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
DSM + Gloverall Dufflcecoat at Dover Street Market (£310)
United Bamboo rolled waist skirt at La Garconne ($327)
Ulrika Sandström T-shirt at Styleserver (109 EURO)
3.1 Phillip Lim ballet neck dress at La Garconne ($595)
Eley Kishimoto black dress at Kron Kron ($456)
When we first met them, Swedish label Permanent Vacation had managed to perfectly translate a lazy summer in the country. A few months later and they've done it again. Their charming Fall 2008 collection is how we want to look this autumn. The fabrics, the layering, the silhouettes of the pieces speak of a relaxed, fun, oh-so cozy couple of months.
Available at Ashtray
In what is becoming something of a calling card for her young brand, Samantha Pleet debuted her Spring 2009 collection "Season of Wonders" on Tuesday night with a video presentation. The eerie, disorienting video directed by Tom Hines and set-designed by Pleet's husband Patrick Pleet, does well to portray the mood and movement Pleet's latest collection. For Spring 2009, Pleet looks again to history for inspiration. But this time it's more recent history. Clear references to the 1950s pin-up styles complete with voluminous hair-dos and busty tops, are complemented by a New York hipster vibe and Pleet's trademark historical/costume-y embellishments. Wonderous indeed.
Photographer: Tom Hines
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)
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:
Vanessa Bruno button front dress at Browns (£220)
You may know Therese Rawsthorne as Youthworld. A naming conflict in The States predicated a switch to designing under her namesake. But whatever the label might be named, Rawsthorne is in our view one of the brightest talents to come out of Australia. In Rawsthorne's designs we see elements of rock, glam and goth, but put together in an eminently wearable and approachable fashion.
Fall 2008 collection available at Creatures of Comfort and Elizabeth Charles.
Therese Rawsthorne street leggings at Creatures of Comfort ($299)
Where does all that dynamic, creative fashion taught at Central St. Martins and presented at London Fashion Week anyway? Two See, for one, is where. A fervent supporter of the young and upcoming fashion designer, most of the labels wont be recognized by all but the most dedicated of fashion followers. Yet, the talent and creativity of the designs themselves--that is easy to recognize.
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