Peter Pilotto & Barbie’s Swimsuit Controversy

Peter Pilotto for Target
The highly anticipated Peter Pilotto for Target Collection has become the fastest ever selling collaboration for online fashion powerhouse net-a-porter.com, beating previous associations with Karl Lagerfeld and Christopher Kane. Peter Pilotto’s work, characterized by stunning digital prints generated huge traffic to the site with an order placed every second in its first hour of release.

Barbie’s New Swimsuit Cover
Iconic fashion toy Barbie has partnered with American magazine Sports Illustrated for the annual swimsuit issue. The campaign timed to the 50th anniversary of the issue, presents Barbie as a doll sized version of its typical cover stars like Tyra Banks and Christie Brinkley with the plastic princess clad in the black and white swimsuit she wore when first released in 1959. Part of a campaign called Unapologetic, Mattel has said that Barbie is a figure of female empowerment and that posing in the swimsuit issue allows Barbie and the other models the opportunity to “celebrate what they have done and be #unapologetic,". The campaign has raised criticism online with many questioning how the brands portray feminine body images and with the uncomfortable juxtaposition of a child's toy and an adult magazine.

A New Appointment at Diane von Furstenberg
The former creative director of Bally, Michael Herz, has been appointed the creative director of iconic American brand Diane von Furstenberg. In his new role working alongside the labels founder Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Herz will lead the promotion, design and direction of the brand including creative oversight of all ready-to-wear and accessories, licensee design, global advertising campaigns, store design and special projects.