See Kate Moss in Rag & Bone's Campaign and its New London Shop

Rag & Bone has two firsts today: Images have just been released of Kate Moss starring in the brand's premiere ad campaign, and it's opening the doors to its new London boutique tomorrow. To top it off, as previously reported, the new space will also host the label's first Fashion Week presentation this September.

The ads, shot by Craig McDean, capture Moss candidly in North London. This stripped-down view of the model shows her in a very real moment.


"We worked with two industry icons; Kate and Craig and asked them to shoot outside of their usual working environments to create these almost raw, unique images," said Marcus Wainwright, managing partner at Rag & Bone in a press release. "It wasn’t in a studio; it was just them on a derelict London street—Kate with minimal make-up and Craig with a hand-held camera and natural light."


Shooting the campaign in the U.K. gives a nod to the label's London invasion. "Rag & Bone is essentially a New York brand but our collections have always been influenced by our British roots, so it made total sense for us to open our first European flagship store in our hometown," explained David Neville, managing partner of Rag & Bone, in a press release.

The space is located in Sloan Square and has a custom-forged cast iron staircase, a traditional Chesterfield couch, and the brand's signature exposed brick and brass fixtures. The ground floor carries men's and women's threads, while the lower level is devoted to denim and accessories. Check it out if you're in town for the 2012 Olympic Games.

First Look: Nicole Richie's Line for Macy's

Nicole Richie's first collection for Macy's Impulse Only will be storming the department store this September. But until you can get your hands on the affordable duds ($49–$149), check out this sketch of a crepe de chine and chiffon dress with lace ($69) from the offerings. Like her House of Harlow and Winter Kate lines, the threads will give a nod to the 1970s with a chic, bohemian vibe.

First Look: New TOMS Bike Shoes

TOMS has come out with a new shoe designed especially for bike riding—Linus bike riding, to be precise. TOMS supports the bike company for its vintage modern look, complete with '50s-and-'60s inspired frames. The footwear brand wanted to create a style just as comfortable as the bicycle. And thus: TOMS x Linus Cordones were born. The riding kicks feature a reflective heel patch for high visibility and are constructed with a stone grey aviator twill and burgundy soles. They're available exclusively on TOMS.com, until they run out (ba-dum...). As always, TOMS will donate a new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased.

Maje x the Man Repeller Unveil Window Design

Heads turned outside of Maje's Soho boutique last night, thanks to a quirky barbecue-themed window treatment created by Leandra Medine, a.k.a., the Man Repeller. The summery display, complete with AstroTurf, flamingos, and a grill, called for a soirée to celebrate the collaboration. DJ Chelsea Leyland spun tunes while both customers and fashion insiders (like Rebecca Minkoff), snacked on backyard barbeque-themed h'ordeuvres and sipped iced tea and watermelon flavored cocktails. As for the high-fashion, low-key mix at the storefront, Medine claimed HBO series Girls had her dreaming up a Brooklyn shindig. "I've just always been intrigued by Brooklyn parties and Brooklyn barbeques," she said. "I always wanted to go to a party with a garden, tea lights, and red cups.

This display is my vibe. I feel like the clothing I wear complements it because both are a mix of really casual yet fancy." Medine styled the mannequins to reflect that same aesthetic, matching Navajo-inspired patterns with dressier metallic accents.



Among the many collaborations tacked onto Medine's retail repertoire (most recently Bauble Bar, Dannijo, and Christian Louboutin), she said Maje gave her the most free reign, "This one seems to have been the most creative for me, which I really enjoyed. All Maje said was, 'we want you to design a window for us'—that's it. I was able to do everything else." From cutting the AstroTurf to filling the mannequins' picnic baskets, Medine spent about three hours the night before installing the surrealist design herself. She hopes her vision will lure people to step inside. She added, "My motivation behind this window was for people to walk by and wonder, 'why wasn't I invited to this party?'"

First Look: Michael Kors Fall 2012 Campaign

Michael Kors fuses the themes of Hollywood glamour and jet-set style in his fall 2012 ads, shot by Mario Testino at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. Models Karmen Pedaru and Simon Nessman, who are now appearing in their fifth campaign, sport chic white duds, furry accents, and oversize shades, making them appear ultra A-list. The styling gives a nod to 1930s icons, Carole Lombard and Clark Gable. Says Kors in a press release, "They’re youthful and sophisticated at the same time, which makes them so very Michael Kors." Agreed!

Rihanna Designs for River Island

Fast-fashion brand, River Island, announced its newest designer: Rihanna. While the line's heritage lies in Great Britain, it boasts over 300 stores in the Republic of Ireland, Russia, Holland, Poland, Belgium, the Middle East, and the Far East; plus it offers worldwide shipping through its website.

"I've been wanting to design my own collection for some time," Rihanna said in a press release. "River Island is the perfect partner for me to collaborate with and working with a British, family-run business also really appealed to me. I find London really inspiring and River Island loves to have fun with clothes. I’m looking forward to working with them and creating something really special." The pop and style icon's collection will launch in the spring of 2013.

U.S. Olympic Uniforms Made in China

Just when Americans were abuzz about the patriotic uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren, the news broke that the threads were actually made in China. CBS News reports: "I think they should be embarrassed," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile, and burn them and start all over again." Dramatic! The athletes aren't too pleased either. Olympic track competitor Nick Symmonds ‏(@NickSymmonds) Tweeted: "Our Ralph Lauren outfits for the Olympic opening ceremonies were made in China. So, um, thanks China. #patriotism"

The U.S. Olympic Committee points out that unlike most teams, America's is privately funded. "We're grateful for the support of our sponsors," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. "We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London."

Banana Republic Takes on Anna Karenina

This winter's set to feel a little more sumptuous, thanks to Banana Republic's Anna Karenina-inspired capsule. The film's Oscar-nominated costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, worked with the brand's creative director, Simon Kneen, to turn frocks, coats, and accessories into a 75-piece offering that speaks of a less frilly, more architectural, Russian Imperialism. "We were working on fabrics and colors for holiday and there was a lot of brocade, velvet, lace, and faux fur," says Kneen. "[Then] the possibility of working with Jacqueline and the film came along, and it felt like a perfect match. They shared some stills and outtakes from the film with us, and we were feeling the same things. It was a kismet moment."

Durran's goal was to translate the movie's wardrobe into functional pieces, and the results are supremely wearable: Structured black coats and rich ruby frocks were among those being shown at the brand's preview last night. One note-worthy accessory stood out: "Keira [Knightley, who stars in the film] wears a big gray hat and that's directly referenced—it's actually my favorite piece in the collection. But we've done it as a scarf, so you can wear it wrapped up like a hat, as a regular scarf, or stylized with a bit hanging down the back." Durran spoke to reports that her designs were influenced by Dior's era-defining mid-20th century styles. "It's not strictly New Look," she insists. "Post-war couture became very architectural with Dior and Balenciaga, and when you take away all the surface details, you're left with the shape." It was that same stripped-down approach that echoes most in her creations. "The shapes aren't particularly '50s, and they're not very 1870s because there are no ruffles. It's really about the silhouettes, [not] trimmings." One thing the creative process didn't involve: tons of hours spent in book club discussions. Durran said she only read the original Leo Tolstoy novel once, while Kneen spoke of the importance of avoiding getting caught up in literal representation since it can stymie free thinking. "If you get too directly involved with [the source] you can lose your inspiration, and it becomes more of an interpretation. Sometimes your imagination is more inspiring than the reality," he explains. "You have to know what the roots are, but then take it to a whole different level. Otherwise, we become historians."

First Look: Club Monaco's Fall 2012 Campaign

Club Monaco's fall 2012 campaign debuts today at clubmonaco.com, featuring a Brooklyn shoot and black-and-white photography by renowned stylist and photographer, Venetia Scott. The ads also showcase international fashion models, Kolfinna Kristofersdottir and Will Eustace. The line has a mix-and-match feel to it, maintaining a careful balance between structure and softness, bright prints and pale prep, and vintage accessories and modern attire. Overall, the collection is warm and whimsy with Autumn inspiration.

A First Look: Raf Simons for Dior

Raf Simons made his highly-anticipated debut for Dior this morning during Paris couture, to an audience that included high-profile faces (Jennifer Lawrence, Dior muse Marion Cotillard, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Natalia Vodianova) and fellow designers (Azzedine Alaia, Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Olivier Theyskens, Alber Elbaz, Riccardo Tisci) alike.

For the collection, Simons reinterpreted the codes set forth by the house's founder; a million flowers, for instance, one of the founder's obsessions, adorned the walls of the five private salons housing the show. And the finale evening gowns expressed the dichotomy between the old and new: the backs of the dresses had intricate embroideries, remakes of historical Dior designs, while their fronts had futuristic reinterpretations by Simons