Happy New Year 2010

Saying the year "2010" out loud is a bit bizarre, especially since we still don’t ride around in flying cars. But where science may have failed you, we humbly hope that wondermomo & Whoop! have not. The months and year ahead will likely be filled with many opportunities to work, to play, to shop, to love, to grow, to have fun. Today, before a fresh start, may we take a moment to thank each of you for the support, as well as all the friendship & encouragement. Happy wonderful new year, please continue to be an indispensable partner in our work for fashion forwardness :-)

P.S.: New Year's Day is 'business as usual'! will be a rare day off for wondermomo & Whoop! See you all next year (2 Jan)!

[Image: 'Four Seasons of Fashion' 2010 Calendar by Anna Blandford & Gareth Meney]

ALICE + OLIVIA Sequin Dress with Keyhole Back

All these recent celeb pics might just be worth all the words that can said about the magic behind this trend-right, keyhole-back number by Alice + Olivia.
Even without subdued accessories, this dress will make sure the centre stage is all yours!

At the VH1 Divas event, Lauren Conrad accessorised hers with a simple diamond bracelet & black satin Louboutin peep-toes.


Marisa Miller (easily Victoria’s Secret’s most smokin’ angel, & Maxim's 2008 Hot 100 list No.1) wore her dress with some YSL pumps to her 24 Nov interview with Conan O’Brien.
Here she is snapped showing off the dress & her never-ending legs (& a choc bar?) as she leaves her West Hollywood hotel on the way to “The Tonight Show”.


Marisa Miller’s dress (& legs, & 3-million-dollar bra) did all the talking on the chat show.


For her birthday bash at LIV nightclub, Miami, art history grad & reality star Lauren "Lo" Bosworth too selected the photograph-perfect Alice + Olivia sequin dress, completing her look with a sleek low ponytail, cherry red manicure, & kohl eyes.

Merry Christmas

Not even if they're adorable, less than 100ml, & in a Ziploc bag?
Wishing you a Christmas season of safe travel... & goodwill, sparkling lights, extravagant decor, melodious music, mouth-watering food, wonderful family, & fashionable gaiety, too.
(P.S.: We are business as usual.)


[Image: 'Let it Snow!' by Danielle]

LINDA FARROW Eyewear (Unisex)

If you've never seen the eyewear of Linda Farrow, you could probably use some glasses.
In the 1970s, when London fashion designer Linda Farrow asked her optician husband to help create a range of sunglasses, the resulting label, which was responsible for Yoko Ono's trademark shades, rose quickly to acclaim amongst the stylish international jet set.
This cult brand was revived in 2003 by Farrow's son Simon Jablon, after he discovered a generous stash (over 2000!) of 60s - 80s sunglasses in the family's Clerkenwell warehouse.
Initially, Jablon and partner Tracy Sedino were selling off the archive. These days, the co-owners are working to augment that collection, taking Linda Farrow back to the very top with new vintage-inspired designs (for both women & men) channeling the high style of eras past.
A profligate collaborator, Linda Farrow has worked with internationally innovative designers like Jeremy Scott (check out the outrageous "Mickey Mouse" shades on both Lady Gaga & Alexander Skarsgard in "Paparazzi", below), Yohji Yamamoto, Raf Simons, Dries Van Noten, Matthew Williamson, Veronique Branquinho, Eley Kishimoto & Luella. The brand also isn't afraid to approach young designers to explore ideas that seem impossible to execute. Exciting new projects on the way for 2010 include collaborations with Alexander Wang & The Row (a.k.a. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen).


Meet the newest angel at Victoria's Secret Lindsay Ellingson & her Linda Farrow sunnies.


They Love This Designer: Linda Farrow eyewear enjoys a robust stream of celebrity sightings & frequent coverage in top fashion publications.

Happy Awal Muharram

Happy new Hijrah year 1431 to our Muslim friends.

[Image: Panoramio]

ELIE TAHARI Caped Silk Dress

Capes. Say the word, & images of masked super-heros (& heroines) mid-flight are what immediately pops into many people's minds.
The fact is, by its fluid shaping, restricting people from seeing the wearer's form, the cape style exudes such a level of refinement & secrecy to the wearer. It is abstract, yet classy & affluent.
With so many big names reinventing this old-school style, the "Caped Crusader" look has been taking over runways, entering wardrobes around the world &, as fashion editor & trendsetter Tania Braukamper states, making it as "a major 2010 fashion trend".
You won’t find Batgirl or Wonder Woman with this gala-red crepe de chine Elie Tahari dress -- just superb tailoring, & a dramatic silhouette that conveys nothing but romance & modern evening elegance.
Maximise your look with an obi belt (like the model), or wear it as it is with dazzling peep-toe slingbacks & an embellished clutch.
Just try it on & you'll be won over with its cool sophistication!

AGNES B. x JEN CRI Collaboration - Limited Edition Graffiti Cashmere Silk Top

As someone once said, once you've had cashmere next to your skin, you'll never go back to ordinary wool. What more cashmere silk!
Fine gauge, high quality, totally simple & modern, this limited edition graffiti cashmere silk top -- a collaboration between iconic French designer agnes b. & artist Jen Cri -- will seldom go a week without an outing.
Available for both women & men.

(*Also come check out agnes b. sneakers for men!)

agnes b.
We're accustomed to all the big-names, but most of us usually don't pay attention to other designers in the enormous & diverse fashion community. She may be relatively unknown here, but agnes b. is quite a big deal in Europe (43 shops), Japan (101 shops), & the rest of Asia (93 shops) -- enough that there are legions of "agnes b. groupies" all around the world!
Born Agnès Andrée Marguerite Troublé but known simply as agnès b. (with a small “a”) in the fashion world (she borrowed the first letter of her first husband's surname, Bourgeois), the French designer has, without fanfare (IOW, largely sans advertising), grown her chic, low-key designs into a revered art-in-fashion global empire.
agnes b. may have gotten her start designing menswear, but the variety of products & the breadth of interests which fall under her brandname today is staggering: clothing for both gender & all ages (including children), accessories of ALL kinds, cosmetics, florist, café , chocolate, tableware, movie production company, art gallery & bookshop... mind-boggling, isn't it? And you thought agnes b. was just some fancy clothing label.

agnes b. creations have that ineluctably French quality that’s all in the clean, quiet simplicity. Old-fashioned yet timeless, restrained but ineffably stylish; it is a classic look that's constantly being refreshed.

A great champion of the arts, agnes b. has also, for the last 30 years, supported & nurtured hundreds of young artists, illustrators, writers, musicians & moviemakers.
This time round, she is, through a collaboration using graffiti on knits, mentoring Jean-Christophe Bisson (or "Jen Cri" for short), a polymorphic artist known for his curious exploration & mix of painting, photography, installation & even music.

agnes b. attending the 58th International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, wearing a pin of her signature lizard. "It's quick and lazy," she once said of the creature that's her trademark emblem, "just like the way I work."
In her late-sixties, agnes b. is now the mother of five children & the grandmother of a dozen. Still hanging out with artists & rock stars (Philippe Starck & David Bowie are among her most loyal customers), designing fashion, taking pictures, working with new film-makers, she remains a cool free spirit.

Born & raised in Versailles, agnes b. spent every day after school playing in the gardens of the palace.

As a young single mum, agnes b. would buy clothes for herself & her twin sons in the fleamarkets. Her unique style at the time -- which also included selections from France's Monoprix discount chain -- caught the eye of fashion editors at Elle, who offered her a job with the magazine.

The first agnès b. boutique opened in Les Halles (the old market district of Paris) in 1975.

The first ever agnes b. flagship/one-stop lifestyle store, anywhere in the world, was opened late last year in Hong Kong's tallest building, the IFC.
Called 'La Loggia', the beguiling store was conceptualised by UK-trained design wunderkind Andre Fu, based on the original design of agnes b.'s own family summer home in Antibe, on the French Riviera, which her great grandfather built in 1892.
Covering 150,000 sq ft, La Loggia houses 9 shop units & is separated into 8 different experiences, including Femme, Homme, Voyage, Sport b. & Bijoux boutiques.

Involved in the May '68 Paris student riots, agnes b. was also reportedly a rebellious & socially-aware campaigner, who continues to be active in numerous humanitarian & charity projects today.
Is there anything this lady hasn't put her name to?

ALICE + OLIVIA Sculpted Bustier Dress

"Breathtaking" is the only adjective that could possibly give any hope of true justice to this Alice + Olivia short bustier dress with an asymmetric sculpted ruffle hem.
Brace yourself for a flood of compliments as you enter the party room in serious style!

CATHERINE MALANDRINO Flower Print Dress

What is appropriate for birthday celebrations, outdoor weddings, & other off-duty invitations?
The no-brainer answer, IOHO, is a floral dress.
Like a fresh breath from nature, floral dresses are not only a beautiful canvas of art, but will also make you feel feminine & elegantly flirty.
This piece by Catherine Malandrino -- with its pretty flower print, elbow sleeves, belted waist & side pockets -- is an easy wardrobe choice for any social occasion.
Some nice shoes & tiny diamond earrings are enough to grace this dress in a simple yet captivating manner. We’d also top ours with a cardigan or blazer to make it wearable for work.

UNDEFEATED x NEW ERA Collaboration - 'Army vs. Navy' 59Fifty Cap (Unisex)

Undefeated x New Era “Army vs. Navy” 59Fifty Cap (Unisex)

Good things come to those with a good name. Need proof? Just ask Eddie Cruz & James Bond (real name!).
Back in 2001, self-proclaimed sports nerds (& art/music/fashion enthusiasts) Cruz & Bond decided that Los Angeles was missing something. The city was full of sneaker junkies, but there were no good sneaker boutiques to give them their fix. During a backyard barbecue, Cruz & Bond agreed they would fill the void by opening up a small sneaker shop. They would call the store Undefeated, often abbreviated UNDFTD (instead of the initial choice of 'Under Feet') -- just like the Lakers had been in the 80s. Presumptuous? A bit. But it worked. Heavyweight Nike even designed a sneaker with the Undefeated logo for the store’s 11 September, 2002 opening.
By 2007, Undefeated had spread to Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Silver Lake (California), & Japan. The boutiques were considered by many as the most well-edited sneaker stores in the world. In the meantime, Undefeated has also grown into a sports culture-based brand. Starting off with T-shirts, they now present an increasingly complete line every year & are especially a strong force in Japan. (Even with branches in Tokyo & Shizuoka, buses packed with Japanese tourists still regularly make stops at the L.A. flagship.)
Collaborations with major players (Nike, Adidas, Puma, Vans, Chucks, Stussy, Visvim -- the list goes on) have also produced some of the best ever special releases in the sportwear & streetwear scene.

One such collab is with New Era Cap Company (or just 'New Era'). Founded in 1920 by German immigrant Ehrhardt Koch, New Era is today the largest headwear manufacturer in the USA & the official on-field cap of US’s Major League Baseball. The company also supplies caps to hundreds of licensed entities including NHL, NBA, colleges & universities. Although New Era is rooted in sports heritage, throughout the years it has evolved into a brand that can be seen on the runways & in countless MTVs.



The New Era 59fifty fitted cap, made with a nice deep fit which sits very comfortable on your head & rests just slightly above the ears, is today by far the No.1 staple hat style for many musicians, entertainers & athletes in the USA. It is also the cap of choice when it comes to collaborations between New Era & other parties.

The limited edition Undefeated x New Era “Army vs. Navy” 59Fifty unisex cap was obviously inspired by the epicly popular Army vs. Navy football game, a long-standing & treasured annual event in the world of American sports.
As worn by singer-songwriter/rapper/record producer Kevin Rudolph while performing at the NBA All-Star Weekend basketball skills competition in Phoenix this year.


Undefeated is taking over the world slowly, one sneaker boutique at a time.


If you guys watched HBO’s hit show Entourage, you might have caught glimpses of Undefeated.
In the episode titled ‘What About Bob’ (Season 3), Turtle & Vince tried to get some limited-edition Nike Air Force 1s from Undefeated & Vince winds up dropping US$20k to get his friend some custom-made jumps from the mysterious "Fukijama", who, as far as we know, is a fictitious character. The "Fukijamas" were in actuality the result of a collaboration between Undefeated & Mark Smith (one of Nike’s best designers), made exclusively for the TV show. Watch the clip:-



While Eddie Cruz is the Undefeated partner more often in the spotlight, James Bond, who usually stays in the background, recently teamed up with David Beckham on a Fall-Winter men’s collection for Adidas Originals by Originals. Apparently Beckham frequents Undefeated in L.A. & someone at Adidas, aware of their mutual admiration, proposed the two collaborate.

3.1 PHILLIP LIM Sleeveless Top with Studs

The studded trend has hit & a sea of metallic specs is covering everything from blouses & jackets to dresses & jeans & bringing a little punk-rock into our outfits. On this 3.1 Phillip Lim sleeveless top, the trend is so neat & subtle, you can wear it to work! Since it fits just close enough to the body, it is the perfect piece to balance out bottoms like slim harem pants (shown above), tight-fitting pencil skirts or skinny jeans for both day & nighttime looks.
An awesome piece we totally recommend -- & that your closets just have to make room for!

ALICE + OLIVIA Sequin Leggings

On the catwalk (as well as the sidewalks) in every big city, sequin leggings have made a triumphant return to the spotlight. You’ve seen them in Vogue, you’ve seen them on the models & the stars, now it’s time to give them a proper introduction to your wardrobe. These by Alice + Olivia are fun, fearless & fabulous. They cut a sleek party-perfect alternative to dresses or pants, yet at the same time are really easy to wear in a comfy stretch silhouette. Great for lazy nights when you don’t have anything planned, but don’t mind going out either.
Try mixing mediums by pairing these with cotton (like Chanel Iman, above, & Blake Lively, below), chiffon or velvet tunic. Keep the rest of your look simple -- just add a pair of heels/booties, minimal jewellery, & maybe some baby powder ;-)
Remember, you don’t have to be young to wear sequin leggings!

KAREN WALKER Eyewear (Unisex)

From Twilight & New Moon to True Blood, Vampire Dairies, & now Vlad & Dark Shadows, perhaps you've heard that vampires are all the rage these days.
The nocturnal creatures with a hunger for hemoglobin have conquered all forms of pop culture & can currently be found holding court everywhere from bookstores to TV, multiplex screens, even fashion.
As the vampire obsession continues, the cold ones have inspired yet another designer: Karen Walker.
Hugely talented, the Kiwi designer has already blessed the public with her sartorial panache & effortless wit. Now she's presented her 5th season of eyewear collection -- cheerfully & perfectly themed "Celebrate the Sun" -- with a Derek Kettela-shot ad campaign that’s so fun & ingenious, it’s probably left many a designer cursing "Now why didn't I think of that?". (OK, we may be a little biased considering our ongoing obsession with the bloodsuckers hehe, but seriously, don't you think the concept's so bloody cute you can't help but wanna grow fangs just to match up to the campaign?)
Vamp teeth aside, Walker's sunglasses are anything but eerie. Quirky & stylish, with innovative nods to the past, this collection of UV protective gear definitely has something for everyone, from the traditionalist to the trend setter, even the most sun-phobic vampire ;-)

Karen Walker
Although she may not be on a first-name basis with us yet (like Calvin, Marc & Ralph), Karen Walker is one of New Zealand's shiniest exports. Walker started her clothing line with NZ$100 -- material for a T-shirt. Today, the designer (who cites the quirky heroines of The Breakfast Club & Annie Hall as muses) has earned a dedicated worldwide following with her whimsical clothing, eyewear & jewellery line -- oh, & paint colours & other lifestyle products, too.

Karen Walker eyewear enjoys a cult following with artists & personalities such as Alexa Chung, Craig Nicholls, Beth Ditto & Cory Kennedy.


Karen Walker's previous eyewear collection, dubbed "Masters of Disguise", was also wonderfully goofy, with photos of people wearing her shades, along with cheap-looking fright wigs (for the ladies) & ridiculously fake beards/mustaches (for the guys) in order to disguise their identity &, one presumes, avoid the paparazzi. Hi-larious!
This 'undercover detective disguises' take actually inspired the editor of hip New York-based publication Paper Magazine to base an entire issue (themed 'Pretend') around the collection.


This past March, Barbie Millicent Roberts -- yes, the Barbie, who over the past five decades has played muse to more than 70 legends of the international fashion community including Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Hermès & Patricia Field -- is the latest in a long line of famous women to be dressed by Karen Walker.
Walker was exclusively commissioned by toy-maker Mattel, in honour of the doll's 50th anniversary this year.

Well, if you're still reading, thanks for reading this super-long post!

BCBG MAX AZRIA Strapless Draped Dress

Wearing BCBG Max Azria’s ravishing Runway Strapless Draped Dress, 'farm girl' turned country songstress & bona fide glamour-puss Carrie Underwood shows that she can turn on the glitz even without cowboy rhinestones.
With a sophisticated asymmetrical drape across the body, a flattering sweetheart neckline & an easy shape, this is the dress in which you too can assuredly & comfortably portray a portrait of a certified star.
*Also available in black.

ALICE + OLIVIA Flower-Print Tie Dress

So here’s re-introducing the wonderful 'two-in-one-look' dress -- the clever solution to fashion indecision when nothing appears to match.
Prim, proper, & just a little bit cute, this dark chocolate belted piece by Alice + Olivia will let you cut your getting-ready-time in half… so that in turn, you’ll have time in the morning (or whenever you get out the door) to sleep in a little longer/help your BF get dressed/feed your todds.

NEW ARRIVALS - Friday, 11 Dec

Just received: BIG shipment of New Arrivals!
3.1 Phillip Lim, agnes b. cashmere, Alexander McQueen scarves, Catherine Malandrino, Undefeated x New Era, Alain Mikli, Linda Farrow Luxe & more.
Come on down & meet 'em today!

TOM FORD 'Peter' Aviator Sunglasses (Unisex)

*Fair warning: 'Nuvertising' ahead!

The most influential person in fashion in recent years? Tom Ford, easily.
From his single-handed reinvention of Gucci into a US$4 billion empire to his innovative revitalisation of YSL Rive Gauche, Tom Ford is a man of many accomplishments. Always sleek, immaculate & composed, the charismatic Ford has, since parting ways with the Gucci group, remade himself with his own successful fashion label (&, more recently, with his provocative approach to the aesthetics of cinema, as director of the stylish & ravely reviewed 'A Single Man').
Just to offer some insights into how big Tom Ford International has become: One perfume counter at the department store, Selfridges, in London made £1.5m (US$2.5m) alone during 2008. The costume department for James Bond a.k.a. Daniel Craig had more than 350 Tom Ford suits made for the filming of 'Quantum of Solace'. Despite the hefty price tag of its goods, the label now has 18 standalone stores & is stocked in more than 65 shops worldwide.
With a highly distinctive 'X' or cross-over frame (one of the noted trends this season), the Tom Ford 'Peter' unisex sunglasses seamlessly combines a classic aviator look with a glamorous & sexy appeal. One can imagine how right pleased the designer must have been with ‘Peter’, seeing as he’s put it front & centre in his 2009-2010 ad campaign. Photographed by Tom Ford himself, both Anna Jagodzinska & Jon Kortajarena (a Ford favourite &, according to Forbes, the world’s 8th top male model) are seen stripped down to nothing -- well, except for their ‘Peters’, & one or two accessories. That’s certainly one way to focus attention on the product ;-)
More here.