Lucette 2013 High Summer Preview

When fierce fashion label Lucette do Summer, they do it well.

In the follow-up to their SS12-13 Modern Tribe collection, dynamic design duo Angela Backshell and Tracy Miller unveil the lookbook for their latest High Summer line: Independent Spirits.

Think in-your-face colour blocking, bold graphic patterns and an ironic mix of soft, fluid silhouettes and sharp-shouldered structural pieces.

The collection is infused by a strong Mediterranean undercurrent, which can be seen in the crisp white cottons, land-meets-sea colour palette and recurring use of the statement Capri Scarf print.

Below is an exclusive look at the Independent Spirits, 2013 High Summer collection, which will be available online at lucette.com.au in coming months!

Warning: these images may result in the uncontrollable urge to pour yourself a G+T and book a one-way ticket to the Amalfi Coast.

Welcome To The OC!

This season, SOSUME dives head-first into sustainable waters with their inaugural venture in organic cottons.

Drawing heavily on nature for inspiration, SOSUME's OC Collection boasts a decidedly earthy colour palette of burnt oranges, arctic blues and crisp whites.

"Australian consumers were getting stooped when it came to good quality organic cotton basics", says SOSUME's main man, Alex Trimmer.

In response to this apparent hole in the Australian market, Trimmer launched his OC Collection of price-sensitive, certified fair-trade organic cotton wardrobe essentials.

The OC range features a well-edited array of wardrobe essentials in a variety of different colours and styles.

Each piece is characterised by  its lightweight versatility, stylish simplicity and conscientious  construction.

SOSUME sources only the finest Eco-friendly fabrics from the most environmentally responsible mills across the world, allowing consumers to feel good about what they're wearing both inside and out.

The OC Collection by SOSUME is available exclusively from sosumeclothing.com

PeepToe July Sale

When it comes to Tuesdays, there really isn’t much to feel good about.

Indeed, we’ve survived Monday – a valiant feat in itself.

Yet, the weekend is still four days away, the sky is grey and gloomy and there is a never-ending supply of work to be completed before we can sit back and say T.G.I.F.

Luckily, the good people at PeepToe Shoes can sympathise with Tuesday-itis; announcing an exclusive July Sale from Tuesday 24^th July until Sunday 29^th July. 

The July Sale invites shoppers to enjoy a generous 20% off all full-price products at both their online and retail stores.

PeepToe originated from design-savvy Sydneysider, Nikki Hager, who used her passion for shoes to create an innovative brand of shoes that espouses comfort, quality and femininity. 

Since its 2006 debut, PeepToe now offers exquisite jewellery, bags and accessories to complement their signature collection of classic shoes and seasonal stunners.

PeepToe’s latest collection, Whimsical Fantastical, incorporates current, global fashion trends such as neon and pastel hues, retro prints and over-the-top metallic accents.

Shop the sale at peeptoeshoes.com.au and enter the promo code: JULY20 at the checkout to redeem your 20% voucher!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Claude Maus Fitzroy

Style is dynamic. What’s in one minute is out the next, which is as true of trends as it is of the labels and design houses that produce them.

Keeping your head above water in this cut-throat industry is no easy feat. What the most successful labels have in common is their consistency, innovation, relevance and authenticity – season after season, year after year. 

Claude Maus is one of those labels.

As the long-time love child of graphic design artist-turned fashion maverick, Rob Maniscalco; Claude Maus has been a key player in both the Australian and international fashion scene since its inception in 2000.

The label was first launched in Melbourne and took off quickly, tapping into Melbournians’ love for the unconventional and ultra-modern.

Claude Maus started growing at its iconic, Manchester Lane flagship store; and then grew some more over recent years through the successful development of its own Northern Hemisphere-based diffusion brand: Claude by Claude Maus.

So what’s next for Maniscalco and his cult, urban label? A global empire? World domination?? Not yet, at least.

In fact, what’s around the corner for the label is, literally, just around the corner as the label launches its second Melbourne flagship store right in the heart of the designer’s home-suburb, Fitzroy. 

With notorious neighbours like Fat and Jack London a few doors down, Claude Maus has made itself a second home on Melbourne’s hipster Mecca: Brunswick Street.

Maniscalco’s main focus right now is to bring the label back home, at least for the time being. The new Brunswick Street store has been thoughtfully fitted out by the designer himself, with help from artists Pat Foster and Jen Berean.

The space is smaller and noticeably simpler than its CBD counterpart, featuring clean, minimalist lines and wood and metal detailing. This earthy, organic aesthetic blends in seamlessly with the bohemian nature of the store’s surrounds, but still maintains the same great staff and of course, the same beautiful product.

Claude Maus Fitzroy currently carries the label’s AW ’12 collection, which is characterised by grungy elegance and experimentation with rich textures and alternative silhouettes. Luxurious goose-down puffer jackets line the racks alongside slouchy knits, leatherwear and signature denim pieces. 

Opening its doors for the very first time this month, Claude Maus can be found at:

242 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy or shop online at claudemaus.com 

Eat.Me.Do.

Have you ever been served a meal that looks almost just too good to eat? Or rather, have you ever found yourself lusting over a string of glistening glass beads that look nearly good enough to eat?

Recent university graduate, Lara Betty was thinking the same thing when she launched her delectable, debut jewellery line: Eat.Me.Do.

The quirky young designer treads a fine line between art and craft and fashion design, creating an entire series of unconventional masterpieces out of glue, paint and clay.

“I am hungry to show the world the creations from my head”, says Betty whose current designs feature a popcorn-beaded bracelet, T-bone steak pendant and sausage, pea and potato necklace.

Our personal favourites are a little more ‘ready to wear’ and include a candy-coloured, fruit loop chain necklace; and super cute string of mini bananas.

Whilst most of her designs are unmistakably unique and somewhat eccentric – French fry threaded necklace, anyone? - Betty maintains, “food should be worn and adored”.

Yet, unlike the real deal, Betty’s food-inspired jewellery collections come without a Best Before Date and is available for ‘take away’ 24/7 through her online store: eatmedo.com

House of Holland Hits Home

Bold, playful and daring, House of Holland is the London label on every it-girl’s lips. 

The man responsible is Henry Holland, a London-born, twenty-something journalism graduate who leapt onto the UK fashion scene unexpectedly in 2006, and has been turning heads ever since.

From his inaugural line of ‘Fashion Groupies’ slogan tees - to his more recent underwear collection featuring crotch-covering, brazen labels like ‘bald’ and ‘full bush’ – Holland has quickly risen to fame as an audacious designer with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. 

In particular, Holland is said to design with a ‘London girl’ aesthetic in mind, drawing on a variety of attitudes, cultures and habits that transpire throughout the iconic British capital city. 

In just a matter of years, House of Holland has grown to become one of the world’s most revered, cult young fashion labels.

Already boasting an impressive roster of premium local and international stockists, House of Holland continues to build momentum down under, where it can be found in some of our nation’s most cutting-edge boutiques and style hubs (think: No Stone on Greville Street, Melbourne and Capital L in Darlinghurst).

In other news, this September will also see the launch of the first range of House of Holland Eyewear for men and women.

The 22-piece collection, features an array of unique, geometric shapes and chunky, geek-chic frames.

With names like ‘Muffin Top’ and ‘Monobrow’, the eyewear range stays faithful to Holland’s irreverent humour and signature style.  

For more information, check out houseofholland.co.uk

YouTH Is A State of Mind

They say ‘age is just a number’ and ‘you’re only as old as you feel’; which perhaps explains some of the musings behind Australian independent jewellery label, YouTH, and their latest State of Mind collection.

Since the label’s inception earlier this year, YouTH has become synonymous with avant-garde design, occult glamour and unrestrained, rebellious creativity.

Their latest collection, State of Mind, straddles the realm between light and dark, vice and virtue - creating a mysteriously evocative range of rings for the stylishly adventurous.

State of Mind features a unique selection of multi-dimensional gemstones, antique metals and skulls carved from natural crystals.

YouTH’s State of Mind range is available at selected boutiques worldwide and online at http://www.thisisyouryouth.bigcartel.com/

Above: YouTH State of Mind Crystal Point Rings
Right: YouTH State of Mind Skull Rings

Olivia Marcheline

Diamonds may have been a girl’s best friend back in Marilyn Monroe’s day…

But in this current era of conservation, the modern woman is prepared to compromise with costume jewellery – so long as it emulates the same standards of quality, craftsmanship and design.

Enter: Olivia Marcheline – a Melbourne-based boutique jeweller, specialising in original antique and vintage ‘treasures from the past’, sourced from prominent artisans the world over.

Olivia Marcheline offers a decadent array of   hand-selected   jewellery pieces and accessories for Melbourne’s most glamorous men and women.

Their Classic Haute Collection boasts one-off pieces from Givenchy, Lanvin and Pierre Cardin; yet more conservative shoppers can still indulge in a little opulence, with prices for their RTW Collection starting at just $35.

To view Olivia Marcheline’s current catalogue – or to just feast your eyes on some lustrous eye candy - visit: http://www.oliviamarcheline.com

ASOS Sneak Peak

Isn’t it ironic that whilst Australia may be geographically ahead of the rest of the world in time, we’re always a season behind when it comes to fashion?

On a positive note, this gives us a chance to monitor key seasonal trends from Milan to Manhattan, and stay up to the minute with the future of fashion before it hits our shores.

Down under, we’re eagerly shedding layers in the count down to spring, as the Northern Hemisphere gets ready to rug up with the launch of Autumn/Winter 2012 campaigns from leading fashion houses in Europe and America.

Global online fashion and beauty conglomerate, ASOS, wet our appetites recently with the release of their A/W ’12 look book and trend report.

The online catalogue features a beguiling bundle of statement-making clothes, shoes and accessories, which will all be available online next month!

Key trends in the A/W look book include: gothic inspired dresses, baroque embellishments, loads of leather, floral and geometric prints; as well as military and man-style dressing with a dash of Sci-Fi and a sprinkling of Eastern opulence!

Best of all, with the first drop of this latest range going live on the ASOS website this August, Aussies have plenty of time to nab some winter warmers before the end of the season!

For a sneak peak at what’s to come, visit the ASOS A/W ‘12 Trend Guide page here.

Seafolly Makes a Splash In Paris

Infamous Sydney swimwear brand, Seafolly, left Australian shores this month and made waves in Europe’s fashion capital, Paris, during the annual Mode City showcase.

Mode City is Europe’s pre-eminent trade fair, exhibiting swimwear and lingerie collections from around the world.

Seafolly - a recent addition to the Mode City designer line-up - took the runways by storm; parading their vivid print swimsuits to more than 15,000 buyers, as well as a daily audience that included over 700 members of Paris’ fashion elite.

Recent photographs from the event reveal a sneak preview of some of the alluring looks we can expect to see included in Seafolly’s anticipated SS ’12-13 range.

Some of the key trends featured in the collection include neon prints, feminine frills, tropical prints and playful fringe details.

Seafolly already has over 800 international stockists and is currently preparing to launch their online store later this year (hoorah!)

A label loved by beach babes the world over; Seafolly is fast-becoming an icon and pioneer in both Australian fashion and design.

LIFEwithBIRD Warehouse Sale - This Weekend!!

Since its inception in 2002, LIFEwithBIRD has made a name for itself as a cutting-edge and ultra-modern label with a growing presence in the Australian fashion arena. This weekend, the iconic design house opens their doors to the Melbourne public to launch their four-day Winter Warehouse Sale in South Yarra.

The sale will feature pieces from the label’s current A/W collection at up to 90 per cent off; as well as pieces from past collections, accessories and limited-edition samples to help you fill your wardrobe for an absolute steal!

LIFEwithBIRD founder and designer, Bridget McCall, will even be showcasing an exclusive selection of her most adored one-off pieces, pre-loved garments and fabric samples; sourced straight from her personal collection in this wardrobe-to-warehouse one-off opportunity!

There will also be an assortment of leather and suede hides and off-cuts in several different colours for sale for crafty creative who want to busy themselves this winter with DIY projects.

LIFEwithBIRD Warehouse Sale Details

Where: 368 Chapel Street, South Yarra

When: Friday 13^th July 10am-8pm, Saturday 14^th July 10am-6pm, Sunday 15^th July 10am-5pm, Monday 16^th July 10am-2pm

Fine print: cash and cards accepted

The Girl With It All

She’s a world-renown model and global style icon, known for her Southern Belle beauty, edginess and carefree spirit.

There’s no denying it, Erin Wasson is much more than just a pretty face.

An entrepreneur, designer and actress, we wonder whether Miss Wasson is yet to set ‘world domination’ in her sights?

Her international jewelry label, Low Luv by Erin Wasson, has won the hearts of fashion bloggers, stylists and magazines from Berlin to Brazil; and has us giddy with excitement over the Australian launch of her SS12 collection this July.

Inspired by native American-Indian women, the collection features gold and silver-plated metals, ancient tribal Heishi beads, faceted balls and blackened lava stones.

We love the multi-dimensional, ancient-meets-modern feel of Low Luv’s SS12 statement pieces.

She Breaks All The Rules

‘Grunge, wit and glamour’ is the mantra chanted by new-kid-on-the-block label, United Constructions.

The label’s founders, Jill Morrall and Helen Miraudo, have worked in the fashion industry for years and draw on anything from everyday objects to artists, current affairs and travel; to inspire their collections.

Challenging mainstream trends and conventional design, United Constructions maintains a strong design aesthetic through their deconstruction and manipulation of traditional tailoring. 

With their debut collections, the label has proven it’s not afraid to bend the rules in order to create creative and unique pieces that push the boundaries of fashion. 

Their current, AW’12 range channels a masculine persona with bold, androgynous shapes, bulky layering and plenty of playful texture and layering.

United Constructions is stocked in boutiques throughout Australia and New Zealand and is fast-becoming one of the most exciting, emerging labels on our radar.

For a preview of some of Morall and Miraudo’s creations for United Constructions, visit www.unitedconstructions.com.au

Getting ZIGGY With It

Say goodbye to the winter blues this spring with Ziggy Denim’s latest Sticks & Bones jeans collection.

Featuring a rainbow array of eye-popping colours coupled with Ziggy’s characteristic ultra-tight fit, these new season shades are bursting with brightness and are bound to put a spring in anyone’s step.

So whether you fancy yourself being zesty yellow or feisty fuchsia, the Sticks and Bones range has a shade for every palette and they’re available this August www.ziggydenim.com