hoka x j.l-a-l | the mafate x

The health of the skin barrier has become the central obsession in high-performance skincare and a precise new German brand, SKŌUD Skin Health, is launching its debut collection to meet that demand.

SKŌUD is the culmination of years of clinical expertise. Founded by Dr. Nini Nielsen and Dr. Julia Mader, who have run a joint consulting agency for cosmetics companies since 2019, SKŌUD represents the first time their extensive research knowledge has been made accessible to the public under their own line. 

The brand name itself is highly intentional: an acronym for Skincare Knowledge of Unique Definition, purposefully reminiscent of the word ‘Scout.’ It reflects their core mission to accompany, support and provide solutions that start at the very foundation of the skin.

This scientifically rigorous approach is evident in their debut launch, The Barrier Elementals Set. Designed to move beyond the traditional one-cream-fits-all model, this trio of complementary formulations functions as a modular system, addressing the fact that skin is dynamic and changes with seasons and stress.

All three products are grounded in a comprehensive four-component active system. Central to the line is the proprietary AERI5 complex, which works to stabilise the skin’s delicate microbiome, ensuring a balanced microbial environment. This advanced cellular approach is paired with biomimetic lipids – oils structurally identical to those naturally found in the skin. These lipids strengthen the barrier function by perfectly slotting into the skin’s matrix, acting as crucial mortar that keeps moisture locked in and external stressors out.

The Barrier Elementals set allows for flexible, precisely coordinated use. The routine begins with The Truth, a highly active, lightweight serum texture applied first. Following this is The Protection, a hydrating barrier cream best suited to normal or mildly dry conditions. Finally, The Bliss is the richest component, designed for intensive protection or increased lipid requirements, perfect for harsh weather or nighttime use. This progressive layering system means the products can be applied individually, combined or strategically layered, creating a truly customisable routine.

Available as a premium gift or discovery set in three 10ml glass travel sizes, SKŌUD is offering an elegant and healthy introduction to the next generation of personalised skin health, rooted firmly in clinical authority.

Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Nadia Del Dò (portrait), Stephan Abry (product)
words. Gennaro Costanzo

The decades-long conversation between adidas and Yohji Yamamoto remains one of the most reliable forces in fashion. For Spring/Summer 2026, Y-3 returns with Chapter 1, a collection demonstrating that the Master of Shadows still has much to offer in the language of black and white.

While recent seasons have seen the brand experiment with visceral nature prints and oxidation, SS26 marks a return to the quintessential monochrome palette that defines the Y-3 uniform. However, the absence of colour is not an absence of interest. Instead, the collection trades pigment for structural rebellion.

The standout innovation of this chapter is genuinely interactive: the new wired Three Stripes. Integrated into the garments with pliable wiring, the wearer can contort, twist and sculpt the silhouette themselves, effectively handing the final design authority back to the individual – a principle Yamamoto has championed in his mainline collections for decades.

The apparel balances volume and protection. Padded bomber jackets provide a structured armour, sitting alongside the brand’s signature flowing cargo trousers. In a nod to the wabi-sabi aesthetic of Yamamoto’s archives, raw-cut details are left exposed, offering an expressive imperfection that contrasts with the clean, clinical lines usually associated with sportswear.

It’s a sensibility that long-standing collaborator Oscar Foster Kane captures perfectly, having shot the lookbook with a distinctive focus on the dynamic interplay between the clothing’s rigid structure and its flowing movement.

In terms of footwear, the hybridisation on show for SS26 is particularly sharp. The headline act is the reimagining of the Y-3 GSG9. Taking the legendary tactical boot designed for the German special forces (Grenzschutzgruppe 9), the brand has softened and subverted it with delicate brogue detailing – a fantastic, jarring clash of military utility and gentleman’s formalwear that encapsulates the entire Y-3 ethos.

Elsewhere, the icons get an update. The Y-3 STAN LOW PRO offers a brutalist, angular take on the classic Stan Smith court shoe, while the running category is bolstered by the Y-3 ADIZERO RC6, pulling adidas’ top-tier marathon technology straight onto the street. All-time favourites like the NIZZASTAR HI, the TOKYO and the REGU LOW make a return, rounding out the collection.

Y-3 Spring/Summer 2026 Chapter 1 is available now online and at select retailers.

photography. courtesy of Oscar Foster Kane
words. Gennaro Costanzo

As the days shorten and temperatures drop, it signals the start of the season for sophisticated gatherings – be it a glittering Christmas party, a black-tie event or the main event: New Year’s Eve. For these moments, Ferragamo has curated a Holiday 2025 collection that focuses on sharp tailoring and luxurious textures, ensuring every entrance is suitably stylish.

The accompanying campaign, ‘Rewind the Future’, captures the holiday season’s essence with the nostalgic charm of the 90s. VHS-style clips reveal the fashion around and beneath the table inside a cosy, warmly lit chalet, evoking the intimacy and shared traditions of that era.

The festive wardrobe offered by the House centres on silhouettes that are both timeless and modern. For evening, elegant dresses are executed in liquid silk and rich midnight velvet, designed to catch the light beautifully. Meanwhile, the men’s offering balances modern cuts with exceptional fabrics, featuring razor-sharp suits in deep seasonal colours, perhaps a rich emerald green or classic oxblood polish, providing a refreshing alternative to traditional black.

To anchor these looks, the accessories are essential evening armour. The beloved Hug Bag, a signature of the House, returns in miniature and clutch variations, perfect for evenings where only the essentials are required. These pieces are rendered in luxurious materials like shimmering metallic finishes or bold crimson red patent leather, ideal for adding a crucial pop of festive colour. The smaller Wanda Bag, structured and sleek, also features heavily, often finished with delicate jewellery-like hardware.

The shoe selection offers an interesting contrast between signature femininity and traditional craftsmanship. For women, the classic Vara shoe with its iconic grosgrain bow remains the gold standard, now reimagined for the season. It appears in materials like sumptuous velvet or a shimmering glitter finish, solidifying its status as a foundational piece for feminine grace. 

For gentlemen, the Tramezza shoe represents the pinnacle of shoemaking. This line is Ferragamo’s most revered, built using a complex, hand-stitched technique that incorporates a thick leather layer (the trammezzo), ensuring superior quality and enduring style, often presented in deeply polished calf leather suitable for any formal affair.

The Ferragamo Holiday 2025 collection provides the perfect toolkit for navigating the social demands of the winter season.

Discover the collection here.

photography. courtesy of Ferragamo
words. Gennaro Costanzo