Missed out on the fashion chatter this week? We’ve got you covered. Every week, our inbox is flooded with hundreds of press releases, but we made it our mission to sift through all the noise so you don’t have to. Here’s your quick recap of all the key fashion news from July 19 to 25, served up in bite-sized pieces so you can catch up fast…
Alaïa Returns to the Official Paris Fashion Week Calendar
Alaïa is making its return to the official Paris Fashion Week schedule, announcing that it will present its Winter/Spring 2026 collection as part of the Fédération’s calendar this season. The show is set for Saturday, October 4 at 9:30 AM, marking a significant moment for the house as it joins its peers on fashion’s biggest stage, signaling a shift in pace for a brand long known for doing things on its own terms. The late Azzedine Alaïa famously defied the traditional fashion calendar, choosing instead to show his collections only when he felt they were truly ready. His approach was deeply personal, prioritizing craftsmanship over spectacle, and creative integrity over commercial urgency. It was a quiet rebellion against the industry’s relentless clock. Today, under the direction of Pieter Mulier, the house’s return to the official schedule doesn’t dilute that spirit. Alaïa’s presence on the Fédération’s calendar is an invitation to engage with the industry while still honoring the Maison’s legacy of independence, precision, and timeless design.
Jonathan Anderson Joins Luca Guadagnino for ChatGPT Biopic ‘Artificial’
Jonathan Anderson is adding another costume design credit to his growing film résumé, reuniting for a third time with Oscar-nominated director Luca Guadagnino on the upcoming AI comedy Artificial. Currently in pre-production, the film is loosely inspired by OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, and explores the surreal scandals and ethical dilemmas unfolding in Big Tech, touching on timely themes like AI’s increasing role in everyday life and headline-making models like Elon Musk’s Grok. The duo previously teamed up on Challengers and Queer, with Anderson even earning a Costume Designers Guild nomination for the former. In a recent interview with WWD, the designer described their creative synergy, noting shared interests in aesthetics and design. Artificial stars Andrew Garfield, Yura Borisov, and Queer alum Cooper Koch. A release date has yet to be announced.
Louis Vuitton Announces Semi-Finalists for Its 2025 Watch Prize for Independent Creatives
Louis Vuitton is once again putting the spotlight on the world’s most exciting independent watchmakers with the return of its Watch Prize for Independent Creatives. First launched in 2023 with La Fabrique du Temps—its watchmaking workshop in Meyrin, Switzerland—the prize celebrates innovation, artistry, and serious craftsmanship. The first winner was Swiss watchmaker Raúl Pagès, and now, for its second edition, 20 semi-finalists have been announced, selected from hundreds of entries from around the world. At a time when big-name luxury brands dominate the industry, the rise of independent watchmaking feels like a breath of fresh air. These creators often work solo, building their timepieces from scratch—design, engineering, and finishing all by hand. It’s a bit like couture, but for your wrist. The result? Watches that are deeply personal, painstakingly crafted, and totally original. That’s exactly what the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize is here to support.
LVMH Reports 22% Profit Drop as Luxury Sector Slump Deepens
LVMH’s latest earnings report for the first half of 2025 paints a grim picture for the luxury giant, and the industry at large. The group reported a 22% drop in net profit and a 4% year-over-year revenue decline, falling from €46.8 billion to €39.8 billion. Its biggest division, Fashion and Leather Goods—which includes brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Celine—took a major hit, with sales down 9%. While the company described its performance as “resilient” despite global disruptions, the numbers fell short of analysts’ expectations. The downturn reflects a broader slump across the luxury market, with spending cooling most noticeably in China but evident worldwide. Hermès recently surpassed LVMH as the most valuable luxury stock after LVMH’s share value dropped 7.8% in Q1. Adding to the pressure are a string of controversies and crises: labor exploitation allegations at Loro Piana and data breaches at Louis Vuitton. Price hikes and shaky consumer confidence haven’t helped either. Once seen as a bellwether for the luxury market, LVMH’s latest results suggest the sector’s rebound may still be a long way off.
Sofia Coppola to Debut First-Ever Documentary on Marc Jacobs at Venice Film Festival
View this post on Instagram
Sofia Coppola is stepping into documentary filmmaking with Marc by Sofia, a deeply personal portrait of her longtime friend and collaborator, Marc Jacobs. Set to premiere out of competition at the 2025 Venice Film Festival (August 27–September 9), the film marks Coppola’s first documentary and the first full-length feature on Jacobs since Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton in 2007. The title nods to the designer’s now-defunct Marc by Marc Jacobs line and hints at the intimacy of the project, shaped by decades of friendship. Coppola has appeared in numerous Marc Jacobs campaigns over the years—photographed by Juergen Teller in 2002 and starring in the Fall/Winter 2015 campaign—and has also directed fragrance ads for the brand. Their creative relationship extends to Jacobs’ Louis Vuitton era (1997–2013) and more recently, the sub-label Heaven by Marc Jacobs. While plot details remain under wraps, Marc by Sofia is expected to be one of the standout premieres of the festival circuit.
Chloé Revives the Iconic Paddington Bag With Limited Early Access
Chloé’s beloved Paddington bag is making a long-awaited comeback for Winter 2025, nearly two decades after it first defined the era’s “It bag” craze. Soft, slouchy, and finished with its signature leather-wrapped padlock, the updated version stays true to the original’s effortless luxury, but with a few modern tweaks. Think: lighter hardware, a single-zip opening, and refined construction using washed leather for that perfectly lived-in feel. The revival isn’t just nostalgic. It’s also exclusive as a limited number of Paddington bags will be available for early access starting July 2025, but only to those who register online. Offered in two sizes—small (€1,890) and medium (€2,300), the bag officially hits Chloé boutiques and Chloe.com in September. For collectors and fashion fans alike, this is one comeback worth locking down.
Simone Bellotti Debuts at Jil Sander with a Limited-Edition Vinyl and Music Video Tribute
For his first creative move at the helm of Jil Sander, Simone Bellotti isn’t starting with clothes but with music. In a bold, emotional introduction, Bellotti has released a limited-edition vinyl EP and music video that channel the house’s signature duality: minimalism with depth, precision with feeling. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Hamburg—the birthplace of the brand—the video blends raw, real-life vignettes with cinematic sequences, capturing the tension between stillness and chaos, day and night, urban grit and poetic escape. The soundtrack comes courtesy of Italian electronic artist Bochum Welt (aka Gianluigi Di Costanzo), whose melancholic yet experimental electronica mirrors Jil Sander’s refined edge. The EP features seven tracks—including Crystal Ice, Wanderlust, and More Light (Escape Mix). Available from late August, the vinyl will be sold at select Jil Sander boutiques (including Mall of the Emirates), on JilSander.com, and via Kudos distribution globally.
The post Week in Chic: All the Fashion News You Might Have Missed (July 19 – 25) appeared first on MILLE WORLD.
