Kimonoesque

For a Japanese-Kimono statement furniture in the room, the Kimono Chaise lounge and Hakama Chair & ottoman by Kimono New York speaks..designed by designer William Gordon, and manufacturer Walter P.Sauer. A contemporary form of furniture in a traditional japanese fabric made from Nishijin silk Obi. Such delicate work and long labor time to create this fabric, really brings out its beauty.

Kimono New York, a company in NYC that is dedicated to promoting the use of the kimono and oni textiles for furnishings and decor.

Kimono New York


via

Puma in a container

Made from shipping containers..its PUMA City, designed by Puma, displayed in Boston.

Its a unique retail and event space, on two levels its a retail area, and on one level a bar. Launched in Boston because of the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race, an around the world sailing event.

photocredit: ArchDaily

A taste of a Summer Trend: Geometrics

Bright, Summery, Bold, and Eclectic..summer's here, its time to have some fun with bright colors and bold patterns! First up, the geometric trend. From Fashion to Interiors, etc. mix and don't match..that's the beauty of it! (If you do it correctly ;) )


1. Customized Lucite trays by lomoi
2. Gaze cotton by Kravet
3. Missoni Arlequin Fabric from Stark Fabric
4. Richard Nixon Baby Alpaca Throw by Jonathan Adler
5. Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquiola
6. Faceted glass pendant lamp by west elm
7. Spring/Summer Collection 2009 Emilio Pucci




photocredit: elledecor, westelm, style.

Armani on 5th Avenue

The Armani Store on 5th Avenue, New York, designed by Fuskas Studio, shows true "international style". Sleek and modern, with a grand focal point, the grand staircase. Connecting to all the levels of the store, it grasps our attention with its unusual shape and lighting. Using the same materials, colors, and shapes used throughout Armani stores worldwide, this one is a one stop showstopper because it houses all the Armani products under one roof.



For more, via

Swaine Adeney Brigg gets a facelift

Under the new wing of previous Accessories Chief at Alexander McQueen, Dominic Laurelli, comes this new uplifted collection from luxury luggage company Swaine Adeney Brigg. Appealing more to the modern man and woman, the St. James Collection intends to be "synonymous with both traditional English leather goods and contemporary, modern style." Carrying your luggage around need not to be something that looks too classical anymore from Swaine Adeney Brigg, a well-established company from over 250 years. Bringing in young designer Dominic Laurelli, has people rolling up their sleeves eager to invest in a luggage or two, of which Laurelli drew his inspiration from legend fashion designer Coco Chanel, and the understated elegance of the 1920s luxury travel.





via Luxist, gunpowder

The Chalayan Retrospective

Something very big is happening at the Design Museum in London that has taken people into a frenzy. A midst of crowds are lined up to see what is the forefront of contemporary fashion design. Twice named "British Designer of the Year" Hussein Chalayan shows his first comprehensive presentation of his works in the UK, spanning fifteen years of experimental projects.

Renowned for his innovativaty and creative approach with his different uses of materials, meticulous pattern cutting, philosophy, and a progressive stance in leading fashion with the use of new technology. The Central St. Martins graduate has taken fashion in a different approach.

His exhibits includes "Airborne" the latest LED technology addition to fashion design, with over 15,000 flickering LED lights on a dress comprising of Swarovski crystals. "Airmail" a dress that could be folded into an airmail letter and posted. "Afterwords" exploring the notion of wearable portable architecture in which furniture literally transformes itself into garments. "Before Minus Now" a dress made out of materials used in aircraft construction which changes shape by remote control, and many more.

To watch a video click

Open at the Design Museum in London UK until May 17.



via the Design Museum, Wallpaper

A 'N' D = Creative

S/S '09:

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A/W '08:


For trend seekers and fun yet functional followers this is for you..
First of all, this all comes from Azumi and David's collections. They are fashion and product designers (who are a married couple..cute!) who creates fun stuff to wear.
Their designs are sold in London, Paris, Antwerp, Hong Kong, Australia, etc.

I've posted some of their boot bags and clutches from their A/W '08 collection, and the rest are from their S/S '09 collection. All available to purchase via their website: Azumi and David

Check them out!

The Attraction of Mud

I love fashion!..I do.. I went on a shopping spree yesterday and splurged on fabulous items great for winter :) That all reminds me of Paris and what I would wear to Paris..
Speaking of Paris.. These images are from Steve Powers' (aka ESPO) exhibition in Colette.. titled “A True Provider Is Good To Find” and his new unseen before paintings made in Paris..

In honor of World Aids Day 2008, Steve Powers and Matt Goias reach out to the ultimate nexus of entertainment and street life; Parisian Prostitutes. It’s a project Mr. Goias titled, "L’Attraction De La Boue" or the "Pull Of The Mud".
Mr. Powers and Mr. Goias designed and distributed raincoats to street workers in the red light districts of Paris, as a functioning metaphor of the protection we as a society should extend to those most at-risk.

Powers said of the project, “We strive to protect you from the elements in high fashion and function, from the slick yellow vinyl shell to the latex condoms in the pockets. It’s the most we can do.”

A symbolic protective emotional shelter.."L'Attraction De La Boue" is a great exhibiton to visit.

Exhibition runs until January 3, 2009 at Colette, Paris.

Make way for the young and creative..Part 2

More designers to look out for..

Fifth, we have San Diego born, Italian raised Alithia Spuri Zampetti, another bright Central Saint Martins graduate. She gained her fashion experience interning for designers such as Gareth Pugh, Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen, Bruno Pieters, Viktor & Rolf, Louis Vuitton, and her current employer Valentino.
Design Style: Her grad collection was inspired by Japanese Furisode and featured tailored denim dresses and overgrown foam collars,
Awards: She won the L’Oreal Young Talent Award 2008 in London, the Maria Luisa Award at ITS#7 in Trieste, and her collection was exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.

Pic 1: Her extraordinary head piece made out of mixed paper.
Sixth, another MA in fashion graduate from Central Saint Martins..Greek born designer Mary Katrantzou.
Design Style: Colorful, bold prints with an ecclectic mix of materials and textures..accented with heavy jewellery (real and printed).
Awards: She won the New Generation Scholarship after presenting her S/S ’09 collection at London Fashion Week.

Pic 2: A printed dress with denim and sheer details.

Seventh, Paris born to an English mother and a Chilean father, but raised in Norfolk..25 year old Lea Carreno, who completed her BA at Central Saint Martins and her MA at RCA.
Design Style: She drew inspiration for her collection from the costumes of the Ballets Suédois, an avant-garde theatre/dance troupe in the 1920s. ‘My dad is a dancer and I grew up around the theatre, so that playfulness comes across in my designs. I just wanted to have as much fun with this collection as those dancers seemed to have in their costumes...and I did!’

Pic 3: A playful dress from her collection.

Eighth, and finally..Canadian designer Mark Fast, who moved to London to study knitwear at..yes Central Saint Martins.
Design Style: Not the usual knitwear that is recognizable, but more like a figure-hugging, constructed intricately, crafted creations that are theatrically cheeky, pointing to a possible future in constume design..To those who dare try a sense of sheer artistry in knitwear, he is one to look out for in his next collection at London Fashion Week in February.

Pic 4: One of his knitted creations

Hope you enjoyed the show..

Make way for the young and creative..Part 1

Number one..they're coming..they're here..they're new..and they're cool

Reminds me of "Designers .. Make it Work " Tim Gunn from Project Runway ;)

First up, we have German-born Peter Hornstein. Moved to Belgium to study at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Design Style: Scientific, laboratory-style methodology mets future aesthetics. He won the prestigious 1.2.3. Award at the Hyères fashion competition for his aptly titled, yet extraordinary debut graduate 2007 collection, Bionic.

Pic 1: A cut-out stucco dress from his second collection for S/S ’09, complete with holographic belt, bracelets, and sandals.

Next up, Danielle Scutt. A Central Saint Martins graduate with an MA in Womenswear, and is also the beneficiary of New Generation sponsorship from Topshop. Design style: Colorful, daring, and eccentric collection with lots of bold statements about modern femininity.. with a bit of 60s-70s aesthetics (body stockings, delicate sheer silks, chunky denims, layered headscarves, etc.)

Pic 2: Striped silk number from her recent S/S '09 collection.

Third, Essex-born Hannah Marshall. She has carved out an impressive name for herself in a relatively short time. After training at Colchester School of Art & Design and has worked with several London designers over the years, including Jonathan Saunders, Robert Cary Williams and Justin Oh..and she's only 26!

Pic 3: She is a mistress of dark, sculptured tailoring. From her recent collection, Power Architect.

Fourth, Japanese designer Yuima Nakazato. He studied fashion at the Royal Academy in Antwerp. His graduate collection was inspired by the vivid imagination of Leonardo da Vinci, and his capacity to create ‘complex machines with simple structures, propelled by natural energies like wind, water, and human muscle.’ His garments are a blend of ‘primitive’, raw material, a mixture of leather, wood, and technologically enhanced substances like super-strong paper! – a unique aesthetic, if you dare pull it off..then this designer is worth watching out for!

Pic 4: From his collection, a leather coat with paper lapel.

To be continued...

Its not unusual..

"Its not unusual to be loved by anyone

Its not unusual to have fun with anyone

but when I see you hanging about with anyone

Its not unusual to see me cry

oh I wanna die..."

Tom Jones

The song was playing in my ear as my phone beeped a new message. Ko! She's back with some good news! and by that I mean fashion news! Ok, reading through the message..scan..scan..skip..no..yes..wait..yes..hummm...yes! With my chirpy mood today..Im in the mood for something new! For those who love the latest in fashion, here:

First off, for those who love wearing light jewelery everyday ..introducing the new Spanish jewelery line Montse Esteve. Offering a line of yellow, pink, or white 18-carat gold bracelets with 11 or 14 diamonds on colored silk threads. Also available with pure yellow 18-carat gold balls.

Next, one of Ko's must-haves ..Proenza Schouler's PS1 bags. PS1 is named after the New York City Public School System. A modernized version of the timeless classic satchel..Could be carried by hand or on the shoulder..

Third, Jeremy Scott's version of the Longchamp bag..His design for the Spring/Summer 09 collection has to be seen why? the classic bag is printed with a "floral flight" pattern: Red roses with black planes..now this is unusual..

Its not unusual to be seen with something new...available at colette.