Junya Watanabe AW11

Style.com has likened Junya Watanabe’s AW11 collection to the style synonymous with the Parisian student riots of 1968. It’s a link I can understand - Watanabe’s models are draped roguishly with a collection of textures, materials and structures. All black, and all worn with an air of attitude and anarchy. It’s a stark contrast the hooded rioters of London, but then isn’t it human nature to look back on events with a rose-tinted romance?

Watanabe has taken the student staple leather jacket and transformed it. Much like his obsession with stripes for SS11, he has taken apart the scaffolding of a fashion staple and rebuilt it with volume and distinction. Just the simple addition of the hourglass shape to the leather jacket has transformed it from Judas Priest fan to Torture Garden patron.

It is the mix of textures that I find so stunning about this collection. The sweeping leather underneath the oversized and over-brushed faux fur further underpins the anarchic sentiments of the collection. The models wore their hair in a similarly disheveled style, whist keeping their makeup clean and neat. The stomping boots and thin knits gave a final nod to the rioters of 60’s Paris.

Vanessa Bruno

Here is the lovely new Vanessa Bruno presentation:



LØV from Vanessa Bruno on Vimeo.

STOCKHOLM S/S 2012 NHU DUONG

This is the stunning new collection from Nhu Duong shown in Stockholm last week. It's an amazing amalgamation of aesthetics with strong hints of her Vietnamese heritage and more than a large dose of Scandinavian design. You can certainly see assisting at Acne has had it's influences. I'd happily wear it all, but more than anything, I'd like the over-sized tote with the neon strap.

LOVE.

Flip through

A short and very ramshackle flip-through video I made of the beautiful and incredibly interesting Amelia's Compendium of Fashion Illustration. The book is a marraige between Amelia's favourite illustrators and a host of ethical fashion designers. It's packed full of stunning illustrations, my favourite being Erica Sharp on Hannah Marshall (pg.145) and Little Glass Clementine on Christopher Raeburn (pg. 260-261).

The lovely soundtrack is Tune-Yards Bizness.

We're planning on lots more video content for T H E M A R C H so I hope this one kicks it off well.



Friday i'm in love... with that holiday feeling

I first came across We are Handsome on the guardian website, they were running a competition and I must have entered about 5 times! I’ve since seen a huge amount of coverage for the brand, being spotted on Florence Welch in Nylon magazine to Rihanna strolling down the beach. The Australian label started with one plan -  ‘to create spellbinding works of art’ – and I think they’ve achieved that completely. They look like oil paintings; or better still, body art. This rich reference to the heady days of the 60’s and 70’s comes from the design duo’s love for the beautiful things in life. The most recent collection speaks volumes for this ethos, with majestic hot air balloons and imposing wolves adorning the suits. I’m off to Marrakesh next month and can’t think of anything I’d rather pack in my suitcase.

My favourite picks of the Memoirs 2011 collection, I love the hot air balloon cossies especially..

And from the 2010 collection..

We are Handsome's blog is also worth a look for a lovely example of e-tailer blogging.

An evening at Jacques

Last week we were invited to the Jacques Townhouse, which was an absolute delight. After the huge success of last year, the very clever people at Jacques teamed up with creative director David Carter (genius behind the beautiful 40winks hotel) to once again transform a London townhouse into a walker-esque dream.  

It’s not often you get to spend an evening in a Tim Walker photograph!

On arrival we were greeted by a dandy concierge, who took our coats and called us ‘Madame’. Brilliantly faulty towers! Jacques have transformed the townhouse over 2 floors, which include the beauty parlour, wardrobe of wonders, enchanted garden and of course the bar. Like last year we were presented with beautiful golden keys which acted as currency for drinks throughout the evening.

We met Shini from Park and Cube and spent a lovely time discussing cat cafes.

Crafternoon!

Lucinda had the most beautiful 'do and we both posed for Japanese Vogue photographer Terence Andrew Webb (slightly under the influence by his point!)

Thank you to Jacques for having us and the lovely Zarah at Exposure. Here are some beautiful photographs of the townhouse taken by someone professional and not with a camera stolen from work!