Those
crazy New Zealanders have done it again. After a bit of a fashion
hiatus, the land of long white clouds has got the sartorial world
excited again with a flutter of new, street-wizened labels. Top of our
shopping list is Lonely Hearts Club
whose collections combine flannelette jumpsuiting, high-waisted acid
wash and graphic-print leisurewear inspired by musings as to what it
would be like to live on the moon… and Saturday morning cartoons. The
three kids behind the label describe their creations as “ugly cool” and
if you were to ask them where in the world you can purchase their work
they’d politely suggest the following: White Trash Charms in LA; I
Heart in New York; Buddy Love in Melbourne; Coterie in Sydney; and
their own concept store My Hart in Auckland. By Sarah W
As we’ve already mentioned previously here at The Cool Hunter, ice-cream vans and mobile treat delivery are going to be big this year.
We’ve scoured the neighborhoods to provide you with a selection of what
you might find trundling down your street in the forthcoming months.
Not content with selling their fruit concoctions in shops, the people
at Innocent have created two mobile smoothie-vans to help quench thirst
in the forthcoming months. The first, known as the Dancing Grass
Van (DGV), is a turf-tarnished ice-cream van with matching cow-lined
interior. Oh, and it dances. The vans have a hydraulic system
attached to the wheels that makes it bob around to attract the
attention of potential smoothie-drinkers. They’ve also got Tiny
Grass Vans (TGVs) for emergency fruit cravings around town. These
little pasture clad nippers are perfect if you need a fruit-fix
pronto.
If buying squashed fruit from a grassy van isn’t your thing, Innocent
have also made Cow Vans. Complete with horns, eyelashes, udders
and a tail, these bovine impersonators ‘moo’ on command.
Over to LA for the Hearts Challenger’s candy-colored van selling top
international ice-cream, candy and toys. As part of the
fairy-tale story; boy from country meets girl from city, girl designs
ice cream van to spread fun and magic, boy makes soundtrack to
accompany van and sells fun and pleasure, Lo and Benjamin are obsessed
with spreading the love they have for things flavor-some and fun.
Their motto, “the greatest challenges are ones from the heart” will be
ringing in your ears as the two bring impromptu dance parties to a
street near you.
Packing a more philosophical punch for ice-cream lovers, The Tactical
Ice Cream Unit (TICU) provides a bit more than just food for
thought. With its primary aim to replace cold stares with frosty
treats, the TICU is an oasis for community activists. Supplying
water, first-aid, film, gas masks, water balloons in addition to
ice-cream, who knew caring-for-the-community could be so much fun?
Look out for the TICU around California this spring, Vancouver in the
summer followed by the San Francisco Bay Area in Autumn.
Something for real kids now, the “Own Your C” is a traveling advice
centre for teens unsure about what decisions to take in their
lives. The van travels around rural and mountain communities in
America distributing tobacco cessation leaflets and free advice for
anyone who may need it. All conducted from the C-Ride – a branded ice
cream truck with custom alloys, graffiti paintwork and a freezer full
of C Popsicles. The C message combines social responsibility with
a love for iced treats and will be traveling across America this
summer. By Matthew Hussey
For years now, the London Underground have been running their
underground art programme 'Platform For Art' in order to promote
London's eclectic art scene and to entertain and enlighten commuters on
the cities bustling underground.
Gloucester Road Tube station has been graced with the imaginative and
beautiful work of artist Chiho Aoshima , who's digital prints on vinyl
cover all 17 arches of the underground station. City Glow, Mountain
Whisper , is on display until the end of the month and is Aoshima's
first solo exhibition. The inspiring landscape she has created runs
along all 17 archways which sees the scene graduate from day to night
and from urban to rural. With such a rich visual focal point to enjoy
whilst traveling, one can almost enjoy the daily commute. By Andy G
Forget what the designers say, most trends emerge not from their
studios but organically from the street. Cool young things all over the
world are the true pioneers of fashion, wearing clothes in new ways by
customizing and accessorizing and creating a pastiche of retro and
modern. Here's this weeks best pics from all the street style blogs.
Queensland based artist, Donna Marcus,
is well known for her fetish of using kitchenware and aluminum products
to create her impressive sculptures. Marcus was one of
three artists who answered a call for entries to exhibit work in the
main piazza of Brisbane Square. Her project STEAM, consisted of 15
geodesic spheres ranging in size from 1.3m to 2.6m in diameter.
The spheres were created from 7000 steamer pieces welded together
as well as 780 plates bolted together. Inspired by the concept of
random disbursement, Marcus has placed the works in a variety
of locations throughout the space in an almost
haphazard manner. Her experiment in deciding where the pieces
would lie, began with her creating a scaled down model version of the
work and throwing them across the piazza floor like marbles. The point
at which they landed resulted in the artworks final destination. by Andy G
Since English pride and joy became German money-maker, Rolls-Royce
has stumbled in trying to capture that essence of absolute pomp and
refinement that made the “flying lady” the pinnacle of automotive
luxury.
In the Phantom they cut down every Oak tree in the land and slaughtered
1000 cows to line the cavernous interior. But it lacked
something, it lacked the little eccentricities that said to you this
machine has been sculpted by hand. But, if sneak previews of the
new Rolls-Royce Corniche are anything to go by, we think we may have
judged too soon.
Inspired by the 100EX concept car that appeared at the 2004 Geneva
Motor Show, the two-door convertible oozes the bold lines of the
Phantom, but adds just a little tongue-in-cheek to that big-toothed
smile. With an exterior remaining faithful to the nautical theme
of the 100EX – sweeping lines broken by chromed trim and bulbous wheel
arches. The interior pays homage to the traditional English
Gentlemen’s Clubroom featuring a palette of design philosophies
including minimalism and Art Deco.
And with a 6.8 litre V12 engine under the bonnet, wistfully thundering down country lanes never felt so old-fashioned. By Matthew Hussey
Age: 23. Knitwear Designer. Lives: New York
What are you loving right now? Fashion always
Who or what inspires you? Bizarre but interesting people and objects
Are you reading any books at the moment?Post Office by Charles Bukowski was the last book I read.
Do you read magazines/newspapers, if so, which? Reading magazines is part of my job...anything fashion you name it.
Any websites you read on a regular basis? Don't really read online.
What TV shows do you watch? Family Guy
Who are you listening to on your iPod? 70s punk, 80s New wave, glitter rock...
If you could fill your wardrobe with the collection of any fashion
designer in the world, who would it be? Vivienne Westwood , are you
kidding me?
In your opinion what are the powerful brands in the world right now?LVMH group .
What’s the most interesting place you've visited in the last 12 months? I got stuck in New York since the end of 2005.
What 3 places are a must for those visiting New York? MOMA, Century 21,
Heatherette Studio. The 66th floor of the Empire State Building.
What's your fav city in the world and why? New York, because we have too many crazy people here; I love it.
Do you have any words of wisdom? Take it or leave it
If you had someone play you in a film, who would it be? I have no idea...ah..Garfield?
What question should we ask the next person? How many calories do you consume a day?
Do you have a myspace account? Yup, who doesn't?
HER DRESS STYLE:
Coat: Zara Scarf: Burberry Bag: Vivienne Westwood, I got it at the Vivienne Westwood store
but they have similar ones online : Boots: Vivienne Westwood - I ordered them from the UK. Pic by The Face Hunter
Violet Ryder Age: 22 Drama School Student. Lives: LONDON
What do you do? At the moment I'm doing an MA in Acting at
Mountview Academy - it's an intense full year course so it's been
taking up all of my time recently What are you loving right now? I've just been given a copy of Regina Spektor's new album, 'Mary Ann Meets The Grave Diggers' - highly innovative. Who or what inspires you? The ability to, when the odds are stacked against you or the shit's just hit the fan, see the big joke and say "fuck it"! Are you reading any books at the moment? I'm reading the
Contortionist's Handbook by Craig Clevenger - all about an anti-hero who
forges and bluffs his way through life - fascinating Do you read magazines/newspapers, if so, which? Not a tabloid fan..The Guardian if any. Any websites you read on a regular basis? Youtube What TV shows do you watch? I'm more into film than T.V. so there are no shows I watch on a regular basis Who are you listening to on your iPod? Been listening to a lot of James Brown and Al Green recently - takes away the chill of winter a tad! If you could fill your wardrobe with the collection of any fashion designer in the world, who would it be? Vivienne Westwood - Bold yet feminine In your opinion what are the powerful brands in the world right now? Green & Blacks are having a powerful effect on me at the moment What’s the most interesting place you’ve visited in the last 12 months?
Probably where I'm living in London right now - I live with a bunch of
musicians and they've always got some randomer full of wisdom staying
on the couch What 3 places are a must for those visiting London? The National
Gallery - make sure you dine in their dining rooms - delish! Brick Lane
- it's one of the few places in London that still feels real - so
colorful, and Hampstead - I was born and bred there and though it's
changed somewhat it still has the pancake stall and the heath. What can’t you live without? A world without music would be a place not worth living in. What’s your fav city in the world and why? I adore Venice - the
architecture and the atmosphere with gondalas floating past is
something that has stayed with me since I was a child What can we do to become more socially conscious of our environment? Watch Al Gore's, "An Inconvenient Truth". Do you have any words of wisdom? I don't know about words of
wisdom but I love Hunter S Thompson's quote "The music business is a
cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves
and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative
side." What question should we ask the next person? If you had someone play you in a film, who would it be? Do you have a myspace account? Nope, life's too short
Where is your coat from?Ted Baker - it's not what you wear, it's the way you wear it. Pic by The Style Scout
Gone are the days when surly ice-cream men trawled suburbia with
their diesel spitting vans and bags of flakes. Those travelling
sweet-sellers forever condemned to the cultural quirks of childhood.
Well, almost. Adam Ellis, design director of brand agency Coley Porter
Bell (CPB) has rekindled his love affair with ice-cream in a van and
hopes you will too. Say hello to Scoop.
“I
was inspired when, recently, I bought my four-year-old daughter an ice
cream, and the whole theatre of my childhood came flooding back.
Wouldn’t it be great to relive the excitement of getting butterflies
when you heard that kitsch music playing from around the corner?”
Winning
CPB’s ‘Blue Sky’ competition, Ellis took the £2000 (US$ 3900) prize
money and put it straight into his winning design. “I wanted to
rekindle the magic with a mantra of style with a smile and the ice
cream’s not bad either”, says Adam.
Playing on that sense of
nostalgia, Scoop breathes life into the run down image of selling ice
cream on the streets. Taking a blinged out van fitted with chandelier
and a host of fancy puddings, Scoop brings boutique eating to the
masses. And with flavours including Turkish Delight, organic champagne
and traditional marmalade, it’s not exactly child’s play. Delivering it
all in bespoke cutlery, who said Mr Whippy was just for kids?
So
far Scoop has only been available in London’s East End, but Ellis has
big plans for the summer. “I’d like to do music festivals, art
galleries, weddings, anything with that sense of theatre”.
So kids, I mean adults, what are you waiting for? This is a great business opportunity. Contact us for Adam's e-mail address. By Matthew Hussey
Believe it or not, the humble
bathroom/restroom is the new mecca for design. All over the world
leading designers are transforming aesthetically pleasing places for
people to pee, poo and, well, be pampered, all in the name of making the daily commute to the restroom a little less dreary.
We want to know where the most aesthetically creative ones are for
a feature. From nightclubs and restaurants to airport lounges and
shops, send us your tip for the most unique, most out there, well designed loo. By Billy T
Street
fashion hipsters, Colette are celebrating their 10th anniversary by
collaborating with fellow French label Lacoste for their new spring
range. Combining the Lacoste croc and Colette pooches Caperino
and Peperone, the collection features limited-edition trainers and a
series of 14 polo shirts.
“To see our dear Caperino and
Peperone play with the big brands is one of our little personal
pleasures,” said Colette art director Sarah Lerfel. The trainers
feature two different designs, one with Cap & Pep chasing the
crocodile on one foot, and the croc chasing Cap & Pep on the
other. The inside lining and laces feature a specially printed
logo, ‘Caperino & Peperone Love Lacoste’.
The Lacoste polo range features 14 different designs each telling a
small part of a bigger story of how the crocodile and the dogs
met. Leaving its iconic position on top of the heart, the
crocodile walks around your shirt, and depending on what polo you buy,
he could be sitting on your shoulder or tucked under the collar.
It’s fun, fresh and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Maybe
other brands might want to take note. The polos will cost you 140 euros
and the trainers 120. So, what are you waiting for? By Matthew
Hussey
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