Australian duo Sass & Bide have always delighted me but this new collection is very much my style. It's laid back, with a slight edge and very "on trend" with the repeated star motif. British retailer ASOS have also now started stocking Sass & Bide goods, making them a far more accessible commodity. See the whole collection on Sass & Bide's website and shop the collection on ASOS.
Annalisa Dunn and Dorothee Hagemann met on the MA Fashion course at Central St Martins in 2007. Upon graduation they joined forces to create cooperativedesigns. They juxtapose wool and jersey, texture and pattern to create some truly unique pieces. Their website delights me and their looks, although seemingly avant-garde, are also very wearable and available in block colours and black if necessary. See their website and marvel at their creativity here.
My search for the unique has lead me to Ndeur. Mathieu Missiaen has created a brand around his hand painted designs, including these truly original shoes. The self-titled "graphist" from Canada has produced some bold print shoes, that are sure to get you noticed. They may not be to my style but Mathieu's originality has to be applauded. To appreciate more of Ndeur's design go to the homepage for all contyact details and sales.
Rue du Mail is one of my favourite design houses. Based in the all that is the heart of fashion, Paris, Martine Sitbon has so far produced two highly innovative collections. The look is simple, yet complicated - a perfect design contradiction. There are intricate details combined with simple lines and elegance. Above are some structured pieces from the autumn/winter collection and below are some more floaty, erethral looks from spring/summer 2008. The appeal is definitely modern but seems to be seeped in history, especially in the case of the constructed pieces above. See Rue du Mail's website for more of their collections and expect to hear much more from Martine in 2008.
Anja Austa have sent me a lot of emails about their designs and on closer inspection, Anja's designs are truly inspirational. What has delighted my eyes the most has to be the emphasis on shape, back details are always a very subtle design piece of wonderment. Anja is a strange enigma to me and I haven't been able to find many details on this designer (mainly as their website is a little defunct!), but see more for yourself on the aforementioned site.
The cold wintery days take the luster and shine out of everything; life seems subdued, somewhat duller. Today the view from my window had a pale brown feel to it and I went on the fashion hunt to brighten it up. Louise Gray takes colour, fashion and fun, diffusing them to create a dazzling line of clothing. Louise's design pedigree is undeniable - she studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London for an MA in Fashion - Textiles. Louise worked for two seasons at Peter Jensen completing detailed embroidery subsequently going on to win an internal Saint Martins competition for Chloe, Paris. My favourite piece is definitely the electric blue eyelash dress, left; this tongue-in-cheek delight is truly fashion forward. See more here of Louise Gray's colour uplifting creations that are truly juxtaposed to her name.
Twenty8Twelve has received publicity largely for its strong celebrity link but I was intrigued to see what Sienna Miller and her sister, Savannah, actually have to offer. Perusing the website it is difficult not to appreciate the obvious elegance of the looks. The photography itself is stunning, with a truly artistic twist; showcasing beautifully many very "on-trend" pieces. Boyish formality is encompassed in the modern, slimline tuxedo. Block colour dazzles beautifully off the olive green wall. I shall reserve true judgement until I observe the pieces in person but I can definitely look beyond the Miller brand.
I have always lusted after pieces by Future Classics, they epitomise all that is fashion forward and yet wardrobe essentials at the same time. Layering = edgy to me; Future Classics' designs typify their name. This juxtaposition is summed up perfectly on their website,Future Classics is..."the mainframe of timeless ‘modern vintage’ clothing where the dialogue between the traditional and the modern, the avant-garde and the conservative is played out."
The photography on the website personifies their design ethos, a true sense of mystery and darkness. See their previous collections and lists of stockists here.
I adore perusing Foundations Garments Inc. It is a unique site, from which you can trawl through pieces by a plethora of new/up and coming designers. Leanimal by Leanne Marshall, is this month's featured designer and rightly so. I am enthralled by her one off pieces that are truly modular and certainly a visual delight. Her pieces feature abstract threading details, quilting-type patterns, and unusual combinations of fabrics and textures - an eclectic mix that equals near perfection. Take a look at her collection, plus take advantage of the superb dollar exchange rate in the U.K.
E.V.O.D. jewellery design is the work of Mandy Wu. Her work is truly eclectic but it is the simplicity of these two brooches that stands out for me. Many moons ago I dabbled in the heights of trolley-dollyism, as a flight attendant. The power of "the badge + uniform" could be quite astounding : passengers would address me by my first name in a bid to break down the boundaries of formality (I fitted the perfect air-hostess stereotype by often reacting with shock, "Have I met you before? Do I know you?" were often among my moronic responses!) Therefore statement badges have always appealed to me. One that confirms its purpose, "Brooch" or gives an insight into your culinary preferences, seem far more attractive than a name. Check out E.V.O.D.'s MySpace for stockists and more details.
Recycling is very "now" but I love the innovative nature behind these uncommonly beautiful fashion accessories by Kirsty Kirkpatrick. On the left we have the biscuit box graphic wooden and leather necklace and on the right the blue vinyl graphic flower necklace, made from a suitcase! Such interesting raw materials produce such beautifully elegant pieces. Check out the website and be environmentally fashionable.
These ceramic badges, by Austrian duo Katharina Mischer and Thomas Traxler are made from vintage, neglected porcelain plates found on flea markets and in charity shops. The duo then puts a modern day spin on recycling. Selected areas of the plates are carefully cut by hand with a diamond drill, sanded by hand and then glued to a pin. The result, each badge is completely unique. Such a cool idea! Designboom triumphs again.
...look no further than Copacetique. These muffin tin earrings are unbelievably cute and kitsch, as is much more of their stock. Copacetique is a veritable hive of all that is cute, so peruse the beauty of their site at your leisure.
The Designboom shop never fails to disappoint and despite their seeming childish nature, I adore these diamond rings, designed by Amt (alissia melka teichroew). At $10 each, they are sure to be your very best friend.
Freak La Notte's website really caught my eye. Their cute, bright illustrative style translates perfectly into their bags and t-shirts (click on the images above to enlarge). I read about Cris La Notte's innovative work in a fab Spanish trends magazine La Milk, so if you get a chance to read it, your horizons in the Hispanic world of style will definitely be broadened.
Erdem is a name I've seen floating around several magazines recently. I'd never heard of this fashion brand before, therefore further investigation was required. Their website is a revelation. It showcases an eclectic mix of shape and style and makes me yearn for summer as the U.K.'s dark nights draw in. The hints of colour, bold prints and mix of fabrics offer everything that appeals to me in a collection. I have been unable to find an online stockist yet but on their website is a list of their above ground stores. Keep your eye on Erdem, I feel a bright future beckons...or maybe just a hint of colour.
Illustrative design is one of my favourite artistic media, so I was bowled away by Laura McCafferty's stand at 100% Design. Laura creates beautiful textile artworks that aren't shown in their true glory via the pixelated screen. I love individual pieces translated into 3D art forms, especially the red military trench. Check out Laura's unique vision here.
