It’s a dilemma many homeowners and interior designers have faced. Whether to paint a room, install wallpaper, or both. One of the challenges of choosing both is trying to find the right wallpaper to coordinate with a specific color or vice versa. Fortunately, Farrow & Ball has found a way to solve this conundrum in a way that’s equally whimsical and chic.
Launched in September 2023, Farrow & Ball’s Carte Blanche collection was created in collaboration with designer Christopher John Rogers. Rogers’ signature take on color doesn’t miss in this bright and bold line.
Here’s what you need to know about Carte Blanche.
It’s A True Collaboration
Farrow & Ball Creative Director, Charlotte “Charlie” Cosby tells me, “It all really started when Christopher came to visit our tiny factory in Dorset in the United Kingdom. We walked him around the paint and paper manufacturing and our labs and talked about ideas and the technicalities of making paint, it was fun to hear the synergies he saw in our attention to detail and handcrafted techniques with how his fashion collection is made.”
Blue Maize
James Merrell
Rogers’ iconic color fabric swatches were ultimately the inspiration for the line which consists of twelve colors and three patterns. Four of the paints are neutrals while the other eight are considered statement shades. This collection truly takes the guesswork out of creating unique spaces.
Pea Flower Tea
James Merrell
“Both Charlie and I were aligned on not wanting to be prescriptive with this collection, but rather encourage the consumer to do whatever makes them feel the most comfortable and excited,” says Rogers. “I hope they mix and match the palette and papers in interesting and inspiring ways.”
Fashion Versus Interiors
This collaboration was hardly the designer’s first foray into interiors. In 2022, he created a gorgeous line of chairs with Orior. However, the experience of creating paint and wallpaper is different than upholstery. It’s also nothing like fashion.
Behind the scenes
Farrow & Ball
“I pulled influences from CJR motifs, fashion muses, and childhood nostalgia to inform my vision for Carte Blanche. With wearables, I feel that you have the space to be a bit more intense with color—you can change your outfit daily, or even hourly to reflect how you feel in that moment. Charlie provided incredible context around the interiors world, as spaces are a bit more committal. We were then able to develop work that felt declarative and directional but still livable.”
How To Style Carte Blanche
The beauty of the collaboration is that there are so many different ways to work with color and pattern. One of Rogers’ favorite combinations is Pea Flower Tea and Blue Stripe paper. “I love any of the blues present in the palette in combination with each other—they harmoniously electrocute one another. My other favorite colors would be Cardamom and Sardine.”
Raw Tomatillo
James Merrell
On the other hand, for those who love the collection but prefer something a little more neutral—Cosby suggests using Au Lait on the walls but going with Raw Tomatillo on the trim.
Out of the three wallpaper designs, Stripe is the most versatile. While bold, it still has a contemporary look that could be used in almost any room of the home. All of the paint and combinations are fantastic choices for both accent walls and powder rooms.
On Monday, Tracee Ellis Ross made the press rounds promoting the launch of Pattern Beauty‘s debut hot tool, first appearing on “The Today Show” and then at an editor event in New York City. For the latter, she donned a statement-making look with an undeniable beauty-girl angle: She matched her stunning red boots to her stunning red lipstick.
Because Ellis Ross is anything but a gatekeeper, she mentioned to the room full of editors that said lip color was none other than MAC Ruby Woo, a beloved classic. Makeup artist Romy Soleimani painted it precisely onto Ellis Ross’s lips, keeping the edges crisp and clean. At one point during the event, the actor-turned-beauty-CEO mentioned in passing that she always keeps a tube of the lip color in her bag, alongside multiple pairs of eye glasses and Pattern Beauty’s Styling Cream. (The room full of beauty editors hanging on her every word certainly didn’t take that as a throwaway comment.)
Ellis Ross finished the bold ‘fit, curated by her trusty stylist Karla Welch, with Uncommon Matters jewelry and voluminous, fluffy curls styled by Mideyah Parker.
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While nearly-$700 boots may be a bit on the aspirational side, lipstick is (thankfully) far more accessible. Shop Ruby Woo, as well as some of our favorite dupes for the iconic lip color, below.
There are tons of dresses on the market right now for just about every occasion, but our prediction is that, much like with our denim, we’ll be swapping our high-waist silhouettes for a more refreshing alternative.
Yes, your dresses can also embody the low-slung effect sweeping bottoms across the nation.
Since Khaite‘s Resort 2022 collection and the release of Abercrombie & Fitch’s TikTok-viral LBD over the summer, drop-waist dresses have become sought-after for their corset-like bodices and skirts starting at, or below, the hips. They’ll usually come in full midi and maxi styles, but we’ve seen itty-bitty versions, too. And luckily, this silhouette pairs well to any moment and in every season.
Ahead, scroll through to find the drop-waist dress of your dreams, from Tanya Taylor to Christopher John Rogers and more.
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Abercrombie & Fitch Mixed Fabric Drop-Waist Maxi Dress, $96 (from $120), available here (sizes XXS-XL)
COS Shirred Midi Dress, $54 (from $135), available here (sizes XS-L)
Christopher John Rogers Printed Cotton-blend Organza Gown, $1,523 (from $3,045), available here (sizes XS-L)
Ganni Black Cotton Poplin Dress, $177 (from $295), available here (sizes 0-14)
Reformation Florissant Dress, $298, available here (sizes 0-12)
Anna Quan Panel-Detail Midi Dress, $463, available here (sizes 4-12)
Tanya Taylor Gabriella Dress, $195 (from $495), available here (sizes 0-22)
Shyanne Drop Waist Lace Button Front Maxi Dress, $70, available here (sizes XS-XXL)
Amy Lynn Tie Shoulder Midi Dress, $112, available here (sizes S-L)
Cafe Forgot X All Is A Gentle Spring Pleated Drop Waist Mini Dress, $915, available here (sizes XXS-XL)
Chloe Knotted Drop Waist Layered Maxi Dress, $812 (from $3,250), available here (sizes US 2-8)
Derek Lam 10 Crosby Selena Drop Waist Midi Dress, $695, available here (sizes US 00-16)
PatBo Dropped Waist Velvet Maxi Dress, $740, available here (sizes US 0-8)
Fanm Mon Finkie Dress, $322, available here (sizes XXS-XXL)
Khaite The Robyn Dress, $1,250 (from $2,500), available here (sizes US 0-10)
Mara Hoffman Mereba Dress, $795, available here (sizes XS-3XL)
Tove Studio Iris Silk Mini Dress Black, $210 (from $518), available here (sizes FR 34-42)
Ciao Lucia Elettra Dress, $245 (from $490), available here (sizes XXS-XL)
Tibi Pleated Dropped-Waist Midi Dress, $575, available here (sizes US 0-10)
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
Part of the magic of Christopher John Rogers is that the brand will make an “it” item out of something you never knew you wanted to wear: An oversized rainbow-striped sweater. A voluminous skirt shaped like a strawberry. A ballon-sleeved and -legged jumpsuit that’ll make you feel like a flying squirrel. The designer’s understanding and approach to clothing feels more emotional and intuitive than trend-driven. You get the sense that every new collection comes out the kaleidoscopic world it’s built for itself, versus one that follows the voracious fashion algorithm.
And more than anything, Christopher John Rogers delights in the surprise: You think it’s one thing, but the brand will show you it’s two steps ahead of your expectations. Like when it staged a runway show outside of the biannual schedule to present Collection 10, which was filled not with the shapely red-carpet-ready gowns the brand is known for — at least, not just — but rather with a new, colorful proposition for American sportswear. With Collection 11, revealed Friday via a lookbook photographed by César Buitrago, it doubles down on this subversion of what the brand’s been known for and demonstrates what it can do.
Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
From the get-go, Christopher John Rogers lets us know this will be different, opening the collection with seven white and off-white looks, American fashion’s king of color swapping the rainbow palette he’s become synonymous with for shades of Tortilla, Macadamia and Ivory.
It’s not just a visual reset: Christopher John Rogers is, in a way, telling us how to consume the collection, which is subtitled “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To.” Look at the details, the construction, the clever design that make these clothes spectacular and connect them to the 10 lines that precede it.
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The brand eases into color with a green (“Cardamom”) striped shirt-and-trouser set, a green (“Lettuce”) tweed sheath dress and matching coat and a trio of black ensembles: an eyelet caftan, a bow blouse with cargo pants, and an open-front knit bodysuit. Following are a series of electrifying colors and prints that borrow from some of the most unexpected, extreme parts of nature: a muted orange-tinged “Carpaccio” pink, yellow greens that take after “Algae” and “Seaweed,” “Acai” and “Grape” purples, a black lily floral, a red-orange-to-yellow “Crawfish” gradient.
Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Another code of Christopher John Rogers is an underlying sense of playfulness, one that touches every aspect of the collection, from the inspiration (in addition to the plucked-from-nature prints, there’s a harlequin pattern that features prominently), to the names of the colors and design details (i.e. the circle cutouts dubbed “Hole Punch”), to the styling (like how the model for Look 2 dons a red clown nose). With Collection 11, the brand also doubles down on a few silhouettes as brand staples: cargo pants, ruffle-front button-downs, bustiers, strawberry skirts and, of course, rainbow knits.
In just a few years (don’t forget that the team graduated from SCAD in 2016), Christopher John Rogers has gone beyond establishing itself as a brand to watch to solidifying its place as a leader in New York fashion by doing things its way and understanding not just what its customer wants, but what will delight them. And we could all use a little bit more joy in our fashion, no?
See all the looks in Christopher John Rogers Collection 11 below.
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers Collection 011. Photo: César Buitrago/Courtesy of Christopher John Rogers
It was another busy year for fashion: Every other week brought another major headline, between creative director switch-ups, supermodel comebacks and viral runway moments. The industry proved it’s back in business — and louder than ever. That much was clear on the runways, on and off-schedule.
All those shocking runway moments have definitely set a precedent for 2023. Before the clock strikes 12 on 2022, relive the most memorable fashion shows of the year, superlative-style. Until next season!
Best Show: Thom Browne Spring 2023
Thom Browne Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Thom Browne Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Thom Browne Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Best Vibe: Collina Strada Spring 2023
Collina Strada Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Collina Strada Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Collina Strada Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Best Casting: Gucci Spring 2023
Gucci Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Gucci Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Gucci Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Nepo Baby-est: Miu Miu Spring 2023
Esther Rose Mcgregor for Miu Miu Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Ísadóra Bjarkardóttir for Miu Miu Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Bella Hadid for Miu Miu Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Joyful Color Palette: Christopher John Rogers Resort 2023
Christopher John Rogers Resort 2023. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Christopher John Rogers Resort 2023. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Christopher John Rogers Resort 2023. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Best Bags: Dauphinette Spring 2023
Dauphinette Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Dauphinette
Dauphinette Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Dauphinette
Dauphinette Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Dauphinette
Best Shoes: Simone Rocha Spring 2023
Simone Rocha Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Simone Rocha Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Simone Rocha Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most… Most: Balmain Festival Spring 2023
Balmain Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Balmain Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Balmain Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Viral: Coperni Spring 2023
Coperni Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Coperni Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Coperni Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Sophisticated (and Rich-Looking): Ralph Lauren Spring 2023
Ralph Lauren Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Ralph Lauren Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Ralph Lauren Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Exciting Emerging Collection: Bad Binch Tong Tong
Bad Binch Tong Tong Spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Bad Binch Tong Tong
Most Likely to Make You Book a Jamaican Vacation: Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Theophilio Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Theophilio Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most On-Point Venue: Batsheva
Batsheva Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Batsheva Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Batsheva Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Likely to Get Us to Sign Up for Adult Ballet Classes: Sandy Liang
Sandy Liang Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Sandy Liang Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Sandy Liang Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Likely to Inspire Memes: JW Anderson
JW Anderson Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
JW Anderson Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
JW Anderson Spring 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
Most Likely to Make Jaws Drop: Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture by Glenn Martens
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Monday.
How brands are finding new customers As independent brands look to establish themselves in an oversaturated market, they are looking to word-of-mouth, trunk shows and small networking events to build their customer base, in lieu of traditional advertising. Le Majordome, a Zurich-based shoe brand that opened a store in Midtown last fall, has relied heavily on encouraging the stores next door to refer their customers to them and hosts happy hour events for all their retail neighbors to help with brand recognition. {Business of Fashion}
Max Mara’s trend-free world For Harper’s Bazaar, Rachel Tashjian invites readers into the label-less and trend-free universe of Max Mara. Citing the brand’s unique connections with powerful figures, such as Angelina Jolie, Meghan Markle and Nancy Pelosi, Tashjian emphasizes the significance of the brand’s commitment to understatement and “to putting the woman before the clothes.” Ian Griffiths, Max Mara’s creative director, says, “There is a sea of ideas out there, which is overwhelming. And I always think of Max Mara as being a rock in the sea. It represents lasting value. It’s clinging to something with meaning.” {Harper’s Bazaar}
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Christopher John Rogers and Dries Van Noten in conversation For The New York Times, designers Christopher John Rogers and Dries Van Noten spoke for the first time via video call about their respective brands, unique use of color, design process and more. On staying inspired, Rogers asks, “When you feel like you want to take your work in a divergent direction from what is expected of you, how do you cope with that?” In response, Van Noten shares, “I try really to start with a blank page in front of me for every collection […] We always say if it sold very well last season, everybody has it, so we have to surprise them with something else.” {The New York Times}
The beauty industry needs to talk about Hijabi hair care For Allure, Hajar Mohammad discusses the lack of representation in the beauty industry for Hijabi hair. She brings up common concerns such as “hijab alopecia,” which describes hair loss from the friction of one’s hijab. “When your hair is in a bun for most of the day and rubbing against the fabric of your hijab, it’s inevitable to have hair concerns like thinning, a receding hairline, and breakage,” Mohammad says. When it comes to brand marketing, she shares that brands like Briogeo and Dae have been receptive to open dialogue about how to include Hibjabi influencers in their campaigns, and says even these small steps can have positive impacts. {Allure}
