Welcome back and happy Chanel Cruise week to all who celebrate. On Tuesday, Matthieu Blazy took to Biarritz to show his debut Cruise collection for the house, and in doing so, bagged a viral shoe moment that has been living rent-free in my head ever since. The shoe in question was not really a shoe, but a mere “heel cap” with a lace up ankle detail. Some were outraged, others intrigued, others delighted! It’s not the first time an impractical foot-forward shoe would grace a runway and it certainly won’t be the last. But it did get us thinking about the trend cycle’s more recent gravitation towards foot liberation. First the Tabi, then clear jelly shoes; last summer saw a serious flirtation with Vibram 5-finger shoes, and now we’re ditching soles altogether for a full blown-foot fest. The fetishists must be having a field day.

Chanel Tops The Q1 Lyst Index

Launchmetrics

Speaking of Matthieu Blazy’s viral capabilities, the Lyst Index 2026 has officially dropped for Q1, and to no surprise, Chanel has bagged the top spot. It’s no doubt driven by the brand’s sustained demand and increased visibility under Blazy’s direction, which has seen products like the pumps and the re-imagined Maxi flapbag reach new heights in terms of demand. Saint Laurent sits in second position, while Dior comes in at third, thanks to Jonathan Anderson’s genius. Interestingly, Gucci is back up in the top five for the first time since 2022, showing an increase in a 12% day-on-day spike in demand immediately after the show—yes, the show that copped a huge amount of backlash for being…too boring? Apparently I wasn’t the only one who liked it after all!

Gucci Releases “Generation Gucci” Campaign

Gucci

Next up for Gucci is Demna’s newly released “Generation Gucci” Campaign, a campaign that centers on a collective of individuals who embody the new generation of the House under Demna’s direction—including top models such as Alex Consani, Amelia Grey, but also influencers like Meredith Duxbury and Alton Mason  Via a series of 84 images, one for each look, Demna photographed silhouettes of his new Gucci that we know and love: the knife-point pumps, the Giglio Bag, the monogrammed fanny packs, the jersey dresses, and more. Per the Lyst index’s findings, if there is one thing Demna is going to do, it’s turn a brand around. And fast!

Burberry Unveils Hunza G Capsule

Burberry

As part of its high summer campaign, Burberry has collaborated with Georgiana Huddart’s Hunza G, the cult swimwear label famed for its Original Crinkle ultra-stretch fabric. For the collaboration, the brands have combined the classic Hunza G fabrication with iconic Burberry colors and Burberry Check trims. After a Burberry bikini summer last year, the collaboration makes perfect sense to further Burberry’s swimwear offering. To celebrate the launch, a series of portraits by Ryan McGinley captures British actor Simone Ashley and model Alva Claire wearing pieces from the swimwear capsule on the beach. Let’s go, Europe summer!

Cou Cou Intimates Partners with Adwoa Aboah

Cou Cou

The It girl lingerie brand that does numbers with the gorgeous girlies of the world has partnered with Gurls Talk founder and model, Adowa Aboah, to create a t-shirt in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The special edition “Out of Order” tee has been designed with life’s messiness in mind, and the profits will go to Aboah’s Gurls Talk community-led nonprofit organization, dedicated to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women. In a moment where our mental health is deteriorating in the face of geopolitical issues, social media addiction, and general social and political chaos, we could all do with a little extra support—and a little extra conversation.