The good, the bad and the divine

Sourced Co. X The Shirts‏

2012-02-28T10:33:00.006-08:00

For the first ever "SOURCED Co.LLABORATES" Sourced Co. teamed up with South Korean design studio The Shirts to create 9 T-shirts by 9 different artists. It all began when the people behind Sourced Co. started looking for some great T-shirts that were like nothing they'd seen before, without the mass production and factory lines that epitomise the current printed tee industry. Their search took them to South Korea where they found The Shirts in Seoul who were immediately up for the challenge. The challenge was: 9 T-shirts, 9 designers. The result are 9 prints that are unique in their ideas and designs and combine to create a T-shirt collection like we haven't seen before. The T-shirts are 100% cotton, made in Boutique production and treated before printing to eliminate shrinkage and loss of shape, this means you won't get a shapeless mess after a few washes. The designs are applied using layeredcolour technology so the design becomes a part of the fabric and the T-shirt hangs correctly. Furthermore Sourced Co. have dropped their free shipping minimum order, so each T-shirt has free shipping (UK, Ireland, France). For more visit sourcedco.com/27_the-shirts

Here's the video for the launch:

Sourced Co. X The Shirts from Sourced Co. on Vimeo.

and here's the collection

The latest News

2012-02-27T12:54:00.004-08:00

For those of you who might haven't heard yet, a few major changes have been made in the design departments of some big fashion houses during the past days. The breaking news last week have been that Jil Sander will return to her namesake label which she left in 2004. Raf Simons who started as Creative Director at Jil Sander in 2005 is leaving the label and as his parting gift he presented a very stunning last collection in Milan this weekend for which he received standing ovations that wouldn't end. Rumor has it that Simons might get the vacant job at Dior.
There's also a big change at Yves Saint Laurent. Stefano Pilati will leave the fashion house and show his last collection for YSL next Monday at Paris Fashion Week. Rumors are that his successor will be former Dior Homme designer Hedi Slimane who began his career at YSL in 1997. He hasn't created womenswear yet but his skinny suits have been quite popular with some women. According to news agency AFP in Paris the contracts have already been signed.
So what do you think about all these changes and rumors? Do you see Raf Simons at the helm of Dior? And do you think Hedi Slimane would be able to pull off a womenswear collection?

RUFFIAN Fall 2012

2012-02-27T10:18:00.009-08:00

New York-based label Ruffian presented their fall 2012 collection during New York Fashion Week this month. Brian Wolk and Claude Morais, the designers behind Ruffian, define style as a juxtaposition between the improvised and the studied and the duality also showed in their latest collection 'A Concerto for Two'. The collection's visual dialogue began while the designers were viewing bronze sculptures of Henry Moore set against the backdrop of English estates. The poetic co-inhabitance of formality and modernism struck a chord, which resonated deep within Claude and Brian. The collection follows the journey of the modern woman's need for both for warmth and familiarity as well as cool razor sharp tailoring through the merging of like textiles in different scales in one garment, the exploration of painterly verses digital plaids and the black and bronze metallic leathers tailored in to Neo-Victorian shapes.

Currently listening to: Happy Mondays '24 Hour Party People'

2012-02-24T16:12:00.002-08:00

Maybe I should do a 'movies to watch' soon about '24 Hour Party People', a British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. The movie was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom. The Happy Mondays belonged to the major Factory artists, among bands like Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio and The Durutti Column. The movie is named after their song '24 Hour Party People' which I'm listening to right now.

Discount Code from Office Shoes

2012-02-24T15:57:00.004-08:00

Office Shoes gives you a 10% discount on all full price items (Office Brand only). Just enter code OFFSS2 at checkout. The offer is valid until 28th February 2012. On their website you'll find the new spring and summer collection and also a new online magazine to read.

P&G Prestige and W Magazine hosted the ‘Ever Changing Face of Beauty’

2012-02-24T15:11:00.006-08:00

During New York Fashion Week the most influential names in beauty and fashion came together for a night dedicated to the exploration of beauty and its ever-changing aesthetics. The event showcased the “Ever-Changing Face of Beauty”, a film shot by acclaimed photographer Solve Sundsbo, that explores the idea of beauty in a constant state of transformation, crossing all boundaries of race, geography and gender. Insightful visual metaphors of beauty bring the film to life, illustrating a constantly shifting, constantly changing force that connects with and inspires viewers. Stills from the film have been captured by W to create an exclusive in-book fashion feature while the film itself will be featured on the Wmagazine.com Film Center. Among the many guests were Cate Blanchett, Evan Rachel Wood, Chris Evans, Sienna Miller and Felicity Jones.

Photos: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com

Advance Details of Upcoming Schiaparelli & Prada Exhibition at the Met

2012-02-24T14:40:00.002-08:00

The Metropolitan Museum of Art hosted a press presentation today at the Palazzo Reale in Milan to reveal early details about its upcoming exhibition, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations. Stefano Boeri, Miuccia Prada, and Anna Wintour joined Museum President Emily Rafferty and Curators Andrew Bolton and Harold Koda for a glimpse of some of the Schiaparelli and Prada objects which will be featured in the exhibition, on view from May 10 – August 19, 2012, at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
The works on view will be arranged in seven themed galleries:

"Waist Up/Waist Down" will look at Schiaparelli's use of decorative detailing as a response to restaurant dressing in the heyday of 1930s café society, while showing Prada's below-the-waist focus as a symbolic expression of modernity and femininity. An accessories subsection of this gallery called "Neck Up/Knees Down" will showcase Schiaparelli's hats and Prada's footwear.

"Ugly Chic" will reveal how both women subvert ideals of beauty and glamour by playing with good and bad taste through color, prints, and textiles.

"Hard Chic" will explore the influence of uniforms and menswear to promote a minimal aesthetic that is intended to both deny and enhance femininity.

"Naïf Chic" will focus on Schiaparelli and Prada's adoption of a girlish sensibility to subvert expectations of age-appropriate dressing.

"The Classical Body," which also incorporates "The Pagan Body," explores the designers' engagement with antiquity through the gaze of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

"The Exotic Body" will explore the influence of Eastern cultures through fabrics such as lamé, and silhouettes such as saris and sarongs.

"The Surreal Body" in the final gallery will illustrate how both women affect contemporary images of the female body through Surrealistic practices such as displacement, playing with scale, and blurring the boundaries between reality and illusion as well as the natural and the artificial.

Yves Saint Laurent - S/S 2012 Ad Campaign Video‏

2012-02-24T14:26:00.002-08:00

Yves Saint Laurent recently released their spring/summer 2012 ad campaign video which was shot by David Sims and features model MariaCarla Boscono.

Y-3 Autumn/Winter 2012-13

2012-02-23T10:30:00.013-08:00

For Autumn/Winter 2012, Y-3 treks through the steppes of Central Asia, blending tradition and modernity for a fusion of styles and shapes inspired by nomadic culture. The collection was presented at New York Fashion Week and Y-3 took the audience on a wild and rugged journey from the future to the past, all in the essence of designer Yohji Yamamoto. Y-3 explored the ways in which ancient nomadic tribes combine elements of traditional, ethnic dress with contemporary sport clothing—a look no doubt influenced by the presence of Western wanderers visiting the region. The result was an inspired take on winterwear, combining the futuristic sport style of adidas with a romantic vision: long, dramatic wool coats, sumptuous shearling jackets, nubby fleece knits, and fierce leopard prints. The collection found its origins in the idea of a nomadic existence and the very basic human need for protection, comfort, and beauty. To wit, the clothing emphasized texture, color, and silhouette, from chunky fleece knit sweaters and oversize plush shorts to bold tones of claret and jade to billowing capes, coats, and ponchos. As always, Y-3 placed an emphasis on modularity, featuring zippered lapels on jackets, removable felt collars and cuffs on shirts, and Velcro coat pockets that can be shifted around at will. Channeling a spiritual elegance, Y-3 deftly combined products of technology (like a breakthrough W-181 heat-trapping fabric once used by NASA) with the details of ethnic dress (like the vivid Ikat patterns running along the hem of a jacket). For women, this meant shawl-collar cardigan-robes with leopard collars; short and voluminous matelassé-quilted miniskirts; chic wool flannel jackets covered in a magnified animal print; long black parkas with waists tightly sculpted to resemble a corset; and vintage-inspired car coats inset with pieces of leather and ribbed knit. Many shirts, jackets, and sweaters featured elongated sleeves and rounded shoulders, emphasizing the dramatic draped silhouette. For men, Y-3 showed a series of sweeping black wool coats—again, a Yamamoto signature—trimmed in leopard-print faux ponyhair. Other men’s highlights included voluminous fisherman’s pants with a corseted lacing at the waist; twill suit jackets with built-in black leather vests; and, as in women’s, a series of deliciously sumptuous fleece jackets and shorts in black, white, and leopard-print trimmed in bright orange bungee cord. Y-3’s footwear built on the collection’s clash of modern and natural, offering sculpted booties draped in gray suede for women and tough-looking combat boots with built-in convertible suede legwarmers for men. And the classic adidas shell-toe shoe was adapted in a “flame” motif in a range of colorways for both women and men. “There is poetry and elegance to the way nomads dress,” Yamamoto said. “I want to capture that feeling and make it modern.”

Launch of Sequence Accessories‏

2012-02-22T13:19:00.004-08:00

SEQUENCE Accessories is a new label that has just launched. It has been founded by renowned fashion stylist and El Salvador native Ariela Suster who wants to introduce the beautiful craftsmanship of her home country to the world with a spring 2012 collection that draws inspiration from El Salvador through design, color, material, and origin. SEQUENCE is also launching a series of programs aimed at supporting girls in El Salvador. In partnership with the nonprofit organization Glasswing International, SEQUENCE is starting a series of Girls’ Club programs targeted at educating and building self-esteem. A portion of every sale will help fund weekly skill-building activities for these programs—and help expand to even more communities.

Feeling Beautiful: Matching Fashion to a Personality

2012-02-22T12:32:00.003-08:00

By: Jackie Clark

Every girl wants to feel beautiful. Beauty comes not only from what a person looks like on the outside, but also how they feel about themselves on the inside. However, sometimes, it can take changing a few materialistic things in order for someone's to truly accept their beauty for the first time. A woman's clothing can say a lot about her personality to the outside world. It can make her feel strong and confident, happy and flirty, and even, sexy.
Sometimes, it may be difficult for a woman to feel comfortable in her own skin. Women can end up choosing clothing that is comfortable and "safe" so that they blend in with the rest of the world and are not the center of attention. It is a subconscious act, but can make a huge difference in how a woman perceives herself.
Color plays a huge part in this. It is known that brighter colors make consumers feel happier. For example, a woman may feel sexier in a bright red dress rather than a brown one. The color gives off a certain vibe to the consumer when they put it on. This is especially important for consumers who are struggling daily to feel comfortable in their own. Women suffering from mesothelioma cancer paired with asbestos exposure, for example, are treated with surgery and chemotherapy treatments. These treatments may cause women to lose their hair and feel self-conscious about the way that they look. The brighter colors may highlight their inner beauty on the outside.
Also, the fabric that a woman chooses for her clothing can make a huge difference as well. Fashion has a lot to do with texture, as well as color. Certain fabrics can make a woman pop out of her quiet shell and embrace her figure. For example, when a dress is silky and smooth, tracing her skin, it can make her feel sensual, special, and even, dangerous. However, when a woman wears a cotton turtleneck, she may feel more reserved and quiet.
Women deserve to feel beautiful. Finding that beauty within themselves can take soul-searching and time. A woman's fashion should match her personality. Clothing and accessories have a magical way of making even the most shy woman extroverted and smile ear-to-ear. It is all about feeling vibrant and womanly. By looking in the mirror more often and loving the reflection staring back, a woman can truly accept her inner beauty and share it with the world.

This article has been written by Jackie Clark who's working for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance and it should help all women to feel beautiful even if they have been diagnosed with cancer and gone through a chemotherapy treatment. We hope this helps women who got the devastating cancer diagnosis to be able to say 'YES I have cancer', but I am no less beautiful than I was before my diagnosis. I'd also like to share this inspiring short clip from Sex and the City with all of you

Currently listening to: Lana Del Rey 'Born to die'

2012-02-22T09:54:00.002-08:00

I just love her music and the aesthetics of her videos.

First Pictures of Cheap Monday Store in London

2012-02-21T13:12:00.000-08:00

On February 17th Cheap Monday opened the doors of its first UK stand-alone store in Central London. The 330 sqm store carries the whole Cheap Monday range of womenswear, menswear, jeans, shoes, underwear, accessories, sunglasses and baby. Uglycute and Cheap Monday were in charge of architecture and concept. The store is located on 39 Carnaby Street, London W1F 7DS.

Burberry Prorsum Womenswear Fall/Winter 2012 Livestream

2012-02-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

Great news for all my readers who love Burberry as much as I do! On Monday, 20 February, you can watch the Burberry Prorsum womenswear fall/winter 2012 show live from London on here. The show will start at 4pm London time (5pm CET). I hope the trailer and photos I attached below will sweeten the waiting time for you until the livestream starts.

5PREVIEW Flash Collection Spring/Summer 2012‏

2012-02-15T12:09:00.006-08:00

5PREVIEW's brand new Flash Collection for Spring/Summer 2012 named 'Shoreline' will be released in stores by mid of April. Here is a preview.

Vogue Paris: Wham!

2012-02-14T09:55:00.002-08:00

For the launch of the new Vogue Paris website editor-in-chief Emmanuelle Alt and her team are dancing and lip-syncing to 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' by Wham. In the video they are joined by a few models, all dressed in typical 80's style with faded denims, high tops and white tees with a big black Vogue or Go-Go print. I totally like the idea and think it's a nice surprise to see the Vogue staff in a video like that because you would't expect it from THAT magazine. But on the other hand it's French Vogue and we should always expect the unexpected from them.

From Monki with Love‏

2012-02-14T09:45:00.003-08:00

Monki wishes us all a Happy Valentine's Day! Use code 'LOVE14' at checkout to get 14% off your whole order and free shipping all day until midnight. One order each, so hurry up and get yours in!

Adele in Burberry at the Grammy's

2012-02-13T13:55:00.001-08:00

Here's a photo of British musician Adele at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards last night where she collected three of the prestigious awards. She wore a midnight blue ink custom made Burberry gown.

Lorena Sarbu Fall/Winter 2012

2012-02-13T13:19:00.000-08:00

Lorena Sarbu gave her first ever Fashion Week presentation yesterday in New York and showed her stunning eveningwear with styles ranging from edgy and unfettered to sleek and sexy. From a red laser cut leather cocktail dress to a variety of enchanting sequined gowns, the designer’s combination of luxurious fabrics and intricate embellishments revealed her extensive design sensibility and proved her impeccable attention to detail. Lorena Sarbu's collection includes dresses in nude shades and bolder styles in bright red and blue.

Monika Chiang Fall/Winter 2012

2012-02-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

The MONIKA CHIANG fall 2012 presentation kicked off the first day of New York Fashion Week. Inspired by the notion of beauty found in unexpected places, the collection included an edgy fitted leather jacket with oversize shearling sleeves, a sexy leather zip-up skirt and various elements that seamlessly flowed together when combined. The clothes are made of luxe fabrics such as fur, leather and suede. Combined with high-top sneakers and studded flats a casual chic look was created while embellished clutches and studded pumps present the sexy vibe MONIKA CHIANG is known for.

Burberry - Be My V‏

2012-02-12T13:53:00.000-08:00

On February 14th is Valentine's Day and also Burberry celebrates the day of love with new accessories. From scarves to wallets - the colour red dominates the collection and makes our hearts beat faster. All accessories are available from now on at selected Burberry stores and online on Burberry.com

For her

For him

LN-CC Mens & Womens Spring/Summer 2012 Accessories Guide

2012-02-12T13:20:00.000-08:00

Here are some highlights from the spring/summer 2012 collections that are available at LN-CC. The selection includes pieces from their diverse range of accessories, music and books.

Men

Women

Paper Thin Shapewear Collection by Yummie Tummie

2012-02-12T04:58:00.000-08:00

Two days ago Yummie Tummie debuted an amazing new collection of paper-thin shapewear, called Paperdolls. The luxury, sheer tricot pieces are the ideal combination for women seeking sculpting technology and the feel of wearing next to nothing. The collection comes in traditional shade of black well as a new shades of flesh and twig. Paperdolls will be sold at major department stores, specialty stores and on YummieLife.com.

Markus Lupfer cooperates with shu uemura

2012-02-12T04:39:00.000-08:00

Markus Lupfer and Japanese cosmetic brand shu uemura cooperated on a Markus Lupfer for shu uemura collection that includes make-up cases in pink, blue and mint and a black gel eyeliner as well as an eye lash curler. The exclusive limited edition comes with a chic leopard print which fits perfectly to Lupfer's spring/summer 2012 collection 'Everything Under the Sun'. Markus Lupfer for shu uemura will be available from February 19th 2012 on at Selfridges London, Selfridges Trafford, Brown Thomas Dublin, the shu uemura boutique in London and on shuuemura.co.uk.

INTERVIEW Launch Party, Berlin - Red Carpet‏

2012-02-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

Last night the launch of INTERVIEW Germany was celebrated in Berlin in a former school for jewish girls. Bernd Runge and Vladislav Doronin, the publishers of the new magazine, editor-in-chief Jörg Koch and Anja Schwing, publisher, invited to a small, exclusive dinner in the Pauly Saal first. The party afterwards was attended by over 500 international guests who danced on three floors to the sounds of Linntronix, Marcelo Burlon and Discodromo. Guests included Naomi Campbell, Dr. Dieter Kosslick, Vito Schnabel, Julian Schnabel, Hannelore Elsner, Iris Berben, Natalia Wörner, August Diehl, Clemens Schick, Jake Gyllenhaal, Franz Dinda, Dr. Udo Kittelmann, Neil Barrett, Sibel Kekilli, Heike Makatsch, Alexander Scheer and Klaus Wowereit. At midnight Charlotte Gainsbourg sang chansons from her new CD and enthused the party guests with her 'charme Parisienne'. Gerard Malanga, a former collaborator of Andy Warhol, filmed 57 international celebs and creatives for the launch issue in Berlin. The party was also a vernissage of these screen tests which will be exhibited for the next four weeks in the former Jewish Girls School in Berlin. The next INTERVIEW Germany will be released on February 29, 2012.