Christopher Kane recently sold 51% of his company to PPR, the group with Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney in its brand portfolio. Yes, we're talking the highest fashion echelon, but take a minute to pay attention to those last two names: Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney. At the turn of the millennium, they too were brands, like Kane, held in place by a glass ceiling of funding and resources. Until PPR came along, did the 51%, and voila----a decade later there were two British supers battling Italian and French houses.

This is what, excitingly, lies ahead for Kane, who will be able to develop his label, and place an all-encompassing context around his clothes, culminating in own-brand stores.

If you're wondering how he addressed that through his collection, it was by employing a thumping, relentless soundtrack, and opening with major SAGA fur pieces that could rival any European house. If that got people talking about a 'change, then sending out mini kilts – a nod to his Scottish roots – was Kane telling us he's doing it his way.

The entrance was underscored by a collection that made use of Kane's archive, with dresses that ghosted the silhouettes of his earliest lace/leather/velvet collections, made even further luxe. One motif on a sweater and dress appeared to show a lightning bolt breaking through a skull, and touching the brain: literally mind-blowing.

It all happened in a shiny, glass City venue. First, we took an escalator, and then, a lift god-knows-how-many floors up. We were literally sky-high. Soon Kane will be too.

Hair: Guido Palau

Makeup: Lucia Pieroni

Models pictured: Katlin Aas (@AasKatlin), Marine Deleeuw (@DeleeuwMarine), Elinor Weedon (@ElinorWeedon), Anika Torsing (@anikatorsing), Sam Rollinson (@SamRollinson), Catherine McNeil (@MeowcatMccat), Julia Frauche (@Juliafrauche), Juliana Schurig (@juliana_schurig), Nadja Bender (@NadjaBender), Manon Leloup (@ManonLeLoup), Kirsi Pyrhonen (@KirsiPyrhonen), Jourdan Dunn (@misshourdandunn), Senait Gidey (@Senaitgidey)

Yu Masui is a London based fashion journalist who started his career as a buyer at the legendary Pineal Eye. Introducing many emerging talents, his selections also extended to several Japanese boutiques. He's since returned to his roots as a fashion writer, a discipline he studied, contributing to leading Japanese titles. Masui is also a self-confessed "lazy blogger", happily writing about food, travel, lifestyle and sometimes fashion onYu ♥..., parallel to his deadlines.

It's finally getting warmer and feeling like Spring/Summer after the horribly freezing weather, which ruined Yu's new Loubies and Charlotte's tomcat shoes with the unexpected heavy snow during Paris men's.

*sobs*

Anyway, Yu is bringing out fresh SS13 favourites today! Yellow and Pink, trendy bright colours meets metallic, the must-have of this season. Burberry Prorsum blouson, Lanvinshirt and jeans and Acne shoes are defo on the wishlist from Yu's moodboard and online boutiques. Neoprene and studs make for a nice mix of construction and texture...

BTW, it is still not warm enough for bare legs. Thanx, HEATTECH!

Pink neoprene jacket andpink neoprene shorts by JW Anderson
White shirtby Jil Sander
Clutch bag and silver Rollerboysby Christian Louboutin

The International Woolmark Prize is the competition that launched the careers of Saint Laurent and Lagerfeld, Yves pipping Karl to the top spot in 1954, as decreed by Hubert de Givenchy and Pierre Balmain.

Tonight sees the finale of the 2013 prize, in the revived Merino-promoting competition, which crosses borders and cultures to hunt out talent from around the world, judged by Diane von Furstenburg, Donatella Versace, Franca Sozzani, Victoria Beckham, Carla Sozzani and Tim Blanks.

What better chance to catch up with fashion's most eloquent, discussing both the prize, the ins and outs of showgoing and off-catwalk life.

Dazed Digital: What does the Woolmark Prize mean to you?
Tim Blanks: Recognition of a new wave of fashion talent.

DD: How has the judging process been? Has there been tea and garibaldis with Donatella? And what are you looking for in the winner?
Tim Blanks: So far, I've sat in on the judging for the European candidate. The global judging happens before the award. That's when the cookies come out for DV. I'm looking for the same things I always look for in a collection, technique and native talent, for sure, but also the ability to ensnare me with a story.

DD: Show season is upon us and you're a veteran of the marathon. What are your tips for getting through fashion month?
Tim Blanks: Berocca… and oysters.

DD: Have you ever seen a collection or show and been lost for words? In a good or bad way…
Tim Blanks: Yes, I've been moved, but never to the point where I can't verbalise why.

DD: Ever fantasised about doing a collection? What would it be like?
Tim Blanks: No, that's not one of my fantasies. But I wouldn't mind the whole Helmut Lang package.

DD: You're known for elevating the concept of a runway review. Is there a word you love so much you have to reign yourself in from using it all the time?
Tim Blanks: Transmogrify or Mitteleuropa.

DD: You've two Jack Russells, Annie and Stella. Why do you think dogs are so popular with people working in the industry?
Tim Blanks: I never thought about that. Why would fashion people be any more subject to the call of the canine? Besides, Jack Russells are impossible to resist, whatever your vocation.

DD: You came to fashion through music. What records are you enjoying at the moment?
Tim Blanks: First, David Bowie releases his birthday surprise, then My Bloody Valentine drops MBV out of the blue. I'm gripped! I also love Andy Stott's record.

Kiss this: we delve back into the Dazed archive bringing you the March 2000 smooching cover series, photographed by Rankin and styled by Alister Mackie.

Boy–girl, girl–girl, boy–boy, forget the labels, pucker up and go with the flow. Happy Valentine's day from Dazed.

Photography Rankin
Styling Alister Mackie
Hair Alain Pichon at Untitled* using TIGI haircare
Make-Up Val Garland at Untltled* using Philosophy skincare
Styling Assistants Sofia de Romarate and Sara Burn
Photographic Assistants Gish, Laurie and Venetia
Models Chris Farrell, Mebrak, Lulla and James Rousseau all at Select, Jamie del Moon at Success, Aron at Models One, David at Vision, Zora Star and Jocelyn both at Silvestre, Tanja at Next

Under theVienna Convention on Diplomatic RelationsArticle 9, ahoststate may at any time and without having to explain its decision declare any member of a diplomatic staffpersona non grata.It's a mystery whyArte Povera -the political art movement from Italy which was myguestofhonour during Paris Mens' shows - was sent to the United States, yet, progressively putrescent by nature, the lettucestructure that's cropped upatCreatures of Comfortwill soon lose its diplomaticimmunity and bedeclarednongratalike any inedible lettuce in microwaved hamburgers. Consequently, in the States, organics will be replaced with mechanics:

Costello TagliapietraandDouglas HannantsetHenry Moorein motion."Undoubtedly the source of my stringed figures was the Science Museum. Whilst a student at the Royal College of Art, I became involved in machine art, which in those days had its place in modern art. Although I was interested in the work of Lger, and the Futurists, who exploited mechanical forms, I was never directly influenced by machinery as such. Its interest for me lies in its capacity for movement, which after all, is its function." tellsHenry Moore in the bookHenry Spencer Moore, New York 1968, p.105 .

AtLacoste, movement continues skywards withPanamarenko's Aeromodeller. A close-up of its nacelle can be seen atEdun,whileTimo Weilandshowcases its would-beIBMflight log."My projects are not exactly ideas, nor dreams.It isn't a question of making a plane but of exactly producing something that is an ideal. It's enjoyable, even if I never actually fly it. For me, its success lies in the realization of the dream, and it's strangely tied to failure",tellsPanamarenko.Indeed,Aeromodeller never managed to make it to the skies, but Roman Ondakhassuccessfully landed atDonna Karanwith his'After Return from the Orbit'. And as for that Arte Povera lettuce...Along with aBand of Outsiders,it's currentlybeing driven back to JFK International airportonNam June Paik's Electronic Super Highway.

Featuring Kingsland Road burgers, and inspired by "80s comic books and teenage photoromance magazines" and Kenneth Anger's short films, fashion photographer Alexandros Pissourios has made us an exclusive new film. Commemorating Milan's scooter ragazzi for this short commissioned to celebrate the re-release of the Henri Lloyd's Olmes Carretti jacket in its original vivid colourways, Pissourios has created an impressionistic portrait of the boys and girls of the Paninaro subculture, the Milanese scooter gangs that took the jacket to heart in their 80s heyday. Set to a disconcerting backdrop of intermittent abstract sounds of thunderbolts and such, the film languorously moves between rich, colour-saturated shots of a beautiful duo kitted out in the vivid collection, surrounded by kitsch all-American foods and the highway in the night. A garment that nearly 30 years ago crossed the English Channel to the Med is about to embark on another voyage. Race into the sunset, and slurp that shake.