Editors' Top Reads: News from Debenhams, ASOS, Dior and more...
Here are some of this week’s news and features highlights handpicked by TheIndustry.fashion team.
Jonathan Anderson makes his Dior debut with bows and buccaneer hats at Paris Fashion Week
Of all the shows I was waiting for during the September to Remember, this was the one I was most excited to see. Afterwards, I was left to wonder whether catwalk shows are indeed the best way to present fashion collections anymore. Because, while I didn't love the show, I found much to love about Jonathan Anderson's Dior debut womenswear collection after the fact.
Such a fan am I of Dior and Anderson that I was almost too nervous to watch the show in case it disappointed. And, guess what, it did. Maybe my expectations were too high or maybe, just maybe, it wasn't a great show. I'm sure it was a huge spectacle for those present but I found myself panicking when watching it online. I wanted more shoes, more bags and more, well, Dior!
I did immediately like some of it but that was mostly the looks involving jeans (and the capes, but I do love a cape!). The eveningwear, I did not like so much and I wanted more bar jackets (though the one with the bow front was fabulous). I felt a bit flat afterwards but then Jonathan Anderson began sharing close up images of the collection, in particular the shoes and handbags, on his own Instagram page and this brought it all to life to me in a way that the show didn't.
I could see the detail, the intricacies of the design and the humour in some of the pieces. So clever that he uses the grommets on a strap hole to signify the letter O in the Dior branding on bags. As for shoes, those bow slingbacks... put me on the waiting list now.
It was such a relief as I was relying on Anderson to inject some excitement into luxury that would trickle down to the mainstream and he has. Ignore the show, look at his Instagram and swoon over the shoes and hanker for the handbags; that is exactly what I'm doing.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
Designers at Debenhams is back and Kim Cattrall is leading the charge
This week, Debenhams dusted off one of its most influential fashion legacies: Designers at Debenhams. Launched in 1993, the concept was a retail revolution, bringing luxury design to the high street long before collaborations became standard at retailers such as H&M and Topshop. The movement democratised designer fashion, proving that style didn’t have to be confined to runways or boutique windows.
For AW25, the range returns with Ashish at the helm, delivering maximalist pieces that fuse technicolour faux furs, glistening sequins and psychedelic prints. But the comeback's cultural allure doesn't stop there. Debenhams managed to tap Kim Cattrall, known for her iconic role playing Samantha in Sex and the City, whose presence adds instant gravitas and camp theatricality.
Designers at Debenhams is a statement about the power of high street reinvention when we need it the most. In a retail landscape dominated by reboots and collaborations, the relaunch shows how a heritage brand can reconnect with modern audiences, marrying nostalgia with contemporary relevance. Is this the boost the high street has been craving?
Chloé Burney, Senior News & Features Writer.
How ASOS is strengthening customer engagement with new live shopping experience
ASOS has introduced a new in-app feature that merges video content with real-time shopping, aiming to streamline inspiration, discovery, and purchase into a single, seamless experience.
According to the online retailer, the platform has seen strong engagement since its soft launch in August. In fact, ASOS reports "hundreds of thousands of views", alongside increased dwell time and improved conversion rates - which certainly sounds promising!
Recent episodes on ASOS Live have ranged from educational to event-driven content, including titles like "Top 3 Jean Styles Every Wardrobe Needs", "7 Quick Steps to Glass Skin", and exclusive coverage of the Topshop and Topman AW25 Runway Show.
It’s no surprise this kind of content is resonating with consumers - after all, platforms like TikTok Shop have already demonstrated the demand for shoppable and engaging video experiences.
The launch of ASOS Live is part of a broader strategy to elevate the customer journey through more interactive and personalised content. By investing in this format, ASOS joins a growing list of retailers fusing entertainment and e-commerce in an effort to drive deeper engagement and increase digital conversion.
Sophie Smith, News Editor & Senior Writer.
Selfridges sales drop amid weak consumer confidence and drop in tourist spending
You can click through here and read the latest trading numbers from Selfridges in detail. Essentially sales are down but losses have been cut, in more positive news. Though it still hasn't made a profit in the post-pandemic era.
I remain convinced Selfridges is a brilliant retailer but that brilliance can't protect it from global headwinds and the fact the UK shot itself in the foot by then Chancellor Rishi Sunak abolishing tax free shopping during the height of the pandemic. This was a masterclass in discouraging wealthy tourists to go elsewhere and Selfridges, among others has paid the price.
Despite strident lobbying from retail and hospitality, the Governments we have had since this disastrous act have all failed to reinstate it. Actually that is not strictly true, Kwasi Kwarteng was going to bring it back during the Liz Truss leadership tenure, but she lasted about as long as my ailing iPhone battery, and then Rishi was back (as PM this time) and in no mood to admit he was wrong.
Dare we believe Rachel Reeves will see sense and reintroduce it during her imminent budget? We can but dream.
Lauretta Roberts, Co-founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief.
