Fashionistas in Bangkok have long been able to buy the iconic designs of Karl Lagerfeld but now, for the very first time, they can enjoyed a touch of the Lagerfeld luxury in a Thai-owned fashion brand.

Karl Lagerfeld for Jaspal, which will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most exclusive collections of the year, debuted last week at a fashion event celebrating the 46th anniversary of Jaspal.

French music and Parisian chic were very much in evidence at the event hosted by Siam Paragon with replicas of famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the boulevard cafe sharing pride of place with Thailand’s very own tuk-tuk.

Viseth Singhsachathet, assistant managing director at Jaspal and the grandson of the founder, says the brand has been working with Lagerfeld and his fashion house for 18 months. The collaboration, he adds, is a reflection of Jaspal’s core policy to keep developing and improving its quality products and underline its position as an internationally recognised Thai brand.

“This collaboration is a new milestone for us. We wanted to work with a truly iconic designer and who better than Karl Lagerfeld?” Viseth says.

“We were lucky to get in touch with him and delighted his own brand was interested to hold discussions with us. The Karl Lagerfeld brand has never collaborated with any fashion label in South East Asia before. We went to meet them and showed them who we are. We have been in business for a long time and they could see our potential. Working with their team was a wonderful professional experience. They knew exactly what they wanted and what they were looking for. I also would like to give credit to my team, who were so professional on the ground. They were really hands on, everything has to be approved and the communication two way all the time. It’s been really a fun project.”

Also present at the launch was Caroline Lebar, head of communications for Karl Lagerfeld who has been with the designer for more than 30 years.

“Working with Jaspal is amazing and we are pleased to have the opportunity of working with a Thai brand, which is a first for us. The main inspiration for the collection is Thailand and also our Choupette. Choupette is more than friendship, she is a true love. She is Karl’s cat. She is now six years old and our mascot so I hope she will become Jaspal’s mascot too. We know that Thais also love cats,” Lebar says.

Asked how Lagerfeld feels about the collection, Lebar is blunt. “If he wasn’t happy, it wouldn’t exist. Karl controls everything. He is also super happy about the short movie we have made. All our team was happy to work with Jaspal. It was an easy and friendly collaboration,” she says.

As the world’s centre of fashion, the French capital is evident in the collection though the Parisian style is given a Thai twist. Tailoring is key to the outfits, which boast ruffles, black and white tones and plenty of pops of red.

The exclusive collection is presented on the concept Paris Day-to-Night and features clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, hats, luggage tags, keychains and phone cases.

All items can be mixed and matched for day and for night. The Paris by Day component features casualwear including T-shirts paired with leather biker jackets or denim and tops printed with the face of the designer or Choupette the cat. Stripes are at the forefront and the overlook look perfectly represents the effortless chic of Parisian women.

Paris by Night focuses on dresses both short and long in Lagerfeld’s signature black and white with fun patches and feminine ruffles along with studded collars directly inspired by the designer’s own style.

The accessories serve to bring out the clothes, for example through a short dress and leather biker jacket match paired with a crossbody bag and embroidered sneakers for the complete look during the day. A party look for evening is achieved by switching from the crossbody bag to the glitter box clutch.

“We told the designer and his team that we would like something really special for Thai customers that was exclusive and obviously Karl Lagerfeld. They came up with the biker jacket, t-shirts and a range of Choupette designs,” says Viseth.

“The tuk tuk is a symbol of Thailand and we wanted to pay tribute to him through the collection. We would never see Karl Lagerfeld in a tuk tuk, why don’t we put them both in this iconic vehicle around the streets of Paris. And they loved it!”

 The Karl Lagerfeld for Jaspal collection is available at all branches of Jaspal as well as online at Jaspal.com.

 Follow up on happenings and news at Facebook: @JASPALOfficial or Instagram: @jaspalofficial.

Ready to put every woman into some gorgeous and comfy lingerie and sleepwear, Oysho from Spain is among the latest overseas fashion brands to arrive in Bangkok.

It’s affiliated with Spanish retailer Inditex, which also claims such famous apparel brands as Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Zara Home and Uterque. Inditex has more than 7,000 stores on every continent.

The first Oysho store in Thailand opened recently at CentralWorld, a 300-square-metre playground of satin and lace complete with a 55-metre-tall facade and gleaming marble floors.

The shop is predominantly neutral in tone and minimalist in architectural style, punctuated by a multitude of installations in geometric shapes to create an original and harmonious space.

Like its sister stores around the world, the Bangkok outlet sells collections for every season.

There are six “Feminine Elegance” product lines – sleepwear, gym wear, lingerie and beachwear – as well as accessories and footwear. Everything’s comfortable and features top-notch sewing.

The ladies lingerie collection includes “The Basics” for everyday use and plain but stylish underwear for special occasions.

For the gym, the apparel capitalises on feminine strength. It comes in black, grey and green this season and is ideal for any type of workout, from jogging and yoga to swimming and fitness classes.

The lightweight fabrics of the sleepwear line are made with natural fibres for maximum comfort, the items in soft pastels, some with patterns. The sexy beachwear looks like it belongs on those alluring Spanish girls – casual but stylish bikinis, dresses, T-shirts, shorts, jumpsuits and other chic items fit for the perfect seaside holiday.

Complete the look with accessories and shoes. There’s everything from socks and necklaces to headbands and travel bags, and plenty of different styles to mix and match for a distinctive look on any occasion.

There’s also the “Join Life” collection made in Italy, which reflects the brand’s commitment to respecting the planet by using better processes and sustainable raw materials and recycled polyester. One garment, the Jersey Lamellina, is made with 100-per-cent recycled polyamide.

Beauty guru Phaptawan Kongsomsawang was at the store opening to declare her admiration for Oysho, which she first encountered as a student in Paris.

“The diversity and variety in the product design – the swimsuits, pyjamas and lovely underwear, the socks and sleepers, are easy to mix and match – and they’re really soft,” she said.

“The bras hold their shape after several washes, which is just great. Any woman who comes to Oysho will take home several items, I’m sure.”

Singer-songwriter Madonna reportedly wore a crown and a rosary necklace made by Indonesian designer Rinaldy Yunardi to the opening of the 2018 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala (Met Gala) in New York on May 7.

The crown gold features small crosses, which matches this year’s theme, “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination”.

Meanwhile, Madonna’s black, long-sleeved dress was designed by French designer Jean Paul Gaultier.

Rinaldy posted on his official Instagram account that his hopes and dreams came true as his work has been worn by Madonna, a legendary diva that he admires and loves, in the prestigious Met Gala event.

“I’m also happy to see my work being worn together with a dress designed by my favorite designer, Jean Paul Gaultier,” he added.

Rinaldy is no stranger to the Met Gala. Last year, singer Cassie Ventura was seen at the annual fundraising gala wearing spiky diamond earrings designed by him.

WITH working out today more of a routine part of life than just a trend, urbanites are looking for active-wear that is not only good for the gym but also looks fashionable enough to be worn on the street.

New York high-end fashion brand, DKNY is taking note of market demand and recently launched a sportswear collection that fuses high-performance athletic outfits with stylish ready-to-wear kit for movers and doers.

The launch event took place at Metropolis Bangkok, where guests were invited to experience the new spring and summer 2018 collection and have a go at a circuit-training workout featuring Pilates, cycling, indoor surfing and even bungee jumping.

Actress Cris Horwang presented the sportswear collection, pointing out the serious style points and comfort that are suited to every kind of stretch-out. Inspired by and remaining true to its trademark laid-back streetwear aesthetic, the DKNY sport collection is versatile and dynamic and offers a range of modern essentials for everyday life. The key performance wear includes a tech bra and leggings that make a high-impact statement especially when combined with the brand’s iconic bomber jacket.

Striking details include graphic logos and progressive materials wrapped in sleek silhouettes from oversized swing bombers to hold-you-in high waist leggings. Mesh accents, iridescent logos and matrix prints reinforce DKNY’s signature core palette of black, white, accented with pops of cosmic sky and spectrum blue.

Against a backdrop of a sea-view pool and the stunning beaches on Ibiza, a playfully adventurous Hadid creates a dialogue with contemporary women, asking, “My Vogue, what’s yours?” Seven new styles frame the many moods of beauty, with retro-chic sun shapes flashing superfine golden-metal profiles and glowing heritage tones with sparkling Swarovski crystals.

Coach taps Keith Haring

Bringing new life to the familiar artwork of’80s American pop culture, Coach – the high-end fashion house – recently unveiled its collaboration with artist Keith Haring, who started out spray-painting walls in New York. Coach brings Haring’s bold squiggles to its classic bags, accessories and apparel, capturing all the glitz and grit of the Big Apple. There’s glitter and sequins paired with moody metallic leather, Hawaiian prints, biker details and nostalgic silhouettes.

Cal’s got stunning jewellery

Soft leathers are intertwined and highlighted by polished stainless steel to create an athletic bracelet that is both sleek and masculine on Calvin Klein’s new Bewilder bracelet. Meanwhile the Blast style is luminous with a combination of stainless steel, black PVD and pink-gold PVD. The sparkling Brilliant necklace is smooth and glistening, its shapes accented by Swarovski crystals add a glamorous touch for an easy day-to-night look. The Double collection presents the overlapping design of this new offering displays perfect balance between colour and polished surfaces for a simple yet powerful look.

Get packing

With timeless design, German engineering and superior craftsmanship, Rimowa’s Topas Titanium Cabin Multiwheel suitcase is the perfect companion for couples embarking on a new life journey. Originally developed for tropical travel, these cases with their robust shell of aluminium magnesium are today still among the lightest and most stable luggage ranges in their class. The silenced Multiwheel system has its smooth-rolling wheels, enables optimum manoeuvrability. The height-adjustable Flex-Divider system on the interior can also be set to accommodate the exact volume of the luggage and keeps everything in order.

Some of the common body areas that women are most affected by are the tummy, hips, thighs and the upper arms. These women seek non-invasive treatments that can correct the stubborn fat in problem areas.

Not an entirely new technology, CoolSculpting, the fat-freezing procedure formally called cryolipolysis, has gained attention in recent years. Why is it so popular? Because it’s well tolerated with only mild discomfort during the procedure, no recovery time, and the result –less bulging of the treated area – is noticeable within three to four months.

Not content with resting on its laurels, CoolSculpting Technology recently developed a larger applicator for treating bigger areas such as the tummy. That’s good news as it means that patients can now ditch stubborn body fat faster.

CoolSculptingis a non-invasive fat reduction treatment which utilises cryolipolysis or fat freezing technology. It was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 and clinical trials showed an average of 20 to 25 per cent reduction of fat cells in the treatment area. Most patients start to notice the effects a few days after the procedure, but it often takes up to four months for the full results to show.

The procedure involves utilising vacuum-pressure applicators that draw skin and adipose tissue into an applicator cup. The applicator cup then uses cooling technology to freeze only the fat cells. The dead fat cells are then passed out naturally by the body, resulting in a more sculpted and contoured body. The treatment time for the procedure with the old applicator is 60 minutes whereas treatment time with the up–to–date applicator is 35–45 minutes, shortening the treatment time significantly. A shorter time allows for less discomfort and less risk of bruising following treatment. The number of treatments is dependent on the area and patient: the flanks typically require one treatment, whilst tummy and thighs often require two or more. Treatments should be spaced about one month apart to allow sufficient recovery time between procedures.

Losing fat fast is no longer a dream: just think, your fat can be zapped away during your lunch break!

THANISORN THAMLIKITKUL MD |is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified in dermatological laser surgery. Send your questions for her to info@romrawin.com

The launch, with “Rebel Girls” as its concept, drew a posse of celebrities to Benedict Studio, including Nataporn Temeerak, Chermarn Bunyasak, Pattarasaya Kruesuwan, Wiritipa Pakdeeprasong, Violet Wautier, Ploy Horwang and Not Panayanggoon.

Mee looks set to build on the success of last year’s “Love Story” line with another appealing collection featuring meticulous cutting and her signature embroidery. The clothes lend themselves readily to mixing and matching.

The marbletone venue was decorated in an elegant and minimalist style with chairs lining both sides of the room, draped with Tshirts in the same neon colours of the collection.

Mee gathered inspiration from French and British postcards of the late ’60s to mid’70s. It was a time when women did far more than dress up for afternoon tea as their forebears had done. They played sports and did so competitively too. These were the “rebel girls” of the 20th century.

The vintagestyle details in the clothing are a new venture for Landmee. Dresses and sportswear (tennis apparel, swimsuits and racing overalls) with distinctively retro looks meet streetwear that also hints at musical memories from the ’70s and ’90s.

Among the more remarkable pieces are a highslit jumpsuit dress and short jumpsuits, carried over from previous collections but noticeably dissimilar.

The emphasised neon violet, pink, blue, yellow and green gives the clothes a fun and lively yet relaxing sweetness. Made with sportswear fabric that lends itself well to clever cutting, they’re designed for active use, too.

“I used neon colours to make dressing up more fun,” Natedao said. “I used sportswear fabrics and parts of sport shirts at the collars and wristbands to create new designs for dresses. You don’t have to use only chiffon fabric or some other floating, light fabric. We can use sportswear material to mix and match in dressmaking.”

Landmee has a store on the second floor of Siam Square One.

Kihachiro Onitsuka started the brand back in 1949 based on the idea that sport had the power to transform lives. He wasn’t wrong and the brand’s rich heritage and top Japanese craftsmanship have continued to lift athletic wear on to the fashion and lifestyle scene.

Onitsuka Tiger’s 2018 collection global campaign kicked off with the debut of the Mexico 66 SD. While it retains some of the elements of the classic Mexico 66 in terms of thin sole, stripes, and iconic heel flap, the new model uses a new last for a slimmer, more modern silhouette. The sole in particular has been improved for better performance by combining multiple materials. The toe and heel portions are made of cushioning material fuzeGEL, developed by the ASICS Institute of Sport Science, with a precise placement of the gel along the midsole to improve cushioning and resilience. Cushioning and fit are also better, with the addition of OrthoLite that offers excellent resilience in the insole.

With a retail space of 237 square meters, the pride of new store is the exclusive Nippon Made collection. The basic components of the shoes are first assembled, after which the leather making up the upper is washed and processed in hot water. The footwear is then carefully squeezed and dried, leaving the shoes with a wrinkly, vintage look when dry. Every step is skilfully executed by hand and no two pairs of shoes are alike.

The artisanship of the Japanese brand extends to the store interior that is accented by Sumi mortar, a distinctly unique material that has the texture of wood, amplifying the store’s intricate yet edgy look. A complex eight-step process goes into the formulation, which uses ingredients such as Asagi Tsuchi, a special type of Japanese soil used to prevent cracking, and Sumi paint (water, Sumi ink and acrylic emulsion).

Clothing brand OVS has opened its first store at Megabangna, kicking off an “Italian Style” fast-fashion campaign.

Boasting high quality, authentic Italian style and affordable prices, OVS has been dressing Italian men, women and children for nearly 50 years. Today it has more than 1,300 stores around the world.

On hand for the recent grand opening were celebrities such as Prin “Mark” Suparat, Kimberley Anne Woltemas, Pakorn “Boy” Chatborirak, and May Fuangarom and her daughter Mayu.

Meanwhile Jongkol Palarit and Sombatsara “Tue” Tirasaroch shared tips on creating chic Italian looks.

The party continued with music by Note “DJ Notep X 0809” Panayanggool and Jirayu “Kao” La-ongmanee.

General manager Nisakorn Masunthasuwan said Italians are skilled at mixing and matching clothes.

“We have a vast variety of choices from a highly experienced team of fashion directors, designers and product managers, as well as collaborations with guest designers and design students from top schools around the world,” she said.

“The aim is to keep track of fashion trends and buyers’ interests and ensure a constant renewal in the product range.”

One in two Italian children wear clothes from OVS Kids, which targets youngsters up to 14 years old.

“Our commitment is eco-friendly, with textile growers enhancing our reputation in organic cotton,” Nisakorn said, “so children’s clothes are one of our strengths in terms of brand recognition and design. We also have licences to use many popular cartoon characters.”

This spring and summer, the key look is casual, cool and colourful in shirts, T-shirts, jeans and jackets. Sombatsara suggested going for “neat and clean”.

The OVS store is designed for convenience and pleasure, mimicking the flagship store in Milan designed by Vincenzo De Cotiis, who also designed Excelsior Milano.

The brand is also sold at Phuket Jungceylon and Terminal 2 at Don Mueang International Airport.