2015 gave us moments that left us shocked, smiling and at times angry. Between individuals departing their posts, people going crazy over clothes and shows so spectacular we still haven’t picked up our jaw, we’re exhausted from all the drama. Here are the Gryphons standout moments from 2015.
Glorious shows
Valentino’s AW15 show was taken over by Derek and Hansel aka Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. The champions of the Blue Steel pose taught models everywhere how it’s done, creating a moment of awe, laughs and which had us all retweeting and reposting. Zoolander 2 will be released on February 12th 2016 and with a cast like Penelope Cruz, Justin Bieber and Benedict Cumberbatch, we can’t wait!
The airport themed Chanel SS16 show had us all wishing we had our suitcases packed, sunglasses armed and passports ready. There’s no-one who knows how to deliver not only a collection full of marvellous clothes, but also a grand show with casino and supermarket themed presentations in the past. Lagerfeld created an extremely realistic Chanel airport terminal in the Grand Calais, where models carried their Chanel carry-on bags, walked in chunky sandals encrusted with lights and wore soft tweed in loosely structured skirts, suits, on-trend bomber jackets and rocking blue aviators, whilst walking past the Chanel check-in desk. We wonder where the next Chanel adventure will take us.
MET Gala madness
The ‘China: Through the looking glass’ themed MET Gala this year promised controversy in the shape of dragon prints and chopsticks. One to shun away the cliche and stick to fashion was trustee fashion icon Rihanna. Wearing Guo Pei, the star strutted down the red carpet in a huge yellow fur trimmed cape with gold floral embroidery, handmade by a woman taking two years. Respectfully sticking to the theme, the singer chose the Chinese designer by “researching Chinese couture on the Internet”. The look was completed with a gorgeous gold headdress and sandals. The unique and bold gown was followed by memes aplenty all over the Internet.
(Image: Vanity Fair)
Social Revolutions
2015 was the year of the beginnings of social change. From Caitlyn Jenner’s transgender transformation on the cover of Vanity Fair to transgender advocates like model Hari Nef promoting a voice of change and acceptance.
(Image: Huffington Post)
The Spring Summer season has been recorded as the most racially diverse. According to Fashion Spot 77.6% of models in the season were white; an increase in diversity from the 80% recorded the previous season. A rise in Black and Asian models, including Joan Smalls, Bhumika Arora and Mae Lapres, meant a diverse line of faces were seen. So much so, the model of the season was announced to be 19 year old Lineisey Montero from the Dominican Republic who walked in 68 shows.
(Image: Dazed)
Another indicator for the social change in fashion advertising came in the form of the H&M ‘Close the Loop’ Campaign: featuring disabled, plus-size, Muslim, Sikh, and older models. The different genders, races and and ages helps celebrated and represented diversity in the world, with the advert promoting that there are truly “no rules” in fashion.
(Video: H&M)
Another topic widely talked and campaigned about in 2015 was that of cultural appropriation and racism. More people are being made aware of the issue where by cultural features often side-lined or mocked are being adopted and appropriated by European and Western standards. From the Chola, to braids and and the war bonnet, we’ve seen an increasing amount of coverage and outrage on all issues tackling the subject. Zendaya confronted an attack from Fashion Police’s Guiliana Rancic, after the critic was slammed for her racist comments on the singer’s braids. The young star fought ignorance and nastiness with humility and enlightenment, aiding the cause significantly.
(Image: USmagazine)
It seemed Zendaya had been busy all year helping to tackle concerns and the subject of indecent Photoshop was another on her list. After seeing a magazine photoshop an image from her fashion shoot making her look ‘slimmer’ she commented, “these are the things that make women self conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have.” As well as this, British modelling agency Models 1 featured black and white un-retouched images of models including Iskra Lawrence and Karmi Pinning in a campaign to “inspire body confidence and enhanced natural beauty.”
(Image: i-d.vice)
The Fashion Splits
In what was perhaps the news of the year, Raf Simons exited French fashion house Dior in October. This was allegedly put down to his disapproval with the fast-paced and high pressure state of the industry. In an interview with Cathy Horan he stated, “When you do six shows a year, there’s not enough time for the whole process.” The news was so popular it was earlier revealed that the designer was the most Googled fashion designer of the year. We wonder who the new creative director of the fashion giant will be.
(Image: HarpersBazaar)
The second designer to leave his post was Alber Elbaz who had been fired from Lanvin after 14 years. It’s been a real soap-opera-like drama which has even required legal proceedings. When Suzy Menkes sat down with him, the Israeli designer stated, “in this digital age, we live through our screens, documenting the moment. We no longer look: we film. We no longer listen: we tape. And we no longer talk: we post.” The news has since been called “incomprehensible and shocking” by people like the former French culture minister Jack Lang, and Elbaz himself has threatened to sue for defamation after his former employer sent a letter sent to all Lanvin employees claiming “that the quality of Elbaz’s designs were to blame”. His departure was faced with so much displeasure it was said Lanvin staff protested against the news with 330 members demanding a meeting with owner Shaw Lan Wang.
(Image: Independent)
Hazardous Times
A craze that took over the Internet and lips of individuals all over the world was the Kylie Jenner lip challenge. But the plumping task proved dangerous, as people started using shot glasses to enhance their pouts. Doctors have since claimed the technique can cause bruising, discolouration and even disfigurement, urging youngsters to stop the lip plumping extremes.
(Image: Fusion)
The H&M X Balmain collaboration was perhaps the most anticipated and popular collection of the year. The collection which sold out both online and in-store within hours included Olivier Rousteing’s designs of blazers, dresses and footwear. Videos went viral later showing stampede-like situations at H&M’s worldwide with people crazily pulling, shoving and grabbing to get their hands on pieces.
(Image: nylon)
What was your standout moment of 2015?
Rukaiyah Dadhiwala (& The Gryphon Team)