Earlier this year, leading Swiss watchmaker Breitling debuted its limited-edition Chronomat Automatic 36 Victoria Beckham collection. Since she debuted her fashion line in 2008, Beckham has been known for blending feminine and masculine tailoring in her coveted designs. That sense of style attracted Breitling’s designers.
“Victoria Beckham is a brand that defines modern and quiet luxury,” said Breitling CEO Georges Kern. “Everything is considered and elevated, but with an ease that can be worn from day to night.”
The collection, the result of a one-of-a-kind collaboration between the luxury watchmaker and celebrated creative director, is limited to just 1,500 pieces.
“This is the perfect watch for women who are looking for something versatile,” said Beckham, who enjoyed working closely with Breitling’s designers. “It’s elevated and chic but still has a relaxed feel to it. The mix of masculine and feminine has always been how I like to dress myself, and I am quite a minimalist at heart.”
The Breitling-Beckham collaboration is just one of the many luxury brands to watch this year. On the heels of London Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, not to mention awards shows and their red carpets, we take a look at some of the luxury brands to watch in 2024.
-
Martin Katz
For more than three decades, Martin Katz has infused Hollywood culture with expert artistry and exquisite taste to redefine Beverly Hills. He was one of the first independent designers when he began bejeweling movie stars in 1992 and is known for designing beautifully crafted, couture-quality pieces inspired by his love of vintage jewelry. Many of Katz’s pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited edition, all made with meticulous attention to detail. This awards season, his creations were worn by Jessica Lange, Annette Bening, Kylie Minogue, Tantoo Cardinal, Christina Ricci, Kieran Culkin and more.
His new atelier — The Penthouse, on the top floor of the iconic Fred Hayman building on Canon Drive — is inspired by the golden era of Beverly Hills and offers guests a bespoke luxury client experience. In addition to the “Jewel Bar,” which pays homage to his start out of his home in Los Angeles, The Penthouse features Art Deco vibes and an outdoor terrace for socializing.
Furthering his reach, Katz is partnering with Nobu Ryokan Malibu to offer an exclusive Diamond Menu and a new menu of colorful gems from which guests can shop for one-of-a-kind jewels from the comfort of their suites. He also partnered with Italian sculptor Andrea Roggi to create a one-of-a-kind piece, “Energy of Life,” featuring more than 2,000 gemstones including blue sapphires, paraiba tourmalines, tsavorite garnets and white diamonds.
-
Marie France Van Damme
Marie France Van Damme, who founded her business in 2011, is known for her silk caftans and sophisticated luxury resort collection. Van Damme's creations quickly became must-have pieces for the jet set. Her independent, slow fashion blends understated European elegance with dramatic Asian aesthetics. Van Damme’s philosophy remains the same for all of her creations: “What you wear should always give you glamour — glamour without the fuss and bother.”
Van Damme’s designs catapulted into the spotlight when Beyoncé chose her silver metallic bathing/body suit for the “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” movie poster and on-stage visuals. Other A-listers who are fans of Van Damme’s work include Angelina Jolie, Katy Perry, Eva Longoria and Olivia Palermo.
Last fall, Van Damme opened a new salon on Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Available by appointment, the pied-à-terre Parisien is next to the Jardins des Tuileries, Louvre and Musee D'Orsay and nearby to Dior and Yves Saint Laurent.
-
Christian Siriano
Christian Siriano became a household name 17 years ago when he won the fourth season of “Project Runway” on Bravo. Since then he has taken the fashion world by storm, studying under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen in London and opening his first flagship store in New York City in 2012.
A fixture at the top fashion shows around the world and often seen on the red carpet, Siriano has created designs for the likes of Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, Ariana Grande, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter, Amy Adams, Oprah Winfrey, Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johansson and plenty more.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Siriano also oversees Siriano Interiors, a full-service boutique architecture and interior design firm. Mixing vintage, contemporary and custom pieces, he and his team focus on textiles and fabrics to create stylish and fashionable designs for residential and commercial clients.
Siriano has entered his “museum era” — his creations have been part of several exhibits, including “Crown to Couture” at Kensington Palace in 2023; “Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear" at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2022; and “Grit to Glamour” at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, also in 2022.