Harper's Bazaar UK Decembre 2015

Welcome to the December edition of Harper’s Bazaar, which features our annual Women of the Year Awards. As always, the qualities that define the women we are celebrating – creativity, strength, warmth, intelligence, thoughtfulness, sophistication, passion, dedication – are also at the heart of Bazaar. This year’s awards (presented in partnership with Estée Lauder and Audemars Piguet) include newcomers as well as more established names, but each has a capacity for hard work, even if their accomplishments appear effortless. Some of our winners, including Kate Winslet, became famous when they were young, then sustained their careers over a long period; others have discovered new vocations or changed direction. Consider Hannah Rothschild, whose recent appointment as the first female chair of the National Gallery coincided with the publication of her critically acclaimed…

Clémence Poésy A graduate of the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur d’Art Dramatique in Paris, the 33-year-old actress and face of the French fashion house Chloé starred as Fleur Delacour in the Harry Potter films. She followed that with the Working Title adaptation of Birdsong opposite Eddie Redmayne. After modelling in this issue’s fashion story ‘Suite Française’ (page 254), she is set for an eventful 2016, with lead roles in this spring’s thriller The Ones Below and The Tunnel, the second series of which will air exclusively on Sky Atlantic in the New Year. Who is your woman of the year? ‘Noor Zia Afridi, for her work with the Society of Appraisal & Women Empowerment in Rural Areas to protect women’s rights in Pakistan.’ Would you call yourself a feminist? ‘You bet…

Private view Frances Christie, head of British Art at Sotheby’s, will discuss fashion and art with Bazaar ’s editor-in-chief Justine Picardie on 12 November, as part of an evening hosted by Burberry. The event includes cocktails and a viewing of the ‘Post War & Modern British Art’ exhibition at the auction house’s Conduit Street gallery. Tickets are free, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Jewelled watches TIME IS A LUXURY Catch Bazaar’s Sasha Slater and the curator Caragh McKay on 13 November, as part of Salon QP, an exhibition of opulent watches. The show is at the Saatchi Gallery from 12–14 November; Bazaar readers get a reduced ticket price for the duration. Exclusive access MATERIAL WORLD On 11 November, Bazaar’s Sasha Slater will host a talk with the V&A’s Rosemary Crill, co-curator of the ‘The Fabric…

Could there be a more fitting city for KARL LAGERFELD than Seoul, the South Korean mega-metropolis? He brought CHANEL’s cruise show to Zaha Hadid’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a startling silver spaceship landed in the heart of this hyper-modern capital. Inside, all was white and shiny, except for 1,000 candy-coloured stools and a collection based around patchwork, a traditional Korean technique Though riffing on ancient Korean crafts, there was nothing but modernity on this CHANEL catwalk: synthetic patent on tweed, blue nails with a full-length dress, plastic and leather shoes, ultra glossy trousers under a signature jacket. LAGERFELD loves these kind of contradictory impulses, uniting them with wit. Inspired by the city’s high-energy youth culture, this was a remarkably immersive show. PHOTOGRAPHS: BENOIT PEVERELLI AND OLIVIER SAILLANT/COURTESY OF CHANEL…

Past, present and future were threaded together with RAF SIMONS’ characteristically deft touch, presented on the French Riviera. Staged at Pierre Cardin’s Le Palais Bulles, overlooking the sea, the collection was partly inspired by the building’s 1970s ‘futuristic’ architecture, which was itself derived from a fascination with early human dwellings. But the choice of venue was also reflective of DIOR’s own history, for Cardin (who was at the show) worked for Christian Dior before setting up his own couture house. ‘I wanted an idea of freedom, playfulness and individuality to come to the fore in this collection,’ said SIMONS. Hence the addition of light fabrics, bright colour and Lurex collages, reinventing the traditional tailoring of classic DIOR. There were chic little skirts and shorts – perfect for a front-row guest like…

What ALESSANDRO MICHELE has achieved in just nine months is astonishing – he’s given GUCCI back its cool. Look at his location for the cruise show: a gallery space in Chelsea, Manhattan, the catwalk lined with Persian rugs, models filing in from outside like a street-style parade (his debut A/W 15 collection is blogger and editor catnip). The brand has a new momentum and desirability that are fresh, intriguing and contemporary, though modern vintage may be the best way to sum up its charm. A glorious individualism ran throughout GUCCI’s collection. It was a treasure-trove of luxurious pieces in lace, silk chiffon and embellished fur that had a pleasingly quirky chic. While playing with the brand’s heritage – the snaffle loafer reinvented in gold glitter – MICHELE has also established a…