Daniel Palillo “Talking Heads”

Daniel Palillo is a Finnish designer who plays on oversize silhouettes with lighthearted prints as he draws inspiration from the music genres of hiphop, gothic, and heavy metal.

Daniel studied both Fine Arts and Fashion Design at the University of Arts and Design Helsinki.

For spring/summer 2011, the Daniel Palillo collection is entitled “Talking Heads.”

Check out the collection here.

Photos Copyright Daniel Palillo.

“Search and Destroy” at BAFWeek by Santana X Kostüme

Well, next week is BAFWEEK once again, otherwise known as Buenos Aires Fashion Week, and for this edition Argentine label Kostüme is team up with Santana Textiles—one of the largest denim producers in the Americas.

Santana X Kostüme has positioned itself as a high-end item—an object of desire or product of conceptual luxury.

The collection (#20) draws inspiration from the song “Search and Destroy” by the Stooges in their Iggy Pop album (1973), which lead singer Iggy Pop from a heading in Time Magazine about the Vietnam War.

The line of denim is avant-garde with geometric shapes, washed almost to the point of destruction, with colors of ultra black to various shades of grey.

Santana Textiles was founded 1963 in Jaguarana, Brazil, and now runs 5 major plants with 2,500 employees. The company holds to an green policy that seeks to lessen the environmental impact from denim manufacturing.

Kostüme is designed by Camila Milessi and Emiliano Blanco.



Photos Copyright Kostüme.

Wayward Heir—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging”

“I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.” — Frank Sinatra

The Rat Pack, smoky Jazz Clubs in Vegas, cigars in one hand and dirty martinis in the other, classically cut suits that ooze swagger and confidence; the 1960s were about well-groomed bachelors who had a good time and dressed impeccably to do so.

Wayward Heir’s collection for summer 2010/2011, “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging” is influenced by the swinging sixties and takes the best aspects of slim line suiting of that era and adds a modern
spin.

The sophistication of the likes of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin is mirrored in the slender silhouettes, fitted jackets and laid-back casuals that remind us of just how cool those cats really were.

“It is how the greats used to dress -with class and sophistication and a bit of cheekiness thrown in,” says Wayward Heir designer Jaime Winks. “A collection that will make any man the epitome of style and swagger - like Frank, Dean and Sammy,” he says.

Narrower lapels, flatter fronts, slimmer sleeves and slightly tapered and more fitted trousers are all throwbacks to Vegas’ greatest era and the iconic bachelor lifestyle of the members of the group of men who have been emulated the world over ever since.

Lighter and softer fabrics show the evolution of the style; patterns and colours are varied and inventive while still keeping that classic look. Chintz charcoals, silvery greys and blacks are all staples in the colour scheme of the suiting, while shirts explore dusky pinks and blues and the addition of prints with a contemporary twist.

The “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging” collection from Wayward Heir captures the fun and excitement of the sixties, the iconic time of effortless cool, with pieces that can be worn to the office, the races or even to a smoky jazz bar at the Bellagio.

New Zealand 2010-11 Spring/Summer Series: (Remember, your winter may be Kiwi summer!)
Doosh—Spring/Summer 2010-11 in New Zealand: “Wild at Heart”
Elusiv—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Spirit”
Rembrandt—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Goldeneye”
Trix & Dandy —Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Dazed but Not Confused”
21 Grams—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand: “Sicker than your Average Bear”
Silverdale—Spring/Summer 2010/11 in New Zealand

Photos 2010-11 s/s collection “If I’m Alive, I’m Swinging” Courtesy Coco PR, Copyright Wayward Heir, a line of Rembrandt.

Boy Band Eden & Bone Wear

During a recent photo shoot for the cover of his upcoming solo album, lead singer of the popular South African band Eden got into some Bone Wear and sent through some pictures.

Eden is South Africa’s most popular boy band, which combines “exquisite voices, lush harmonies, funky image, and energetic stage performances.”

Jay, the lead singer, began his career in musical theatre, in 1996.

Since that time he has recorded three albums, while being nominated for seven awards.

Other members of the band include Johan Vorster, who studied Music at Potch University, and Cape Town-born Paulo Azevedo, who currently lives in Pretoria.

Photo Copyright Bone Wear.

a.a. by Antonio Azzuolo

Born and raised in Montreal, Antonio Azzuolo graduated with a B.A.A in Apparel Design from Ryerson University in Toronto, where he specialized in Men’s Tailoring.

Antonio moved to Milan after graduation, going on to participate in the “Festival des Jeunes Stylistes de Hyères” where he won first place in the menswear category.

The award permitted Antonio to relocate to Paris and launch his professional career.

Before he launched his label a.a., Antonio worked as design director for Ralph Lauren Purple and Black Label. He also served at Hermès and Kenzo in both New York and Paris.

Antonio has prepared an eclectic collection for autumn/winter 2010:

The Look
Urban space cowboys swing to a mod beat.

Inspirations
Hutterites, midnight cowboys, early Elvis, Glam Folk/Rock

Silhouette
Tailored and elongated shapes contrast with various cropped and layered knits.

Details
Saddle shoulder, rope sleeve, metallic leather patches, subtle graphic intarsia motifs, Trompe L’Oeil effects and recycled fur trim.

Color
Heather grey and beige, navy, brown, charcoal, black accents of apple green, melon, powdered blue, white, cream and iridescent metallic.



Photos & slideshow Copyright a.a.

Hundreds for Trikoton in Berlin

Hundreds for Trikoton at Berlin Fashion Week—Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Roter Salon, Volksühne, in Berlin!

Trikoton—the poetic knits from Berlin—is transferring voices into clothes as it explores new ways of interactive creation and manufacturing to produce garments with a personal and poetic attitude!

For this cooperation, Hundreds created an extended version of their single “Happy Virus,” which Trikoton translated into a pattern, knitting it into a scarf!

Discover Trikoton scarves while listening to the Hundred’s track, followed by DJ Set of Remmidemmi.

Photo Copyright Trikoton.

Tim Soar: Spinning Music and Design in London!

Tim Soar embarked on his creative career with Neville Brody, whom he considers a “graphics superstar.”

During this period, Tim also began deejaying as he concentrated on the music business, producing art for notable record sleeves.

Finally in 2005, Tim launched his eponymous label on the concepts of minimalism and avant-garde with an internationalist aesthetic.

b-Store purchased Tim’s first collection; while he started exhibiting consistently at London Fashion Week since spring/summer 2009.

Tim also operates Music Concrete, which not only produces music but also supplies deejays and bands for their launches and events.

Tim Soar—spinning music and design in London’s burgeoning menswear scene!



Photo & slideshow autumn/winter 2010 collection Copyright Tim Soar.

"Youthful Abandon" with April 77

April 77 is back in the US from France, but this time not in the prairies of the Navajo Indians but rather somewhere between Portland and Seattle!

The time is 1980’s and the music scene is the alternative styles of rock known as grunge, hardcore, noise, and shoegazing.

The fashion scene is anti-fashion: “It is cool not to be cool,” shouts Generation X.

Androgynous, unkempt, minimalist, and contradictory, the collection for spring/summer 2010 is “Youthful Abandon.”

Thicker, darker, coarser—the denim is vintage in mood with Native American patterns and cowboy shirts—with the right mix of prep and outdoors!

Born April 1977 in Grenoble, France, Brice Partouche founded April 77 twenty-five years later as a denim wear label with a Rock&Roll twist—now becoming an all cruelty-free and natural fabric brand.

As a talented drummer and guitarist himself, Brice acquired a passion for denim from his father, who founded a reputable line of jeans in the Eighties.

Now Aprill 77 takes us back in time to those years with Youthful Abandon!

Photo & slideshow 2010 s/s collection “Youthful Abandon” Copyright April 77.

“The Reddish Boy” by Georgina Vendrell

Patrick Wolf was born Patrick Denis Apps into an artistic family of South London in 1983.

After studying violin and singing in church choirs until the age of eleven, Patrick began recording his own songs, soon going on to join the pop art collective Minty and, shortly after, Maison Crimineaux.

After eight years of recording, Wolf released his first album entitled Lycanthropy in 2003.

Using a wide variety of electronic and classical instruments, Wolf composes musical pieces that range from techno-pop to romantic folk.

Patrick Wolf has exerted a tremendous impact on multitudes around the world, including Catalan designer Georgina Vendrell, whom I covered in an article earlier this year.

For 2010, Georgina has based her spring/summer collection on Patrick Wolf, entitling the collection “the Reddish Boy.”

In a similar fashion to the eclectic music of Patrick Wolf, Georgina combines a variety of classic and avant-garde fabrics and styles, composing pieces that range from techno-pop to romantic folk!



Photo & slideshow 2010 s/s collection “the Reddish Boy” Copyright Georgina Vendrell.

"Love is a Stranger" with LAB

When Giacomo Puccini wrote the tragically romantic opera Madame Butterfly at the turn of the 19th century, I doubt he was expecting to inspire a entire line of menswear!

Set in a home within the city of Nagasaki in the 1890’s, Madame Butterfly narrates a story of a dashing US Navy officer who falls in love with a 15-year-old girl whom he compares to a fragile butterfly.

From the beginning of time, soldiers have been falling in love with someone where they are stationed. This is precisely what designer Chris Cheng of the Sydney-based company Local Art Base (LAB) had in mind for spring/summer 2010:

“My aim for this collection is to emulate the mental processes of soldiers in love. Just like love, the pieces had to have an element of longevity in them, but yet variations that celebrate the emotional landscapes of someone that's deeply in love. Classic styles were updated with unexpected fabrics or applications to provide something of interest and something that speaks to the heart.”



Photo & slideshow Copyright Local Art Base.

Justin Timberlake Travels to Europe with William Rast

Well, Justin Timberlake and Juan “Trace” Ayala are not quite unknown names in the media; but their men’s line does qualify as a new and emerging brand. And with names like Timberlake and Ayala behind it, the label is sure to emerge fast!

Born in 1981, Justin rose to fame as lead singer of ‘N Sync and, since, has won 6 Grammy Awards and an Emmy. Less known in the public eye is Trace, who grew up with Justin in Memphis, Tennessee, going on to tour the world as his personal assistant.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Justin and Trace founded William Rast in 2005, naming the fashion line as they combined their grandfather's last names. They drew their inspiration for the line from fellow Memphis native, Elvis Presley, imagining what the iconic singer would be wearing today.

Now, William Rast has embarked on a European fashion tour, showcasing the 2009 a/w and 2010 s/s collections in London, Paris, and Berlin.

Just yesterday, Justin appeared at the stand of William Rast, at the Bread & Butter trade show in Berlin.

So what do you think: Will Europeans settle for the raw masculinity of the American South?



Photo top left Copyright Fashion Times.
Slideshow 2009 s/s collection William Rast, Copyright NYMag.com.

Medeival Monks & Motorbikes at Saint Augustine Academy

Saint Augustine Academy was birthed within Sydney’s alternative music scene, Indie Rock 'n' Roll and all its subcultures, incorporating into the label the hardness of Punk, the sleekness of Mods, the darkness of Goths, and the eccentricities of New Romantics.

Accordingly, the 2009 a/w collection draws its inspiration from an English hymn of 1504 entitled the Corpus Christi Carol, which was reinterpreted by singer and songwriter Jeff Buckley (1966-1997), who wrote:

The "Carol" is a fairytale about a falcon who takes the beloved of the singer to an orchard. The singer goes looking for her and arrives at a chamber where his beloved lies next to a bleeding knight and a tomb with Christ's body in it.

Designer and creative director at Saint Augustine Academy, Alvin Manalo, unveils his underlying motivation behind the collection as being “the three M’s—Medieval Royalty, Monks, and Motorbikes.”

Alvin tastefully displays the ornamental details of royal robes and monastic gowns in Medieval times on the rugged and dusty backdrop of Texan motorcycle culture where “bikers reign supreme.”

So, now, turn off the playlist below, sit back, and listen to the Corpus Christi Carol as Saint Augustine Academy rides you through the timeless corridors of abbeys and palaces where soft dukes and tough bikers mingle in the latest drapings with hoods and leather jackets!



Photo 2009 a/w collection Copyright Saint Augustine Academy.
Slide show 2009 a/w collection Copyright Saint Augustine Academy.

The Rowdy Collection by Dallas Austin

Songwriter, record producer, musician, film maker, and Grammy award winner—Dallas Austin has recently added menswear designer to his repertoire!

Just like its multi-talented designer, the Rowdy Collection refuses to be confined to a box and is all "Dallas Austin" style: a little hip hop, some street, a bit of punk, rocker, racer, bling king, and prep school rude boy with a touch of European militancy.

Dallas has always nurtured a love for clothing and fashion but could never find anything that suited him.

Drawing inspiration from the vintage racing of the James Dean era mixed with some hunting themes, rock and roll, and the grunge of Kurt Cobain, Dallas Austin can now rap himself in the Rowdy Collection!

And so can you!



Photo the Rowdy Collection Copyright Dallas Austin.
Slide Show the Rowdy Collection Copyright Dallas Austin.

SOPOPULAR Is Getting So Popular

American rock band, Nirvana, was formed 1987 in Aberdeen, Washington, by singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain.

The group became popular in 1991 with the lead single, Smells Like Teen Spirit, which “popularized” grunge music amongst Generation X, whose spokesman was media-appointed Kurt Cobain.

Although uneasy with attention, Kurt Cobain has bequeathed us many quotes, which not always made him popular with everyone. Here are some of my favorites:

“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
“I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.”
"I am not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off homophobes.”

Kurt Cobain uttered one statement in an interview with MTV, which has since become a legacy in the German fashion industry: “it is tough to be so popular.”

Inspired by these words, James Ardinast, his brother David, and Daniel Blechman launched SOPOPULAR in 2008, in an successful attempt to translate young streetwear styles to a more mature male audience.

When it comes down to tailoring, these designers strive for perfection with high-quality German production of top-grade materials. That's why it is getting so popular!



Photo 2009 a/w collection by SOPOPULAR.
Slide show 2009 a/w collection by SOPOPULAR.

Kitsuné Ties the Nautical Knot—Twice!

Kitsuné—the foxy new rave in France and Japan—is not only spinning music with fashion but also hooking up with other like-minded brands, such as United Bamboo and Petit Bateau.

Founded 1998 in New York by Japanese designer Miho Aoki and Vietnamese designer Thuy Pham, United Bamboo has successfully pioneered a lifestyle out of a label, all through the collaboration of downtown Manhattan artists, musicians, and curators.

Now, Kitsuné has joined hands with United Bamboo in a limited edition of nautical-themed apparel entitled Modern Marines, which is available at United Bamboo and Honeyee stores.

Kitsuné has also tied the nautical knot recently with the French children’s label, Petit Bateau, in a limited edition of clean, classic v-neck tees.

Petit Bateau was created in 1893 by Pierre Valton whose son, Etienne, inspired the name in 1918 after the French lyrics, “Ma, do the little boats (p’tits bateaux) that go on the water have legs?”

Masaya Kuroki (Japanese) and Gildas Loaec (French) founded Kitsuné in 2002 out of their intense love for music and fashion.

Photos by Fashion Times.

Jazzy "Midnight Sessions" by OntFront

Addictive for its unusual beats and rhythmic surprises, Jazz originated at the dawn of the 20th century in cities from New Orleans to Chicago and was soon popularized through mediums like the phonograph record, the radio, and the advent of sound movies. The music genre hit a crescendo in the Roaring Twenties, spawning numerous subgenres thereafter like big band swing, Dixieland, bebop, and hip hop.

The 1920’s have been syncopated as the Age of Jazz, when a minority’s melodic subculture harmonized with the chords of the majority's mainstream. Jazz soon danced right out of its own shoes and into social movements, propelling women’s liberation and the entire fashion industry. Imagine swinging to the Charleston in Victorian clothes!

Earlier jazz musicians performed behind the closed doors of dark, smokey brothels, speakeasies, and bars in New Orleans' red light district, donning sport clothes, high waisted jackets with belts, and straight legged trousers that were cuffed high enough to show the socks! Within this underground scene of sweaty jazz, Midnight Sessions were born, mixing it up with trench coats, baseball jackets, hooded sweaters, blazers, and double breasted vests!

Nostalgic as the blues, yet futuristic as urban rap, Midnight Sessions was inspired by musicians like Sonny Rollins, Jelly Roll, Count Basie, Tommy Flanagan, and Benny Carter for their creative chord progressions, catchy rebellion, and perfect tailored clothing.

OntFront’s claim to fame lies in the tune of sidewalk tailoring, which improvises classic suit craftsmanship with the ad-lib finesse of the streets. So turn off my play list below, sit back, and have a sip of whiskey with designer Liza Koifman as you listen to the syncopation of Midnight Sessions.

Slide show 2009 s/s Midnight Sessions Collection Copyright by OntFront.
Model: Jean-Paul.
Photography: Jochem Sanders.

Kitsuné—the Foxy New Rave

So how can we describe it? Is it a movement...an underground culture...the latest rave in music...or the newest fashion label? Let's say, it is all the above!

Kitsuné is what some are calling the hottest record and fashion label in Paris, which hosts parties from London to Tokyo with the electro-rock sounds of Digitalism, Cazals, and Fisherspooner.

It all started when the Parisian-born owners, Gildas Loaec and Masaya Kuroki, took a trip to Japan where they were awestruck by the collective love of the Japanese for music and fashion. So in 2002, Gildas and Masaya decided to combine these two passions into one label—Kitsuné.

Inspired by the Japanese mythological fox, which is always changing its face, Gilas and Masay adopted the name kitsune, which means 'fox' in Japanese, knowing that they were pioneering an ever-evolving brand that would take on many faces.

As DJ's, the duo has scouted out fresh, new, upcoming pop artists of every genre from around the world and recorded several compilations of their music, merging the sounds of electronic and rock. As fashion designers, the duo accompanies their music revolution with trendsetting styles. For the complete s/s 2009 collection, click here.

So, why not sit back, turn off my play list below, and listen to a sample of Kitsuné beats?!

Photo Copyright Kitsuné.