As Ibiza season kicks in, I’m reposting my article for Faith Fanzine that was originally published in print last summer. It seems the heady, hedonistic days of 80s rave and club culture are never far from a fashion designer’s moodboard. As photographer and former Time Out clubs editor Dave Swindells celebrates his fourth print run of photobook, IBIZA 89 (above), we mused on what the scene symbolised and why it’s an eternal source of style inspo Lairy Day-Glo tops, psychedelic-print long-sleeve tees, G-Force lookalike handknits on whirling dervish dancers and bob-haired boys in supersize silk ..read more

Now the sweaters are off, it’s time to think about shirts. Why wear one when you can wear two (or three)? A small button-down under a bigger one worn undone. Two identical, worn unbuttoned over a tee. Two different styles, or the same style with contrasting stripes. Take some inspo from these examples in the wild – I will… The original inspiration on the AW24 Tod’s runway (below) This oversize look (top) spoke to me after Lin (aka Out of the Bag) wrote about City Boy Style. (Now where to find the XXXL chinos for my 5’2” frame?) Another oversize look (below). Just starch and iron your baggy s ..read more

“The first person to ever write about Spike Lee in the paper was me. Spike cold-called me at The Voice one day….It was his school project. It was genius. I loved it….Chris Blackwell read what I wrote and got in touch with him and ended up funding She’s Gotta Have It.” Carol Cooper, The Freaks Came Out to Write* via The Honest Broker This recently published oral history of The Village Voice * by Tricia Romano looks like a cracking read and ticks my oral history bingo card nicely – 1970s, counterculture, New York – full house! Ted Gioia gives a small taster in his newsletter, The Honest Br ..read more

Everyone’s talking about Rachel Tashjian’s Washington Post deep dive into the cult-like allure of Zara. From its 1975 Spanish origins to its current position as global gateway to high end aesthetics, it’s certainly the brand of the moment for those who aspire to The Row, Bottega, Loewe et al on a non-luxury budget. Tashjian spoke to a number of A-list fashion creatives who have worked with or are working with Zara. Think Fabien Baron, Narciso Rodriguez, photographer Craig McDean, hairstylist Guido and even Linda Evangelista, who modelled for Zara’s collaboration with Steven Meisel last autumn ..read more

If you enjoyed the interview with Shane Taylor last week, here’s a bonus post. I touched on this subject when Shane and I met, but we later realised there was more to say. Shane has been open about experiencing anxiety, so I asked him to email me his thoughts on how street photography had helped him to manage his social anxiety. As an introvert who frequently experiences social awkwardness, I found this very honest account somewhat relatable. Maybe you will too… DRG: Tell me about how you used street photography to help with your social anxiety? Shane Taylor: Everyone should try street photog ..read more

Continuing the Cartier love, another major reveal at this month’s Watches & Wonders was the magnificent Reflection de Cartier bangle watch (above). In sleek yellow gold with its sculptural cuff form, it’s giving 1970s Andrew Grima for Omega (below) and I’m not complaining. Launch date and price are TBC, but let’s just say it’s likely a look-but-don’t-touch affair for most of us. Something else to look forward to, Danish jewellery brand Kinraden is teaming up with fellow Danes, Skall Studio on these recycled sterling silver and 18K gold pieces. Previewed at Skall Studio’s Copenhagen Fashi ..read more

A few years ago, I started following Shane Taylor (aka @heroesforsale) on Instagram. His street photography focusing mostly on a pocket of Mayfair caught my attention; his captured gestures and poetic moments a nod to mid-century greats like Saul Leiter and Garry Winogrand. Originally from Tipperary, he arrived in London in 2019, immersing himself in the people-watching potential of its diverse inhabitants. Building an Instagram following, he branched out into Framelines, a YouTube channel, printed magazine and Patreon community with his co-pilot Josh Edgoose. And now he has co-curated the St ..read more

It feels like we’re officially in our ‘small watch era’. After what feels like decades – scratch that, it was decades – of ginormous, chestbeating steel watches, we’re seeing the return of dainty, Deco-era watch cases on chic leather straps. I’m attributing part of the shift to the affluent, small-wristed Asian customer, and possibly the wave of Chinese celebs being co-opted by luxury brands hoping to entice the next generation of watch enthusiasts. Also to note: the insatiable appetite for vintage watches. As with fashion generally, there’s a new young army of watch nerds who delight in flex ..read more

My favourite look from yesterday’s Dior pre-fall 24 show at the Brooklyn Museum is this leather all in one number (above). Maria GC gets a ton of stick for her collections (please – enough with the logos and book bags!), but this was one of the stronger ones. Themed with a NY-Paris bent, it used Marlene Dietrich’s personal style – and friendship with Monsieur Dior – as its running thread, with garconne tailoring, calf-length beaded flapper dresses and oversized coats slung over fluid slip dresses printed with the New York skyline the major highlights. P.S. Videos and backstage pictures ..read more

“For me, the question is: is fashion a way to be like your neighbour or is it a way of being yourself, different from your neighbour? Nothing is ugly nowadays. If you look at everyone’s Instagram accounts, there is beautiful food, beautiful flowers, beautiful muscles… everything is too beautiful. Bring back ugliness! Baudelaire said there is no beauty without something bizarre.” Christian Lacroix, System magazine issue 13 WORDS: Disneyrollergirl / Navaz Batliwalla IMAGE: Christian Lacroix, System magazine NOTE: Most images are digitally enhanced. Some posts use affiliate links and PR samples ..read more