—but we were particular fans of the dotted raincoat with the Damier leather collar, and the pumpkins (yet another Kusama signature) that were actually twee key holders attached to a range of purses. Shop the collection here.

Tiffany & Co. Meets the Fendi Baguette

The phrase “name a more iconic duo, I’ll wait” is overused. But here, it is entirely applicable, and, frankly, a bit of an understatement. The collaborative Baguette bag from Tiffany & Co. and Fendi (which was introduced at the Italian fashion house’s NYFW celebration of the Baguette’s 25th anniversary back in September) is now available for purchase. Fendi’s only request of its collaborators? Put their own spin on the classic silhouette. Tiffany’s purse, done in robin’s-egg blue silk with a silver interlocking “F” logo, also features the signature “Please Return to Tiffany & Co.” tag, clipped onto the handle. There are, additionally, leather or crocodile-skin options for those looking to up the glam even further. But we personally love that little blue box—and wouldn’t mind wearing it on our arms, either.

This post was originally published on W Magazine