The Masters of Fashion

Oscar de la Renta

The hub of fashion film, ShowStudio, and the luxury London department store of Selfridge & Co. has unveiled a collaborative campaign which pays homage to the 12 most accomplished fashion designers of our time. The video campaign features pieces from all of the designers and labels from The Masters project - a six month creative exploration of these dictatorial designers and the timelessness of their work.

Paul Smith 

Set in a plethora of different environments that symbolise a different fashion master, each scene centres on the specially designed garments for the project. Although illusive as to which scene represents which designer, a keen fashion enthusiast would definitely seek out whose is whose. I admit, I jumped with glee when the Dries Van Noten, Paul Smith, Rick Owens, Stella McCartney and Yohji Yamamoto caught my eagle eye.

Marc Jacobs 

These designers are the dictators of what is worn, the trendsetters of what is liked and loved in the moment, the most revered fashion forces in the world. Ok I'll stop with the over-admiration. But, it can't be helped when the campaign is this visually pleasing and targeted right at those who appreciate the work of these designers.

 Azzedine Alaia

All outfits and pieces featured in the film are available on www.selfridges.com

WATCH "THE MASTERS" HERE

Images: ShowStudio

Source: ShowStudio

Elderly Woman Makes Dresses for Children in Poverty

Lilian Weber, an elderly woman from Iowa, USA, spends her days in retirement tirelessly creating dresses for the charity, Little Dresses for Africa. Working much like an atelier, she personalises each and every dress, to make sure each girl feels uniquely beautiful when worn - a luxury less experienced by young girls living in Africa.

At an age where most in the same time of their life would plug off from the stresses of their work lives, this woman's desire to continue doing so for a humanitarian cause is admirable. To date, she has produced 840 dresses, and all by hand, and aims to keep going until she reaches 1000. 

It's wonderful when the discovery of rarely publicised Good Samaritans have their moment of fame, and hopefully her dresses will continue to clothe and bring happiness to the needy.

Images: Huffington Post

Source: Huffington Post

The Designer Feeding Selfie Addiction

Timur Kim, a graduate from the widely acclaimed Central Saint Martins College, is now designing tees for the technologically adept and self-absorbed. Selfie addicts worldwide can now purchase shirts that guarantees, by Timur's perspective, more likes, follows, comments and a one-up in social media stardom. 

Neck bound graphics are the common motif throughout the pieces, which allow only what matters within the frame of the picture. No doubt, these tees are indefinitely going to nurture the narcissism of these selfie kings and queens, as they are all unisex. But, contrary to the purpose of his collection, Timur himself admits "I like to keep to myself, and I don't like to be photographed". 

Alas, the real message behind the collection is revealed - to comment on and raise our awareness of the increasing blur between self-respect and self-love that is being fuelled by social media addiction. Smile in front of the mirror and camera for yourself, not the appreciation of people who don't know you.

Images: Timur Kim and Oyster

Source: Oyster

Karl Lagerfeld shoots Conchita Wurst for CR Fashion Book

In an elegantly sultry editorial for the latest edition of CR Fashion Book, legendary fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld photographed the current European pop darling, Conchita Wurst. Accompanied by the mother-to-be model, Ashleigh Good, the pair stylishly challenge the unbreakable standards of beauty and intolerance of the LGBTIQ community.

Dressed in clothing reflective of the distinguishable allure of Golden Hollywood starlets, the two supersede the stereotypical image of a successful and beautiful woman. Karl is no stranger to colliding with conformity, and this shoot grants him yet another gold star on his body of work within fashion and beauty.

Images: Fashion Gone Rogue

Source: Huffington Post

WISHLIST | "You First" Sweatshirt by Acne Studios

"You First" - a phrase that is unfortunately rare nowadays. It seems as though most of us are out there purely for ourselves, and never take the time to perform random acts of kindness to strangers. Strangers, what an insidious word to use, let me correct myself - people. Let them go first, give that change in your pocket to a donation box, get up out of your seat for someone else. It all matters!

Shop more Acne at www.oki-ni.com

Image: Fucking Young!

Haircuts for the Homeless

A Filipino-American hair stylist, based in New York City, has been giving homeless people throughout the metropolis a touch of style, and all pro bono. The Grooming Good Samaritan, Mark Bustos, makes time every Sunday approaching the homeless with a simple yet powerful phrase - "I want to do something nice for you today". By giving these people a haircut in open spaces, he continuously spreads the message of giving to any passersby. 

His humanitarian venture dates back to his days cutting the hair of the unfortunate since visiting his home country in May 2012, which fuelled his desire to bring his mission to The Big Apple. We all want to look and feel good about ourselves, and when one is dire straits, a simple haircut or mini-makeover maybe all we need to conjure the courage to live on.

Follow Mark Bustos on Instagram (@markbustos) for updates on his charitable work.

Images: Instagram

Source: Huffington Post

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Images: Favim, Oyster, Ministry of Sound, The Fashionisto, The Daily Muse