Wednesday, 09 April 2008 |
If you carry a Blackberry, iPod or iPhone, do you have to look like you
have no style at all? Cute accessory bags are fine for weekend hiking
trips, just like boring “businesslike” cases are fine for, well, boring
people, but for the power lunch with the merger guys or cocktails in
high places, you’ll want this bag made of gold python-print Italian
leather.
Grab you platinum credit cards, a few large bills, your well-traveled
passport, and your ever-present favorite device/s — there’s a slot for
each in this baby — and you are set. The bags are hand-made in Spain,
the internal lining is satin and the color options are gold and black.
Oh, and you need to decide if you’d prefer python or rattler. Of
course, you could choose the chic creamy-soft lamb but isn’t that a bit
too tame? The gold python Blackberry Purse is available exclusivey
through the cool hunter. How much you ask? US$390. Order through
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. By Tuija Seipell
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
For some, a watch is just a watch and a needless thing to boot as our
mobile devices tell the time. For others, it is an accessory, a piece
of serious bling, a reflection of status. And for the owners of an Urwek,
their timepiece is an example of “traditional haute horologie for the
21st century.” Urwerk partners, Swiss watchmaker Felix Baumgartner and
designer Martin Frei, draw inspiration from far and near — from NASA
spaceships and the father of English watchmaking, Thomas Tompion
(1639–1713) — and many things in between. The result is an astonishing
collection of timepieces starring Urwerk 201 with its Revolving
Satellite Complication (what’s that? you ask) and its Control Board
inspired by the gauges of a sport car. The Board alerts the wearer to
Oil Change (service), 100 Year Plus (the world's first horological
odometer) and Fine Tuning that lets you adjust the timepiece “for your
specific lifestyle.” Does it tell the time? Yes. That’s what the
Revolving Satellite Complication does, but you need to read the
instructions to figure out how. By Tuija Seipell.
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Friday, 14 March 2008 |
Pic of the day - Fashion designer Olga Gromova during the opening of the Ukrainian Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week in Kiev.
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Wednesday, 05 March 2008 |
At last...an alternative to jeans for men. NYC company Bonobos has
created a range of great-fitting men's casual trousers that'll take you
from the office to drinks. Available only online, the brand uses
lightweight corduroy, stretch corduroy, twill and tigersharks wool -
all comfy fabrics that hug the body without suffocating it. And that
means across the backside too (if you know what we mean)....so if
you've got it good, flaunt it. By Lisa Evans
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Thursday, 28 February 2008 |
Samu-Jussi Koski’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection for Marimekko
is a combination of Art Deco angularity and summer-breezy ruffles and
girly pleats. The styling and colorways remind us of the early 80s, but
the two main fabric designs he has used for the collection are much
older. The collection includes pieces made of the Sireeni pattern but
the star is the geometric Attica, designed in 1959 by Marimekkos’ most
prolific and famous designer, Maija Isola (1927-2001). Isola created
more than 500 fabric patterns at Marimekko from 1949 to 1987, including
the iconic Unikko, Kaivo and Lokki.
Koski’s spring collection is a soft take on stylish simplicity with
salmon, pink and black as the main colors. Feather-weight silk dresses
and tops, 100% cotton dresses and tops, and the long cotton Akemi
anorak are all perfect for urban life, which is something that inspires
Koski. He’s designed for Marimekko since spring 2005, and sites people,
old photographs, jazz, cigarette smoke and city life as the sources of
his ideas.
The large Marimekko Spring 2008 bag collection includes two gems by a
14-year Marimekko veteran, Mika Piirainen. The Horisontti carry-all
(size 54 X 47 X 18 cm) and the Ankkuri shoulder bag (35 X 30 X 11 cm)
are both made of 100% cotton canvas in another Maija Isola pattern,
Dyyni, form the 1980s. Piirainen has also produced a fashion collection
for Marimekko this spring. By Tuija Seipell
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Tuesday, 12 February 2008 |
In the 80's, there wasn't a corner store that didn't have a Space
Invaders arcade game in it. Enthusiasts would line up their coins on
the glass table console, marking their position as the next challenger in line.
Today, over 25 years later, that infamous digital design has a strong presence in urban fashion and accessories.
The hoodie is a staple for any urban wardrobe and we’re loving this unisex Space invader Hoodie. An ode to the 80s, when space invaders was the coolest game in the
world and Michael Jackson was a serious artist at the top of the charts
(yes, it’s hard to believe but there was such a time). The cool
computer-test-pattern style graphics come in hot pink and black, giving
all the generation Ys – who were just babies in the 80s – a chance to
experience that fabulous fashion era for the first time.
As
a warm up to our upcoming online store, the exclusive Space Invader
hoodies are
now available to purchase only through us. Over 300 submitted their
orders yesterday (subscribers were notified via our newsletter) and
with less than a 100 left, these won't last long.
They cost US $150, which includes deliverey within the US. Those of you
outside the US can e-mail us your sizes/style. Some countries we don't
deliver to. We start shipping Monday.
Note – the
sizing is small and the hoodies are tight fitting, so if you’re ordering best to go up a size or
two if you like your hoodie loose.
BLACK (3 fluro space invaders) - SIZES: Sml (1 left), Med (sold out), Lge (1 left), X-Lge -(sold out)
B+W
mini space
invaders
SIZES: Sml. Med, Lge, X-Lge - All Sizes SOLD OUT
Fluro Pink mini Space Invaders SIZES: X-Sml 2 left), Sml (12 left) Med (7 Med)
Fluro Green mini Space Invaders SIZES: Sml, Med, Lge, X-Lge - All Sizes SOLD OUT -
E-mail us your sizes, colors, county/state to see what we have left:
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Monday, 11 February 2008 |
Britain’s Oliver Goldsmith
has been making iconic eyewear since 1926. In 1935, it was Charles
Glodsmith who made sunglasses a must-have accessory for anyone who was,
or wanted to look like, a celebrity. There’s hardly a Hollywood movie
icon or international celebrity who hasn’t been photographed wearing
Oliver Goldsmiths. Since its 2005 re-launch, led by Oliver Goldsmith’s
great granddaughter, Claire Goldsmith, the brand has experienced a
strong revival.
Another UK native, Aseef Vaza, burst into the limited-edition luxury
handbag scene in 2004 with his collection of bags in fine Parisian
silks and dyed skins of ostrich, stingray, shark, alligator and python.
Today, there’s hardly a red-carpet event where the leading ladies
aren’t clutching a Vaza.
Now take the 1969 Oliver Goldsmith TAK sunglasses known for their
unique detailing and sexy Hollywood proportions. Give the design to
English craftsmen. Then give them some Bengal Blue vintage acetate
discovered in an abandoned Italian factory and have them recreate TAKs
by hand. Then have Vaza design a luxurious pouch in metallic
graphite-grey ostrich with a black patent trim and lined in the Vaza
trademark pink suede decorated with a hand-painted gold monogram. Only
50 sets of VazaTak sunglass and pouch sets were created. With £800 (US $1500), one
of them can be yours. By Tuija Seipell
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Tuesday, 29 January 2008 |
According to an early 2007 interview with Fast Company Magazine, designer and native New Zealander Karen Walker declared, "I started my career at age 18 with $100 (NZ) and a heap of naiveté."
Incredibly,
the fashion world didn't catch wind of the designing sensation until
1998, 8 years after starting her career, when Walker presented her
first eponymous runway line in Hong Kong.
Since then, Walker's
quirky fashions have rocketed the designer to success. She has shown
her clothing at Australia, London, and (in Fall of 2006) New York's
Fashion Weeks. There are also currently over 140 stockists of the Karen
Walker label worldwide.
Recently, Walker decided to extend her
brand beyond clothing to eyewear. In October 2005, she launched a line
of whimsical "sunnies" in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The line
sold out in two weeks, according to The Independent of London.
Walker's
most recent shades for the 2008 season are marketed with the tagline
"Master of Disguise." There are 32 different offerings, all fun,
funky, and the perfect
complement to Karen Walker's carefree, wearable clothing designs.
Regardless of one's own power
issues, all fashionistas will embrace Walker's unique take on an
otherwise monotonous parade of black, over-sized "Nicole Richie"
shades. L. Harper
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Friday, 18 January 2008 |
Annoying as it is to admit but we did not invent this device. This
hangover of a clothes rack, this marvel of a loss-prevention tool, this
clothes line with an attitude, this hallway accessory that we all — at
least in theory — could make at home. A couple of things worry us about
this potential nightmare, though. With the Christmas season still in
fresh memory, we all know how tangled up a string of anything can get.
So this could really drive you mad. And when the cab’s waiting outside,
how do you quickly grab your coat and run? By Tuija Seipell
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Wednesday, 09 January 2008 |
I’m willing to bet that most of you have (or wish you had) more shoes
that you can possibly even remember. And more than likely the floor of
your closet resembles an absolute train wreck. Pinel
& Pinel,
a luxury goods manufacturer out of Paris, may have the answer for you.
The design team has created a series of trunks used primarily for
stereo and office storage inspired by the golden age of train and ocean
liner travel. The most recent addition to the collection, a sneaker
storage trunk on wheels, is designed especially for those of you who
have been waiting for the perfect means of organizing – and displaying
– your favorite shoes. By Andrew J Wiener
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Thursday, 20 December 2007 |
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It isn't exactly comfy and it rattles like heck, but it’s YSL so
we’ll be duly agog. The Plexiglass vests for Yves Saint Laurent
Spring/Summer 2008 collection are the handiwork of Stefano Pilati, the
man never afraid to experiment and try something new.
The 40-plus head
designer of YSL used to be Tom Ford’s right-hand man at the YSL Rive
Gauche ready-to-wear collection. He has also designed for Giorgio
Armani and Miu Miu. We hope the plexiwear is just a Pilati thing but it
appears that — and we are not yet sure we’re going to like it — big
logos are back across brands. One more thing to endure in 2008. By Tuija Seipell |
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Monday, 17 December 2007 |
If you want your hair neat and tidy and your head covered in sensible headwear, Soren Bachis
not your choice of a stylist. However, if you want to be
ahead-of-everyone-else fashion-forward for spring 2008 with wild
headgear and crazy colors then by all means get in touch with Soren
through the London-based Frank Agency.
With Soren by your side, expect to prance about in creations that will
make Cher’s wildest get-up look lame and that will draw envious glances
from even the most hat-happy Rastafarians. Tequila sunrise helmets and
ostrich feathers rule! By Tuija Seipel
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Friday, 16 November 2007 |
The latest unexpected fashion pairing comes from Finland’s 56-year-old design powerhouse, Marimekko, and the King of Shoes, Manolo Blahnik.
Blahnik Spring/Summer 2008 collection will include shoes in the
venerable Marimekko pattern Mini-Unikko (shoe on left).
Maija Isola designed the pattern in 1964 in protest to Marimekko’s
founder and mastermind Armi Ratia’s pronouncement that there will not
be floral patterns in Marimekko. Unikko not only melted Ms. Ratia’s
heart but it has become one of the most enduring and recognizable of
Marimekko patterns. The other Marimekko Blahnik shoes will be adorned
in the more graphic BonBon pattern.
Apparently, Blahnik had decided to base his latest collection on the
wonderful architectural lines he saw in Hagia Sophia, Turkey. He then
came upon some Marimekko fabrics in a little shop in Bath, England.
According to Blahnik, “the two just happened to fall perfectly into
place — as bizarre as that combination may sound.” To wear these
fusions of Turkish architecture and Finnish protest we will need to
wait until January 2008 when they will be available in Blahnik stores
in London and New York. By Tuija Seipell
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Tuesday, 06 November 2007 |
There's something tantalizing about twice-dipped things: chocolate
covered strawberries, caramel covered apples, cheese covered
popcorn...to name a few.
Little did we know, this same rule applies beyond food, to shoes. Hester Vlamings line
of two-tone, color-dipped heels, boots and slingbacks are double the
treat. The leather hues range from mustard to burnt orange to ivory to
gold - all of which are enhanced by the contrast of the dark,
ebony-embossed toe.
Though a fashion scene newbie, Vlamings is astutely on trend with her
multi-hued wares, as any fan of Yves Saint Laurent, Miu Miu, Prada or
Dolce & Gabbana can attest to. The designer is a cobbler of the
finest education, with a degree in fashion and industrial design at the
Artschool in Arnhem. Currently Vlamings' stylings can be found in
several boutiques throughout the Netherlands.
And her shoes are not only commercial-minded. The art community has
taken notice of her artistic designs, and fashion afficianados can take
in her work in galleries and museums throughout The Netherlands,
Belgium, Germany and France. By L. Harper
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Wednesday, 10 October 2007 |
The newest front in the ecological war on waste appears to be denim. Hailing from the unlikely origins of India, Sharkah Chakra has appeared on the market as the answer to the organically-leaning, ecologically-savvy consumer's denim conundrum.
The
company's philosophy is, "to make the world's best and only hand made
denim using a simple age old concept of treating others as you wish to
be treated." Using this Golden Rule as their guide, Sharkah Chakra has
harnessed the Free Trade talents of indigenous indigo farmer, dyeing
masters and tailors. The laudable process comes together to create an
equally praiseworthy product: stylish, wearable jeans for the masses.
Though they aim to expand, currently Sharkah
Chakra products are exclusively available at Harvey Nichols in London. By L.Harper
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Monday, 27 August 2007 |
Sneakerheads will be sneakerheads.
It's the only feasible explanation for Jason Markk's devoted following and wide online acclaim at sneaker-fanatic blogs worldwide. Of particular note is Jason Markk's Premium Sneaker Solution, which does something truly revolutionary: it cleans your sneakers.
With a wave of a hog-hair bristle brush coated in their specially formulated magic potion, Jason Markk P.S.S. rids your kicks of the grass stains and gook soils even your mom can't eradicate. The solution consists of natural soaps derived from coconut and jojoba oils, a 98% natural product that is also said to be biodegradable.
In addition to Jason Markk's online store, you can find this trainers cure-all at renowned sneaker shillers: Ubiq, Kendo, NortStar and Colette, among others.
Add this to your long list of things you didn't know you couldn't live without. By L. Harper
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Thursday, 23 August 2007 |
Fashion scholar Sophie Albou first got her stylish feet wet at France's Fashion Institute. She followed her graduation with an
appointment at Azzedine Alaia and then became a stylist for Le Garage.
In
1995 Albou launched her first menswear collection, under the name "Paul
and Joe" - a shout out to her two young sons. Two years later the
designer released a womenswear line under the same moniker, to critical
acclaim
2007 finds Albou celebrating the tenth anniversary of her Paul and Joe
womenswear line with a festive (bordering on cartoonish) collection of
clothing. The billowing royal purple coat, a blouse with enormous white
bell sleeves paired with dark khaki slouchy, pirate boots proudly
declare Albou's standing as a "resolute anti-conformist." Even her
primmer outfits - a conservatively tailored mint green coat with gold
button accents comes to mind - are punctuated with loud purple, white
or green stockings and patent knee-high boots.
Currently Paul
and Joe offerings are available in over 30 boutiques around the globe,
as well as in retail giants Barney's, Harvey Nichols and Harrod's among
others. By L Harper
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