playing cards | emporio armani aw25

From retro reworks to techy twists, April saw fashion’s biggest names (and cult favourites) drop accessories and footwear that blur lines, mix eras, and occasionally throw out the rulebook entirely. Schön! rounded up the month’s most notable releases — from sustainably crafted sneakers and hybrid ballerina-sneakers to nostalgic streetwear revivals and heritage-inspired watches. These drops might come from different worlds, but they share a common thread: a knack for turning everyday essentials into standout statements.

CNCPTS x PUMA — Mostro Fey

First up, CNCPTS (aka Concepts) teamed up with longtime partner PUMA to unveil the Mostro Fey — their first women-focused collab — giving the newly launched silhouette a sharp, glossy upgrade. Two colourways split the mood: a polished all-black patent leather pair with rose gold detailing, and a swan grey, two-tone version laced with hot pink and chrome. To mark the launch, the Boston-based retailer hosted a week-long café pop-up and fashion show at Liberty Hotel, keeping the vibe equal parts laid-back and high-impact. 

Available online at CNCPTS.com

BAPE® x KidSuper — A Super Ape

Over in streetwear, BAPE® tapped KidSuper’s Colm Dillane for a collection that plays with nostalgia, art, and the cult status of the BAPE® camo print. Dillane — who once sold bootleg BAPE® tees to kids in line outside the store — now sees his own designs featured front and centre. Expect signature KidSuper face graphics woven into the classics, including reimagined SHARK hoodies and comic-inspired BAPE STA™ packaging.

Available online at BAPE.com as well as at kidsuper.com

Vivienne Westwood — Strand Pearl Watch

For fans of timeless eccentricity, Vivienne Westwood introduced the Strand Pearl Watch — a limited-edition piece inspired by the house’s archival Three Row Pearl Bas Relief Choker. Think rows of Swarovski pearls anchored by a crystal-encrusted orb that flips open to reveal a delicate Swiss-made dial. Classic with a twist, as only Westwood can do.

Available online and in stores.

Gabriela Hearst — Ohio

Gabriela Hearst joined the mix with her first-ever sustainably crafted sneaker: the Ohio. Made in Italy, the shoe blends recycled materials and natural rubber without skimping on style. Minimalist silhouettes meet leather laces and earthy tones — a design both rooted in the brand’s quiet craftsmanship and future-focused values.

Available online and in select stores.

Rombaut — Core

Rombaut marked Earth Day with the launch of Core — a stripped-back collection that reimagines the label’s breakout Boccaccio silhouette that prioritises durability and accessibility. Known for its sharp, sculptural shapes and future-friendly materials, the Paris-based brand keeps the focus on recycled fabrics and clean design, offering up sneakers with uppers made from high recycled-plastic content and soles cut from 30% recycled rubber. The campaign, a playful tribute to Erwin Wurm’s distorted take on reality, underlines the idea that style doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense or at a luxury price tag.

Available online. 

Louis Vuitton — LV Sneakerina 

Louis Vuitton, meanwhile, offered its own take on flexible modern elegance with the launch of the LV Sneakerina — a hybrid design blending the ease of a sneaker with the streamlined shape of a ballet flat. Lightweight thanks to Sacchetto construction and dressed in everything from Monogram canvas to metallic leathers, velvet-effect textures, sequins and mesh, the Sneakerina slips easily into both dressed-up and off-duty wardrobes. Expect shades from fuchsia and forest green to black, silver, and pastel blue.

Available online and in boutiques.

Timberland and Jacquemus — La Bateau

Closing out the lineup, Timberland and Jacquemus unveil La Bateau — a fresh reinterpretation of the 3-Eye Lug Boat Shoe, originally launched by Timberland in 1978. Designed in soft “banana yellow” suede, the new version plays with proportion and texture: sturdy lug soles meet premium leather lining, cotton laces, square metal eyelets, and a co-branded lace loop. It’s nautical, but not in the usual sense — somewhere between Côte d’Azur and utilitarian vibes. 

Available online and in select stores.

photography. Lauren Bamford (Louis Vuitton), Puma, CNCPTS, Gabriela Hearst, Rombaut Studio, Vivienne Westwood, BAPE, Timberland, Jacquemus
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Just a few days after marking its 65th anniversary, Dr. Martens has added a new pin to its Paris map. The British boot company has opened its sixth store in the capital, and its nineteenth in France, landing at 21 Boulevard Saint Michel, right where Saint Germain meets Saint Michel.

The space stretches over two floors and 104 square metres, a sharp but unfussy setup that mirrors the neighbourhood’s rhythm – part student hub, part tourist crossroads, part cultural fixture. Inside, it’s all about contrast: clean lines, pale wood flooring, and a flexible layout built to keep up with the brand’s evolving collections. The classics get pride of place on the “Original Icons” wall, while the “In the Spotlight” section rotates with new releases.

Upstairs, the boutique dedicates a corner to the Made In England range – a quieter space dressed with light wood and oxblood leather, a call-back to the brand’s Northampton roots. And if anniversaries are your thing, the opening lines up neatly with another milestone: the 65th anniversary of the 1460 boot. To mark it, Dr. Martens has created the most premium version of the model to date — the 1460 Made In England Pascal Love Letter.

PrevNext

PrevNext

1

A love note to the label’s origins, the boot is crafted from full-grain calf leather sourced from the legendary C. F. Stead tannery in Leeds. Dyed in deep Bordeaux and stitched with contrast panels pulled from the brand’s archives, the pair balances history with a sharp modern finish. Only 1,460 pairs are being made – to run parallel to the brand’s iconic numerology.

The latest lineup doesn’t stop at boots either. The new Mattisson sandals – a more stripped-back, warm-weather riff on the Dr. Martens DNA – are already in store, alongside the Elphie, which pairs chunkier proportions with sleek leather, and the Buzz, another fresh silhouette that leans a little more experimental.

In true Dr. Martens style, the opening won’t be a one-off. The brand has lined up a series of in-store events designed to anchor the space in the neighbourhood and – as always – invite its community to make the place their own.

The 1460 Made In England Pascal Love Letter is available here and in select stores worldwide.

photography. Dr. Martens 
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Julian Zigerli has never been shy about mixing worlds, and his latest collection, The Limit Does Not Exist, is no exception. Presented at Zurich’s Gessnerallee, two collections shared the spotlight: one built around Zigerli’s ongoing collaboration with Berlin artist Andi Fischer, the other titled Tom All Over My Body, created with the Tom of Finland Foundation.

Fischer’s artwork runs through the collection like a hand-drawn signature: childlike faces, hands and loose, abstract sketches are stretched across knits, shirts and jackets. At a glance, the prints are bright and unruly — but the compositions are anything but random. Vivid greens, acid blues and soft pinks sit alongside muted earth tones and crisp whites, giving the collection a kind of controlled chaos

Silhouettes are relaxed, but not lazy. Oversized knits, wide-legged trousers and structured outerwear are cut for ease, without losing shape. Fabrics are where Zigerli flexes his technical know-how: performance blends, tactile finishes, and lightweight layers designed to be worn however the day demands. The styling, as always, rejects rules — a printed sweater with tailored shorts, a sheer shirt under a sharp jacket — the only constant is that nothing feels forced.

For the Tom of Finland-inspired looks, the cast swapped the runway for the nearby park, in what one guest neatly called “horny and emotional.” As expected, homoerotic art, prints and illustrations feature predominantly on t-shirts, sweaters and boxers. 

PrevNext

PrevNext

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

But the night’s standout moment came from closer to home. Zigerli’s sister and five friends from Werkheim Uster — all living with disabilities — joined the lineup onstage and backstage, bringing a rare kind of honesty and joy that couldn’t be scripted.

The live soundtrack kept the energy moving: Ramon Oliveras drummed a 40-minute heartbeat into the room, while Gregory Tara Hari’s take on “Almost Heaven” pulled the audience into a darker, dreamlike mood. Performer Samuel Schneider folded the set, designed by Studioforma, into his own choreography, turning the space into something between a stage and an installation.

And tucked in among the ready-to-wear came something new: Zigerli’s debut of UNDERWEARLI. Seven models — stripped down to briefs, boxers, thongs and jockstraps — showed off the line’s black-and-white base and signature pink elephant waistband, giving a taste of what’s set to launch later this year.

Whether you wear them loud or quiet, Zigerli’s message stays the same: style doesn’t start with limits — it starts when you stop following them.

Discover the collections here.

photography. Ali Zigeli, Jonny Labusch
words. Gennaro Costanzo