Power
Trendspotting with Tanja Kok
As a model, Tanja Kok travelled the world. Few are better positioned to spot the latest fashion trends. For MASTERS, she highlights a selection of must-have brands for this summer and shares her ultimate style rule.
As a model, Tanja Kok flew all over the world. So who better to spot the latest trends in fashion than her? Especially for MASTERS, Tanja highlights a number of must-have brands for this summer and shares her ultimate style rule.
“Almost every woman has a style icon. My favorite supermodel is the almost eighty-year-old Lauren Hutton. I would describe her looks as 'classic with a twist' or 'laidback luxury'. A good shirt and jeans with heels or sneakers underneath combined with a nice bag and you're done. The casual American style that is ageless. Lauren Hutton was thirty when she signed an exclusive cosmetics contract with Revlon. She only had to work for the brand twenty days a year, so she had plenty of time for a film career. After years of acting, she discovered that she was not making the films she liked to watch. And then she got the chance to return. In this way she became an example for women who can be used as models at an older age. "Models are the physical mirror of femininity," she believes. 'They should come in all sizes, shapes and ages.' At 73, she became the face of Calvin Klein underwear. I doubt whether men also have a specific style icon in mind. But in my humble opinion there is even one suggestion. When my best friend asked my opinion while shopping about trousers in a cheerful summer color including print, I asked him the question: 'Would James Bond wear it?' If the answer is 'no' then leave the garment hanging, because life would really be a bit better if every man knew how to dress according to 007's style rules.”
Louis Vuitton in infinity
Louis Vuitton has a long tradition of collaborations with artists dating back almost a century, when artists were commissioned to design window displays and artwork for its stores. There have now been collaborations with Sol LeWitt, Richard Prince, Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons, among others. Now the honor goes to Yayoi Kusama, champion of total, hypnotic and colorful art. The Japanese artist had already painted a Louis Vuitton suitcase with her characteristic OUT, which represent infinity for Kusama. Now she also unleashes her imagination on other products: from bags to men's clothing, from women's clothing to sunglasses and from fragrances to shoes and accessories. The Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama collection is available in Louis Vuitton stores.
Louisvuitton.com
Dream party
Natan has been around for forty years and is celebrating this with an exceptional collaboration with the Belgian artist, designer and scenographer Christophe Coppens. The result is an SS23 couture collection that plays with shapes, sparkles and interprets the summer palette in chords of two or three shades, with clothing details and accessories that breathe exuberance. A whole new spectrum of modern chic, glamour, color and light. From dazzling daylight to fiery sunsets and lush nights. The collection is a true dream party. From one twilight to the next, from playful and cheerful to refined and exuberantly cool. Surrender to the enchanting charm of NATAN and dance until the end of summer.
WAHTS: sporty sophisticated
Ulex Kostense used to work as a corporate strategist for a project with Uber. “I remember well that I arrived there in a suit and everyone within Uber looked very casual. I was completely overdressed and immediately knew: I want the freedom they have here too!” Shortly afterwards, in 2012, he and his wife Karin founded WAHTS, a fashion brand that responds to the casualization in business. Ulex: “The biggest drive behind today's relaxed lifestyle are modern tech companies: flat organizations, free thinking, creative. In the past you wanted to work at Shell and Unilever, but nowadays tech companies are the sexiest. The corporates see that and are going to change as a result.” According to Karin, in the past you had to deal more with dress codes: “You had to wear a suit to the office and if you had a meeting in the evening, a different dress code was required. We make comfortable clothing that suits the 24/7 lifestyle of the modern man. Work and private life are becoming more intertwined in the present, so you want a wardrobe that can be worn at any time of the day.” The WAHTS collection is exactly between the two worlds of luxury menswear and contemporary sportswear. The clothing is subtle and made from the most beautiful fabrics from Italy and beautiful technical materials. Classic fashion forward. The largest sales channel is online. WAHTS also sells selectively via wholesale and has its own store in Gerard Doustraat in De Pijp, where the 2023 collection can currently be admired. Karin: “For the first time we have created a technical suit, with trousers and top in which you can go to the office on your VanMoof and just as easily appear on the golf course. Furthermore, in the new collection we have even more work-travel related options than before as well as very comfortable sunny items. We combine technical materials with luxurious materials such as Cotton Cashmere. Technical pants like this combined with a Cotton Cashmere sweater and a pair of sneakers make it sporty and sophisticated.” The clothing brand for new generations of ambitious men is already looking to 2024 and beyond, because: We Are Here To Stay.
