Blog: Must Read: Ashley Graham Covers the February Issue of ‘Elle,’ Nike’s Direct-To-Consumer Strategy Is Working

Ashley Graham on the February cover of "Elle." Photo: Carin Backoff — Ashley Graham on the February cover of “Elle.” Photo: Carin Backoff

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Wednesday.

Ashley Graham covers the February issue of Elle
Ashely Graham has fearlessly pushed the boundaries of the fashion industry by advocating for body confidence and inclusive sizing. Now, the 31-year-old model is branching out into all kinds of media to prove to the world that she has more to talk about than just size. She spoke to Elle about her next steps, podcasting and designing lingerie for the magazine’s February issue. In the accompanying cover (see above), Graham wore a rhinestone Christian Cowan dress and showed off her freckles. {Elle}

Nike’s direct-to-consumer strategy is working
Despite a string of setbacks and distractions last year, Nike‘s direct-to-consumer strategy appears to be working. In its 2018 fiscal year, nearly 29 percent of the company’s $36.4 billion in sales came from Nike Direct, up from 26 percent in 2017. And much of that growth is coming from e-commerce. In Nike’s latest quarter, digital retail — including mobile and desktop — was the fastest growing channel in every geography, with mobile now representing over 50 percent of its online revenue. {Business of Fashion}

Giuseppe Zanotti teams up with Rita Ora on exclusive footwear capsule
Giuseppe Zanotti partnered with Rita Ora on a footwear capsule that will launch on Jan. 24. The collaboration came about after Ora met Zanotti in 2017. “We really clicked, so we decided to do something that embodied Giuseppe’s and my personality,” the singer told WWD. The collection includes slides, stiletto sandals, pointed-toe mules and knee-high, peep-toe boots with a chunky Cuban Link chain on the heel. Prices start at $795 for the flats and rise to $2,495 for the boot styles. {WWD}

Why Twitter brought back Four Pins
@Four_Pins was banned for brief period in December, but was miraculously reinstated, reportedly thanks to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. His decision to revive the popular menswear account may stem from personal reasons — Dorsey has been taking style cues from Jonah Hill lately — but his choice may also have to do with his understanding of the importance of the @Four_Pins audience. “The power of hypebeast boys is undeniable and increasingly serves as positive PR for tech CEOs and legacy brands,” writes Kaitlyn Tiffany for Vox. “Twitter can’t afford to lose anything people like when it’s still struggling to get rid of the things people hate.” {Vox}

Stormzy recruited a collective of inspirational Black Brits to cover Elle UK
For Elle UK’s latest issue, which celebrates British talent, the magazine asked British rapper Stormzy to curate a collective of inspirational Black Brits. Stormzy chose models Jourdan Dunn and Leomie Anderson, athletes Joshua Buatsi, Wilfried Zaha and Dina Asher-Smith, activist Temi Mwale, actor Damson Idris, singer-songwriter Tiana Major9, and poet, author and model Yrsa Daley-Ward. “This country [has a history of] reducing young Black British men and women, but we’re a whole spectrum of incredible things, and we’re on a mission to show that to the world,” Stormzy said in an interview with the magazine. {Elle UK}

Source: Fashionista