Style: Douglas Coupland and Roots
16 June, 2010 at 23:23 | Posted in Style | Leave a commentTags: Canada, Design, Douglas Coupland, Fashion, Roots, Style
Just when you thought Roots couldn’t get any more Canadian (their logo depicts a beaver surrounded by foliage, for crying out loud) they partnered with Douglas Coupland to create a capsule clothing line. Coupland is a Canadian writer known not only for his books but for his ongoing dissection of Canadian culture and identity.
“Roots has been messing with Canadian identity for 30 years and I’ve been doing it for 10 years,” said Coupland. “Roots does the outdoorsy way of being Canadian so I [wanted] to go indoorsy.” The resulting collection combines Canadian icons like the beaver and maple leaf with modern nods to computer-aided design.
It’s an inspired pairing, no doubt aided by the author’s art school background. “To me it’s an art project that happened to be clothing.”
The collection debuts July 8. Will you be checking it out?
Photos from the Globe and Mail.
stephwereley
Inspiration: Haring
12 May, 2010 at 22:13 | Posted in Art, Inspiration, Style | Leave a commentTags: Art, Beyonce, Contemporary Art, Elle magazine, Fashion, Jeremy Scott, Keith Haring, rihanna, Style, Tommy Hilfiger
Keith Haring’s bold graphics are synonimous with the ’80s. Perhaps that’s why the artist’s work is so omnipresent as of late. Beyonce was recently seen in a Haring print by House of Field
Tommy Hilfiger has Haring trainers in limited release
Rihanna approves of Jeremy Scott‘s Adidas prints
and Zara has done a collaboration as well
And there’s more to come; Elle magazine is reporting that shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood is the next to use the artists’s signature style.
The radiant baby shines on.
stephwereley
Art: Pop for Sale
11 May, 2010 at 09:00 | Posted in Art, Exhibit Bits, Style | Leave a commentTags: Canada, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, London, Murakami, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Tate Modern, Tracey Emin
The National Gallery of Canada‘s Pop Life exhibit opens in one month, and I’m excited. Will Jeff Koon’s Made in Heaven cause a kerfuffle? Will they locate enough pairs of identical twins? And what’s available in the gift shop? That one, I did a bit of research on. The Pop Life exhibition was previously held at the Tate Modern in London, so I browsed their website to get an idea of what would be available.
Exhibit poster featuring Jeff Koons’ Rabbit £7
Murakami postcards £2 / pack
Murakami pins £12 / each
Murakami stickers £4.50 / pack
Murakami tee £50
Jeff Koons tee £25
This tee was the winning entry in a design competition. The concept was ‘Pop Life Deserves a Toast.’ Retails for £30.
Keith Haring wristwatch £35
Haring fabric patches £4.50 / pack
Murakami tote bag £20
Tracey Emin tote bag £30
the Pop Life tote is a steal at £6.50, and my personal favourite
Official Pop Life paperback book for £25
Plus additional contemporary art books ranging from £9 to 75.
The Gallery will likely have their own merchandise as well. Only one way to find out; support Canadian museums and visit the NGC!
stephwereley
Exhibit Bits: Hussein Chalayan
15 April, 2010 at 22:43 | Posted in Exhibit Bits, Style | Leave a commentTags: Anglophile, Exhibit, Fashion, Hussein Chalayan, Japan, Museum of Contemporary Art Toyko
The work of fashion designer Hussein Chalayan is now on display at Toyko’s Museum of Contemporary Art. The collection will feature clothing, film and installations from throughout his 15-year career. The exhibit opened on April 3 and will continue until June 20.
If you’ve unfamiliar with his work, expect the unexpected. His futuristic pieces have twice earned the Turkish-born designer the title of British Designer of the Year.
Highlights are sure to include jaw dropping pieces such as the table that can be worn as a skirt
Shape-shifting dresses that alter by remote-control
Dreamy dresses that sparkle with LED lights
Jagged outfits that show off your carnivorous side
Lazer pieces that turn models into real-life fembots ready to kill
And a frock covered in billowing soap suds.
In other words, there’s something for everyone!
stephwereley
Style: World Cup
12 April, 2010 at 21:43 | Posted in Inspiration, Style | Leave a commentTags: Anglophile, David Beckham, Fashion, Inspiration, London, Sport, Style, TopShop, World Cup
TopShop has recently posted this online ad for their summer collection.
Who’s cheering for England at World Cup? I am! And so is the UK’s most beloved fashion brand. Cos the top featured above is no doubt in reference to Mr David Beckham‘s number 7 jersey. Now English girls can show their support in style.
Unfortunately Beckham has a foot injury and is likely to spend his time in South Africa on the bleachers with the WAGs rather than on the pitch. sigh.
And if you’re looking for spring fashion inspiration I do recommend checking out the site’s online lookbooks.
There’s lots of denim shorts, pale pastels, girlie prints and bows.
stephwereley
Inspiration: Alexander McQueen
11 February, 2010 at 18:27 | Posted in Inspiration, Style | 1 CommentTags: Beatrice, Bjork, Blow, Fashion, Harper's, McQueen, Obama, Parker, Vanity Fair, Watson
British fashion designer Alexander McQueen passed away earlier today. Very sad news concerning a talented and well-respected artist. He leaves fashion fans with beautiful memories.
stephwereley
Style: of the Olympics
3 February, 2010 at 19:45 | Posted in Style | Leave a commentTags: Aitcheson, Canada, Caten, Dsquared, HBC, Ly, Olympics, Timmins
Meet the team behind the flannel of HBC‘s Vancouver 2010 apparel collection. Fashion Director Suzanne Timmins and designers Tu Ly and Adrian Aitcheson carefully considered climate, comfort and national unity while designing the clothes to be worn by athletes during the Vancouver Olympic Games. Much easier was deciding on colours. They’re “pretty much picked for you,” joked Aitcheson.
The clothing collection was very well-received. The red mittens were a particular favourite, selling out several times over the Christmas holidays. I enjoyed the buffalo plaid and graphic black water bottles.
Less impressed was Parliament’s Official Opposition, who maintained the “C” logo too closely resembled the Conservative party logo.
The Vancouver Games will also highlight the design work of Dean and Dan Caten, the duo behind Dsquared. The Canadian twins will be very busy in the next few weeks, running the Olympic torch in Vancouver, unveiling a limited edition Canada hoodie, and outfitting the headline talent appearing at the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies.
It’s obvious that despite the international success of their label, they haven’t forgotten their roots in the Great North. Their hockey-inspired Fall 2010 collection left no doubt of that.
stephwereley
Style: Links
27 January, 2010 at 00:52 | Posted in Inspiration, Photography, Style | 2 CommentsTags: Alexa Chung, Della Russo, Dickens, Inspiration, Jak&Jil, Kate Moss, Kruger, Marie Claire, Miller, Momsen, Monroque, MyStyle, Palermo, Sartorialist, Schuman, Style, StyleBlog, Terrier and Lobster, Ton, Vogue, WhoWhatWear
There are several websites out there that have caused me to intensify my relationship with my Google Reader. I wanted to share the love and post a few links. There are a few you’re likely already following, and hopefully a few new ones as well. Enjoy!
- We’ll start out with the basics. The Sartorialist‘s Scott Schuman travels to exotic locations capturing characters who look like they stepped out of either Vogue magazine or a Victor Hugo novel.
- Site Muse: The older gentleman who lives in your building and still wears fedoras whenever he leaves the house.
- Highlights: Anyone Italian. Schuman’s vision of Italy consists of men wearing shoes without socks and women who still wear blouses.
- Next up is WhoWhatWear, offering lots of style tips and pics of the best-dressed celebs.
- Site Muse: the latest model of the moment
- Highlights: Their Girl of the Month posts introduced me to Shala Monroque.
- JAK&JIL is the blog of Canadian street photographer Tommy Ton. He already has a loyal fan base, and the site is not yet two years old.
- Site Muse: Anna Dello Russo, fashion director at Vogue Nippon.
- Highlights: The shoes. My god, the shoes. Preferably spotted while crossing the Tuileries Garden.
- MyStyle at MyOpera. Content isn’t added often, but when they do post it’s a doozy.
- Site Muse: All the usual suspects are accounted for. This includes Kate Moss, Olivia Palermo, Sienna Miller, Taylor Momsen, etc.
- Highlights: The It Girl of the Year 2009 was Alexa Chung.
- I found out about StyleBlog when I was papped by the blogger at a Toronto event. Three cheers for local content!
- Site Muse: Diane Kruger, a great choice.
- Highlights: The What I’m Wearing category features photos of the author posing in outfits from her closet. I would love to post similar content, but I don’t have the guts. Yet.
- I also wanted to mention a site that I only recently stumbled upon; The Terrier and Lobster. I think it may be love at first sight.
- Site Muse: “Pretty, Whimsical, Funny Sparkly Things,” which includes shots from the haute couture shows and fashion spreads from Maire Claire.
- Highlight: An entire post on balloon animals, naturally.
stephwereley
Style: Here Come The Boys
15 January, 2010 at 10:17 | Posted in Inspiration, Style | 2 CommentsTags: Alex Kapranos, Chuck Bass, Film, Flowers, Franz Ferdinand, Gossip Girl, Harold and Maude, Kanye West, Mark Ronson, Music, Style, the Killers
For men looking to raise the bar in the wardrobe department, there’s no shortage of guys out there setting a good example. Celebs and phlebs alike are raising the bar when it comes to fashion. So what do I look for in a well-dressed man? I judge them on the same parameters as I do women: colour, print, and a nod to the classics. With that in mind, here’s my list of a few good men.
First up is Killers singer Brandon Flowers. He is not afraid of looking overdressed. He loves vests and blazers, and even when you think he’s gone too far, he’s at least making an effort, ya know? I think he wore that feathered blazer to every public appearance for an entire year- but he made it his own. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s pretty.
Alex Kapranos: the best-dressed member of a well-dressed band, Franz Ferdinand. He’s got a severely streamlined look that always makes me think he’s German, rather than Scottish. That’s him below on the right, with the red pocket square.
Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl: this [fictional] kid is fearless! We share a mutual love for argyle.
Next, Kanye West. His wardrobe has it all: pops of colour, choice trainers, and he loves preppy staples. I just wish he’d go easy on the visible logos.
But I’ve saved the best for last. DJ/ Producer Mark Ronson loves tweed coats, slim suits, and Fred Perry. This photo is of poor quality, but its the only one I could find of this particular outfit. Silk scarf, trim plaid shirt, tweed overcoat, dark denim, and a beautiful doctor’s bag in chocolate. The whole thing is perfection!
He gets bonus points for claiming the classic 1971 film Harold and Maude as his fashion inspiration; it’s a favourite of mine as well. If you like your comedies dry, I recommend it.
There are many others out there, but I hope my boys inspire you to take a chance in expanding the items in your wardrobe. Have a missed anyone?
stephwereley
The Future of LV Collaboration
11 December, 2009 at 07:24 | Posted in Photography, Portrait, Style | Leave a commentTags: Art, Connery, Contemporary Art, Gorbachev, Leibovitz, Meisel, Photography, Portrait, Richards, Stone, Style, Vuitton
Is this an insightful celebrity portrait, or a paid corporate advertisement?
The worlds of fashion and art continue to blur. And as long as it continues to provide inspiring eye candy, I don’t think any of us are complaining.
Humber PR student Carly Ostroff represents the fashion aestetic on Fashion Finds PR. Full of pretty little posts, she generously donated web space to a piece I wrote which touchs on this very theme. Check it out here!
stephwereley
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