SALE SPREE

Acne Duchess dress now €120

Ossie Clark(Matches) t-shirt now €52

It's that time of year again when one can't help but check out all the gorgeous new AW/09 looks appearing all over our favourite online stores. I have already written a wish list from the Acne and Matches online store alone. However it is worth diverting your eyes away just for a little longer, as there is a feast of sales cropping up across some of the most exciting, and independent online stores such as: Farfetch, Tresbienshop,Branten, Scouthestore, Matches, Doshaburi, Ok-ni and Surface to Air. There are bargains galore on all these sites with some items slashed to 70%.I have put together a little selection of treats to choose from. Browse and shop to your hearts content and remember to acknowledge the fact that you are supporting the independent designers which these online boutiques promote. I hope I have inspired some online shopping sprees.

Martin Margiela blazer (Tresbienshop) now €208

Tsumori Chisato dress (Tresbienshop) now €305

Beyond the Valley Jacket (Farfetch) now €180

JC de Castelbajac dress (Farfetch) now €70

Tsumori Chisato cuff (Farfetch) now €71

Henrik Vibskov shirt (Scouthestore) now €90

Henrik Vibskov Vest (Scouthestore) now €105

Diana Orving dress (Scouthestore) now €55

Comme Des Garconnes jacket (Farfetch) now €486

Bernhard Willhelm dress (Farfetch) now €350

Unisex Menswear

Regularly I stumble upon online shops with menswear that far surpasses the womenswear collections on offer however, I was happy to discover that Swedish label Odeur define themselves as a unisex menswear collection. The label launched in 2006 and is designed by duo Petter Hollstrom and Anna Lidstrom, it is stocked in several conceptual stores worldwide including; Temporary Showroom (Berlin),Rubber Soul (Oslo), Doshaburi (Barcelona) as well as a stream of stores throughout Sweden and Japan. According to Odeur "All garments are endorsed with the scent of Odeur- an androgynous, clean, white and light scent". I reckon it was imperative that I mention their adept description of this scent which is as follows, “the aroma chosen to represent Odeur is based on a number of visual factors; the clean lines of the clothing with an almost androgynous alien look. By using aromas that stem from the higher scale, the scent of Odeur has become a light, white and clean fragrance. The scent is meant to be clean and unusual, but not a quirky sexual fragrance. It is not gender specific, and the chosen aroma covers all natural elements. It is fresh, clean and modern”-Odeur.



Images from http://www.odeur.se/

It was the crisp white cardigan above that enticed my attention, it is so intelligently constructed with its strategically placed snap fasteners and its asymmetric drape to one side. The nonchalant styling in the lookbook suits the construction of the piece, I like how it is slung loosely over the low crotch black trousers and alternatively styled over white skinny jeans for a preppier look. I would probably wear a long black Isabel Marant linen top underneath and pop a vintage snakeskin belt around the waist for a slightly more feminine take on the look.

Back to Basics

Dress&leggings@ http://americanapparel.net/
T-shirts by Nakkna@ http://www.weekday.se/
L-R (clockwise)Dress& hoodie@ American Apparel, Jumpers@ Nakkna for Weekday , Zip dress@ Surface to Air

Personally, I find that good basics are always the most difficult part of a wardrobe to source or perhaps I'm just a fusspot, but when it comes to having the perfect black top to layer under a summer dress or when I want to keep my look simple by wearing monochromes, adding basic wear to a wardrobe can be a challenge. Needless to say one can easily find adequate basics from the likes of Primark but when you care about every little design feature or the quality of the fabrics that you wear, then basics matter a hell of a lot. From finding that suitable simple vest that is just long enough to cover love handles, to that slender slip dress that you require to create a layered look, the search for that item can be quite arduous. And once you do discover your love for good quality basics, there is no going back. A basics love affair also exists within menswear but it can prove to be even more complicated because there tends to be an abundance of basics, so choosing the right piece becomes the hard bit. Here are some of the best basics around.Enjoy.

L/R (Clockwise)t-shirts@ Acne ,trenchcoat@ Surface to Air
Unisex shirt@ Slow & Steady Wins the Race

A.P.C trousers @ Tresbienshop

Krazy for KTZ

Kokon to Zai (KTZ) is the brainchild of super talented duo Sasko Bezovski and Marjan Pejoski who collectively work in the varying fields of fashion design, buying,djing and styling.Each season brings about an even more experimental collection from the innovative London based label, and the current season is no exception taking its inspiration from Blade Runner, and tribal references.The spring summer 09 collection is mega jeweled,overly embellished,colourful, and full of the archetypal KTZ personality, they are the type of clothes that make you want to leap around the streets or dance your socks off. It's couture clubwear for want of a new genre of fashion. What's more, the label won the New Generation award this season so a few select pieces from the collection are stocked in Topshop as part of the Edit concession which also includes: Marios (Italy), Diana Orving (Sweden),Grey Ant(LA) and Starstyling(Berlin) for a limited period only.Also available from

I ordered the tubed leather jacket (pictured below) from last seasons collection and I just adore it, I haven't worn it that much because it's just one of those special pieces. It has a marvellous texture of patented leather with hard leather tubing embossed over the leather to create a 3D like effect. There is a sort of superhero effect in wearing their clothes because of the powerful design execution, every design detail is considered down to the lining of the pockets (see below green stripe lining).

Carin Wester for the Summer

A graduate of Beckhams College of design in Stockholm, Carin Wester launched her label in 2003. She was awarded “Newcomer Designer of the year” in 2005 by Swedish Elle magazine. Her collection has gone from strength to strength over the past few seasons and the mens collection is now well incorporated into the label.I first saw one of her lace pieces in Jalouse magazine and I have checked up on the label ever since. It was her AW/08 nautical series that I really fell head over heels for when I viewed the collection at Rendez Vous.I am the proud owner of the Ismeralda black dress and the Iris jersey dress.I will post a photo of one of these at the end of the post.The mens collection is not for the faint hearted man, it takes a brave young man to carry off pink pants but kudos all round if you can! The suiting is exceptional, I love the fact that is understated and a little sloppy, but still manages to be sophisticated in its own non-chalant way.

Weekday store in Sweden began a new project recently called Weekday Extended, whereby they hand -pick a Swedish designer to specially design a limited edition collection. Carin Wester was one of the selected and CW by Carin Wester turned out to be a fun mini collection. I would like to get my hands on the black jersey corset dress, a comfy corset, how is that possible?

My Ismeralda dress.

Goya for Gold

Normally, I'm not a great fan of acidic colours like orange and yellows, however Danish designer Stine Goya has changed my one colour vision after seeing her luminous SS/09 collection. I might just venture away from my signature black. Thankfully she re-introduced gold this season in the form of trousers and accessories, perhaps this was down to the success of that memorable gold dress , a prominent piece from last season. The down tempo prints of polka dot and colour blocking dilute the strong citrus tones perfectly, altogether the collection exudes a wearability that one wouldn't expect from such a design dominant collection. The collection is available from Dublin store Indigo and Cloth or online from the v-store in Denmark.


>

(c)Sacha Maric

Tactile Textiles

The interview in my previous post was based on Diana's AW08 collection which is still available to buy online on circusstore.net with a 40% discount! The SS09 collection is just as beautiful and delicate as former collections, I viewed it during PFW in the Swedish showroom 0046. The prints in her current collection are inspired by her working environment and her choice of fabrics come in a selection of diaphanous silk chiffons and soft summer jerseys.

Diana Orving created the most enthralling textile exhibition at the Nordic Light Hotel in Stockholm, a collection of the most exquisite fabrics hang in the lobby of the hotel and decorate selected rooms. Her draping techniques are simply genius.

<

Diana Orving:The Drape Expert

(1) When did you decide to pursue fashion design?
Actually, I never did. It just happened. My ambition was to become a dancer or choreographer . The fashion design was only an interest. I started to sell handmade one-offs to small boutiques in Stockholm, when I was 15 years old. Then I hurt my knees and I realised I wouldn’t be able to work with dance. I created more and more clothes and got really good responses from stylists and media. I guess I got more and more interested in what I created and also found ways of integrating my influences from literature, dance and art into my work. Two years ago I decided to take it more serious and started with production. I started to work with agents in Japan, USA and Canada, so it feels really exciting that my clothes are now being sold outside Sweden. Swedes have a great sense for fashion, but the market is too small for good quality avant- garde brands.

(2) How does living in Sweden effect your work?
I think Sweden is quite calm and sometimes a boring place. Being bored is sometimes really good for your creativity. At the moment I really love Stockholm and I am not bored at all. I work in a wonderful studio in central Stockholm, which I share with 40 other artists, writers, photographers and designers. I get really inspired by all those creative and talented people. There are vernissage parties, book launches and clubbing almost every night, so you need to be really disciplined to keep focused on your work!…But I work constantly and love it.

(3) Draping appears to be a recurrent theme throughout your SS 08 collection, where does this design technique originate?
I have no formal education, so I didn’t learn any of the rules when I started creating clothes, I developed my own techniques. The method of creating directly on living bodies rather than on paper is essential for me. I always get inspired by bodies and their movements. I think that in some kind of a way that I make clothes that encourage movement, every piece should ask for altering. Often when using the draping technique the result can never be directly cut out or even closely foreseen. Instead it’s a paradoxical process of constantly improvising and following the fabrics own characteristics.



(4) Is there a story behind the beautiful print that you used in the SS/08 collection?
The print visualise my process that I explained in the previous question. When I start a new shape I work with fabric and drape it on a mannequin, on a friend, or on myself. The prints are photos of some of my draping experiments. I like the way people first think the print is a big flower, then, they look closer and realise it is something else…..


(5) Mannequin Neutral and The Seven Person Costume are your two previous art installations, do you plan to create more in the future?
Yes, definitely. During the process of my AW/08 collection I worked with actresses from the Swedish Royal Dramatic Theatre. I organised workshops where we talked, wrote, and improvised. Instead of having an ordinary fashion show they showed the collection on stage. I draw inspiration from personal stories, expressed in the way that all people stage their personal persona whether they have formulated an interest in fashion or not. Fashion is interesting because everyone can relate to it. Fashion is about dreams and shortcomings.

(6) Who is your favorite designer/artist?
My favorite artists are Sophie Calle and Louise Bourgeouise. I love their work!

Interview by Ciara O Donovan (Style-Sphere)

Boots for all seasons

Minimarket has created yet another fantastic pair of boots, the swedish sister trio have come up trumps again this season with their SS/09 edition of last winters success. I bought my pair from Swedish online store tresbienshop.net and wore them through the whole winter until I bought my new favorite AF Vandervorst ankle boots (that is another story). But back to the Minimarket boots, they have created ones with zips up the back instead of laces and they come in a choice of black, blue, or green. I can't love these boots enough, they survived trudging through Paris fashion week last season and attracted many long gazes as well as questions, from the adoring fashion crowd. One sales agent from London label Ashish even bought the last pair from tresbienshop after spotting them on me. So get in fast and buy yourself a pair of those summer booties.

And below me wearing my minimarket booties with a Camilla Staerk dress.