Month: December 2010

Staple x Oakley Sunglasses

I love me some Frogskins, so the Staple x Oakley Frogskins collaboration caught my eye at Colette. This special edition eyewear design was created in collaboration with Jeff Staple, founder of Staple Design and Reed Space of New York. Since 1997, Staple Design has created one of the most respected street culture brands in the world. Oakley was founded in 1975, the same year Staple was born. Jeff Staple continues to revisit the most legendary models of the Oakley brand, and it was the turn of the famous “Frogskins” to display the symbols of the brand of the founder of Staple Design and Reed Space in New York.Frame features two tones of grey, translucent plastic, “Pigeon” laser etched on the lens, matte black. In addition to the reworked Frogskin, Jeff Staple created a new design for Oakley, the STPL Holbrook Sunglasses. These sunglasses are polarized and can fit prescription lens. The color inspiration for the STPL HOLBROOKâ„¢ is falling snow, and the frame carries accents on the stems of its Polished White frame. Staple chose …

Danier Design Challenge – Top 10 Finalists

The top 10 finalists for the Danier Design Challenge have been chosen. The second year of the DANIER DESIGN CHALLENGE is well under way at the Ryerson School of Fashion. Having begun with 75 third year design students, the esteemed panel of judges including Robert Ott, Chair of Ryerson’s School of Fashion, Olga Koel, DANIER’s chief merchandising officer, legendary style reporter Jeanne Beker, top fashion director George Antonopoulos, and fashion editor of the Globe and Mail, Tiyana Grulovic along with public votes have narrowed the field to 10 young hopefuls. Already through the elimination process based on preliminary sketches, video presentations and muslin prototypes, the remaining finalists will now be judged on their completed leather garment and marketing presentation. At stake are three top prizes including; $2,000 for the third place, $3,000 for second place and $5,000 along with the inclusion of the winning design in select DANIER retail locations for first place; the winners will be announced at an intimate awards ceremony at the Ryerson School of Fashion, January 2011. This year’s finalists are; …

Star Wars x Adidas Spring Summer 2011

The Star Wars and Adidas collaboration is going strong. The Spring Summer 2011 collection is full of some fun clothing that is heavy on the Boba Fett. I wasn’t all that jazzed about the shoes except for the Imperial Guard ones. They are beautiful. See the rest of the collection at Sneaker Freaker Magazine. images: sneakerfreaker.com

PULP Magazine – Winter 2010 The Individualism Issue

The new issue of PULP Magazine is out. PULP Magazine – Issue 2 – Winter 2010 The Individualism Issue has some great editorials. I asked Juliana Schiavinatto, publisher a few questions. AC: Why did you start an online magazine? JS: The intent with PULP was to start a magazine with a new voice, a place where new ideas could be touched on through images and long editorials. It became online since that was the best way to self publish a magazine of this nature, but it has also allowed us to get a following and to reach an international audience. Online magazines are becoming more and more relevant, people want to look at new information and imagery faster than ever, and online magazines have the ability to deliver that. Now after 2 issues online we are looking at going to print for Issue #3 as well as maintaining a strong online presence. AC: Can you elaborate on the theme of Issue 2, Individualism? JS: The theme for Issue #2, Individualism, felt important at this time …

Aquilano.Rimondi Spring Summer 2011

It was a beautiful dinner at Trattoria Giancarlo at Clinton and College for the Aquilano.Rimondi designer dinner. Holt Renfrew invited select media to have dinner with one half of Aquilano.Rimondi. Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi were the brains being 6267 and decided to change the name of the line to something more personal. I hadn’t payed much attention to Aquilano.Rimondi or 6267 much before the dinner.  Two models displayed select items from the Aquilano.Rimondi Spring Summer 2011 collection before the food was served. I noticed the beautiful prints first. The dresses were just divine looking and very sexy with the super high thigh slit. Check out the Aquilano.Rimondi spring summer 2011 collection video. images: style.com

Hermes Holiday Windows 2010

There are a couple videos out there showcasing the Hermès Holiday Windows for 2010. The French version is displayed below. The English version is hosted on youtube but it won’t play as an embedded video. You can see the English version here. (EDIT – The link is working now) Lever de rideaux sur les vitrines de Noël d’Hermès Uploaded by afp-mode. – Watch the latest news videos.

Wish You Were Here, Bergdorf Goodman 2010 Holiday Windows

I might not live in NYC but Bergdorf Goodman were nice enough to send me pictures and information about their 2010 holiday windows called Wish You Were Here. Reminiscent of a patinated Vaudeville stage set, “The Scenic Route” features an antique caboose pulling out of the station. A hand painted moving backdrop animates the scene while a mannequin dressed in an Oscar de la Renta gown makes her exit stage right. “Full Speed Ahead” takes viewers inside a ship rolling gently on a sea voyage. Amidst a lavish collection of nautical antiques, a mannequin clad in a one-of-a-kind striped outfit by designer Naeem Khan keeps company with an international cadre of miniature antique sailors.. “Day Tripping” invites viewers to come along for a spur-of-the-moment jaunt to the moon. The glittery lunar dreamscape is inspired by the 1902 silent film, “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” by Georges Melies, plus a generous dose of mid-century touches a la Flash Gordon and an aquatic nod to Jules Verne. In “A Guided Tour,” a gigantic gold and ivory wooden …

We Are Handsome Spring Summer 2011

I’m on a bit of a swimwear kick right now and I think We Are Handsome is the best. I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve posted about them. This Australian based company should know a thing about swimwear. The We Are Handsome Spring Summer 2011 collection is in their print heavy style. They make a great one piece that can be worn on and off the beach. There aren’t any retailers in Canada but they are carried by Opening Ceremony and Opening Ceremony Ace Hotel in New York City. There are a few online retailers and net-a-porter.com carries them. images: wearehandsome.com

Holt Renfrew’s Happy Christmas Windows 2010

I’m not a big fan of the holiday season but I love Holiday/Christmas windows. First up is Holt Renfrew’s Happy Christmas windows. Happy Christmas is a very English saying that works because the Weston’s (Holt Renfrew’s owners) are British. “We took the most iconic symbol of Christmas, the tree, and featured it running lengthwise through every window in our stores across the country” says John Gerhardt, Creative Director of Holt Renfrew. “Each window features characters attending holiday festivities: from party guests unloading their wares for a traditional Christmas dinner, to friends and family bringing their gifts for under the tree wrapped in Holt Renfrew’s iconic magenta boxes” Gerhardt says, “These vignettes mimic the frenzied and fantastical chaos of this most exciting time of year.” There was no fanfare this year. No party or special musical guest. The 2010 holiday windows goes back to the throw everything and the kitchen sink approach that I love. My favourite windows are still from 2006, Merry Making Mischief and I wrote about them at blogTO. I also liked 2009’s …

Greta Constantine Fall Winter 2010 Campaign Starring Tara Gill

During the summer I was invited to the Greta Constantine Fall Winter 2010 campaign photoshoot. It was all hush, hush and I couldn’t release any photos till after the official launch. The campaign stars the lovely Tara Gill and was shot by Gabor Jurina. I got photos and videos of the backstage goings on. I got a couple good shots of Tara myself. She’s a beautiful woman. See more behind the scenes shots in the slideshow. Greta Constantine is available in Canada at Holt Renfrew. Greta Constantine Atelier is available at Rac Boutique.

TOMMY Spring 2011 Presentation

The TOMMY team does such a great job with their fashion presentations. I loved what they did for the TOMMY fall 2010 and I even enjoyed the clothing.  For Spring Summer 2011 they did away with the models and hung the clothing strategically on the walls of Thrush Holmes Empire. “The Spring 2011 collection truly reflects the playful design concept that makes the new TOMMY collection so exciting”, said Tommy Hilfiger. “For spring I love the mix of pattern on pattern and the new pop of color – neon.” Spring summer 2011 was very bright and print heavy for both men and women. I loved the ikat patterns and the use of neon. There is a short neon skirt I need badly.  I was more interested in the maxi skirts and shorts than the tops. “The women’s collection is all about the well-traveled girl who loves to mix treasures from her exotic adventures with her everyday looks. The men’s collection touts nautical with neon, amplifying the traditional preppy look with color blocking, pops of color …

Comme des Garcons’ Seoul Flagship Store

I remember visiting the Comme des Garçons’ store in New York during fashion week. It was stark white and beautiful. They have opened a new flagship in Seoul, Korea.  I love the presentation with the hats and handbags being my favourite displays It might be celebrated for its guerilla stores that have been popping up since 2004, but Comme des Garçons has just unveiled a new permanent venture – an epic new flagship store in Seoul. Part futuristic rabbit warren, part conceptual shopping space, ‘Five Tunnels’ joins the brand’s clutch of permanent stores located in design hubs around the world. Led by the fashion label founder and designer, Rei Kawakubo, the project started with the ambitious redesign of an existing building. The resulting white-lacquer and glass space is, at 1600sq m, one of their biggest stores yet. Spanning seven mezzanine levels and stocking the entire Comme des Garçons collection, it’s a more than adequate answer to the brand’s growing South Korean fan base. There’s even a room dedicated to the popular ‘Beatles’ clothing collection that …

Tosca Delfino Spring Summer 2011

I’m liking some pieces from former George Brown student, Tosca Delfino.  Spring Summer 2011 is her first independent collection. Tosca Delfino studied fashion construction and design in Toronto and Milan, at George Brown College and Istituto di Moda Burgo, respectively. Experience at prestigious fashion houses such as Missoni, Valentin Yudashkin and Arthur Mendonca has shaped Delfino’s vibrant design aesthetic. Now Milan-based, she pairs lively, original prints with fresh, feminine patterns and delivers cosmopolitan collections; the line first appeared on Australia Fashion Week’s runways in 2010. I’m normally not a fan of two piece suits but I like the high waisted versions. The collection will come in sizes S/M and M/L and it will retail from $98.99 to $120.99CAD. The prices are very good as swimwear can be very pricey. Look for points of sale information in the new year. See the whole Spring Summer 2010 collection in the slideshow images: courtesy of Tosca Delfino

Sacai Spring Summer 2011

I’m loving that Sacai is becoming more popular. Style.com has posted the collection for two seasons in a row now. There are more photos available of the collections and now instead of judys we get real models. I love Sacai’s Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 collection. Chitose Abe, Sacai’s designer,creates contradictions that work. In typical Sacai style, tweeds and knits combined with anorak details create a unique look. Items looks like separates but are really one piece. You can find Sacai at Holt Renfrew. images: thefashionspot.com

Playing in Philip Sparks Spring Summer 2011

There is something about playing dressup in designer samples that is just so much fun. I was playing with Jeremy Laing a few days ago and now it’s Philip Sparks turn. Excitement was the only way to describe how I felt when I learned that Philip was creating a women’s line. I had to sit on this information for months. I was part of a group of women that Philip talked to while developing his line. We saw fabric samples, patterns and even tried on muslins. Amazingly no one said anything during those agonizing months until Brill Communications released the information to the industry’s surprise. I stopped by the studio on the weekend to chill out, eat cheeseball and drink holiday punch. As soon as I realized that some of the collection was available, I had to play dress-up. So much good stuff in this collection. Great colours, prints and silhouettes.   It’s going to be a Philip Sparks summer. Thanks for taking the photos Phil.

ECCO Spring Summer 2011

I really enjoyed ECCO’s fall winter 2010 season but a lot of that was based around the boot. I wondered what the ECCO team would be up to this spring summer season. Nautical was the theme and blue was a dominate colour.  I perfered the casual shoes to the sandals.  ECCO is following trends though and they’ve added clogs. I’m not a clog person but I like the Swedish Hasbeens for some reason. The ECCO clogs are interesting because they’ve created a sole that flexes.  You can see it in the above photo, it’s the black area. They also introduced a line of bags at a lower price point. ECCO is bringing back their first breakthrough as a company, the Joke shoe from 1978 from a long hiatus. I was instantly reminded of a pair of Mag shoes I have. Mag must have taken some vintage inspiration. I usually grip about getting paper based lookbooks. The ECCO one was well done. There are a lot of macro shots of the products which reminds me of …

To Lee, With Love, Nick – A Tribute to Alexander McQueen

Nick Knight and Bjork teamed up to create this stunning tribute to the late Alexander McQueen. Celebrating the breathtaking imagination and groundbreaking designs of Lee Alexander McQueen, the latest fashion film by Nick Knight pays tribute to McQueen’s sensational creations, stellar career, and most importantly to the man himself. Directed by Knight and set to an exclusive soundtrack by Björk, the film is featured online at SHOWstudio.com.

Hudson Collection Spring Summer 2011 Preview

I hit up The Mint Agency spring summer 2011 preview and got a look at the new Hudson Collection items that will be available at Holt Renfrew next year. I’m so happy with the Hudson jeans I own (thx Hudson). They fit great and make me look long and lean, irregardless of style. They are everything I want in a pair of jeans and are making other brands on my shelf a little lonely. At my day job, I have Denim Days till the end of the year. It’s a charity thing. Normally my office is business casual from Monday to Thursday. I turn up in my appropriate but fashion crazy outfits, like skyscraper platform heels and asymmetrical dresses. I’m living in my Hudson’s right now, it’s awesome. In October, I teamed up with The Mint Agency and Hudson to launch the fall winter 2010 Hudson Collection at Holt Renfrew. The Hudson Collection is a high end version that differs due to their handmade nature. I liked the fall winter 2010 collection so I was …