D for Dot

These pictures from the Fray I.D lookbook featuring Alexa Chung has been sitting on my desktop for quite some time. Like Kate Moss, there is something about Alexa Chung that makes her the perfect clothes-horse, although in a totally different way. The pieces from this particular Fray I.D collection seem custom-made for the English IT girl – surely all those button-down shirts and neat-collared dresses could not have happend without taking into consideration Miss Chung’s very famous boy-girl style? But that is really a chicken and egg issue, if you ask me.

The great sweater shirt + floral pants outfits really make sense for me and I wondered why I do not already own a pair of blossoming trousers. And I like how the softness of the blush chiffon dress is countered by its sharp, structured collar.

The rest of the lookbook is up on Facebook.

If you don’t already know about Tim Walker‘s new “Story Teller” exhibition (but seriously, you really should), here’s a sneak peek into it – I think it is safe to assume that everything will be surreal, dream-like and utterly unlike reality.

The exhibition will run from now until 27 January 2013 at Somerset House, London.

[Pictures: Wallpaper, Telegraph]

I know that the Paul Smith x Leica limited edition X2 has been whirring around the internet for a good three weeks now, but it is way too pretty not to put up on the blog. To begin with, Leica cameras are already gorgeous in their classic forms. The designer has simply enhanced their original good looks with his signature bright stripes (i.e. orange and yellow) and add a touch of Britishness with that racing green.

My favourite bit will have to be the very cute lightbulb doodle on the lid of the pop-up flash. It keeps the (obviously very expensive camera) from feeling too precious.

The thing is, Paul Smith is a personality that I genuinely like – it is difficult not to be charmed by this jolly old chap. If you are a fan too, you should most definitely watch this video where he just talks about his love for photography and of course, that lovely camera above.

Garance Dore seems to be on a roll with the high profile fashion collaborations. After her video gig with J.Crew, she has just unveiled the capsule collection she designed for all-American Kate Spade. Featuring the French illustrator/blogger’s signature notes and drawings, the collection includes clothes, bags and accessories. If you ask me, USD128 is much too much to pay for a grey sweatshirt (cute script or not) but if you are a huge, huge fan of either Garance or Kate Spade, I won’t stop you from forking out for a little something – like the sweet-as-hell Dylan Skirt.

We are a third into August and in fashion, that means we are hurtling towards the September Issue. As the magazines vie with one another to produce the thickest, most punch-packed issue of the year, glossy pages-flippers like myself are kept very happy indeed. Things are even more festival-like at American Vogue this year because the title is celebrating its 120th anniversary – by all standards, that is a huge milestone for a publication. In honour of the occasion, the title has broken its own record with a 916-page collectible tome, which I reckon should weigh a hefty 2.5kg, so you will need to tote it around in one of your more heavy-duty bags.

The cover of this watershed issues leaked onto the Internet sometime in the last 24 hours and Mother Monster Lady Gaga is the chosen one for cover star. Clothed in a gorgeous purple gown from Marc Jacobs, she also sports a massive blond wig that I sort of like a lot (don’t ask me why; I can’t explain it). I do not usually buy American Vogue (due in equal parts to storage and budget constraints) but I think I will be forking out for this one. Look out for it on newsstands towards the end of the month.

You must have seen Raf Simon’s first haute couture collection for the house of Dior by now. After all, other than being one of the most highly anticipated shows to be unveiled in recent years, it is absolutely everywhere you look (in the fashion world, at least). Universally lauded to be a triumph by the fashion press and media, it is indeed a lovely debut by the Belgian designer. While I love Simon’s minimalist, modern updates on some of Christian Dior’s most well-loved mid-century silhouettes and styles, it is the spectacular floral set that stunned me into awed silence and took my breath away.

The Dior show took place in a series of salons that has been transformed into a dreamy labyrinthe constructed by high walls of blooming flowers. Completely hand-assembled by an army of floral designers, the set is an architectural feat that features more than a million flowers, which inclues tens of thousands of delphiniums, peonies, roses, orchids, mimosa… the list just goes on.

I wish that I could have seen it in person, but since that is not possible, these gorgeous pictures I found on the Dior Magazine (didn’t know that it exists until today) will do just fine. You should also watch this behind the scenes video of how the set was put together – it is pure magic.

These Sioux lace-covered shades from A-Morir may be a little too Lady Gaga for everyday wear, but for those days when you are feeling like a particularly bad-ass terminator x femme fatale hybrid character, it is quite perfect, isn’t it? Counting some of the biggest names in pop as fans (including the Mother Monster herself), every music-inspired A-Morir piece is hand-embellished and made-to-order, which means that you may have to wait for up to a month for delivery (patience pays in this case). Having conquered the entertainment industry, it soon won over the high fashion clique as well to become the accessory de rigueur for fashion A-listers. The fact that Nina Garcia (i.e. my personal taste-o-meter) is donning them is reason enough for me to believe in their chic-ness.

If you have been reading this blog long enough, you will know that I am absolutely obsessed with reading interviews of and watching videos that document the lives and work of creative people. It may have something to do with how good/cool these people usually look in these clips and the great music that normally accompanies them, but whatever it is, I cannot get enough of them.

The latest series of “creative lives videos” that has caught my fancy is J.Crew‘s Hello World! campaign. The American retailer has teamed up with streetstyle power couple, The Sartorialist and Garance Dore, to shoot a collection of short videos on a 8-city tour, which includes Tokyo, Berlin and Hong Kong. I have watched all of them (that are currently available for viewing) and this one above of Sven Schumann is my favourite. The co-founder of online interview magazine, The Talks (well-worth a read), I feel that he encapsulates the easy, all-American style of J.Crew with his t-shirt, jeans and cashmere jacket outfit.

J.Crew is now shipping worldwide and if you sign up to become a J.Crew Insider (it’s free), you will get to enjoy some very attractive perks (e.g. free expedited shipping).

With Marimekko x Converse last year and Kenzo x Vans last month (just to name a couple), everyone seems to be jumping onto the sneaker collaboration bandwagon. Not that I am complaining – I mean, who doesn’t love brightly coloured, printed canvas footwear? Especially when they look as cute and happy as the polka dotted ones from the Henry Holland x Superga collection, which whipped fans of both brands into a frenzy of excitement when it launched yesterday.

Other than featuring on the classic Superga Cotu, you will also find the polka dots on a series of playful flatforms in several pastel shades, navy (above) and black & white. While some of the other designs in the collection (e.g. animal print etc.) can already be found on the Superga UK online store, the polka dot flatforms will be stocked exclusively on ASOS.com. The last time I checked, they are not available yet. However, I expect them to be up anytime now, so keep your eyes peeled.

The Henry Holland x Superga collection is priced from £55.

Sometime last year, I made a surprising discovery: Puma makes very reasonably priced and good-looking sneakers. Long over-shadowed by Adidas (with whom it shares the same root), it seems that the athletic footwear and clothing brand has been quietly doing a lot of good work, especially in recent years. Many of you should already be familiar with its collaborations, under its Black Label, with Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen and Mihara Yasuhiro. The resulting collections not only push the boundaries of fashion design, but sportswear as well.

Last weekend, I spotted the Bolt Lite Mid Sneaker while window-shopping. With its neon yellow sole, it is striking enough to make me want to take a closer look. It turned out that the real stunner with these kicks are how incredibly light they are. Part of the Usain Bolt Series, which celebrates the fastest man in the world, they are the lightest shoes Puma has in store. With a breathable mesh body, you will also find Bolt’s signature on the tongue, making it a collector’s item for sports enthusiasts.

Retailing at just SGD109 (about SGD98 if you are a DBS cardholder), it is definitely a bargain. I say, get them for your boy and earn some brownie points!