New from ELIZABETH AND JAMES

We know, we know. Elizabeth and James has just been mentioned last week. It’s bad form to do repeats so soon :-P. But love them or hate them, designer Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are firmly entrenched in our cultural consciousness. The twins also seem to know exactly what they are doing when it comes to offering customers with the best pieces possible to imitate their unique style.

• Elizabeth and James Cohen Shirt
Masculine meets feminine in this signature Elizabeth and James style. We love the fresh country appeal of the vintage floral print, too. For a weekend look, pair this with jeans, a denim skirt, or capris.
(RRP US$245)


• Elizabeth and James Cap-Sleeve Boyfriend Shirt
A crisp but breezy shirt cut of silk for everyday easy-chic -- whether you're at the office or in the mall.
(RRP US$225)


• Elizabeth and James Mondrian Lace Shorts
These enchanting lace shorts are beautifully tailored with a lace overlay, and -depending on how you style them- may even be red carpet-appropriate!
Wear yours with a sleek blouse and pumps.
(RRP US$225)


• Elizabeth and James Pleated Shorts
With a design this cute, you couldn't possibly rest these shorts!
(RRP US$225)

Etc.

Today marks the 37th anniversary of Bruce Lee's passing. Watch the martial arts master clean up at ping pong in this awesome clip -- yes, reenter the dragon!

It’s a body double, of course, in a mash-up done by Nokia China a while back to promote a cell phone -- but we bet the man could've done it.
There’s also a pretty cool Part 2, involving matches and flames.

50 Years of DR. MARTENS

Cinderella's fragile glass slipper it may not be, but Dr. Martens certainly has just as storied a life.
Still favoured by punkettes and postal workers alike, the British shoemaker is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year -- the iconic DM 1460 boot was named after 1 April, 1960, the first day of production! -- with a collaboration that represents the spirit of the peeps who’ve worn Docs over the past half a century.
Ten international contemporary bands were called upon to record their version of a cult classic track, and ten film-makers were enlisted to film an original accompanying video.

One of these songs was British jazz and electronic outfit Cinematic Orchestra’s rendition of “Lilac Wine”, a tune made popular in 1994 by Jeff Buckley. The aesthetic for the MV (created by Vanessa Marzaroli) is truly stunning: a black-and-white marriage of music and graphics -- inspired by delicate Spencerian calligraphy -- that flows from the concept of a heartbroken lover writing a letter and that beautifully captures the poetry and nuance of the moving song.

Trivia: Didja know that before they captivated the youngsters, Dr. Martens’ comfy and sturdy air-cushioned soles were a big hit with housewives? (80% of sales in the first decade went to women over the age of 40 -- no kidding.) Then in the late 60s, skinheads started wearing DM boots. By the late 70s, the footwear label had gained popularity among British punk rock and New Wave musicians, and soon many music fans were also wearing them. From there, the boots and shoes transcended to other youth subcultures.

DM founder Dr. Klaus Märtens and partner Dr. Herbert Funck converted rubber from abandoned airfields into the perfect sole.


DM boots signed by the Spice Girls in the 90s.


Lourdes 'Lola' Leon with dad, mum, and Docs.


Check out the range of Dr. Martens instore -- including the Dr. Martens x agnès b crossover :-)

New from SCHUMACHER (Germany)

With its unfussy facade and attentive details (the sleeve cuffs are zippered to make it easy to put the dress on and for better fit), this Schumacher dress, as modeled by German wonder Theresa Genth, exemplifies the brand’s slick, feminine tailoring and its dedication to creating clothing that, as founder-designer Dorothee Schumacher puts it, “have a little wink” and can “create lovely encounters”.

SCHUMACHER
Although German label Schumacher has been on the scene since 1989, it is still often referred to as the “fashion insider's secret” -- and what a delightful one it is.
Founder Dorothee Schumacher began her collection with just three T-shirts. Feminine and quirky, they were the designer’s way of rebelling against what she perceived of as 1980s-style businesswomen "dressing like men".
Cut to 21 years later, Schumacher has -without advertising!- grown on German and international market request and the label now finds itself represented in top stores like Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, and Lane Crawford.
Lacking formal fashion training, the designer feels that success was achieved in part because she spoke fluent Italian. "I used to give my ideas to a woman in an Italian factory who would translate them on her sewing machine," she says. "It was a bit like having a secretary who turns your thoughts into a good letter."
Schumacher did however experience hands-on training in the high-end textile industries of Italy and France -- which explains why the fabrics used in her collections are always exclusive and outstanding.


…And here we’re not going to boast of our ability to (still) see football in everything, but just to show you we can definitely link Schumacher to the Beautiful Game… German soccer hero Oliver Bierhoff (aged 42 and -sorry ladies- taken, that’s his wife), a friend of the designer, was a front-row guest at the Schumacher SS2010 show at Berlin Fashion Week.

Etc.

It’s Sunday. You survived the first post-World Cup week. Here, take a laugh pill, you deserve it.

Don’t get it? En Frisby te damos siempre el mejor pollo. We’re guessing that Columbian fast-food franchise Frisby is saying they only select award-worthy birds for their crunchy fried chicken :-)
From the Peru-based directing duo Vladimir & Diego.

Here’s another cool one, a Diesel-sponsored, retro-Japanesque clip from emerging talent Sekine Kosai, featuring the sensational Murakami Mao aka Strong Machine 2.
Lil girl got moves, hehe, look how grandma stared.

LYLE & SCOTT (Scotland)

Who knew golf attire could be so covetable? Obviously William Lyle and Walker Scott did, back in 1874, when they set up what was originally an underpants and hosiery factory in Hawick on the Scottish borders. Like Pringle, the also-Scottish knitwear giant label that inspired the founders, Lyle & Scott slowly moved from a concentration on fine-knit hosiery and chunky outerwear to the modern wardrobe of twinsets, sweaters and sportswear during the 20s and 30s. In 1975, the brand even impressed their client the Duke of Edinburgh enough to have been handed the Royal Warrant.
Lyle & Scott’s image languished in slight staidness during the 90s, but like many traditional British specialist firms, they re-acquired a fashion sensibility by the turn of the millennium, when they revived their 70s - 80s menswear golf designs in an exclusive ‘Vintage’ range, marked with the Golden Eagle. Since then, Lyle & Scott has gained popularity with a younger clientèle, many of whom have no association with golf. In particular, it was taken up by a host of indie bands (Artic Monkeys, Kasabian) and youthful celebs.
Lyle & Scott still draws from a century-old archive that includes designs by Christian Dior and Michael Kors (with whom the label collaborated in the 50s and the 80s, respectively) as it continues to exploit its heritage to cater to demand for retro fashions.
If you’ve never looked at Lyle and Scott clothing before, now's the time to check out what this brand has to offer!

Lyle & Scott reinforced its fashion pedigree last year when it beat off stiff competition (from the likes of Luke, Fred Perry and Superdry) and won the Young Fashion Brand of the Year at the Drapers Awards 2009.


The Lyle & Scott fanclub:-


Lyle & Scott’s men’s shoes and women’s clothing range, although small at the moment, is making the rounds in a number of publications.


From the 1954 collaboration with Christian Dior.

ELIZABETH AND JAMES Linen Shirt-Jacket

The special distressed look, Elizabeth and James’ signature gusset at the back, the use of fine linen, and other subtle design details have certainly made this top more interesting and feminine than your average shirt. In fact, it pretty much feels like a lightweight jacket… something you probably shouldn't wear in a blizzard, but in the office or anywhere else indoors where the air-conditioning is on full blast, it’s perfect for insulating you from too much cold, stylishly.
(RRP US$295)

Team with a scarf for nonchalant chic.

HELMUT LANG Lace Sleeve Cocktail Dress

With a long lace sleeve on one side and just a bit of a lace trim on the other, this sexy yet incredibly sophisticated Helmut Lang cocktail dress lets you channel old Hollywood glamour.
To burn your searing style into everyone's mind, pair this dazzling dress with peep toe pumps (or even ankle booties) and a savvy sequined clutch.
(RRP US$425)

PENCEY Accordion Dress

Just when you thought you’d conquered the LBD, along comes Pencey’s beguiling accordion dress to stop your jaded little self right in her tracks!
Deceptively daring in design, this silk number tastefully bares your back with a mesh panel and finishes with a fluid skirt.
Slip into this and some slinky slingbacks, and your fellow revelers will want to know how they can get your look ASAP :-)
(RRP US$435)


PENCEY
New York label Pencey takes its moniker from the fictional boarding school Holden Caulfield was expelled from in J.D. Salinger’s cult classic The Catcher In the Rye. And, with designs that shine like the stars of tinseltown who love wearing them, it seems like Pencey’s posh yet rebellious wares just might give Holden Caulfield a run for his money :-)
Pencey is designed under the refined watch of Christina Minasian -- a former buyer (for LA’s Kitson) and stylist.

Christina Minasian and fans in Pencey:-

VANESSA BRUNO Wrap Dress

There is something about Vanessa Bruno and her invincible French flair that always makes us want to sit at the terrace of a sidewalk cafe, sip on a Perrier while watching passers-by, and give everyone double kisses.
This classy, timeless silk wrap dress is the latest to pique our longing.
Wear it with black (or nude... or any other colour!) heels and delicate gold earrings for feminine day-to-night style.
(RRP US$685)

GIVENCHY Sac Soha Moyen (Tote Bag)

When we think of Givenchy, we think of the elegant and graceful Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. The brand name “Givenchy” has long been revered in fashion circles for its pure, elegant, and lady-like style. But for a time after founder Hubert de Givenchy’s departure (ten years, to be exact), as three designers came and went, the label lost focus and customers. Fortunately, now in the hands of Riccardo Tisci, a young Italian designer who has successfully created a hybrid signature of elegance and hip (“I am writing the new code of Givenchy without destroying its history”), the label has been thriving in its second golden age. Givenchy collections are getting plenty of editorial attention, its Paris shows are pulling in all the hard-core fashionistas, and late last year the label was even named the “second-hottest” designer brand in a survey by Japanese trade paper Senken Shimbun*. Indeed, in his five years at Givenchy, Tisci has moved from cult status to obsession status, and young women and men who may have not been attracted to Givenchy are now showing a real interest in the designer’s dark and luxurious work. And so the torch passes, from old faithfuls like Lauren Bacall and Elizabeth Taylor to such equally sophisticated contemporaries as Kate Moss, Cate Blanchett, and Queen Rania of Jordan.

The focus on studs is uniquely emblematic of Riccardo Tisci’s vision for Givenchy. Studs have appeared in his ready to wear, haute couture, even menswear, and of course handbag collections. Featuring signature star and spike studs, the gorgeous Givenchy Soha Moyen shoulder tote will hold all that you need in classically glam-rock style. You can consider this to be an investment piece, due to the luxe cowhide, painstaking handwork, and of course, the high-end yet durable metal hardware.
(RRP €1,235 ~ £1,022)


In one of his last photos, the King of Pop was wearing Givenchy. As you can see, the gold studs are signature. (RIP MJ.)


Givenchy sandals -- between the studded and non-studded, we kinda like the former, in a Cleopatra sort of way :-)


Count Hubert James Marcel Taffin de Givenchy and his muses.


*According to a late 2009 Senken Shinbun survey, designers who topped the list of Japanese retail buyers' favorites are (in descending order): Alexander Wang, Givenchy, Balmain, Undercover (Japanese street brand), Prada, Dries Van Noten, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Comme des Garçons, and Yves Saint Laurent.

ELIZABETH AND JAMES Sleeveless Plaid Dress

The prolific Olsen sisters have struck again! More wardrobe essentials from Elizabeth and James are now in store -- including the piece shown here -- and they’re good stuff!
This Elizabeth and James plaid dress is tailored for sweetness and charm, not lumberjacks or chopping wood. The V-neckline and flirty empire silhouette make this easy to put on and comfy to wear, the handkerchief hem lends even more charm... and is that model’s hair cute or what?
See more E&J pieces when you visit us :-)
(RRP US$395)