The answer: seemingly limitless. The Dior Men Charm bag is the latest of artistic director Kim Jones’ contemporary take on Dior’s storied heritage.
Familiar motifs have taken on new forms before. We saw how Jones supercharged renewed interest in the classic Saddle bag by reimagining it with a Matthew M Williams-designed buckle. Jones also introduced sneakers into the house’s design vocabulary by featuring either the Dior Oblique or in the case of the B30, a streamlined, sporty CD logo. This time, Jones has taken things up a few notches by combining two.
For a start, the Dior Charm bag features a clasp adapted from the hardware of the iconic Lady Dior in the house’s women’s universe. While the original motif consists of connected letters, D, I, O and R (of course), as mobile charms in a calculated arrangement, the Dior Charm of the men’s universe is rendered as a single plaque fashioned from the same characters, with the ‘O’ as the base. It sports an antique silver finish for a grittier look that distinguishes itself from that of the Lady Dior.
But the immediate defining characteristic of the Dior Charm bag is the Cannage motif that completely envelopes the piece. The Cannage Cosmo leather—first introduced by Jones in Summer 2023—is a slightly blown-up version of the original Cannage and translated as a whole laser-cut cage stitched onto smooth calfskin. A true testament to the skills of the Dior artisans, the topstitching is thoroughly precise and serves to enhance the encasement of the motif. In the Dior Charm’s grey and black iterations, they’re subtle and sleek; the Cannage is decidedly bold in the cognac colourway, especially against the antique silver-finish hardware.
Jones is no stranger to referencing the house’s women’s universe and transmuting these references into what would later become key motifs of Dior Men. The Dior Charm is one of those once-in-a-lifetime lightbulb moments that seem so obvious now that it’s been realised. Having it as part of a new bag like the aptly named Dior Charm bag and then combining it with an equally iconic motif like the Cannage (but once again, reworked) is genius.
The past is often revisited in luxury fashion, especially when a great deal of history and heritage are involved. But sometimes, the past whispers fresh ideas, and Jones is the reigning master of listening to them.
It has been a century since the Cartier Trinity series was first created, and the three-band style has remained an enduring icon since. The Trinity has seen multiple iterations throughout the years but the tri-gold combination is the truest representation of its spirit—now available in an XL version for an even bolder expression.
It’s made entirely out of recycled ocean-bound plastics from Indonesia, and fixing it is idiotproof, as its name suggests. You won’t need complicated tools or glue. Simply connect the five pieces and you have your very own stable stool put together with your own hands. At the end of its lifespan, the pieces can easily be dismantled and put up for recycling—circularity at its easiest.
The baseball cap is a wardrobe staple, whether as part of one’s style or deployed on days when the hair isn’t cooperating. Celine’s iteration possesses a retro charm with a denim wash that’s as striking as it is timeless. It’s a simple design that doesn’t deviate much from traditional baseball caps... but therein lies the charm—why reinvent the wheel when a slight tweak changes the game?
You can count on finding avant-garde styles at Gentle Monster any day. This pair of Memento V3 sunglasses, however, traipses the line between futuristic and familiar. The goggle shape is a reimagined classic, rendered in a modern violet hue with added metal detailing on the temples—a bold piece that’s easily wearable.
Pharrell Williams’ update of the Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is crafted from supple grained calfskin and lined with lambskin. So soft is the construction that there’s a drape to the overall silhouette. They are also available in a range of vibrant colours that are unapologetically in-your-face—a defiant swing at any mention of quiet luxury.
Made in collaboration with designer Vincent Darré, the Martell Cordon Bleu Limited Edition gets a vibrant and uplifting design to the bottle. Darré created an allegory in which the Martell iconic swift bears the universal message of warmth and generosity. Such a message certainly calls for a round of drinks with friends.
Hermès pulls off a truly playful accessory as it mixes the distinctive Kelly swivel clasp with the Kelly Multipocket To Go. With its multitude of compartments, everything can be kept organised in a bento-esque manner. The piece also comes with a versatile adjustable strap for two wearing styles: vertically and horizontally.
The slouchy Burberry Knight Bag is one of many signifiers under Daniel Lee’s era at the brand. A metal horse-shaped clip—a clever way of integrating the Equestrian Knight motif—attaches to two different parts of the bag, giving you the option to alter the shape according to whim.
Even a house as storied as Dior continues to add new branded motifs to its design vocabulary. A new circular logo acts as the centrepiece to the Buffalo loafers—a chunky, rubber-soled piece as part of the Dior Men Summer 2024 collection. This variation further exemplifies how something as traditional as tweed, can be reimagined into a contemporary piece.
Need better assistance on the green? The MARQ Golfer smartwatch may just be better than a caddy. Designed specifically for golfing, it is preloaded with engineered features that include recommendations of the types of club to use depending on the weather, as well as how best to approach each shot. Do it, embrace AI.
Photography: Jaya Khidir
Styling: Asri Jasman
The idea of form versus function is often a conundrum that's faced by designers. Should the former supersede the latter or vice versa? Or is there a middle-ground where both tenets of design balance out each other such that there isn't much of a compromise to either? The considerations are heightened further when it comes to meeting the needs of travellers who now care more than just getting from one point to another.
For TUMI, that steely balance of form and function is best exemplified in its innovative 19 Degree Aluminum series. Launched by creative director Victor Sanz in 2016, the 19 Degree Aluminum series was a breakthrough for the performance luxury lifestyle and accessories brand as it manipulated aluminium in its own vision for the first time. Each piece is crafted with the now-signature sinewy lines enveloping the entirety of its contours—both as a bold, visual manifestation of the toughness of the material as well as an engineered element for added rigidity. It helps too that the look is as striking as it is durable.
As we said, good looks would only get a design so far, especially in the travel space. TUMI clearly knows this too. The 19 Degree Aluminum series is packed with nifty technical specs that make travelling with one—on pretty much any kind of journey—as beautiful as the intended destination. Rollers are fitted with dual-recessed, ball bearing wheels to ensure smooth, effortless glides, while the telescoping handle fits comfortably when gripped. These innovations (and more) add to the beauty of having a 19 Degree Aluminum piece as a companion—they're beautiful, and essentially so.
In the latest chapter of TUMI's "Essentially Beautiful" campaign, global ambassador and pro-footballer Son Heung-Min makes a return to introduce an expansion to the 19 Degree Aluminum family. Highlighting both the aesthetics as well as the inner-workings of the series that make it essentially beautiful, the campaign is arguably TUMI's boldest yet as Son traverses an abstract world inspired by the elements of the series. His main companion of choice? A 19 Degree Aluminum Backpack that once again, sees TUMI challenging the idea of form and function.
The backpack design is a first of its kind for TUMI, allowing the already iconic luggage design to be carried in a new way. But instead of simply slapping on leather straps to the existing design, the brand reconfigured the entire construction. The leather straps of the Backpack are connected to a leather back panel—marked with the same 19 Degree contours—that's fitted with a top handle and a sleeve meant to easily slip over extended luggage handles. The Backpack itself opens up from the top with a frame opening, while a front pocket reveals itself with the push of the leather monogram patch.
But that's far from what TUMI has to offer. The new line-up includes a Compact Carry-On that's essentially a scaled down version of the 19 Degree Aluminum, designed for travellers who prefer something smaller. It also comes with a removable file divider, making it quite an upgrade for those looking to transport documents. If not, there's the new Briefcase that's categorically sleek at every angle yet still sturdy and durable.
Form versus function? That's certainly hardly the case here.
The new TUMI 19 Degree Aluminum series is now available at the TUMI ION Orchard, Mandarin Gallery, and Marina Bay Sands stores. And check out the other signature TUMI lifestyle bag styles too while you're at it.
In 1967, Marc Bohan conceptualised the Dior Oblique motif. The longtime creative director of the House (an almost 30-year tenure) first applied the motif on a bag from Dior’s haute couture collection in 1969. Throughout the years, the Dior Oblique has been applied on all manner of pieces by the House— from ready-to-wear to luggage to even the floors of its Dior Monsieur boutique in 1974.
Fast forward to today, the Dior Oblique remains one of Dior’s most quintessential elements. It’s become a mark of the House’s creativity with a range of treatments and interpretations imagined every now and then. The latest, is perhaps one that captures Monsieur Dior’s nonconformist spirit.
The Maxi Dior Oblique revokes any decree that branded logos and motifs are dead. As its name suggests, the Dior Oblique has been blown up like never before for Dior Men’s Spring 2024 collection. Each letter of the motif now takes significant real estate on a range of travel-ready bags and accessories. The collection’s Weekender 40 bag, for example, looks exceptionally roomier with the Maxi Dior Oblique canvas construction giving the illusion of a magnified proportion.
While the Maxi Dior Oblique may look audacious in its original colourway—there’s certainly no mistaking that it’s a Dior—a second all-black option provides a more subtle interpretation but one that’s impactful all the same. The Maxi Dior Oblique is rendered in black and set against a base that’s a couple of shades lighter. When employed on a pair of high-top B23 sneakers, the canvas adds depth and dimension. The motif may not be immediately obvious at first glance, but becomes apparent at multiple angles and in motion.
But the point of the Maxi Dior Oblique isn’t solely for the brash visual of Dior’s signature. It’s an extension of the Dior attitude—of going against the grain and challenging perceptions. After all, this is the same House that proposed a “new look” that further feminised women’s fashion post-World War II.
What’s the inverse of “quiet luxury”? This is it.
The way that monograms have become such a huge part of luxury fashion is a testament to their enduring power. We may be moving towards monogram-lite fashion these days (cue all the slew of TikToks on quiet luxury) but monograms remain perennial brand identifiers. In the past few years, brands the likes of Versace, Balmain and Burberry introduced new ones—the latter initiated by former chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci.
One of creative, artistic and image director Hedi Slimane’s first undertakings at Celine was reviving its monogram.
The Triomphe Canvas was officially introduced as part of Celine’s autumn 2019 collection yet its origins date back to the '70s. Its name comes from the chains surrounding Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. The story goes that after a minor collision on Place de l’Étoile (now Place Charles de Gaulle) involving Celine founder Céline Vipiana, she stepped out of her vehicle and noticed the mirrored Cs embedded as part of the metal chains surrounding the monument. Co-opting the motif for her own, she applied it on a range of bags, accessories as well as ready-to-wear.
Slimane took this further with the Triomphe Canvas. The lightweight construction of a Triomphe Canvas piece—a canvas body trimmed with leather—makes one primed for anyone constantly on the move. Its durability is on par with Celine's leather offerings, but less precious in some ways that makes it better withstand some better over prolonged use. The leather on the Triomphe Canvas is poised to age and patina beautifully over time, while the canvas body takes on a bit more character with scuffs.
That's the appeal of the Slimane-era Triomphe Canvas. The monogram already feels timeless with each piece of the collection meticulously constructed to exude a vintage allure. Not only does this give the appearance of a vintage find, but it also paves the way for the legacy of the monogram in the vintage market. Fast forward a decade, and we're almost certain that you'd be able to find Triomphe Canvas pieces in vintage stores the world over.
The fact that it has only been less than five years since Slimane reintroduced the Triomphe Canvas, yet it's become so synonymous with the house speaks to its distinctive markings. In its classic tan colourway, the Triomphe motif is subtle; lighter colourways offer a more striking appearance of the motif. And of course, seasonal interpretations take on various forms and even artistic expressions.
But no matter what you'd gravitate towards, it's bound to be one that you'd surprisingly find more use out of than you'd think.
We're still in somewhat of a limbo with Louis Vuitton's menswear division. Pharrell Williams' first collection as creative director already made its debut during this past Paris Fashion Week Men's. But the collection will only be available in boutiques for the spring/summer 2024 season.
Of course, Louis Vuitton isn't halting any semblance of newness while that happens.
The Taurillon Monogram and Monogram Macassar collections—both featuring the maison's Monogram pattern—have been refreshed with colours that reflect the sense of vibrant energy typical of the season. Icons the likes of the Christopher backpack, Sac Plat mini as well as the Keepall 25 take on new iterations while retaining the unbridled spirit of travel that's at the heart of Louis Vuitton.
The all-leather Taurillon Monogram gets an electric blue makeover (referred to as Racing Blue) with a more muted colourway in the form of Mineral Gray. The hardware on each are done in contrasting tones with the Racing Blue iterations fitted with matte black hardware, while the latter features palladium silver hardware. The treatment is available on a slew of bags and small accessories; it's exceptionally stunning on the collection's bigger pieces such as the Horizon rolling luggage.
The Monogram Macassar on the other hand, keeps things a bit more traditional. Pops of Radiant Sun yellow leather add bold freshness, complementing the Monogram canvas base. On a number of accessories, they appear on handles as well as trims along the sides; on pieces like the Christopher backpack, they act as accents on straps and such.
What's interesting is that these new iterations of the Taurillon Monogram and the Monogram Macassar could very well be part of Williams' debut collection. Aesthetically, there's already the vibrant hues that were a big part of the runway show (and its Rihanna-fronted campaign) and done in such a way that stays true to the classic Louis Vuitton Monogram. And you can never go wrong with the staple Monogram anyway.
The latest variations of the Taurillon Monogram and Monogram Macassar are now available in Louis Vuitton boutiques as well as online.
