SHAKUHACHI SS11 LOOKBOOK

(via ORACLE FOX)

THE DELIRIOUS SHAKUHACHI LOOKBOOK FOR SUMMER 11, CHANNELING A STRONG HIPPY-COME-PIRATE VIBE. BALANCING PRINT AND BLOCK COLOUR, CONTRASTING ORANGE AND AZURE HUES MAKE FOR A COVETABLE COLLECTION WITH THE PERFECT MIX OF MINI AND MAXI LENGTHS. OH, SHAK- YOU'VE DONE IT AGAIN. 

SWATCH MTV PLAYGROUND: Perret Schaad

THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SWATCH MTV PLAYGROUND PROJECT WAS TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY. OPENING MY EYES TO NEW THINGS, NEW PEOPLE AND NEW PROJECTS, IT’S EXCITING TO STAY TUNED WITH THE NEXT BEST THING.

NOW I’M THE FIRST TO ADMIT, MY GERMAN FASHION AWARENESS ISN’T THE BEST. RESIDING HERE IN NEW YORK, I HAVEN’T DONE THE BEST JOB AT STAYING TUNED WITH ALL-THINGS-DEUTSCHLAND. (PRESUMING WE’RE NOT COUNTING PRETZELS AND BECKS, THAT IS.) THAT SAID, WITH MY EYES OFFICIALLY OPENED THANKS TO THE TEAM OVER AT SWATCH, I’VE FOUND A NEW BRAND CRUSH IN THE FORM OF BERLIN-BASED PERRET SCHAAD. CHARACTERISED BY SIMPLE SHAPES, STRIKING SILHOUETTES AND SIMPLICITY IN COLOUR, THE LABEL’S AESTHETICS ARE OFTEN COMPARED TO FELLOW MINIMALIST ICON, JIL SANDER.

JOHANNA PERRET AND TUTIA SCHAAD ARE THE BRAINS AND BEAUTY BEHIND THE BRAND, WHICH HAVING ONLY BEEN ESTABLISHED IN 2009 IS ALREADY MAKING ITS MARK ON THE INDUSTRY, HAVING RECEIVED INVITATION TO DEBUT THEIR FIRST COLLECTION AT BERLIN FASHION WEEK. WITH PASSION FOR PATTERN CUTTING AND A PENCHANT FOR DRAPE, THEIR PIECES SHOW FLUIDITY AND FEMININITY, WITH UNDERSTATED AESTHETICS OFFERING FUNCTIONALITY. 

(SWATCH MTV PLAYGROUND)

WILDFOX SWIM 2012 + ANJA

(THE COBRA SNAKE, WILDFOX)

Though I know it's the middle of Winter for my southern hemisphere readers, here in New York its getting to be the height of summer. Yes, sizzling temperatures, sunny skies and clammy streets means one thing: swimwear season.

Whilst you're all likely to be digging out the mitts, and wrapping round the wooly scarves (note, you don't have my full sympathy, your winters are still warmer than our springs), here I'm on the hunt for the perfect 2011 swimsuit. Now when I say swimsuit, I mean swimsuits, naturally. Whilst squeezing multiple options into a single tote can prove as a beach morning dilemma, the idea of summer-long strap marks seems considerably worse. Alas, a halter, a bandeau and a staple one piece rarely fall off the new seasons shopping list.

Satisfying my search for the perfect swimwear, Wildfox Couture has just released their first swim line collection. Known for its It-girl attitude and street-cult aesthetics, Wildfox is the lovechild of Kimberley Gordon and Emily Faulstitch. Founded in 2007, the brand has taken off, gaining a lot of support from global bloggers, celebrities and trendsetters alike. Drawing their inspiration from dreamy romance stories, Western female villains and '60s beach movies, the debut swimline manages to maintain the brand's style, with neon pinks and urban graphics contrasting ditsy florals and pastel hues.

Taking inspiration from different decades, the collection shows clear inspiration from its retro-roots. Simply titled 'Wildfox Swim', a 70s pastel halterneck, a Baywatch style one piece and an 80s style sports-crop are among the styles on show.

Photographed with their usual editorial-worthy standards, the lookbook features Aussie favourite and model-of-the-moment, Anja Konstantinova; making waves in the industry right now, she has the likes of Ksubi, Stylestalker and Lonely Hearts snapping her up for their books. Channeling blonde bombshell appeal with her platinum tresses, the lure of ‘50s favourites Bridget Bardot and Marilyn Monroe springs to mind with the label's latest line. Couple that with washed out photography and vintage styling and there's no doubt this collection is going to make a splash.

Sadly for you Aussie’s, the collection isn't set to hit your stores until December (weep). Staying positive, 'least that gives you enough to pick which one - sorry, ones - you want. 

DION LEE PART II

I THRIVE ON LOOKBOOKS. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN A SELECTION OF DREAMY, ENCHANTING IMAGES, PERFECTLY CAPTURING THE MOOD OF A COLLECTION WHILST GIVING AN INSIGHT INTO THE THINKING BEHIND IT. LOOKBOOKS ARE COMPILED FROM A MAGIC RECIPE AND THE MOST ORGANIC INGREDIENTS; COMBINING THE ARTISTIC SKILLS OF A PHOTOGRAPHER, THE CREATIVE TALENT OF A DESIGNER, A FLOWING SWATH OF SILK GEORGETTE, AND THE NATURAL MAGNIFICENCE OF AN AUSTRALIAN SUPERMODEL, RECENTLY WE'VE BEEN INUNDATED WITH A PLETHORA OF DREAMFUL BOOKS. (CUE OFFERINGS FROM STYLESTALKER AND  LONELY HEARTS)

REJOICE, FOR I'VE FOUND THIS SEASON'S VICTORIA SPONGE. A PERFECT LOOKBOOK, WITH NOT AN ELEMENT I COULD FAULT, DION LEE'S LINE II IS CAPTIVATING. IT'S NOT OFTEN I'M STUNNED THROUGH A SINGLE IMAGE, BUT EACH OF THESE COULD MATCH HARRY POTTER'S WIZARD-LIKE CHARM.

I WANTED TO POST THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOOKBOOK, BUT I FEARED YOU'D GET TIRED OF THE 'OLDER POSTS' BUTTON. CHECK OUT MORE OF HIS WORK HERE.

FEARLESS FUTURE

GORGEOUS SHOTS FROM THE DREAMY LF STORES LOOKBOOK. FEARLESS FUTURE HAS CAPTURES A PERFECT SUMMER VIBE; STALKING THE COLLECTION MAKES ME WANT TO DO NOTHING BUT HANG BEACHSIDE WITH A SHEER KAFTAN AND INFLATABLE HOOP DAY IN, DAY OUT.  WHO'S IN?

(PHOTOGRAPHY: DANIEL KINCAID, STYLING: ALEXANDRA SHERMAN)

STYLESTALKER YOUNG HOLLYWOOD

STYLESTALKER, ELIZABETH CURRUTHERS

It’s midnight in the City of Angels and while decent citizens sleep the sleep of the righteous, Hollywood lounges are heaving with hard liquor and the thick smoke of cigars. Outside, street posts cast shadows across the eroded pavement, rain drips from men’s trench coats, and the femme fatale lures us into her world of crime and seduction. Appearance is everything. Beauty is a curse. Where decadence is juxtaposed with decay... things are not what they seem.

SHOP THE NEW COLLECTION NOW AT STYLESTALKER. (If I don't beat you to it all of course)