Hello, Open Thread. It’s Good Friday. Astronauts are over the moon. For those who celebrated, happy Passover. And we made it through April Fools’ Day. There were some good fashion jokes going around, though. My favorite, and the most telling: that Matthieu Blazy was leaving Chanel after just a few seasons (both impossible to believe and, given the fashion designer churn, utterly plausible). It points to the fact that reality is getting so weird that almost anything is believable because so much that seems unbelievable is expected to be taken seriously. I mean, just check out the Maison Margiela look above. The label skipped the Paris shows to unveil its fall 2026 collection at Shanghai Fashion Week on Wednesday in a reflection of the need to woo global markets, as consumers start tightening their wallets. If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, etc., etc. Anyway, after a brilliant couture debut in July, followed by a lackluster show in September, Glenn Martens, the Margiela designer, combined ready-to-wear and some couture (or artisanal) looks in the Shanghai show. For example, it included that white dress above, which is covered in 90 kilos (198 pounds) of actual broken porcelain, glued back together. Yes, you read that correctly; yes, even in a video it looked as if the model was having a lot of trouble moving. Yes, if you had told me that was an April Fools’ prank, I would have believed you.
But it wasn’t! Artisanal pieces like that one, as well as a vintage 19th-century dress covered in melted beeswax, are there not so much to be worn as to make you look at, and think differently about, the stuff around you. To that end, I think they are powerfully successful. Anyway, there were also a lot more clothes in the collection that you could actually imagine putting on your body, and some beautiful draped pieces, such as the one above (imagine it without the face mask, which is a Margiela signature). They make me excited for Mr. Martens’s next Margiela couture show in July. No joke. NUMBER OF THE WEEK
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And now, on to yet more creative director appointments:
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Think about that. Then dive into the story of the Antwerp Six and how they are still changing fashion; consider the style statements of the French national soccer team; and get the lowdown on International Orange, the color of the Artemis II spacesuits.
And have a good, safe weekend. If you are Easter parading, send photos of your hats!
STYLE IN THE WORLD | ||
critic’s notebook What Is Meta Doing on Fifth Avenue?Get ready for the return of wearables and a new stage in the fashion-tech relationship. By Vanessa Friedman |
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INSIDE FASHION TIPS |
Every week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a reader’s fashion-related question, which you can send to her anytime via email or X. Questions are edited and condensed.
Being a parent at a college graduation is not exactly the same as being a parent at a wedding, but it is not that different. In each case, you are a supporting act but one who plays a very public role, which will itself be preserved for posterity by assorted photographs documenting the moment.
That means that whatever choice you make, it’s not only going to be with you in perpetuity, but also with your child. It may, in fact, be displayed for viewing long after you are gone.
Yet in deciding how you want to show up in that moment, you and your own tastes are the least important elements in the calculation.
A graduation, like a wedding, is about the people at the center of the ritual: the graduates. Whatever you wear should be guided by their preferences, and children always have them. (When I picked mine up at school, on days when I wore a Rick Owens jumpsuit, they would ask me to meet them at the corner because they thought it was so weird.)
Your choice should be generic enough not to call attention to itself or, by association, you, while looking smart enough to make your progeny feel proud to show you off.
No pressure!
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Tina Chai, a stylist who has worked with Tory Burch, Banana Republic and Jason Wu, suggests that for women the easiest options are straightforward pieces like tea dresses or shirtwaists but in elevated fabrics — a crisp cotton or linen in seaside or garden shades. Keep the patterns and accessories minimal.
For an example, see Brooke Shields, who wore a simple below-the-knee white linen shift dress to her daughter’s college graduation last year. It was summery but neat and subdued enough to recede into the background. Or Kimora Lee Simons, who chose a natty navy blazer with gold buttons over a white tee for her daughter’s graduation.
Another good option, for men and women: a linen blazer or a pantsuit.
A few further tips. First, avoid the trap of falling into school colors. Your child does not need you to act like a cheerleader for their educational institution. After all, they are now leaving it. In a similar vein, avoid the desire to engage in graduation gimmickry, like wearing a pin with your child’s face on it. They will not thank you.
Second, wear flat and/or very comfortable shoes. Many graduations take place on grassy, uneven ground, and all of them generally require a lot of walking and standing. You do not want to be tottering around in a sea of celebrants, terrified of twisting your ankle. And if you are wearing open-toe sandals, make sure you get a pedicure. Again, the goal is to avoid embarrassing your child.
Third, be aware that many schools have banned handbags and tote bags for obvious, if depressing, reasons. If you need to carry a phone or a wallet, pockets are your friend.
Finally, always consider the weather. If the graduation is outside, it could be breezy, so bring a wrap or a cardigan if you aren’t wearing a jacket, and don’t forget to apply sunscreen before you arrive. You could be sitting with no shade for hours, and ending the day with unsightly sunburn splotches does not convey the message that you are the older, wiser family member. The one who has, you know, already learned something.
