Daniel Lee, creative director of Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta, has unveiled his pre-fall 2021 collection.
Simply called Wardrobe 02, the collection is anything but, with this serving of wardrobe essentials covered in an excess of feathers, crystals, velvet and even rhinestones.
Managing to flip convention on its head yet again, Lee offers up impeccable – almost austere – tailoring, with a twist. A boardroom-ready suit is now offered in dark teal velvet, while a coat dress with boxy shoulders is cinched at the waist with a bright green extra-wide belt that coils around the body like a snake.
Elsewhere, a pair of everyday jeans is completely covered in blue ostrich feathers, and a buttery soft leather jumpsuit is teamed with Wellington boots. An elegant column dress comes with a low scooped neck, exposing a daring flash of colour. There is even a plush coat in pink or green, bringing joy enough to cheer even the most dreary of days.
Yet, for all the playfulness, the clean lines of the collection's power shoulders and nipped-in waists are crafted by a purposeful hand. Nothing is by chance, and amid the feathery joy, there are plenty of classics left untouched.
Nodding to Bottega’s elegant history, there are still canvas coats polished to a sheen, suits in tweed and herringbone overcoats, except now the fabrics are technical and stretchy.
Keeping with the off-kilter theme, even the look book is unexpected. There are roller skates modelled by Instagram sensation and skater girl Oumi Janta; Barcelona-based singer Arca crops up wearing a halter neck sequinned dress in bright green; and grime artist Skepta looks dapper in a double-breasted suit.
British rapper Slowthai wears a matching leather shirt, trousers and coat, and the Swedish singer Neneh Cherry brings some serious attitude in a herringbone tweed suit.
Even record producer and rapper Tricky makes an appearance, in an oversized black and green leather tracksuit.
The artist Kesewa Aboah (sister to model Adwoa Aboah) appears in gathered velvet the colour of sunshine, and model-turned-photographer Venetia Scott pops up in a black dress trimmed with yellow.
Filled with purposeful whimsy, Wardrobe 02, which hits stores shortly, is noisy and colourful at first glance, but under Lee's careful guidance, it is filled with pieces that seem destined to join his ever growing list of "must-haves".
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
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Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
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Source: American Paediatric Association
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Install an air filter in your home.
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