On Thursday 17 March 2016, several high-end shops along Luxembourg City's streets, represented by PR company UPR Belgium, launched their new SS16 collections.
Located at 6, Rue Philippe II, COS is an upscale brand owned by Swedish clothing company H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) and was first established in Luxembourg in 2015. After dedicating its AW15 collection to the concept of 'Urban Landscape', COS has turned to nature for its SS16 campaign. The idea was to use the elements for inspiration, with photographer Karim Sadli and stylist Jonathan Kaye evoking the desert winds and warm lights of the Californian desert.
Although the occasional stripe or spot does appear, both the men's and women's collections at COS are primarily in block colours. In this way, the focus is more on the cut, shape and texture of the clothes in nude and slate hues rather than exposing a rainbow spectrum of colours. The attire's assertion is in its details, drawing people in for a closer look. This is particularly manifested in the COS SS16 magazine devoted to the senses, where close-up photos of a high square neckline caressing a throat and hands delicately clasped behind an open-back dress are complemented by interviews with individuals whose work is affected or enhanced by their senses, as in the case of blind architect Chris Downey, who has continued to design spaces even after losing his sight during brain surgery eight years ago.
Accessories are also focused on playing with shapes and materials, with statement jewellery pieces including knotted leather belts as necklaces and a collaboration with Danish home and work designer HAY resulting in twisted candle holders and stone notebooks.
Whilst COS has aimed to elicit a sense of freedom and movement, it is Dutch youth fashion company Scotch & Soda (17, Rue des Bains) who has truly taken the spirit of travel to heart for this season's collection. The label is primarily divided into three styles, with Maison Scotch issuing men and women's clothing, Scotch Shrunk and Scotch R'Belle creating boys' and girls' fashion, and Amsterdams Blauw focusing on denim and urban products.
The concept behind the brand's SS16 collections is of ruggedness and a refutation of perfection, with the Amsterdams Blauw photo campaign set in front of a jagged desert landscape, clothes in the shop hung off speckled, rusted-looking coathangers and posters adorning the walls of children covered in paint. The collection is all about escapism, resulting in palm trees and exotic birds embellishing the kids' collections, with personalised pieces of jewellery and individual messages such as 'Jolie Vagabonde' and 'Dreams of Paradise' lining the insides of blazers and other items. A passion for exploration has also been incorporated into certain pieces with denote an Asian style inspiration.
For Luxembourg's lingerie lovers, Hunkemöller (8, Grand-Rue) has teamed up with Sylvie Meis to create the new 'Sylvie Swimwear' capsule collection due to be unveiled on 7 May 2016. The Dutch model and TV personality has been a brand ambassador of Hunkemöller since 2012, becoming involved in collections inspired by fashion capitals from around the world. The newest swimwear assortment features two-pieces in bright, tropical colours offset by thick black lines, whilst the 'Noir' lingerie range as ever offers an expensive option for those looking for prestige pieces with fine details worked into them.
For Tommy Hilfiger's (18, Grand-Rue) male clothing collection, SS16 is all about drawing on European effortless style, with Italian-made fabrics as the basis and Spanish World N°5 tennis player Rafael Nadal as the inspiration.
"Last year we launched our partnership with Rafael Nadal with an amazing underwear and fragrance advertising campaign and incredible pop-up event in New York City," announced Tommy Hilfiger. "This season we're continuing to innovate our 'Tommy Hilfiger Tailored' collection with the 'THFLEX Rafael Nadal Edition' capsule collection. Inspired by Rafa himself, the designs combine our signature sartorial aesthetic with performance fabrics - it's all about modern movement with precision fit and functionality."
Meanwhile, the brand has set Gigi Hadid as the face of its women's tropical-inspired range, complete with quilt-patterned maxi dresses, crochet bikinis and netted, Jamaican flag-coloured beach shifts.
The theme of adventure has also certainly cropped up in the MAC Cosmetics (79, Grand-Rue) Flamingo Park collection for Spring 2016. Those who shy away from pink will find the new range tough going, with the whole collection evoking an Alice in Wonderland-style picnic as seen through rose-tinted glasses. Brimming with bright pinks and corals, this new collection is not for the faint-hearted, and whilst customers are encouraged to 'Have Your Cake' lipstick and wear it too, some may not find themselves enjoying the sugar rush. The bold hues might not be for the everyday or for everyone but it has to be said that the fun and fearlessness it inspires - and MAC's trademark subtle vanilla scent that the lipsticks give off - make for an irrestible combination. Whilst MAC products certainly do not come cheap, there is no doubting the high-quality power of transformation that they hold, as surely the flawless-skinned in-store make-up artists will testify.
There are even more changes ahead for Luxembourg City's streets, with an April opening expected for a new Rituals shop at Longchamp's former premises along the Grand-Rue. The Ville-Haute store will join the body cosmetics and well-being chain's already-established outlet in the Auchan shopping centre in Kirchberg.
Photos by Sarah Graham
