Most Wanted
A curated roundup of the best new fashion arrivals, hand-picked by our editors
By bringing a renewed emphasis to African design and illustrating how fledgling fashion labels can incorporate sustainable practices in a meaningful way, Nigerian designer Kenneth Ize has become a force for change within the fashion industry. Lagos-based Ize, who was raised in Austria and studied at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, originally founded his eponymous brand back in 2013, but took a brief hiatus to continue his studies, relaunching the label to critical and commercial acclaim in 2016. In fact, just three years after his return to fashion, Ize was announced as a finalist for the illustrious LVMH prize. Working with artisans and weavers across Nigeria, Ize’s work is an ode to the creativity and singularity of the country – and proves that time-honored techniques have a place in contemporary fashion.
Moreover, Ize’s wearable yet directional pieces, cast in a palette of rainbow brights, represent a dose of much-needed sartorial serotonin after a year during which many of us lost touch with our sense of personal style. It’s the distinct, mood-boosting power of Ize’s clothes that compelled shopping editor Chloe Waller to snap up the designer’s striped silk shirt when it landed on NET-A-PORTER this week.
“This shirt just makes me smile! The vibrant candy-colored stripes, combined with the effortless oversized shape of the shirt, just scream summer and long balmy evenings by the beach. We all need a little joy in our lives after the past year, so what better way than adding this fabulous pop of color to your closet. For summer days spent in the city, I will be teaming this shirt with white denim, chunky sandals and a JW Anderson raffia tote. And, if I’m lucky enough to get away on vacation, I will be wearing it as an effortless poolside cover-up, perfect for perking up my go-to black swimwear. After dark, I’ll style it with the matching pants, barely-there sandals and chunky gold jewelry for an insouciant evening look.”
If you’re looking for jewelry to add a similar sense of joy to your closet, Milanese designer Bea Bongiasca’s colorful creations are a fail-safe way to add polish and personality to any outfit. Bongiasca’s coral enamel and diamond cocktail ring would make a statement addition to any jewelry box, which is why the likes of Bella Hadid, Ashley Graham and Dua Lipa are big fans of the label. Elsewhere, one of London label Completedworks’ molten gold initial necklaces can add a point of difference to any ensemble, whether you style it solo or add it to your #neckmess mix.
Discover more from this week’s What’s New.