Fabrications

Givenchy sweatshirt, Damir Doma trousers, Grenson boots

McQ by Alexander McQueen bomber, Givenchy shirt, Balmain trousers, Underground boots

The eerily surrealist painting style of LA based artist, Alex G. Paradise, has been utilised in the latest editorial for online fashion retailer, SSENSE. The paintings, drawing inspiration from the retailer's best selling pieces of the season rather than blatantly presenting the products to the customer, are an interesting series most likely aimed at showing how fashion feeds on other creative industries (art especially). What stands out the most is the anonymous figures who model the clothes, who in my opinion blanks out the delightfully distracting fashion models and highlights the beauty of the garments themselves, which fashion is ultimately about.

McQ by Alexander McQueen polo, Kenzo trousers, Raf Simons backpack, Mr. Hare shoes

Stella McCartney blouse, Dion Lee mini skirt, Marni flats

View the complete series of paintings at SSENSE.com

View more works from Alex at www.alexgparadise.com

Images courtesy of SSENSE

Sneakerboy Sydney

Sneakerboy, Australia's latest luxury footwear and streetwear chain, is opening in Sydney on Saturday, December 14th! If you don't know about these guys yet, it's mainly because the retailer has kept a low profile to the mass and has concentrated on their target market. The retailer allows Australian guys who have a taste for the luxurious but want to keep things urban a chance to get their hands on world-renowned labels and designer collections in a relaxed environment. 

Sneakerboy has hit a gap in the market in Australia successfully, with sneakers from coveted labels such as Givenchy, Raf Simons, Maison Martin Margiela, Rick Owens, Pierre Hardy, Lanvin and the legendary Alexander McQueen, being difficult to find in brick-and-mortar stores around Sydney and Melbourne. In sync with their launch in Sydney, the retailer has offered two promotions to customers! The first is a chance to WIN some of your favourite sneakers from the retailer and the second is FREE Sneakerboy denim at their Sydney launch! 

For details on how to win your sneakers wishlist and get free Sneakerboy denim, head to www.sneakerboy.com

Images courtesy of Sneakerboy

Organic Psychedelia

The marriage of Fashion and Art is built on the foundation of collaboration, continually wowing enthusiasts of both industries - now, the extremist styles of two prolific figures in their fields have come together to release a collection of truly wearable art pieces. The regally macabre Alexander McQueen has called on the legendary artistic talent that is Damien Hirst for a collection of luxurious scarves.

Not only is this a celebration of these two highly influential creative industries, but a nod to the iconic Skull print  scarves by Alexander McQueen, first appearing 10 years ago. The scarves, made from either Chiffon, Pongé, Twill or Cashmere, feature atmospherical and non-conventional animal prints that undeniably show the talent and skill of both Hirst and the McQueen label. Prints full of insect life by Hirst are carefully designed to stay true to the McQueen's orderly interpretation of Medieval-Christian pattern work, Surrealism and Op Art.

The combination of Mr. Hirst's illustrations of organic psychedelia and the regality of the religious, dark and historical themes within the Alexander McQueen aesthetic will definitely boost the enthusiasm of loyalists, but also spark the interest of those who appreciate the rarity of such a collaboration. The scarves are available from the official Alexander McQueen website and boutiques worldwide from November 15, check out the complete collection via the below sites.

Images courtesy of T Magazine, Glamour.com and The Telegraph

The Art of Menswear

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2014

Most of us prejudicially judge fashion as a form of art when in reality it is design - the combination of science, technology, skill, visual interpretation and business knowledge. The link between art and fashion is often blurred, especially when it comes to Haute Couture, but almost never with ready to wear. The dissection of this misbelief has been carried out with the artworks of Catherine Raben Davidsen.

Fendi Spring/Summer 2014

Jil Sander Spring/Summer 2014

Depending on the ethos and aesthetic of the collection and the designer, each artwork is a visual disintegration and reconfiguration of the pieces within the collection. The abstraction causes the models to become more of a surrealist figure in the artworks, whilst the clothing emerges as the centrepiece, as it should be. Catherine has successfully diversified the mundane fashion photograph into masterpieces that emphasise the amount of creativity that flows from the designer into their pieces, by adding elements to the photograph that embody the interpreted vision of the clothing and what they mean to the potential wearer.

Prada Spring/Summer 2014

Raf Simons Spring/Summer 2014

Yohji Yamamoto Spring/Summer 2014

Images courtesy of SHOWstudio

London Collections: Men, Day 2

Famous names filled the schedule for Day 2 of London Collections: Men, including J.W. Anderson, who recently collaborated with Donatella Versace to launch the revived Versus brand, the simply philosophical Margaret Howell, fashion rebels KTZ and Katie Eary and British suiting masters, Savile Row. Notable collections include Rag & Bone and legendary label, Alexander McQueen, by Sarah Burton.

Rag & Bone Spring/Summer 2014

Rag & Bone have brought to men a modest collection that sneaks in eye-catching pieces discreetly. The technological colour palette almost hides the fact that there are organic elemental prints scattered amongst the collection. Despite the clinical feel to the collection as a whole, these ensembles can be worn exuding a cool and casual personality, as Rag & Bone is famed for achieving throughout their designs. Rag & Bone may want to up their game, as many designers are achieving this look with little to no effort. What saves the collection from negative feedback is their reputation for high-quality fit and material.

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2014

The vision of the late Alexander McQueen has been kept alive by the commendable Sarah Burton, and it continues with their latest menswear collection. The warped idea of the male silhouette and style, as envisioned by the original designer, is accentuated throughout the collection. Feminine details are apparent as they are subtle, including patent leather ballet flats, Church-inspired printed coats and skinny trousers and corseted blazers. Hints of macabre also appear, the most obvious being the moth-eaten knits and spider-web panelled sweaters. Diversifying typical menswear pieces with feminine details may not seem new, but Sarah has most likely started a more classical approach to androgyny.

TO VIEW THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF LONDON COLLECTIONS: MEN, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Fashionising

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Central St. Martin's New Project

You're not the first to be confused by this magazine cover, but this magazine is actually the new project from the intimidating and world-renowned Central St Martins College of Arts & Design. If you don't know of Central St. Martins, the college has given birth to the highly successful fashion design careers of the late Alexander McQueen, controversial John Galliano, Céline's Phoebe Philo, and my personal favourites, British designer Christopher Kane and the rebellious Givenchy Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci.

From 1 Granary editorial, "All. White. Everything", December 2012

It was only a matter of time before the highly skilled and talented students of the prestigious college would start a publication, especially with the expansion of journalism into the digital world, as most things have, and the opening of rival college, The Condé Nast College. The magazine, called "1 Granary", will be covering fashion, art & design, and is yet to be released. But, the blog has already been established, offering us jealous types to peer into the college and the students' collective interests.

For more information on the college and the courses they offer, head to www.csm.arts.ac.uk

For a preview of the magazine, head to www.1granary.com

Images courtesy of 1 Granary

Alan Taylor's Cubist Tailoring

There's a satisfying air of refreshment when you discover someone who you know is set to become a powerful force within the fashion industry. This Irish designer, Alan Taylor, carries a spark that will hopefully propel menswear into a new direction. Having worked with high profile designers such as Simone Rocha and Alexander McQueen, this modest man has appeared out of the blue with might, showing us a heavily Cubist inspired collection. His collection encompasses juxtaposing tailored elements that are out of proportion and soft sheers and heavy kilts, no doubt an expression of his heritage. Overall, his designs are meant to give men an interesting silhouette, something which has been much associated with womenswear.

To learn more about Alan Taylor, CLICK HERE

Images courtesy of Not Just A Label

The Power Dressers of Fashion

In lead up to the opening of the famed fashion exhibition, In Fine Style: The Art of Tudors & Stuarts at the Buckingham Palace, a campaign featuring High Fashion Goth designer, Gareth Pugh was released. The campaign is a brief look into the history of fashion's evolution from a luxury to a necessity, how dressing for a political purpose was upheld in the nobility and how that idea still exists in the dark designs of Gareth Pugh and its relation to the designs of Tudors & Stuarts.

Gareth Pugh Autumn/Winter 2013

Gareth Pugh Autumn/Winter 2013

Tudors & Stuarts were a medieval dynasty that included King Henry VIII, and were known to start the "trickle-down" effect in fashion, where the style of the higher and noble classes are mimicked by those of the middle and poorer classes. Gareth Pugh, and even Alexander McQueen in respect, were/are influenced by this period, hence their outrageous yet regal designs. Gareth Pugh is much darker in his aesthetic, and his influence is seen everywhere - the trend of monochromatic leathers, powerful and structured jackets and skin tight leather pants as every day wear an example of this, being donned by fashionistas all over the world. For a closer look at his designs and what influences the designer, watch the video below:





In Fine Style: The Art of Tudors & Stuarts is now on in the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London, England. The exhibition closes on 06.10.13.
For more information, head to the Royal Collection website

Images and video courtesy of Dazed Digital

Condé Nast's new College of Fashion & Design

Condé Nast manages some of the world's leading fashion publications, and their most well-known title, Vogue, has opened the doors of their College of Fashion & Design. The London college has been praised worldwide by Editors and Fashion Bloggers alike, and no wonder, as this opens up many opportunities for fashion focused people to be taught by comrades of the Fashion Bible. Industry greats such as British designer, Sir Paul Smith, is one of the many mentors to lend his knowledge of the fashion world to students.

What's interesting about the college is that it is just up the road from one of the world's most prestiguous fashion colleges - Central St. Martins. With alumni from this illustrious college including Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane and the late visionary designer Alexander McQueen, there's a question about what great skilled Designers, Editors, Stylists and the like will come out from Condé Nast. The college is only new, thus offering two courses (more details below), but since Vogue has been experiencing a brand extension, including the Vogue Festival, it's a guarantee that more courses will be on offer in the near future. If you want to know the in's and outs of the fashion world, it's highly recommended that you attend Vogue's first college, it's worth the designer price tag.

For more details on the college and it's courses, please go to www.condenastcollege.co.uk

Images courtesy of The Cut

Ubicouture: An elevated visual representation of Art & Fashion

Givenchy x Claude Monet

Jil Sander x Joshua Dildine

It's wonderful what you find on the reblogging haven of Tumblr. In this instance, a young man named Christos Mouchas has been discovered, who skilfully reinterprets the latest fashion collections and juxtaposes them against artworks. In turn, he has created a series of profound artworks which play on the concept of "fashion as art" and vice versa, and continually grows, on his website Ubicouture. 

J.W. Anderson x Helen Bullock

Alexander McQueen x Vasily Polenov

Prada x Salvador Dali

Maison Martin Margiela x Sterling Ruby

It's a rarity to find young talent who doesn't view fashion as a superficial means of expressing oneself, as most teenagers do, but Mr. Mouchas has proven that there are still young people who recognize fashion as an art form can be both exhibited in a gallery and worn on the street. Fashion is art we wear, and art and fashion are significantly important to each other, and Mouchas has successfully conveyed, and still conveys, this message to us all. 

Images courtesy of Trendland

To see more of Christos Mouchas's artworks including his menswear interpretations, CLICK HERE