Penelope Cruz and Brad Pitt fall in love for Chanel

You wouldn’t believe it from looking out the window, but spring is here. The days are finally getting longer, the air ever so balmier, and, before you know it, we’ll have our bums plonked in a scorching beer garden wishing it was cooler.

All that makes it a good time to revisit the SS24 shows from last September. It was a big month of firsts: Sabato de Sarno, Peter Do and Peter Hawkings all showed their first collections for Gucci, Helmut Lang and Tom Ford, respectively. And, of course, Sarah Burton took her final bow at Alexander McQueen, after 13 years as creative director at the house

What trends will we be seeing out and about in the coming months? Well, you can bet on teeny-tiny shorts, which we saw at Gucci, Isabel Marant and Chanel. Miu Miu took it down a couple of notches with bermuda shorts that duly spread across the internet. White made an appearance, too, as Balenciaga, Acne Studios and Prada all shared gowns that definitely aren’t safe for sitting in grass. Super high-waisted trousers gave way to wedgies at Loewe, Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton. And the smell of the season? Roses. They were printed on a Molly Goddard tea dress, lit-up in a dome-like dress at Undercover, and stuffed into the lining of a sheer Simone Rocha gown.

As for you boys, things are looking pretty camp. Prepare for a case of jungle fever with animal prints from Jil Sander, Saint Laurent and Dior. Then, swiftly glide through a pseudo Studio54 with plenty of sequins courtesy of Dries Van Noten, AMI and Tom Ford, and easy-peasy jumpsuits from Burberry, Givenchy and Valentino. Plus, we saw cutesy crochet at DSquared2, Botter and Marine Serre.

So, bum-grazing shorts, sequin shirts, Biblical dresses and the sweet smell of roses. Sounds like a hoot! For now, though, we’ll be packing our brollies and checking the weather app – just in case.

“Sorry, do you have any rooms available?” you might ask a Premier Inn attendant after missing the last train from God-knows-where. Thankfully, Chanel’s version of this conundrum is far chicer – and doesn’t involve cheesy chips or a bout of regret. Rather, the quote comes from the swoony 1966 romantic thriller A Man and A Woman, the starting point for Chanel’s creative director Virginie Viard when dreaming up the house’s cinematic ​“Iconic Handbag” campaign, shot and directed by Inez and Vinoodh. Starring none other than brand ambassador Penélope Cruz alongside Brad Pitt, the duo recreate original sequences from the film. Cue: butterflies, goosebumps, the look of love. And… cut!

Paul Smith, the granddaddy of great British suiting, is set to open the 106^th edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo – the ultimate menswear trade show in Florence – which kicks off on 11^th June. Bending the rules of traditional tailoring, Smith took it upon himself to add pizazz to the two-piece during his namesake label’s beginnings in 1970, when suits were drab, flared and made for the dreary 9‑to‑5. These days, the brand is synonymous with great cuts, colour and quality, as well as a casual flair for multicoloured knits and reliable daywear. The opening marks a return for Smith, who was invited to Pitti as one of the first guest designers to show back in 1993. Now, over to the man himself, who said: ​“I think that [Pitti is] a wonderful moment that highlights some of the best menswear around in a very real way. I am looking forward to presenting my collection in a more personal setting [and] the return to Florence feels like just the right thing to do.”

By now, it’d be an easier task finding a big celeb who hasn’t starred in a Skims campaign. But here’s a first: following the likes of Cardi B, Lana Del Rey and Ice Spice is former Disney actress, very trendy musician and Barry Keoghan’s girlfriend Sabrina Carpenter, who has bagged a solo Skims shoot, showing off the brand’s latest collection. The campaign is influenced by the poster-clad bedrooms and late-night phone calls cult ​’90s teen films; meanwhile, the collection is full of design cues from the decade, including a halter neck mini-dress, delicate lace sets and high-cut bodysuits straight out of a chunky catalogue.

We love when a brand gets in on the joke. Loewe, arguably one of the trickiest brands to say out loud (you know it’s true), has released Decades of Confusion, a film that tells the fans once and for all how to spell, and say, Loewe. Actor Dan Levy, who wrote the script, stars as an exasperated judge quizzing spelling bee competitor Audrey Plaza, every year from 1971 to the present day. And naturally, throughout the years, you’ll see her in a host of wigs, specs and suits from, where else? L‑O-E-W‑E!

Get up and out with Beats x Alo Yoga’s special edition Beats Fit Pro, the latest in the headphone brand’s long list of collaborations. Featuring noise cancellation, transparency, adaptive EQ modes and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking (us neither), these Pros are levelling up the art of active living. To kick it all off, they’ve released shiny campaign made in partnership with Grammy Award-winning Amapiano musician Tyla: ​“Partnering with Beats and Alo has been a dream collaboration for me,” she says. ​“I’m so excited to join forces on this campaign and share a product I personally rely on day-in, day-out.” Suddenly, working out doesn’t look so painful. Now, about that gym membership…

As always with Vivienne Westwood, its latest AW24/​25 collection started with a dig through the library. Specifically: Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s tragic 1774 novel, The Sorrows of Young Werther, influenced the Romantic movement towards the end of the 18^th century, when artists and intellectuals used intense emotion as artistic expression. All that formed a crucial starting point for the British house this season. The collection looked to the early-19^th century ​“Empire style” movement: the extravagance of Imperial Rome, with references to classical antiquity and military uniform. Here, sleeves are full, collars high and drapery strong in wool and printed tartans, while closer up, military details are found in frogging on jacquard knitwear, and harris tweed that is given an updated whirl when combined with denim. Let the battle commence.

For Helmut Lang’s SS24 campaign, creative director Peter Do – who made his debut at the cult New York label last September – got ​“The People of Helmut Lang” together for a big celebration of his friends and influences. Shot in NYC by Huy Luong, characters such as author, designer and model Linda Rodin, designer and model Mindy Seu, chef, producer and food editor Sophia Roe and photographer John Yuyi got all dressed up in Do’s ​“new system of dressing”. In his debut collection, Do offered versatility in unisex tailoring, as well as lightweight knits and voluminous skirts for layering – a mix and match approach to modern dressing. ​“The person gives meaning and value to the clothes and not the other way around,” Do says. Word.