Uniqlo X +J – Best High Street Collaboration Yet?
Japanese high street retailer, Uni Qlo have teamed up with Jil Sander to create the +J range. On my lunch break, I decided pop over to see what all the fuss has been about. I was greated by a big queue and it took about 20 minutes to be granted access to the Uni Qlo palace on Oxford street.
As you would expect, the range is of high quality and you wouldn’t expect less from Uniqlo as I believe they make the best quality garments on the high street by far. The main difference between Uniqlo and +J is the tailoring. This is particularly evident on the +J suit jackets which have a much slimmer fit compared to Uniqlo’s more casual fit. The rest of the range features some nice little winter warmers which are perfect for this time of year and even some lovely cashmere jumpers.
Previous High Street collaborations may have sounded more attractive, for example, H&M X Comme des Garcons but I have to say, this has been my favourite because of the high quality in tailoring, choice of material and the versatility of the range to create a great outfit as the weather continues to cool. The + J range is only available at selcted stores and online.
22 Design Studio – Lord of the Rings?
The people behind 22 design studio are Taiwanese Design Graduates, Sean Yu & Yi-Ting Cheng. Why the number 22? Simple. They have kept their passion and ideals for fashion design since they were 22 years old. Their most popular product out at the moment is the Concrete Ring series. They chose to use concrete as their choice of material because it represents their admiration for architecture in Taiwan, Japan and is also a very unique material once exposed to the elements, which is why no two rings will ever be identical.
22 Design Studio Concrete Rings are available from their website 
Smudge the Bear – A Breath of Fresh Air
Last weekend I was wandering the streets of Shoreditch with my usual swagger but suddenly I was stopped in my tracks by Smudge the Bear. Consisting of two London-based fresh faced lads Smudge the Bear also come with with fresh ideas!
Their approach is very different from all the other up and coming brands in all corners of the world, from the eye-catching photo-collage T shirt designs to the Pizza Box style bag that the T-shirt comes in once purchased.
Their stall is located opposite the Sunday Upmarket in the Brick lane area where you will also be able to see their folding machine and accordion style sofa. Their first batch is still available with the next batch of designs being released within the next month (Don’t worry we’ll let you know just before it hits their stall). Also visit their website.
Anyway, as “A picture is worth a thousand words” check out the pictures from their latest collection below…
Junya Watanabe – 2010 Spring Collection
The latest contemporary offering from Junya Watanabe is very nice indeed and is also a good indication of how Men’s fashion will evolve over the coming months. The collection takes on many of the features of the moment and combines them with a slight twist. Roll ups, Trilby hats and pastel coloured trousers are still in but the new features of the collection are cravats, fitted tweed/check blazers and flat caps. I like how these new features like the typically formal cravat mixes well with a pair of standard fit denim jeans.
Source: www.wwd.com
The Hottest Trend for Spring/Summer 2009
Whereabouts S/S 2009
A new season is underway with trends that are bold, fun and full of character! This season is particularly very exciting as the trends are taking Menswear down a more formal road yet with that mix/match element to give it that twist rather than simply regurgitating trends of the past.
Pretty Green – New Menswear Brand to be launched by Liam Gallagher
Pretty Green
In a response to the world of fashion ‘lacking’ suitable clothing for the Oasis frontman, Liam Gallagher has decided to renegade and launch his own line of mens clothing called ‘Pretty Green’. In his own words:
“Just gonna do clothes I like. If people like it, cool. If they don’t, they don’t.”
CFDA 2009 Swarovski Menswear Award Nominees Announced
Patrik Ervell
“Style is the aesthetic expression, through dressing, of broader aesthetic or cultural ideals.”
As quoted by Patrik Ervell. He is certainly one to listen out for as he has just been named alongside Robert Geller and Tim Hamilton for the prestigious Swarovski award.
