As The Sartorialist has proven, Italian men really do have their own unique sense of style; one part old world gentleman glamour, two parts super chic. The Italian brand Noodle Park, has managed to harness this typical Italian style yet still retains an affordable price point. What’s with the name, you ask? Well, it’s all about what the Noodle box represents; a global perspective, androgynous in its appeal and a link between people, despite ethnicity, tradition, culture or religion (plus they use Noodle boxes for their packaging!) Noodlepark offers some clean, modern shapes featuring contrast zippers, comfortable fabrics and a muted, complimentary colour palette. Seen all over Milan by stylish locals, Noodlepark should be on your radar.  – Kate Vandermeer

Street style blogs are one of the great online phenomena of the past decade. They have become a core reference tool for fashion houses and designers who monitor them for global inspiration and to learn how trends are being adapted on the street - and all without leaving their desks. Yvan Rodic, the photographer and creative behind the facehunter, gives the reader a window into the edgier side of street style. Rodic cut his street-styling teeth at The Cool Hunter, where he delivered many unique moments of inspiration direct from the pavement; the kinds of startling images that eluded many of the other most popular style blogs.

His latest venture is a new site, proudly under his own name - Yvan Rodic. Essentially a travel diary, Rodic documents the interesting people he meets in all sorts of places. We know we're biased but we believe Rodic's talent extends beyond the camera lens.

His eye for inspiration and cool is so finely honed that he could apply it to anything - be it design or art direction. The new Hedi Slimane perhaps? Maybe. WATCH this space. - Bill Tikos

Australian designer Josh Goot showed a divine, blindingly bright SS2010 collection at London Fashion Week earlier this week, presented in an open air car park - a suitably urban location given the collection's powerfully modern feel.

The collection, made up mostly of elongated t-shirt dresses, mini dresses and tanks,  was all about bold graphic prints.  The pieces themselves, which also included a handful of pants and jackets, were kind of secondary, acting more like personal, mobile canvases for the beautifully sharp, urban graphic prints that adorned them.

If Goot's bold colors freak you out, fear not, the designer also showed a section of less-in-your-face black and white prints, which, while still precise and complex will probably appeal to a broader range of customers (read: color-phobes). - Laura Demasi

The fluro/rainbow color trend is still moving off the RTW catwalks and into accessories with a bang (or should we say a splash?). We're loving this Italian range of watches, amusingly dubbed the "Jelly Toy Watch which comes in blindingly bright selection of primary and fluro colours, only this time, the latest Toy Watch throws in a jelly-like matching silicone strap. Buy online from Toy Watch USA

Kids’ wear has come such a long way in the last 5-8 years. Once upon a time, it was hand-me-downs from your older brothers and sisters. These days, any brand worth its weight in fashion gold, will have a diffusion range of kids’ wear offering the same grown-up aesthetic for young fashionistas and their stylish parents.

Jean Paul Gaultier’s range is such an example. Kids’ wear is a competitive market, but with style running through the Parisian’s veins, JPG is spot on with the modern and age-appropriate collection. It’s got the right amount of fashionability, bold shapes and distinct tailoring of JPG’s adult range but with a sense of fun and wearability more suited to kids. – Kate Vandermeer

Is creativity a genetic likelihood? Look at Paul and Stella McCartney, Ronald & Sophie Dahl, Rosa and Margherita Missoni. In Lucila Lotti’s case, genetics definitely played a part in her creative upbringing. Her father, Jorge Lotti began his tailoring shop in Buenos Aires in 1920 and grew the business to become a major presence in the South American garment industry until the 90’s, when it closed. Lucila, the youngest of the family grew up amongst this love of detail, fine fabrics and quality craftsmanship.  

Lucila began her own business focusing on shoes made from patent leather, suede, satin and vinyl in homage to her mother who always wore heels and lipstick when leaving the home. Opening her own boutique in the creative, bohemian hub of Palermo in Buenos Aires, Lucila is amongst fine company. Given this sense of history and creative disposition, it is no surprise that Lucila’s debut collection came to the attention of Patricia Field and Sex & The City. Her bright, bold shapes and ability to mix colour and silhouette in a brave, fashionable style will no doubt continue to inspire more international press. – Kate Vandermeer

We all know that Gen Y is the most cynical generation on earth when it comes to marketing and advertising. They hate being 'sold' to and expect so much more from a brand than just the product.

This cynicism has spawned an amusing trend  where cool young things - we've dubbed them Brand Whores  - are appropriating corporate logos and turning them into ironic fashion symbols. From McDonalds to KFC, Brand Whores are poking fun at brands and our rampant consumerist culture.

Not that the brands mind, we presume. Any opportunity to have their logos splashed about - irony, or no irony - is a chance to market. - Laura Demasi

The 80s revival wave has swept the cobwebs off many brands, including the quintessentially preppy Lacoste. Gone are the pretty pastels and tennis whites - enter graphic, techno prints as exemplified in their new 'Ibiza' range of neon colored trainers. Inspired by pixellated graphics, the graduated-print collection is sure to become a must-have amongst all self respecting creative types. - Lisa Evans

Men’s fashion is a mixed palette currently. Whilst sartorial splendour reigns supreme in key fashion publications and hip hop styling has been given a modern makeover with an American sportswear feel, new European sub-cultures have been busily building on their own unique style that is quite unlike any other mainstream trends dictated to us by the catwalks.

Rising from the street as all ”wearable, commercial street art“ is one such brand that appears to have a unique perspective on men’s style. HUMöR has been carving quite the niche, working on creating a total silhouette heavily influenced by the metropolitan underground electronic music scene.   Hailing from Denmark, HUMÖR describe the inspiration for their latest range as ”Tokyo’s Shibuya area, where the fashion crowd is giving an entirely new meaning to the word paint box.“



With a penchant for comical quirky knitted prints, bold graphic tees and unique pant silhouettes, the look is fresh, irreverent and could be described as a slightly more toned down version of singer MIA’s personal style.  Loud, brash with a kaleidoscope of texture, these clothes make statements and are not for the faint-hearted wall flower!  It seems that the consumer is embracing the brand as well, with key stores like Size?, American Retro and Choices stocking the brand and fashion website OKI NI selling out online.  Having expanded the range to include accessories and footwear and HUMöR about to be stocked in Topman in Oxford Circus, it’s a matter of time before this brand takes it to the next level.  – Kate Vandermeer
 

The owl as a fashion trend originated from the craft world. It has since been interpreted on many a fashionable outfit, toy, tote bag and statement accessory since. But none quite like this fabulous singlet dress ($45) for mini fashionistas, complete with ombre background to really make the owl print stand out!  Not only is it likely to offer wisdom to your emerging hunter of cool, but it will help you find them in crowds!!   

Kidswear has undergone a huge transformation over the last few years, led by a new generation of designers who have applied their creativity to the children's category, usually after having kids themselves. Today kidswear is a carbon copy of adult fashion - incorporating key trends.



(Above) Flannel Overshirt - $75,  Mini cord skirt $55, Bunny half length sweater - $55 

You know a brand has succeeded when you look at a kids item and want to wear it yourself. Like this new collection, which features graphic print t-shirts, shorts and boardies, which wouldn't look out of place on the backs of urban hipsters.



(Above) Bunny longsleeve tee $45,  Tote Bag - $35, Green Cave Man tee - $45, Panel Spray Jacket - $95

Unfortunately you need to be aged six or under to squeeze into them so we've accepted that they are strictly for kids. If you have any little people in your life, you can purchase a limited number of these pieces through us - email bill@thecoolhunter.net



(Above) Mini cord dress - $75, dip dye sweater - $65



(Above) - Cave man tee - $45, Mini cord dress - $75)



(Above) - Pack Man tee - $45 - Smiley tee $45 - B+W shorts - $55

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 “business like” 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-travelled passport, and your ever-present favourite 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 colour options are gold and black with new - Anthracite, Pearl and Cobalt Blue with a hot pink snake trim.. 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 clutch is available exclusively through us. How much you ask? $315.00. Order through This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it bill@thecoolhunter.netThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - Tuija Seipell

This week in Paris, Karl Lagerfeld presented a poised, elegant and mostly black take on power suiting for Chanel that included this fantastically witty take on the working gal's briefcase. We hope that it's not just a prop for the catwalk. We're sure someone out there could pull it off in the real world. It's highly functional, after all. - Laura Demasi - via Fashionation
 

Iconic retro brands possess strong currency right now. The latest hails not from the annals of fashion or apparel but from the world of toys - we're talking about LEGO, the multi-coloured building bricks that we all grew up with. While LEGO is still one of the top children's toy brands, it is spontaneously morphing into a credible street brand, adopted by Gen Y hipsters who still nurture happy memories of playing with the blocks as kids. It's part of a bigger trend, which has seen other iconic mostly 80s brands such as Reebok enjoy unexpected revivals.



LEGO has been appearing in all sorts of unlikely applications from watches to cameras, bags and belts, to usb sticks, mobile phones and even cupcakes. Our favourites include a recent ad for hot fashion house Lanvin, which used colour-spray guns made from LEGO in a recent campaign and adorable LEGO fashion show video by Jean-Charles de Castelbajac which cast LEGO figures as fabulous high fashion catwalk models.



We can only imagine what will be next. Lego for Louis Vuitton, perhaps? Marc Jacobs bags and Lego - a match made in heaven. Or LEGO sunglasses - it's a cult hit waiting to happen. - Laura Demasi

It's not often that you yearn for weather cold enough to turn your fingers frosty but one look at Mary Beyer's divine gloves will do the trick. Actually we'll take any excuse to slip into Beyer's beautifully tailored pieces, which are reminiscent of an era when gloves were an essential component of a lady's everyday wardrobe.



The French designer works with brilliantly colored and textured leathers and her designs feature interesting details such as ties and cuffs.





She works out of her lovely Paris boutique located in the upmarket shopping mecca, Palais Royal, where she also makes couture (made-to-measure) gloves for the city's chicest women. Could gloves be the new black? We can feel a trend coming on. - Laura Demasi

Pop culture's fervent embrace of the 80s aesthetic - from fashion to music - is not about to abate anytime soon. Which is why now is the perfect time for iconic 80s brands to wipe away the cobwebs (and any chips on their shoulders about being "has-beens") and re-invent themselves to a whole new generation (Y, that is) that did not have the pleasure of consuming them the first time around.

Iconic 80s sports shoe giant Reebok has heard the revival call and is responding beautifully with a mix of classic retro-ism and futurism. Everything about the brand is undergoing a renaissance, from the product right through to the marketing, such as their recent pop-up store in New York which was a feast for the illustrative senses. Good work, we say. Will the brand rise to the dizzy heights of its former glory when a pair of Reeboks was the only shoe any man, woman or child from Dusseldorf to Detroit wanted? Maybe not but we're predicting that the hipsters will give them an excellent run (pardon the pun) this time around. - Laura Demasi

You can often divide people into two distinct groups - "hat people" and "non hat people". Wearing a hat takes confidence, courage and a unique personal style. Whether the hat is worn for comfort or a statement or both, the choice of hat says a lot about the person.  Rike Feurstein (a self-confessed hat-aholic) has done a lot for the hat industry with her clean, minimalistic, sculptural shaped designs.  Her unique perspective breathes new life into classic shapes with the choice of irreverent fabrics or colours. She references iconic shapes from the 40's and 60's and reworks the look by injecting her own twist. Rike studied in New York and London before opening her own studio and showroom in Berlin and has an international stockist's resume including Barney's, Saks, Harvey Nichols, Tsum and Le Bon Marche.  — Kate Vandermeer

Shoes say as much about the wearer and his or her character as do eyeglasses. Jamie Hayon's line of shoes for Camper is perfect for self expression. With his industrial design aesthetic and love of tap dancing shoes, Hayon has created a collection of sporty shoes that has a touch of elegance; an upgrade from the humble sneaker. With its smooth, form-fitting shape, linen-print lining and diamond-patterned sole, this shoe is more than just a mere accessory for the feet - it's a fusion of style, form and function. - Kate Vandermeer

Irony -  check.  Careful, considered design — check.  Desirable product with cache — most definitely check. Natalia Brilli has managed to create a signature that is immediately identifiable with her blend of taking the every day and creating a finished product that appears as if dipped into leather. A laptop bag becomes a functional leather laptop case that has the keyboard carved out in the leather, a wallet has the credit cards and coins moulded onto the zip front cover, a pair of sunglasses are embossed into the leather sunglass case. At once quirky and humorous but undeniably cool and chic, the latest Men’s 09 Collection is no exception to this designers range and ability.  — Kate Vandermeer

Is it just us or are architects designing a lot more than buildings these days? Starchitect Zaha Hadid has made headlines with her collaboration with Chanel, where she designed a futuristic mobile art container - which has just landed in Central Park NYC  - and her work with Brazilian shoe brand Melissa.

But Hadid isn't the first architect to venture into fashion. In 2003 Galahad Clark, of the Clark family global shoe empire, started the shoe brand United Nude with architect Rem D Koolhaas. Their objective was to create a shoe collection which expressed the intersection of design and fashion; to create footwear that explored both aesthetics and innovation. Mission accomplished. - Laura Demasi

In a world where the latest buzz is all about “design collaborations” it’s refreshing to see one that is seamlessly and intrinsically linked with outstanding results. Carlos Campos is fast becoming a star-on-the-rise with his modern menswear collections featuring well-tailored pieces constructed using exceptional fabrics. His latest collection for Spring 2009 is a study in luxe sportswear with clean shapes, attention to detail and a clean palette of eggshell grey, crisp white and electric blue. The matching shoe collection by J Shoes features all the same colors in patent, leather, canvas and the collection’s feature patterned fabric from as a highlight. Using J Shoes signature hand-crafted philosophy this collection merges function with form creating a new style of shoe that is neither classic nor casual but a comfortable in-between. The result is innovative, luxe footwear that just seems to “work” without trying too hard! — Kate Vandermeer