Collaboration Alert: Cambridge Satchel Company

This Autumn/Winter is the season of the highly coveted British satchel. Becoming more popularised throughout the year, the bag was seen on the arms of numerous fashion elite during fashion week, none more so than the Cambridge satchel.

Most recently Dover Street Market has launched a new collaboration with the Cambridge Satchel Company designed by Rei Kawakubo. This sought-after satchel has created a wave of excitement through the fashion world, with everyone wanting a piece of this sought after collection.

Starting from £200 these limited-edition satchels can be found on the Fourth floor and are available in two sizes and come in matte leather, in colours such as charcoal black, chocolate brown and snow white and also tempting metallic finishes.

Images from: http://www.doverstreetmarket.com/

Q&A With Melissa Coker, 'Wren Clothing'

Born and raised in Lake Forest, Illinois, Melissa Coker, the founder of Wren Clothing has had a colourful and exciting progression from intern to owner of her own womenswear collection. In 2007 Coker launched LA Based ‘Wren’, known for her free-spirited exuberance and restrained elegance, Coker has quickly become a leader of low-key sophistication in fashion. Late 2008 Coker began collaborating with friend and filmmaker Alia Raza to create innovative video look books of her collections, with the SS09 video called “Another Three Woman”. Wren Clothing is featured in such fashion publications like Elle, Nylon, Marie Claire (US & UK), Lucky, and Women’s Wear Daily (US & UK). With the likes of such prestigious publications calling out for Coker’s designs to be featured it’s no wonder why celebrities and indie icons alike such as; Alexa Chung, Keria Knightly Reese Witherspoon and Zooey Deschanel are fans. Q: Have you always wanted to be a designer and if not then what? A: I started out working in editorial at Vogue & W magazine. It wasn’t until I was recruited to provide trend forecasting and design direction that I began thinking about making the transition to being a designer. Q: Arethere any designers that you aspire to be like? A: I love Charles Anastase. Q: As a designer, what do you hope to gain? A: I design with myself in mind — making things that I am looking for and wanting to wear.Each season it’s like getting a whole new wardrobe. Q: What defines your collections style? A: Classic & feminine, with a tomboy’s touch. Wearable & about an individual’s style rather than being overly trendy. Q: If you could only pick one piece from your collection as your favorite what would it be & why? A: Right now there is a silk paisley printed dress from fall that is in very heavy rotation within my wardrobe. Q: What do you find inspirations and how do these things influence your work? A: My biggest inspiration is people I see on the street, friends, real women. It’s mostly how people put themselves together, the styling and the like. Q: Where do you go to relax? A: If I’m in LA, I go hiking in Griffith Park & out to dinner with friends. In New York, I love having a drink with friends at the Bowery Hotel. Q: Name three key trends for SS12 A: I’m loving Varsity sweaters, pattern mixing & accordian pleating Q: What kind of creative direction do you want to take your next collection in? A: To be determined! Working on that as we speak Q: In the next five years where would you like to be? A: Brick & Mortar stores, accessories & shoes lines. Intimates would be lovely too. Images from: http://www.wren-clothing.com/

Winter Warmers

As the temperature drops and the sky opens the need arises to wrap up warm, in the all time winter staple; the coat. This season sees a whirlwind of coats, that just like colours, are coming in an array of different styles and shapes. Most notably perhaps is the overcoat. With masculine tailoring, double breasted and broad shoulders these versatile pieces bridge the gap between classic day to night wear. Designers such as Aquascutum, Paul & Joe and Sportmax took their inspirations from the overcoats silhouette, to create an all round winning winter wear piece. After searching high and low I have compiled my top winter warmers to share with you and hopefully inspire. After all, a coat can last a lifetime if chosen wisely. So this season be wild with your colours, be whimsical with choosing silhouettes but most importantly - be warm. Because who said you can’t stay snug without compromising your style? From top right: D&G Oversized Wool Blazer (£635), Nicole Miller coat Spatial Perspective Wool Coat ($785), Prabal Gurung Dip Dye Jacket ($2,500), Stella McCartney Metallic Foil-Covered Wool Coat ($2,325), Fendi Oversized Color-Block Wool Coat ($1,675), Lot78 Blake Shearling and Leather Biker Jacket ($1,925), TIBI Novelty Outerwear Caban Jacket ($1,251), Burberry Checked Mohair-Blend Tulip Coat With Leather Trim (£2,395), Jaeger Double-Breasted Jacket (£451) Images from: http://www.polyvore.com/

Balmain SS12: Fashion Film

If there was anyone who could embody the urban, downtown cool of Balmain's SS12 collection it's model Abbey Lee Kershaw.

Balmain's short film follows Abbey Lee and her band, Our Mountain, throughout New York City, whilst capturing the essence of this highly anticipated, raw and edgy collection.

Directed by Inez and Vinoodh, this film features pieces from Balmain women’s and men’s collection worn by Abbey Lee and her boyfriend, Our Mountain front man Matthew Hutchinson.

Model Watch: Linn Arvidsson

Encapsulating ice blue eyes and silken, ethereal blonde locks Linn has fast created a buzz in the fashion industry. With a look so whimsical and fascinating it was only a matter of time before the Swedish born beauty was discovered, not even 15 at the time Linn was scouted by Mikas Models in her home of Sweden.

Since then it seems the whole world of fashion has been touched by her unique, porcelain elegance. At 5′11 Linn currently is on the books of New York based DNA Models, Why Not Models in Milan and Viva Models in London & Paris. Linn has featured in numerous runway show and editorials such as the Autumn/Winter issue of i-D magazine. If one thing is for certain great things are in the coming for Linn, the fairytale Pixie from Sweden.

Image from: http://www.mikas.se/

Neon Glow

A hot neon glow is currently radiating from the colour spectrum of Australian fashion this season, and if there’s one thing this culture can handle it’s the hot, hot heat. This kaleidoscopic playfulness of colour partied into the small hours of the morn through out the 1980s, in the form of transferable multi-tonal pieces such as wetsuits for the beach and bodycons in the clubs. Far from letting the flame die out for this incandescent trend Australian Designer Alexandra Blak has revived the use of neon with an invigorating shot of adrenaline straight to the heart. Statement sculptured pieces epitomizes the essence of hedonistic pleasures without tipping into a frenzy of glow stick overload. Hand carved Lucite; give a sophisticated edge, with a bold oasis of opulent semi-transparent colour. Wrist cuffs are embellished with futuristic spectrums of florescent pink, electric tangerine and zingy lime that glows with an unmistakable luminosity, while the use of a sci-fi influence lends itself to Blak’s bold chokers and bib collars for a modern sun warrior aesthetic. Hand-knotted rope was used to contrast with black Lucite in necklaces, whilst super-sized looped earrings are reminiscent of a hyper-saturated, day-glow Barbie. No matter how it is used there is no denying the intriguing twist on colour and form, that some how, inexplicably forges a lust for all that allows for an adventure into the neon vortex of fashion. Image from: http://www.alexandrablak.com.au/

Q&A With PROSE

Graduating in 2007 from the University of Design, Pforzheim Miriam was selected for the impressive Master Course at Central Saint Martins in London. But Miriam had other ideas, deciding to launch her own label ‘Prose’. Since then the label has gone from strength to strength, with the collection showcasing at London Fashion Week in 2008.

I wanted to discover a bit more about one of the most exciting and up and coming designers of this generation, and who better to ask than Miriam herself. As to her beginnings, the future and which musician is a must know, now.

Q: Have you always wanted to be a designer and if not then what? A: No, it was about creative expression...creating something I could have imagined becoming a singer as well...

Q: What defines your collections style? A: PROSE´s vision of womenswear is a pure aesthetic language not bound to trends but timeless. Innovative, experimental surfaces, artistic prints with soft sculptural draping to form the handwriting of the label.

Q: If you could only pick one piece from your collection as your favorite what would it be & why? A: probably the skeleton leather dress for my personal use and my wardrobe.

Q: What inspires or influences the collections and how do you keep this look fresh each season? A: I get inspired from nature, I love to experiment with materials and surfaces and so far it seems I’m not getting tired of that.

Q: Where did the name Prose originate? A: Prose is a literary genre. Novels are prose, as are novellas, letters and even newspaper articles. I have named my label Prose, my aim being to express diversity and openness in the fashion statement I make.

Q: You showcased at London Fashion Week in September. Where do you next hope to be showcasing your collections? A: I’m planning to show constantly at LFW. Nowhere else is given so much support to young designers.

Q: What is your preferred music to listen to when you are working and have you discovered any new musicians or bands recently that we should know about? A: I’m totally in love with Lana del Rey!

Q: What kind of creative direction do you want to take your next collection in and why? A: At the very beginning of a collection I never know where the journey will take me too. There are so many different ideas and at the end some will compliment another and others will not make it to the final.

Q: In the next five years where would you like to be? A: Watching my label steadily and healthily grow!

Images from: http://www.prose-studio.com/