castaneda | crowns, castles & coming-of-age

Nude Project is closing out the year with its most confident Playboy chapter yet. Titled ‘The Gift of Playboy,’ the latest collaboration from the Barcelona-born label marks the third time they’ve jumped into bed with the iconic American brand, and the timing couldn’t be better, landing just as Nude Project steps into a massive new phase of its international expansion.

Started back in 2019 by Bruno Casanovas and Alex Benlloch, Nude Project has gone from a little Spanish streetwear start-up to a fully-fledged cultural force. They’re known for their sharp graphics, fantastic community-led approach and an instinctive, almost cheeky understanding of how Gen Z actually shops, dresses and spends their money. Operating under the slogan “By Artists, For Artists,” they’ve always positioned themselves as a creative platform first and a fashion label second.

That clever mindset carries straight through ‘The Gift of Playboy,’ which reworks the familiar Bunny iconography through Nude Project’s own unique urban lens. Following the success of the debut capsule, ‘Heroes of Pleasure’ (2023), and the second release, ‘Playboy Part II’ (2024), both brands have built a shared aesthetic that perfectly balances the editorial with the accessible. This time, the focus is squarely on winter as something lived-in, layered and a little bit chaotic. 

The accompanying campaign, shot by Pepe Herreros, plays out as a mischievous alpine weekend. We see models moving between bracing cold-exposure rituals, outdoor action and the cosy intimacy of a cluttered cabin interior. The traditional Playboy sensuality is there, but it’s totally softened by humour and that sense of familiarity.

The collection features standout pieces that define this urban-winter aesthetic: an example is the technical Mono Ski Playboy suit, engineered for extreme cold but finished with an urban edge. Then, there’s the hugely appealing XXXX Knit Sweatshirt – a fuzzy, relaxed piece featuring the Playboy bunny embroidered large scale on the front.

Elsewhere, for those looking to redefine the après-ski look, the metallic Play Rabbit Puffer paired with micro-print All Over Rabbit Playboy Jeans delivers a playful, editorial look. Meanwhile, the satin Papito Playboy Shirt adds that essential fluid sophistication for a nighttime mood.

The timing, of course, is no accident. Just last Friday, Nude Project unveiled the entire collection publicly in Berlin, coinciding with the opening of its first German flagship store. Located right in the heart of the city, the 137 m² space has been designed as an intimate, nightlife-inflected apartment complete with dark wood, integrated sound, adjustable lighting, a working piano and an arcade machine. 

Discover the Gift of Playboy collection here.

photography. courtesy of Pepe Herreros, Kane Holz
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Nicolas Ghesquière is finally adding a new muse to the Louis Vuitton family. American actress Chase Infiniti has just been announced as its newest House Ambassador, after soft-launching their relationship for the past 18 months on red carpets from Mexico City to Paris.

This is a huge moment for the actress, marking her first major ambassadorship with a heritage luxury brand just as her career goes supernova. Infiniti is quickly becoming one of cinema’s most compelling figures. Following her breakout turn as the daughter in David E. Kelley’s ‘Presumed Innocent,’ her performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s critically adored film, ‘One Battle After Another,’ has turned her into a legitimate star. 

The film is currently sweeping the boards, and Infiniti is right at the centre of the storm with fresh Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice nominations under her belt. If that wasn’t enough cultural cachet, she’s also been cast as Agnes (the grown-up Hannah) in the massive ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ sequel, ‘The Testaments.’

Ghesquière, the Artistic Director of Women’s Collections, has been cultivating their bond since 2024. Chase Infiniti was a key, highly photographed presence at his last two shows, but the most fun part of their budding relationship is probably when she showed up for the world premiere of ‘One Battle After Another’ in a stunning custom champagne satin gown. 

That dress was a piece directly inspired by a Louis Vuitton archive piece dating all the way back to 1860. She followed that up recently by commanding the spotlight at the 5th Annual Academy Gala in Los Angeles, wearing a dramatic green silk taffeta bustier gown.

Ghesquière himself is clearly captivated, saying, “I have watched Chase’s debut with genuine delight, I find her totally captivating in the roles she plays. Beyond her remarkable talent, she radiates an authenticity that is truly unforgettable.” 

Louis Vuitton sees her as the perfect blend of powerful, timeless femininity and youthful energy. She is precisely the kind of magnetic, evolving talent the House wants representing its own relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation. It’s a partnership that’s set to make red carpet appearances a lot more interesting.

photography. courtesy of Louis Vuitton
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche was the kind of visionary who believed that if you truly understood an object’s function, its shape would eventually reveal itself. It is a philosophy that gave us the legendary Porsche 911 and, later, the world’s first matte black watch. To celebrate what would have been his 90th birthday, Porsche and Porsche Design are leaning into that uncompromising minimalism with a hyper-exclusive collection of pieces that feels like a private peek into the founder’s personal archives.

The centrepiece is the 911 GT3 90 F. A. Porsche, a bespoke sports car limited to just 90 units. Based on the GT3 with the Touring Package, it is a direct homage to the G-Series 911 that F. A. Porsche actually drove in the 1980s. It is finished in a stunningly specific F. A. Green Metallic (his personal signature colour) and features a grid-weave pattern on the seats that mirrors the texture of his favourite jackets. Even the black Sport Classic wheels take their cues from the iconic Fuchs designs, proving that for Porsche, the past is always the best starting point for the future.

Matching the car’s precision is a special anniversary edition of the Chronograph 1, a meticulous replica of the founder’s personal timepiece, which is still held by his family today. True horology enthusiasts will be delighted to see the letters ‘F. A. P.’ positioned at the 3 o’clock mark, exactly where the designer had his own initials placed on the original.

While it looks like a vintage treasure with its patina Super-LumiNova indices, the tech is purely modern, featuring a lightweight titanium case and an automatic movement with a rotor that mimics the wheels of the anniversary 911.

The attention to detail extends into the lifestyle pieces, including a Truffle Brown leather Weekender that uses the same grid-weave lining found in the car’s interior. Perhaps the most charming return, however, is the ‘Porsche Junior’ sports sled. Originally a cult object from the 1960s that F. A. Porsche used with his own children, the shell-shaped sled has been reimagined for 2025 using motorsport-grade carbon fibre and a Kevlar core. Also limited to 90 units and finished in that signature green metallic, it turns a simple winter activity into a high-tech design statement.

These limited edition collectables celebrate a man who managed to take the engineering myths of the automotive world and translate them into a global lifestyle. Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Porsche
words. Gennaro Costanzo