MATCHES FASHION BRANDS

❤ BALENCIAGA – In 1937, Cristobal Balenciaga opened his first fashion salon in Paris. The Spanish designer used innovative materials and pushed the boundaries with modern silhouettes, revolutionizing the fashion industry. The iconic couture house has since had many reincarnations, but today is led by Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia and is one of the Paris’s most contemporary fashion labels. Sculptural shapes executed in technical fabrics remain central to the label’s DNA and draw on the original couture silhouettes. The label’s bags and shoes claim cult status from season to season, from the chunky Triple S trainer to the oversized Shopper totes.

❤BALENCIAGA KIDS – Founded in 1917, the iconic label has had many reincarnations, but today Balenciaga is one of Paris’s most contemporary fashion houses and has become the byword for understated cool. A leader in luxury fashion with directional designs and effortless elegance, the label is now bringing the same spirit to its much-anticipated childenswear line. The Balenciaga Kids unisex collection is comprised of color-pop mini versions of the adult lines. The prevalent Speed Trainer – as well as the illustrious Bernie Sanders-inspired campaign logo – are present, along with inspirational motifs such as “The Power of Dreams” and “Think Big” emblazoned on hooded sweatshirts and T-shirts.

❤BALMAIN – Pierre Balmain founded his elegant Parisian fashion house in 1945, having studied under the great couturiers of the day. Today, young French talent Olivier Rousteing holds the reins and has injected the house with youth, opulence and a high-octane glamour loved by supermodels. Since taking the helm in 2011, Creative Director Olivier Rousteing has upheld Balmain’s reputation as the go-to-brand for military-inspired pieces with a tough, rebellious edge. Leather, sleek silhouettes and earthly palette define this brand of sophisticated luxurious masculinity.

❤BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE – Introduced in 2000, Bao Bao Issey Miyake delivers a collection of bags and pouches based on “shapes made by chance”. Heavily focused on the brand’s USP of structural, engineered clothing, the label continues to produce collections of modern, wearable accessories.

❤BARRIE – Acquired by Chanel in 2012, the century-old Scottish knitwear mill elevates traditional cashmere with playful designs and unexpected color combinations.

❤BARENA VENEZIA – Founded in 1961 by Sandro Zara, Berena Venezia is inspired by the rich heritage of the designer’s home city o Venice. The collection, made entirely in Italy combines traditional tailoring and contemporary design in a low-key color palette.

❤BATSHEVA – Former lawyer Batsheva Hay began designing as a hobby, creating matching dresses for herself and her daughter. Her pieces quickly caught the attention of the fashion industry and in 2016 she launched her eponymous label. Inspired by vintage Laura Ashley and Gunne Sax dresses her collections are infused with an unapologetically feminine aesthetic – think demure silhouettes, exaggerated frills, ditzy florals to punchy leopard print. Each design is a nod to an historical American piece, from prairie styles to 1970s boho dresses.

❤BEGG & CO. – Founded in 1866 in the Scottish town of Paisley, Begg & Co. first specialized in luxury shawls boasting its signature paisley pattern. Today, its line of scarves, stoles and throws are handcrafted from the finest fabrics, combining traditional weaving and finishing methods with modern techniques.

❤BEGUM KHAN – Born into a family of art collectors, designer Begum Khan draws influence from the opulence of the Ottoman Empire and South-East Asian traditions for her regal jewelry offering. Khan launched her eponymous line in 2011 with a pivotal focus on cufflinks – she was encouraged to design her own as a wedding gift to her brother – later expanding into a comprehensive collection inspire by Tibetan textiles, ancient religious talismans and the elegant curvature of Turkey’s Suleymaniye Mosque. Each piece, including statement earrings and bold cuffs, is crafted by hand in an atelier just outside of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar from 24 karat gold and bronze, then finished with baroque pearls, root rubies and vibrant aquamarine.

❤BELIZE – Emerging London-based label Belize was founded in 2016 by friends Fiona Bansal and Valeska Deutsch, who met working in Stella McCartney’s design studio. Their concise collections focus on expert craftsmanship with unfussy styles that bring together fine Italian and Indian fabrics, including hand-loomed custom textiles. The duo’s expansion into swimwear is inspired by the fabrics and colors of the 1970s. Expect clean lines, retro-inflected hues rendered using natural dyes and a carefree sense of nostalgia.

❤BELLA FREUD – Bella Freud has become renowned for her quick wit and pop culture references which play out in her slogan knits. Expect cult classics such as “Ginsberg is God” and “Je T’aime Jane”, all spun from the finest merino and virgin wool. London-based Bella Freud – daughter of artist Lucien Freud and great granddaughter of Sigmund Freud – is known for her fashion collections featuring graphic hand-drawn details that stem from the signature whippet logo her father sketched for the label’s launch. Her focus on knitwear is translated into similarly striking homeware pieces: Think cozy cushions, blankets and fragrant candles marked by playful handwritten slogans that render them instantly recognizable. Look out for the designer’s trademark wit in mottoes such as “Ginsberg is God” and in the self-referential “Psychoanalysis” motif.

❤BELSTAFF – Belstaff started producing outerwear in 1924 and has since evolved into a luxury brand. Its heritage jackets are characterized by sleek silhouettes and sharp details.

❤BENOÎTMISSOLIN – With a love for playful style, milliner Benoît Missolin set up his eponymous label in 1997. Having previously worked under Christian Lacroix and Thierry Mugler, Benoît Missolin designs kitsch hats with a girlish charm. Look to Benoit Missolin for charming accessories, such as this straw Luce hat. It’s crafted with a molded crown that’s accented with an inlaid row of lustrous faux pearls, while the wide black grosgrain ribbon is ornamented with floral crystal embellishments. Wear it with a terracotta-brown dress and gold jewelry for a feminine vacation edit.

❤BERLUTI – Berluti has crafted elegant footwear for some of the world’s most discerning men since its founding by Italian bootmaker Alessandro Berluti in 1895. The designer’s innovative use and treatment of leather still forms the core of the Paris-based label, which ventured into unchartered territory in 2011 with the launch of ready-to-wear. Now under the tenure of celebrated Creative Director Kris Van Assche, the house balances its esteemed heritage with a contemporary energy defined by forward-thinking collections that celebrate the artistry of time-honored craftsmanship. Berluti’s burgundy polo shirt is elevated with collegiate-inspired sportswear tropes noted through the logo jacquard on the chest. It’s crafted in Italy from a wool-blend knit with a ribbed collar, cuffs and hem all thinly trimmed in black and the motif nods to the label’s founding year. Fits true to size.

❤BEULAH – Beulah’s effortless feminine pieces are crafted in collaboration with multiple NGO partners around the world who help women lead safe and fulfilling working lives and achieve economic independence. Vibrant dresses are traditionally block printed by local communities in Kolkata-where individuals have been rehabilitated from trafficking or exploitative situations – while artisans embroider charming motifs by hand in Bangladesh. The London-based label nods to traditional Indian styles with intricate beaded embellishments and vivid patterns in rich red and blush-pink hues that create an irresistibly romantic mood. Beulah’s white Mahi dress is pictured in the SS19 Lookbook – suitably shot on a sandy beach to enhance the beachy, ethereal feel of the collection. It’s crafted from lightweight cotton using sustainable practices and has charming frills trimming the neckline, then travels into a softly fitted bodice and dropped hem. Team it with heeled sandals for a daytime vacation.

❤ BIALES – Jessica Biales launched her eponymous jewelry label back in 2007 and took major inspiration from her hometown of New York, drawing on the city’s wealth of architecture and art. Her design process fuses high-quality metals and stones into original, bespoke rings (she’s especially known for her signet rings), earrings and bracelets. Much of the collection is made using the lost wax method to hand carve each piece. This contemporary line exude that NYC cool. Jessica Biales takes inspiration from New York architecture to design this sterling-silver ring. It’s meticulously handcrafted in the USA with a rectangular flat top and black enamel stripes spliced with rows of white diamond pave.

❤ BIBI VAN DER VELDEN – Fine jeweler Bibi van der Velden combines inspiration from the natural world with a romantic edge to create unique, eye-catching pieces with a fantasy-like aesthetic. A fine art education from The Florence Academy of Arts and the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague informs her expansive offering of what she calls “wearable art.” The New York-based designer embellishes motifs, like cracked eggs and beatles, with sustainable gold, diamonds and precious stones. Expect statement rings, drop earrings and brooches.