Blog

We're happy to report that Ashtray, one of our favorite online shopping destinations of the moment has reopened after a several month hiatus. The shop stocks items from some of the most promising young designers in Sweden.

Julian Red black knitted hoodie

Julian Red red knitted sweater

Nakkna block print T-shirt

Nakkna wide black chinos

Our Legacy white rib T-shirt

Permanent Vacaction blue/beige shirt

Permanent Vacaction blue/white dress

Richard Lindqvist knit cardigan jacket

Ulrika Sandström T-shirt at Styleserver (109 EURO)

Last week, we reported on Oak's "Bond Age" collection set to debut on Monday, September 8th to celebrate fashion week and Oak's relatively new Bond Street location. To recap, Oak worked with some of their favorite designers to create limited edition products around the theme of bondage, available for sale at their Bond Street location as well as online from September 8th to September 11th.

The collection debuted online yesterday, and we have to say: it is one of the most inspired store/brand collaborations we have seen in quite some time. Some designers adapted their well established aesthetic to fit the bondage theme, like say Complex Geometries' jersey binder dress. Other's ventured completely out of their element (don't expect to see anything like Vena Cava's naked print T-shirt to appear in their next collection). But it was all in good fun and succeeded in producing some seriously cool, seriously sexy, and sometimes seriously raunchy designs.

Erik Hart "You" T-shirt ($96)

Complex Geometries jersey binder dress ($292)

Look from London corset tights ($32)

Boyfriend snap headband ($78)

Erik Hart "Me" T-shirt ($96)

Robert Mapplethorpe early polaroids book

Julian Red monkie hoodie ($248)

Much, much more available here and here.

On of the better retail endeavors we've seen in a while is certainly Très Bien's store in store concept. The idea of a store in a store--where a shop will carry most or all of a particular designers collection in a designated area of their space--is nothing new. But a store in store is not often done by a small boutique, nor does it usually happen simultaneously in the physical location and online. Last season, Tres Bien did a store in store with Swedish menswear label Our Legacy. This season they've added Danish fashion wunderkind Henrik Vibskov to the mix. If not in Sweden, you can follow the store in store action for Vibskov and Our Legacy here and here respectively. Meanwhile, we've picked out a few of our favorites so far below:

Henrik Vibskov

Our Legacy

Jason Nevikov geometric T-shirt at Oak ($65)

If you like their black acrylic triangle necklace, or their sterling silver spike earrings, then you're going to like Alex & Chloe's latest project. For Spring 2009 they are introducing a full line of T-shirts for men and women. The T-shirts are enzyme washed, come mostly in black and white, and ascribe to the same aesthetic as their jewelry line.

Cavern illustrated T-shirts at Beklina ($108)

Alexander Wang loose fit print T-shirt dress at La Garconne ($166)

2008 seems to be year where the online boutique (as opposed to the online shop) has come into its own. We've seen at least 10 online only boutiques open up, each with a fresh perspective in a time when it seems everything has already been done. I Dont Like Mondays is our latest such addition to the guide. The New York based boutique carries the types of cool, easy-to-wear clothes we'd expect to see at a New York dance party on a balmy summer night.

Brian Lichtenberg drip dress

Mommy vs Daddy T-shirt

And so let the flood of fall clothing begin! Seven starts off with some fundamentals: soft graphic T-s by Kenzo Minami, T-shirts, jeans and cool canvas jackets courtesy of April 77.

Azita T-shirt at Azita ($62)

Ever since we featured Odeur on these pages, we've been looking for an online stockist of the perfectly understated Swedish T-shirt/men's clothing brand. We just stumbled on shirts and hoodies from Odeur's S/S 2008 collection at Freudian Kicks. Now you need only find a friend that understands Norwegian.

Cosmic Wonder oversized T-shirt at Seven ($180)

Paper Tiger color blocked t-shirt dress at Pixie Market ($98)

You guys have been on a roll with the international store suggestions lately. After several superb suggestions in Norway and Iceland, the latest is Azita in Frankfurt. The quintessentially urban store is rife with energetic, young talent.

F-Troupe

Reality Studio

S.N.S. Herning

Siv Stoldal

Surface To Air

Surface To Air

Wood Wood

Azita's own T-shirt line has an '80s exercise clothing color pallete, and geometries reminiscent of early video games. We're fans.