Now And Next: Where Culture Meets Fashion Around The World

Each month, our staff writer Niamh compiles a list of extravagant, weird, and wonderful emerging trends from the world of literature, art, culture, theatre, fashion, and music.

The Beautiful People

If you yearn for a time when life was punctuated by masquerade balls, incredible parties and wonderful decadence, Beautiful People of the Caf? Society (Flammarion, €83.54, out now) compiled by the Baron de Cabrol, is your dream book. The aristocratic Baron (also known as Fred) compiled the scrapbook between 1938 and the 1960s. He and his wife Daisy had a fabulous life, attending every lavish ball of the era and catching the eye of fashion photographers, such as Cecil Beaton, at sumptuous parties thrown by ?tienne de Beaumont and Marie-Laure Venice. The collages, watercolours and previously unpublished archival documents take readers on an exceptional journey of a couple that observed and participated in a golden age of elegance and art.

Cool Collars

If gender neutral clothing isn’t your thing, try mixing up masculine and feminine with these contrasting collars and button-front shirts.

Left-right; printed shirt, €535 at lidiashopping.ie, Stud embellished shirt, Manish Arora, €667.94 at farfetch.com, embroidered collar tulle shirt, Red Valentino, €595 at farfetch.com

Guipure?lace-collar silk crepe de chine blouse, Marc Jacobs, €577 at matchesfashion.com, Embellished collar shirt, Altuzarra, €1095 at net-a-porter.com

The?Female Gaze

Vogue’s executive fashion editor for almost three decades, Phyllis Posnick worked with photographic legends such as Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz and Helmut Newton. In her new book, Stoppers (her images must ‘stop? the reader at all costs!), she shares some of the most arresting images created during her reign at Vogue. Here, Karlie Kloss? fragile floral adornments contrast beautifully with her determined stare. Stoppers: Photographs from My Life at Vogue by Phyllis Posnick published by Abrams.

Core Truths

Discover the fascinating and sometimes controversial world of underwear design at the V&A’s new exhibition, Undressed: A Brief History of Underwear. Featuring pieces from the 18th century right through to the present day and including designs from Stella McCartney, Rigby & Peller and Paul Smith, the exhibition covers notions of the ideal body, and the ways that cut, fit, fabric and decoration can reveal issues of gender, sex and morality. Until March 12, vam.ac.uk.

Word On The Street

The reign of street style is far from over. In fact, it’s gaining momentum as front row stars like Leandra Medine of Man Repeller fame launch their own labels. Now we can truly buy into their personal style. Medine’s shoe collection reflects the influencer’s penchant for elaborate pieces and ornate embellishments. Velvet platform sandals, MR by Man Repeller, €425 at net-a-porter.com.

The Art Of The Matter

The National Museum of Ireland and Design & Crafts Council of Ireland recently joined forces to launch a new online gallery space, highlighting the best of Ireland’s creative talent in the decorative arts. Available to view on both the NMI and DCCoI’s websites, the Contemporary Collection of Design & Craft showcases works by Isobel Egan, Claire Curneen (pictured above), Zelouf + Bell, and fashion designer Jennifer Rothwell, museum.ie; dccoi.ie.