Рубрика: General

With a $1,000-plus entry point, the house has reimagined jeans as a high-fashion proposition rather than an everyday essential. 

There are few fabrics more democratic than denim, but Alaïa has never seemed particularly interested in democracy. Precision, yes. Sensuality, always. Practicality? That’s newer territory. And yet, with the launch of its first dedicated denim collection, Alaïa makes a compelling case that jeans are no longer an off-duty fallback. 

Under the direction of Pieter Mulier (as one of his parting gifts with the house before he steps down as creative director), denim has been reframed as a ‘second skin,’ engineered to hold, shape, and follow the body with the same intent as the maison’s famed knits. The collection presents six silhouettes: bootcut, straight, skinny, palazzo, fit-and-flare, and the intriguingly titled ‘round’. 

Crafted in Japan, the fabric itself is treated with near-obsessive care: rope-dyed indigo for depth, hand-washing, and over-dyeing for nuance, laser work, and shaving for a finish that feels far from a mass-produced staple.

Denim, of course, is not new to Alaïa. It has lingered in the brand’s orbit since the 1990s, but was never quite the main event, let alone given its own dedicated line. Which is precisely why its arrival feels significant – and perhaps even more so considering the brand is far from alone in its renewed fixation on the fabric.

At Chanel, Matthieu Blazy has made denim an early signature of his tenure. As part of his debut show at the Spring/Summer 2026 couture collection, denim texture was printed onto sheer, silk trousers and sent down the runway, while stars Margot Robbie and Kylie Minogue covered the latest campaign in relaxed, wide-legged jeans paired with boucle jackets. There’s even a limited-edition denim-inspired beauty line, fronted by the internet’s favorite ‘It’ girl Lily-Rose Depp – a nod to the material’s cultural saturation.

Elsewhere, designers are circling similar territory. Erdem has flirted with low-slung, skater-adjacent jeans styled with silk, while New York’s Maria McManus has leaned into regenerative cotton denim via a collaboration with Agolde. Even houses not traditionally associated with workwear, from the likes of Balmain, Lemaire, and Akris, are reworking utilitarian codes in increasingly luxurious fabrics.

See also: An Expert Guide to Sourcing Vintage Jeans

And yet, the question that has been hovering over the industry for the past year comes back into the internet’s talking points du jour: Is this gravitation towards practicality a subtle recession indicator?

Historically, moments of economic uncertainty have often nudged fashion towards utility; towards pieces that feel justifiable, versatile, enduring. And there is a certain logic to the idea that consumers, even at the luxury level, are seeking garments that can do more, clothes that work harder. 

But that reading only goes so far. Because what Alaïa, Chanel, and their contemporaries alike are proposing is not utility in the traditional sense. These are not ‘sensible’ jeans that are widely purchased as a staple for outfit rotations. They are painstakingly constructed, technically sophisticated, and, crucially, still priced within the upper echelons of luxury (the Straight jeans sit at the lowest end of the collection’s price, starting at $1,100, while at the opposite side, the Round jeans cost $1,500). 

In that sense, these are pieces designed to earn their place in your wardrobe, to outlive fleeting trends (or an Instagram post). There’s also, perhaps, an undercurrent of realism. After years of fashion chasing novelty, there is something genuinely appealing about clothes designed to be lived in. The classic white T-shirt and jeans formula still holds (and is the go-to outfit of choice for some of tech’s biggest entrepreneurs, namely Mark Zuckerberg), but now those jeans come with artisanal Japanese fabrication and a silhouette that signals its pedigree.

And that’s where Alaïa’s denim lands most convincingly. Because for all the talk of practicality, these jeans are not an exercise in restraint. So, should we read this launch as a recession barometer? If so, it’s a decidedly fashion-flavored one.

The Reservation: SoNoMa by SingleThread is the restaurant’s first international outpost. 

Three Michelin stars, a ‘best restaurant in the world’ title from La Liste, and a spot on 50 Best’s extended ranking program: SingleThread’s resume is a stellar one. And now, in its 10th year, the restaurant is going international for the first time, with the opening of SoNoMa, inside the freshly launched Capella Kyoto. 

First opened in 2016 by farmer Katina and chef Kyle Connaughton, SingleThread has built its reputation on its commitment to hyper seasonal and local ingredients, sourcing much of its produce from its own 24-acre farm, right in the middle of Sonoma Wine Country. Awards have stacked since, and SingleThread continues to be one of the US’s most celebrated restaurants.

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On paper, Japan makes sense for the Connaughtons’ first overseas venture: the duo spent several years living there. But guests might wonder how the SingleThread experience – which is one so deeply connected to the biodiversity of the Californian landscape – can be transported to Japan. Apparently, by literally transporting it: ingredients including heirloom tomatoes, olive oil, nuts, and cheese are being shipped from the States, surely raising some eyebrows about Katina and Kyle’s original commitment to locality. 

The bounty of the Kansai region is, at the very least, being highlighted, creating an ‘evocative dialogue’ between the two sides of the world. Local Nanatani duck, for example, which is known for its tenderness, is slow-grilled and served with seasonal Honda Miso from Kyoto.

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There’s bamboo shoots, harvested daily from a grove just thirty minutes from the restaurant, and a three-part dessert highlighting Ohara honey farms. The drink list is another amalgamation of US and Japanese produce, with Californian wines sitting alongside a range of Kyoto sakes.

“For Katina and me, this project is deeply personal; it is an expression of the years we spent living and working in Japan and the perspective that experience instilled within us. That same reverence is in every relationship we’ve built with artisans and growers in the Kansai region […] It’s this dialogue, focused on tradition and terroir that shapes how we approach every dish,” says Kyle Connaughton.

Tasked with running the kitchen at SoNoMa is chef Keita Tominaga, who was born in Sonoma County. He spent his childhood in his family’s Hana Japanese restaurant, and was professionally trained in Japan.

Big sister SingleThread is known for its intimate atmosphere (with just over 50 seats), but SoNoMa takes this to a new level with only ten spaces at its kitchen-facing counter set-up. It’s new territory for the SingleThread team, in every sense, but if the original’s success is anything to go by, Kyoto may have just gained a new star.

With trackside action paused, we turn to F1 watches – because this season, the real movement is happening on the wrist. 

It’s barely begun, and yet the 2026 Formula 1 season has already stalled. An unexpected hiatus caused by the postponement of the Bahraini and Saudi Arabian races, scheduled for April, has left the grid momentarily frozen in time. 

So to make the most of the respite, we’ll catch you up to speed about the changes that have happened off the track, where the pace has certainly quickened. While the Formula 1 drivers sit twiddling their thumbs until they can get back behind the wheel, Elite Traveler takes a look at the watches being worn on their wrists. 

The best watches worn by F1 drivers

TAG Heuer steps in as the sport’s new official timekeeper, replacing Rolex, while partnerships across the paddock have quietly reshuffled, from Breitling joining Aston Martin to IWC announcing a new name for its newest watch.

Aston Martin and Breitling

Aston Martin enters the F1 2026 season with a new name on its wrist, swapping the longstanding partnership of Girard-Perregaux for the aviation-rooted bravado of Breitling. The collaboration may be in its infancy, but has already begun its multi-year commitment on a strong footing with the launch of the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco. 

Reimagined for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team, the debut Navitimer watch leans into the model’s utilitarian past, a nod to the days when drivers relied on its slide rule to calculate lap times and fuel consumption mid-race.

Driver’s choice

Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso: Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 Aston Martin Aramco
Lance Stroll has been quick to adopt the new uniform, wearing the Navitimer B01 Chronograph 43 almost as standard kit. Fernando Alonso, however, plays a more nuanced game. A long-time ambassador for Richard Mille, his personal loyalties lie elsewhere. Even so, he has been spotted in official imagery sporting the team’s new Breitling, a subtle nod to where the power balance has shifted. 

See also: The Watches Worn By the World’s Most Famous Men

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS and IWC

At Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team, continuity reigns, at least on the wrist. IWC Schaffhausen remains firmly embedded as an official partner, its Pilot’s Watches a familiar sight from pit wall to podium. Yet the departure of Lewis Hamilton has subtly shifted the narrative. Where once the collaboration between the two brands leaned heavily into Hamilton’s singular sense of style, 2026 marks a return to the driver as muse: this time, with George Russell stepping into focus.

Driver’s choice

George Russell: Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41
George Russell’s namesake Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 features the classic tri-compax layout, now rendered in black ceramic with flashes of electric blue – a color scheme lifted directly from Russell’s own race-day kit. It’s personal without being ostentatious, a watch that mirrors both the team’s precision and its new-era poster boy.

Oracle Red Bull Racing and TAG Heuer

If 2026 is a year of recalibration, Red Bull Racing is doing so with a familiar partner. TAG Heuer, returning as the sport’s official timekeeper after taking over from Rolex in 2025, continues its long-standing alliance with the team, even as its presence across Formula One expands. As the partnership with the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team enters its next decade, TAG Heuer has seen various World Championship titles claimed and, with it, the creation of special edition timepieces.

Driver’s choice

Max Verstappen: TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph
For Max Verstappen, the formula is well-rehearsed: TAG Heuer has named several collections and even watches after the champion Formula 1 driver. Yet away from the circuit, he braves a more indulgent, flamboyant edge. Spotted pre-season in a full-gold Carrera Chronograph, Verstappen traded his track-ready, Monaco steel for something decidedly more decadent: a victory lap in a 39mm case of yellow gold with a matching brushed dial and contrasting black subdials.

McLaren and Richard Mille

Fresh off a dominant 2025, the McLaren Formula 1 Team enters the new season with momentum, but with Richard Mille still firmly on board as watch of choice. 

Driver’s choice

Lando Norris: RM 72-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph
For reigning champion Lando Norris, that means an ever-evolving rotation of statement pieces. The RM 72-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph, lightweight, architectural, and unmistakably modern, marks a celebratory moment, its crisp white design a nod to Norris’ career-defining year.

Oscar Piastri: RM 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat 
Meanwhile, teammate Oscar Piastri takes a more restrained approach. Not one for daily wristwear, he reserves his RM 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat for the podium; its featherlight carbon construction and flashes of papaya orange echo the car itself.

Ferrari and Richard Mille

Over at Scuderia Ferrari, after a turbulent 2025, stability is the watchword. And with Richard Mille as a firm partner, it’s looking for a line-up that pairs legacy with star power.

Driver’s choice

Lewis Hamilton: RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph 
Enter Lewis Hamilton. His RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph unites two of haute horology’s most revered complications in a single, sculptural form. Hamilton’s version is the carbon TPT with flashes of Ferrari yellow seen on the hands – those wanting accents of the classic red can find that on the titanium edition of the chronograph. 

Charles Leclerc: RM 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat
A familiar face on the podium and a familiar timepiece for this list, Charles Leclerc continues his long-standing relationship with the RM 67-02, rendered in Ferrari’s signature red and white. While it’s believed Leclerc’s watch of choice is a prototype, the bones of this celebrated watch remain the same: lightweight, skeletonized, and built for speed, it remains one of the most seamless translations of motorsport into watchmaking.

Sitting on 20 acres and offering 47 bedrooms, the Village at Lyons can serve as a private compound or a commercial wellness retreat. Sitting on 20 acres and offering 47 bedrooms, the Village at Lyons can serve as a private compound or a commercial wellness retreat.

All of the collectible kicks have been worn by the NBA star during tunnel walks, warm-ups, and/or games.  All of the collectible kicks have been worn by the NBA star during tunnel walks, warm-ups, and/or games. 

Expert tips on how to style them, according to a demi-fine jewelry designer. 

Once associated with heirloom jewelry boxes – and, perhaps unfairly, associated with the wardrobes of well-dressed grandmothers – these singular pins are being reimagined with fresh intent.

That shift has been brewing on the spring/summer 2026 runways, where designers reintroduced the accessory with renewed confidence. At Jonathan Anderson’s couture debut for Christian Dior, they appeared as bold, expressive accents both on and off the runway, from sculptural florals to abstract, artful forms.

For YSSO co-founder Alexia Karides, the process begins with design. “Our classical references are not about replication, they are about abstraction,” she explains. “We borrow from form – soft asymmetry, organic curves, fragments rather than perfection – alongside weathered textures and a sense of weight and presence. The pieces feel like small art objects.”

Restraint, she suggests, is what ultimately makes them feel modern. “There’s no ornament for ornament’s sake. That shift, from decorative to art object, is what brings them into the present.”

Search data and social media trends also point to a growing curiosity around how to wear brooches today. “A brooch works best when it feels embedded rather than added,” says Karides. Structured pieces such as tailoring, outerwear, or heavier shirting provide the ideal foundation, allowing the brooch to sit naturally within the architecture of a look.

Tone plays an equally important role. When kept within a similar palette, the brooch reads as texture rather than contrast, creating a quiet interplay of materials. “A brooch feels effortless when it doesn’t look like it was placed for effect,” Karides notes.

Function can be a useful guide – fastening a scarf or holding fabric to shape a silhouette, so that it becomes part of how a garment is worn, rather than an afterthought.

There is also a case for the unexpected. Slightly off-center placements or unconventional positioning lend a sense of spontaneity, avoiding anything overly studied. The key is to resist over-styling; the brooch should exist within the look, not compete with it.

Above all, its modernity lies in context. Worn with the clothes you already own – rather than as a nod to vintage pastiche – it becomes something entirely current.

The $12.5 million home in Westlake has whitewashed interiors with soaring ceilings and natural stone details. The $12.5 million home in Westlake has whitewashed interiors with soaring ceilings and natural stone details.

A technical glitch is compromising the 2024 and 2025 models’ breaking lights and turn signals. A technical glitch is compromising the 2024 and 2025 models’ breaking lights and turn signals.

The reality TV couple might have sold it almost four years ago for $55 million, but for viewers of «The Real Housewives of Orange County,» it will always be known as the Dubrow Chateau. The reality TV couple might have sold it almost four years ago for $55 million, but for viewers of «The Real Housewives of Orange County,» it will always be known as the Dubrow Chateau.

Offered by Mecum Auctions in May, the 1995 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport vanished for 24 years before appearing in 2019 with roughly 413 miles. Offered by Mecum Auctions in May, the 1995 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport vanished for 24 years before appearing in 2019 with roughly 413 miles.