Fashion and Style

The Sybarite’s Oscars Best Dressed List

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Academy Awards are the biggest night out in Hollywood, with the calibre of outfits to match. It’s the truest form of “Hollywood Glamour”, owed to a dress code rumoured to be the strictest of its kind. This year, the 95th edition of the Academy Awards gave us no less than an award-winning performance, dramatic moments, comedy, tears, and dreams coming true - does it get any better than that?

Women Who Launch: Chatting with Florence Macovei &...

“I’m not going to lie, the fashion industry is very focused on who you know,” says Florence Macovei, who spent years building her little black book of contacts whilst working as a model and hostess for brands such as Hermes, Ferrari, Cartier, and Bulgari. “If you have the right connections, you can have very big advantages. The contacts and knowledge I’ve made definitely helped me through my entrepreneurial journey,” she adds. However, it wasn’t just contacts that helped Macovei when she pivoted from fashion insider to founder. Her keen ability to unlock what women want has allowed her to launch AFTERHOURS, a fashion brand which makes incredibly wearable, sleek, and sophisticated clothes for the modern woman. I recently road-tested the AFTERHOURS oversized linen shirt on a trip to Mexico and it was the perfect item to wear over my swimsuit whilst still staying fresh and stylish on the beach. Whether it’s breathable fabrics or flattering silhouettes, Macovei has a deep understanding of her customers’ needs and also leveraged her own experiences to build her first collections. “I always looked for clothes that were luxurious yet affordable while being versatile, and I always struggled, so that’s why I decided to start AFTERHOURS,” she shares. In this edition of Women Who Launch, we speak with Macovei about the mentors who provide a guiding light as she builds her brand and the piece she loves most from her current collection.

The Insider's Guide to London Fashion Week

For fashion enthusiasts who love to dress and fawn over the latest designer fashions, the question remains; what actually happens at fashion week? Think of me as your fairy god sister, giving you the low-down on what goes on at London fashion week and how to get involved. Fashion Month is a bit of an ‘if you know, you know’ event. Outside of the fashion and arts industry, there isn’t much information publicly available, and it’s not until you’re inside that you really understand what goes on. Fashion Week’s purpose [though now changing] was for the people who would promote these new collections to get the inside scoop; editors, writers, stylists, publicists and celebrities - and now, most importantly, influencers.

Diamonds [and Lab Diamonds] for Dummies

It’s just like they say; Diamonds are a girl’s best friend - and one of the most coveted gemstones in the world. Prized for their beauty and rarity, the stones are formed within the Earth’s mantle [between the Earth’s crust and core] in a natural process when carbon deposits into the earth and is subject to a combination of heat and pressure. Though the exact measure of time isn’t available, it is thought to take millions of years, resulting in the high price of diamonds, depending on clarity and carat.

Featuring The Sybarite Best Dressed Celebs at the BAFTAs

Featuring How the V&A explores Africa's global impact on the...

Iconic African designers, such as Kofi Ansah and Alpahdi, have given the public the opportunity to explore never seen before designs amongst the array of garments and objects on display for the exhibition. I was absolutely blown away by the artistry that was on display, solidifying how much I will be supporting African designers moving forward. You have to visit to understand the magnitude of greatness when it comes to design. When asked what pieces evoked raw emotion, it was difficult to choose. Numerous parts of the exhibition evoked multitudes of sentiments which, to me, is the true aim of fashion. From extreme joy and pride to see such dimension, craft and skill, and at other times, sadness and disappointment to know that African designers aren't given the recognition and platform they deserve to be able to thrive as significantly as the designers we love today.

5 things we learned from Berlin Fashion Week

Berlin has demonstrated that they are fast becoming one of the fashion capitals of the world, with a mixture of eclectic and minimal style found amongst the bustling streets of the popular city. You may not find all your favourite, trending designer brands but the city gives platform to some incredible & unique smaller labels that perfectly reflect Berlin; colourful, full of character, and well connected.

16 Luxury Valentines Day Gifts for Him in 2023

You know how they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? While that may have been true for when men and women dwelled happily in caves and hunted dodos, the 21st century man is a little more complicated than that. And that, ladies, is both good news and bad news. Good news because you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen fixing up the perfect meal to find the way to his heart. Bad news because you’re now faced with the prospect of spending hours surfing the internet instead searching for the perfect luxury Valentine’s gifts for him. To that effect, The Sybarite team has curated the below list of some of the best Valentine’s Day gifts for your man that are sure to win his heart all over again.

Featuring Kate Middletons 10 Most Iconic Looks

From the time of her entry into the royal family, to now as she moves into a more senior royal role, the Princess of Wales is known [amongst other things] for her effortlessly elegant wardrobe, one fit for [dare we say] a future Queen.

Navigating the Future of Fashion: The Implications of COP27

In Egypt, a few weeks ago, the annual Cop27 summit (United Nations Climate Change Conference) brought together stakeholders from around the world. The spotlight soon shifted to the fashion industry, which is often ranked as the second-most polluting sector after oil and gas. Responsible for as much as 10% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions—surpassing even the combined emissions from international flights and shipping—it's no wonder that conversations at the summit revolved around the environmental consequences of the fashion industry. Source: Bloomberg

Santa Brands’ Yana Stanislavska on Creativity and Resilience

Its founder, Yana Stanislavska, is more determined than ever to see its continued success through challenging times. “It’s hard to cope with something as gruesome as a ballistic missile landing 300 metres from your bedroom but somehow we all manage to carry on,” she says, of how the Russian invasion of Ukraine has impacted herself and her team. “Staying creative and always being on the run is a good way to stay sane in any circumstances.” The label’s partywear packs plenty of versatility and has been a hit with influencers - think Leonie Hanne and Chiara Ferragni - and members of the global style set. Shimmering sparkles, ultra-light feather cuffs, and sheer fabrics with rhinestone embellishments are but a few things that make Santa Brands garments so alluring. While it's these bold details that first capture your attention, what makes the label so successful is having perfected these best-selling designs - the sparkly dresses, skirt and trouser co-ord sets, etc. - and creating equally wearable garments and accessories to complement them, such as its “Crystal Basque”, “Moonlight Panama” hat, and single-breasted fitted “Lemon Jacket.”

Women Who Launch: Meet Authentic_UA founders Yulia...

Authentic_UA came to life through the visionary efforts of Yulia Rorstrom and Eka Kapanadze, both born in Ukraine. Their aim was to establish a significant platform in London that celebrates and showcases Ukrainian fashion while also raising much-needed funds for their homeland, which is currently facing conflict with Russia. Yulia, the founder of Duck & Dry, joined forces with fashion stylist Eka to organise and curate an event that highlights over 20 Ukrainian brands. This event spanned a four-week period from November 7th to December 4th, hosted in Yulia's London salons: the Mayfair Duck & Dry location until November 20th, and the Chelsea Duck & Dry location until December 4th. This initiative not only encourages London residents to offer direct financial support to these Ukrainian fashion brands and designers, thereby assisting an industry navigating an uncertain future, but Authentic_UA has also committed to donating a substantial portion —ranging from 30% to 50% — of each sale to 'Rebuild Ukraine Together'. This charitable organisation, founded by Yulia, focuses on aiding Ukrainians during the conflict and collaborates with on-ground volunteers to source and distribute essential supplies. The Sybarite was fortunate to engage in a conversation with Yulia and Eka, delving into topics such as Authentic_UA, the state of fashion in Ukraine, and the personal motivations that propelled them to create this remarkable endeavor.