Karen Walker Eyewear

New Zealand designer Karen Walker's eyewear collection. Her clothing collections have been descirbed as clothes for the "anti-it-girl," and I suppose her collection of sunglasses would fall into the same category. I love the fun, chunky styles Walker has dreamed up for this outsider girl. A play on the wayfarer's and giant vintage frames that have been so popular for the last little while, but a really nice evolution on the look, for those of us who want something a little different.

Beyond the Valley

Beyond the Valley is a creative community based in London that supports new artists and designers. They also have their own brand of clothing and housewares. Here are some sweet spring looks from their SS08 collection.

Loose Spring

With snow on the ground and temperatures still below zero, the notion of spring being on its way is such a nice thought. I am ready to get rid of some of these heavy layers and get into something a little lighter.

Sari Gueron (Spring 08) and Jeremy Laing (Spring 07) have some really nice, simple, light spring looks to stroll around the sunshine in. Both collections have a bit of of strong structure incorporated in them but layers are loose and the fabrics look like they can breathe. They are relaxed but not lazy.












images from style.com

Hannah Marshall

Every now and then I see a collection that I just fall in love with immediately. Hannah Marshall was named one of
style.com's top ten new designers to watch.

Miss Marshall's fall 2008 collection is elegeant and sophisticated with a gothic edge. Her mix of fabrics and leather is enamoring. She is interested in a commnication between the wearer and the clothing so the mix of textures and weights creates a specific experience to the person doning the clothes. Marshall's signature mark is also to embed messages in her clothing using brail.

I just can't get enough of how much innovation there is in what could be very basic looks. The armor-like shoulder pieces are quirky but give the garments an edgy structure, while the sheer fabrics soften up looks that would otherwise be straight and stiff. There is a constant pull between hard and soft. I can't get enough.

[Shall we also pause a moment and take notice of how cool she makes a crow on your head look?]

Japan Fashion Week

These are two collections from Japan Fashion Week in Tokyo that caught my eye. The first is Support Surface designed by Norio Surikabe (5) and the other is matohu by Hiroyuki Horihata and Makiko Sekiguchi (5). The mix of patterns and lengths remind me of Dries Van Noten's Spring 2008 collection but more eccentric and fall appropriate.

Chloé says "au revoir" to Paulo Melim Andersson

It was announced today that Chloé will be saying good bye to Paulo Melim Andersson, after his three collections for the house, and will be replaced by Hannah MacGibbon. MacGibbon has been working for the house since 2001. She worked very closely with fellow Brit, Pheobe Philo who brought Chloé much success. The house is looking to bring back more of the hip, French touch to Chloé and they believe that Hannah MacGibbon is the woman to do it.

While Andersson's three collections for Chloe were not widely recieved by critics, I was/am a big fan of his work.

He started his three season reign in Fall 2007, with an edgy bang with doc marten-esque boots, cool black sunglasses, and an array of eye catching orange pieces. I love the prints Andersson used for dresses and tops in this collection.





For spring 2008, Andersson lightened things up in many ways. He used soft, pale colours and beautiful flowing chiffons. He continued to use the similar prints as in the last collection but used colours that are more spring appropriate. Andersson created a beautifully delicate and feminine collection full of things I would be thrilled to wear in the coming warmer months.





In Andersson's final collection for the house, he continued with the chiffons and prints in a darker palette and added jackets and patterend tights to the mix. Andersson also incorporated some stitch work which was often used by Philo when she designed for the house. I can't say that the results are as eye cathing as the other two collections but there are some nice moments. I'm a sucker for a black jacket for fall and he gives a couple of options in that category. I still enjoy the prints and pretty flowing dresses but the shoes are one of the most talked about aspects of this collection. They are very fun very quirky and very... how do you say... chic. Perhaps the most Chloé-e part of the collection.





I am sad to see Andersson go but I think that he will do great work on his own, without the weight of a house on his shoulders. So here's to hoping we see much more of Paulo Melim Andersson in the future and I am really excited to see what Hannah MacGibbon delivers next season.

For more info on the change at Chloé: http://www.fashionweekdaily.com/news/

images from style.com

PFW Fall 2008 Collections

And finally.... some favourite looks from the runways of Paris from the Fall 2008 collections.






























[Lanvin (4), Chloe (3), Isabel Marant, Rue du Mail (3), Dries Van Noten (3), Givenchy (2), Yves St. Laurent (2), Balenciaga (2), Gaspard Yurkievich (2), Rick Owens (2)]

images from style.com and nymag.com

WAYNE Fall 2008

Vietnam born, Wayne, started her own collection in 2007 after working as a buyer for Barney's in New York. I think her fall 2008 collection is great! I love the mix of black with cream and skin toned colours. The nod at menswear in the trousers and tailored jackets look great and very comfortable. There is a really nice balance balance between being simple, bold, and pretty. (Loving the punch of black socks and shoes). Gonna keep my eyes on this designer.














images from elle.com