Latest news with #VirgilAbloh
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
First, Virgil Abloh changed Nike. Then he came for luxury fashion.
Adapted from 'Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture With Virgil Abloh,' ©2025 by Robin Givhan. Published in the United States by Crown, an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. As a teenager in Rockford, Illinois, Virgil Abloh saved his pennies and bought his first pair of Nike Air Jordans from a Marshalls discount department store.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The 'Top Chef Canada' star opened his new Afro-Caribbean restaurant in the Fairfax District last week
The 'Top Chef Canada' star opened his new Afro-Caribbean restaurant in the Fairfax District last week originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Jamaican-Canadian chef Adrian Forte was originally on the college football track. However, when injury struck, the food lover — whose maternal and paternal grandmothers ran a restaurant in his hometown of Kingston — decided to attend Toronto's Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts at George Brown College. After graduating in 2011, Forte opened some of Toronto's buzziest burger joints and served as a culinary producer for Iron Chef before becoming the first Black contestant on Food Network Canada's Top Chef. He placed as a semifinalist in Season 8, then followed it up with television appearances, brand partnerships and a cookbook, Yawd (Random House, 2022) — featuring over 100 modern Afro-Caribbean recipes. On account of his ties in the entertainment industry, Forte worked as a private chef for friends including Drake, Alicia Keys and the late Virgil Abloh (who wrote the foreword for Yawd) — and served as the Culinary Director for Turks & Caicos' Emara Estate, the luxury private resort formerly owned by Prince. Upon moving to L.A., he noticed a lack of Afro-Caribbean restaurants on the West Coast, so he teamed with founder/owner Sam Jordan (formerly of Olivetta and Issima) to open Lucia ( in the Fairfax District. Lucia (meaning 'light") made its debut on May 28, and brings the bold flavors and rich culture of the Caribbean Island to L.A. through dishes like plantains, coconut fried chicken and jerked ribeye steak — paired with cocktails employing similar island-grown ingredients and spices and Caribbean rums. Here are the spots where Forte's found big flavors in Los Angeles. Curry PuffsCobi's [Ordering] the curry puffs here is nonnegotiable! Light, flaky, buttery wrappers encase a potato filling that's rich with umami. There's a beautiful depth of flavor lifted by the tamarind ketchup, which adds just the right touch of sweetness and tang to balance it all out. It's the kind of bite that makes you pause mid-conversation.$14, 2104 Main St., Santa Monica, Fish CongeeLittle Fish Everyone talks about the fried fish sandwich, and it's great, but the breakfast menu? That's the real gem. I go for the whitefish congee — it's silky, savory and perfectly seasoned, topped with pickled mushrooms and a marinated soy egg with the dreamiest jammy center. Their crispy nori potatoes ($9) don't get enough love, but they're the sleeper hit, especially alongside the grilled shrimp sausage breakfast sandwich ($12). Honestly, the whole menu slaps. Zero misses.$16, 1606 Sunset Blvd., Echo Park, Catalana RisottoMuse My wife booked this spot for us recently, and it blew me away. It's got that perfect low-key, intimate energy that makes it ideal for date night. The chef-owner makes the rounds, chatting with every table, which brings a personal touch that's rare. We ordered the full menu but the prawn risotto was the standout. Luxurious, packed with flavor, and topped with a delicate prawn tartare. They even brought out the fresh prawn heads and offered to fry them up with a vibrant herb pistou — two knockout dishes from one pristine ingredient. It's thoughtful cooking, through and through.$90, 108 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica, This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
FACT
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- FACT
6 must-visit concept stores redefining retail in Riyadh
Where to find local brands and handmade items If you thought shopping in Riyadh was all malls and souqs, think again. Concept stores in Riyadh are so popular – they offer a cool shopping experience and are home to a carefully curated selection of products. So, whether you want handmade jewellery, a unique artwork or clothing by a local Saudi designer, there's a concept store to meet your needs. Here are the best concept stores in Riyadh. GalleryBlu If a designer shoe is like a work of art to you, then you'll be right at home at GalleryBlu. The concept store combines art with fashion, as the oh-so-pretty items are displayed like they are in an exhibition. Shop for products including Hermès Birkin bags, a Crosley Cruiser pink portable turntable, and Leblon Delienne's sculptures that celebrate popular icons – a silver Mickey Mouse, anyone? Look out for limited edition items, too, like a Louis Vuitton Virgil Abloh bag. GO: Follow @ on Instagram for more information. Number Nine Concept Store When a store labels itself as a collection of beautiful things, that's a description that we can certainly get behind. Number Nine Concept Store in Riyadh is named after the founder's favourite number and is fiercely local. The shop is brimming with Saudi brands across fashion and beauty – you can even find Diggin ' It, the locally created beard oil, here. The clothing collection includes oversized T-shirts from XO, bright hoodies from EJ and statement jumpers from Studio 23. Plus, there are modern abayas, caps, glasses and plenty of gift ideas. GO: Follow @conceptno.9 on Instagram for more information. Pattern Concept Store If a Pinterest board were to come to life, it would probably look something like Pattern Concept Store. It's all industrial chic, from its exposed piping to pastel interiors, and it has plenty of #homedecor ideas. The concept store in Riyadh prides itself on bringing together a niche collection of art, fashion and lifestyle products. Browse through cool items from the Saudi clothing company The Rasha, Italian sunglasses from Illesteva, and perfume from Sentimental. The shop also hosts art and craft workshops and, like all good establishments in Riyadh, it has a coffee shop on site. GO: Follow @pattern_saudi on Instagram for more information. Personage Personage is spread over three floors, and covers everything from street style to on-trend jewellery. The brands include necklaces from Trendy Jewellery, linens from Angel Dust's and streetwear from Designated. Her Highness Princess Deemah Bint Mansour Bin Saud Alsaud is behind this concept store in Riyadh, which regularly hosts special pop-ups and installations that combine art, activism, and fashion. Personage is on-trend where it matters, as it recently held the GFX Swap Shop. So, it was out with the old and in with the used, as it hosted workshops on how to reuse and repurpose items. When you need a break from all that shopping, visit Ooze Café on the second floor. GO: Follow @personagesa on Instagram for more information. Sum+Things When you walk into Sum+Things, be prepared to splurge – the items here are so gorgeous that you may leave with some extra baggage. If you're looking for some home improvements, then visit this concept store in Riyadh. The emphasis is on cool, contemporary household items such as vases, ornaments and furniture. Look out for special events, too, as Sum+Things has held a personal shopping experience and an Oscar De La Renta pop-up. And, if you just want to switch up your meet-up spot, check out the indoor café – it serves fruit juices, matcha lattes and food. GO: Follow @sumplusthings on Instagram for more information. Wabi Sabi Closet Come for the vegan food, and stay for the concept store. Wabi Sabi is a popular vegan restaurant in Riyadh, but tucked away upstairs is a quiet concept store selling items that fit the healthy theme. So, take your pick from oils, healing stones, organic hair and beauty items, candles and more. Plus, there are cool items including modern artwork, funky furniture and fashionable abayas. GO: Follow @wabisabiksa on Instagram for more information.
Vogue
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
See the Runway Debuts of 51 Looks on View at the Costume Institute's ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' Exhibition
Looks, from left, by Botter, Ib Kamara for Off-White, Bianca Saunders, Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton, and Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton Now that the 2025 Met Gala's paparazzi frenzy has concluded, the next big moment at The Met is the opening to the public of 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' on Saturday, May 10. Paintings, printed matter, moving images, decorative arts, and fashion, parsed into 12 sections, tell the story of centuries of Black style. And many garments and accessories on display—most of which are contemporary—walked down runways before taking up residence at the Fifth Avenue museum. Here are the catwalk debuts of 51 looks in the exhibition. Ownership Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, fall 2024 menswear Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, fall 2024 menswear Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Presence Bag, Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton, fall 2022 menswear Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton Distinction
Khaleej Times
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
New Balance x Miu Miu, Dior x Air Jordan: How luxury sneakers became the ultimate status symbol
For decades, luxury fashion was synonymous with fine tailoring, high-end leather goods, and couture craftsmanship. Sneakers, in contrast, belonged to athletes, hip-hop artistes, and streetwear enthusiasts. But today, these two worlds have merged, and luxury sneakers have become the ultimate status symbol. From New Balance x Miu Miu to Louis Vuitton x Off-White, ON Running x Loewe, Dior x Air Jordan, and the ultra-premium New Balance x Loro Piana, high fashion is embracing sneaker culture like never before. These collabs aren't just about footwear; they represent a fundamental shift in how luxury is defined and consumed. What's Driving the Transformation of the Sneaker Universe? The shift in the market isn't just about footwear — it reflects broader cultural and economic forces reshaping luxury. Casual luxury is now the norm, with consumers prioritising comfort and versatility over rigid formality. Gen-Z and millennials are driving this change, blending street culture, music and fashion into their everyday lives. Sneakers have also entered the resale market, with limited-edition pairs fetching prices that rival luxury handbags and watches. A sneaker today isn't just a fashion statement — it's an investment. Take the New Balance x Miu Miu collaboration, for example. Miu Miu's reimagining of the New Balance 530 is a perfect example of stealth wealth meets nostalgia. With distressed finishes, premium suede, and a muted colour palette, double colour laces, this collab speaks to consumers who appreciate luxury without excessive branding. This sneaker fits squarely into the 'old money' aesthetic, where exclusivity comes not from loud logos but from understated craftsmanship. It's luxury designed for those who know — without the need to show. On the other hand, the Louis Vuitton x Off-White Air Force 1, designed by Virgil Abloh, was a cultural phenomenon. Virgil Abloh's vision blurred the lines between high fashion and streetwear, proving that sneakers could be as artistic and valuable as traditional luxury goods. These sneakers, some selling for over $100,000, became collectible assets — part fashion, part financial investment. Abloh's legacy continues to influence how luxury brands embrace sneaker culture, ensuring streetwear's place in high fashion for years to come. Performance has also become a key element of luxury. ON Running's collaboration with Loewe marries Swiss engineering with Spanish design, creating sneakers that are as functional as they are stylish. Roger Federer's involvement with ON Running adds an extra layer of prestige — his influence extends beyond celebrity endorsement, reinforcing the idea that true luxury is not just about appearance but also about performance and innovation. Then there's the Dior x Air Jordan 1 OG, designed by Kim Jones, which redefined sneaker pricing and desirability. Limited to just 8,500 pairs and retailing at $2,000 (resale values soared past $10,000), this sneaker proved that high-end consumers are willing to invest in sneakers the same way they would in handbags or watches. It marked a turning point where sneaker culture officially entered the luxury market. At the other end of the spectrum lies the New Balance x Loro Piana 990v2 — a study in quiet, ultra-premium luxury. Crafted from Loro Piana's world-class cashmere and merino wool, these sneakers appeal to high-net-worth individuals who value exclusivity without excess. This collaboration reflects the future of luxury, where craftsmanship and subtlety outweigh logos and hype. Sneakers Are The New Standard of Luxury The rise of luxury sneakers is more than a fashion trend — it's a cultural shift redefining modern luxury. Today's consumers value cultural capital over brand recognition. A sneaker co-signed by an artist, athlete, or designer carries more prestige than a traditional logo. The growing popularity of genderless fashion is also evident in sneaker collaborations, which are increasingly designed as unisex pieces. Sneakers have even become investment assets, with resale values creating a new market for collectors. Sustainability is the next frontier, with luxury brands exploring eco-friendly materials and small-batch production to align with modern values. Luxury is no longer about exclusivity in the traditional sense; it's about cultural relevance, versatility, and craftsmanship. Whether through Virgil Abloh's disruptive vision, Loro Piana's quiet sophistication, or ON Running's fusion of tech and fashion, sneakers have cemented their place in high fashion. For today's luxury consumer, a $2,000 sneaker isn't just a purchase — it's a statement of exclusivity while being rooted to cultural relevance and that is truly the future of modern luxury.
