Two Big Engagement Ring Trends for 2022: Art Deco Emerald Cut and Lab Grown Diamonds

Two Big Engagement Ring Trends for 2022: Art Deco Emerald Cut and Lab Grown Diamonds AOC Fashion

For over 20 years, I’ve been focused on three major subsets of Americans: the traditionalists, the moderns, and the cultural creatives. Hearst’s Diego Gravinese Fractalia 5 is deeply rooted in the Cultural Creatives mindset. Most of us reading AOC are Cultural Creatives and/or Smart Sensuality women.

The latter are women who are sexy and smart; focused on achievement; and possessed with deep empathy for people and our planet. Often they are modern values women [you just can’t be rich enough or wear enough stuff on your back] who have crossed over to a much more progressive-values way of thinking. We are not show horses.

I’ve called us “lipstick liberals”, which the AOC crowd might deride. But AOC the Congresswoman has herself perfected the pouty red mouth.

Looking at Hearst’s Diego Gravinese painting Fractalia 5 brings other trailblazing women in this mold to mind, women we’ve written about for years at AOC. Think Beyonce, Amal Clooney, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez: They are all women who smash through the fractal panes of imaginary glass that keep them in check.

In a moment of serendipidity, I searched for information about the rings they wore. Among women I admire deeply, one shape — the emerald cut — emerges like a phoenix rising out of the ashes.

Harley Weir Captures Mona and Rianne in Isabel Marant SS 2022 Campaign

Harley Weir Captures Mona and Rianne in Isabel Marant SS 2022 Campaign AOC Fashion

French brand Isabel Marant shares a series of other-worldly images starring Mona Tougaard, Rianne van Rompaey and Leon Dame in its Spring-Summer 2022 campaign. The day in the life of the world visual celebration is perhaps an example of nature’s beauty in peril?

Since 1994, Isabel Marant is “credited with inventing the bohemian Parisienne hipster-meets-tomboy look”, says WWD in describing the brand.

Geraldine Saglio styles the campaign images that highlight utilitarian looks with feminine flourishes. Global activist and artist photographer Harley Weir [IG] behind the lens. There is more going on in these images than exquisite sunsets, but one must stop and think about what one is seeing — a quality in short supply today./ Makeup by Ana Takahashi; hair by Damien Boissinot

Mixed Metals Jewelry Meets Denim on Shade Akinbobola for HTSI Magazine February

Mixed Metals Jewelry Meets Denim on Shade Akinbobola for HTSI Magazine February AOC Jewelry News

Model Shade Akinbobola poses in a ‘Mixed Metals x Denim Story’ lensed by Jennifer Cheng {IG] for How To Spend It Magazine’s February 2022 spring fashion issue.

Nataliya Bulycheva In Polished Spring Style by Panos Davios for Vogue Japan March 2022

Nataliya Bulycheva In Polished Spring Style by Panos Davios for Vogue Japan March 2022 AOC Fashion

Model Nataliya Bulycheva spells out the spring 2022 new dress code, styled by Nicholas Georgiou in images by Panos Davios for Vogue Japan March 2022./ Hair by Jose Quijano; makeup by Athina Karaksitso

Tod's Post First 2021 Increase in Six Years Under Designer Walter Chiapponi

Tod's Books 40% Revenue Increase in 2021 under Creative Director Walter Chiapponi AOC Fashion

Italian luxury brand Tod’s defied financial analysts forecasts, booking a 40% increase in revenues to 883.8 million euros ($997 million) in 2021. This was the first increase in sales since 2015, boosted by strong fourth-quarter growth in Europe and the United States. This good news catches our attention because major sales increases in the luxury market aren’t being driven by Europe.

Walter Chiapponi at Tod’s

Analysts haven’t yet credited Tod’s creative director Walter Chiapponi for the sales performance, but the topic should be front and center in Tod’s talk. The Italian luxury market veteran — who showed his first collection for the House in February 2020 for fall/winter 2020 — is Tod’s first creative director to be responsible for men’s and women’s fashion as well as leather goods.

“I think it’s a matter of maturity,” the soft-spoken designer told the press about his Tod’s arrival. “When you’ve been creative in a very extreme way for so long, you want to do something more grounded, more elegant, more sophisticated. I’m in my 40s, and now I really detest seeing [fashion] that gets old in a few weeks.”

Tod’s Pre-Fall 2022 Lookbook

Walter Chiapponi’s pre-fall 2022 lookbook caught AOC’s eye. Model Kathie Lam is styled by Margherita Moro, then lensed by Anton Gottlob [IG]. / Hair by Massimo Gamba; makeup by Tanja Friscic

Chiapponi described his Tod’s assignment as one of updating traditional Italian casualwear with what he calls “a dirtier, more modern take on bon ton.” Tod’s gains an inner wild child and a bit of edge without disrupting their core identity of bourgeois propriety.

The new creative director supports strongly Tod’s commitment to responsible sustainability practices. Beyond using certified organic fabrics, Chiapponi presented “a new furry texture, lining an oversized sweatshirt/bomber hybrid. Made with a yarn woven from the upper and fluffier part of the fleece of the sheep, which is not harmed when shearing, it was extra-soft to the touch.” via Vogue

Coach Delivers Horse and Carriage Code for New Generation by Tyler Mitchell

Coach Delivers Horse and Carriage Code for New Generation by Tyler Mitchell AOC Fashion

Amie Milne Photographs 'Ice Age' Bling with Heirloom Attitude for Harper's Bazaar UK

Amie Milne Photographs 'Ice Age' Bling with Heirloom Attitude for Harper's UK AOC Jewelry News

Models Chizoba and Jessica Luostarinen are styled by Holly Gorst in heirloom-inspired jewelry with laid-back bling. Photographer Amie Milne [IG] captures ‘Ice Age’ in the studio for Harper’s Bazaar March 2022./ Hair by Sam Mcknight; makeup by Lucy Gibson

Note: We can’t locate the shoppable data on HB.

Ninel Khomiak Wears Disco Age Glamour by Greg Adamski for Vogue Arabia February 2022

Ninel Khomiak Wears Disco Age Glamour by Greg Adamski for Vogue Arabia February 2022 AOC Fashion

Home country Ukraine model Ninel Khomiak is styled by Vogue Arabia intern Nadin Karkoukli in ‘Disco-Age Glamour Is Back’. Photographer Greg Adamski [IG] is behind the lens, capturing the Fendi fashion story for the February 2022 issue. / Hair by Deena Alawaid; makeup by Kasia Domanska

Related: Ninel Khomiak in 'Art Object' by Nazar Chernly for Harper's Bazaar Ukraine

Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Tiffany & Co Dazzle in Vanity Fair Italia by Alberto Zanetti

Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Tiffany & Co Dazzle in Vanity Fair Italia by Alberto Zanetti AOC Jewelry News

Photographer Alberto Zanetti [IG] shares dazzling gems from Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Tiffany & Co and more. Gaia Fraschini styles ‘Punti di Vista’ in Vanity Fair Italia February 2022./ Hair by Dora Roberti; Karin Borromeo

Alessandra Ambrosio Poses in GAL Floripa Swimwear 'Flourish' and 'New Beginnings' Designs

Alessandra Ambrosio Poses in GAL Floripa Swimwear 'Flourish' and 'New Beginnings' Designs AOC Fashion

Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio feeds spring fever with two new designs in her GAL Floripa swimwear collection. Photographer Lauren Alexandra [IG] captures Ambrosio modeling key pieces from the Flourish and New Beginnings collections.

The word sustainability or any reference to protecting the earth or the Amazon is not uttered on the GAL Floripa website.

10 Years of Strong Balmain Women by Mert and Marcus for Spring 2022 Campaign

10 Years of Strong Balmain Women by Mert and Marcus for Spring 2022 Campaign AOC Fashion

Balmain’s Spring-Summer 2022 Campaign assembles fashion’s top names in a lineup that includes Adut Akech, Carla Bruni, Lara Stone, Mariacarla Boscono, and Naomi Campbell. Stylists Charlotte Stockdale and Katie Lyall meld svelte bodies and bodycon dresses, plenty of metallic elements in bags and strong shoulders lensed by Mert & Marcus [IG]. at last season’s Balmain show.

Olivier Rousteing has been Balmain’s Creative Director for a decade in fall 2021. He has also made a scarred, yet inspiring recovery from the terrible fireplace explosion in his house. "I woke up the next morning in Paris’ Hôpital Saint Louis. The talented staff at that famous hospital, which was dealing with an incredible number of COVID cases at that same time took amazing care of me. I cannot thank them enough,” the designer wrote about his private journey to recovery.

WSJ Magazine recently sat down with Olivier Rousteing in its My Monday Morning series.