Pre-Fashion Week Mad-Libs: Graeme Armour” y 5 mas

Pre-Fashion Week Mad-Libs: Graeme Armour
Sneak Peek: Carlos Campos Men’s Spring 2011
Felipe Oliveira Baptista On His First Day at Lacoste
Exclusive Photos: Life is Good on the Dolce & Gabbana Yacht
Ksubi Does Eyeglasses
Happy Labor Day!

Pre-Fashion Week Mad-Libs: Graeme Armour

Posted: 06 Sep 2010 04:00 PM PDT

Graeme Armour designs sleek, futuristic clothes in mostly all black. The Central St. Martin’s grad hails from the UK but shows in New York. Sometimes, like when he runs into lamps, he forgets that.

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Sneak Peek: Carlos Campos Men’s Spring 2011

Posted: 06 Sep 2010 02:00 PM PDT

There are those guests at a party who need everyone to know who, where and how they are at all times; they are loud and brash, and annoying in anything but the smallest doses. And then there are those who don't need to make a racket, who are interesting or beautiful, or both, and can simply let the party come to them. If collections are party guests, Carlos Campos's Spring/Summer 2011 would be the latter, and if I couldn't talk to him all night, I'd just be happy to sit back and watch others do so.

Campos has effectively synthesized light knits and cottons with the sophistication and refinement we've come to expect from the 39-year old Honduran-American.

While he's previously described the man who wears his clothes as "a clean rock star," for next spring, he's envisioned a young man traveling through Europe, "backpacking, but in a chic way." No word whether he's traveling with his axe, but Campos's more fitted looks have given way to a more relaxed look, like his white 100% prima cotton pants, which give the legs some breathing room without descending into the realm of the too-casual.

He's got some cool jackets, like a navy trench, where he's forgone a full lining for seam binding, adding to its levity. There’s also a navy blazer inspired by a pea coat, so refreshing and cool you might not even notice the slight asymmetry of the lapels.

For shirts he's sticking with plaids, like many of his compatriots, but with less dedication than others I've seen. Using Italian fabrics and Honduran assemblers, Campos insists on 22 stitches per square inch (most shirts have 14-16), and refuses to use any glue in his products. "These will look even better after you wash them," he promises. But his real triumph here is in the plaid's subtlety; there's nothing garish and the details—French seams as well as gussets at the bottom—show innovation, without making a big deal out if it.

And there's shoes, too! For the first time, Campos designed footwear. and the result is consistent with the achievements above. He's fabricated a canvas oxford (in my mind it's an oxford-meets-espadrille), with smooth leather interiors in 7 of the 12 muted colors he's chosen for the collection.

The whole thing is a quiet triumph.

If I can go back to my original metaphor, I left the party smiling, and looking forward to the next time we'd meet again.

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Felipe Oliveira Baptista On His First Day at Lacoste

Posted: 06 Sep 2010 12:00 PM PDT

PARIS–Felipe Oliveira Baptista has been creative director of Lacoste since September 1, replacing Christophe Lemaire, who has gone off to Hermès.

After a soaring career, including winning the Hyères festival and ANDAM awards, Baptista is hardly a surprising choice for Lacoste. The designer oscillates between easy to wear, multi-referential pieces for his own brand, and a couture twist on the high street for his capsule collections with Uniqlo and Nike.

Fashionista caught him after work on Friday, and chatted to him in Frenglish about his first few days at Lacoste.

Fashionista: You have been at Lacoste for just days, how does it feel?
Baptista: It has been a lot of fun, a real thrill, but of course, I've had to meet so so so many people which is a lot of information to take in at once. Also, we've just moved to a beautiful new building in the 9th arrondissement, so it really feels like a fresh start.

What appealed to you about working for Lacoste?
This is an amazing challenge, for myself, for my own brand. I love the idea of working on several aspects of a brand, rethinking its global identity.

And why do you think Lacoste chose you? What appealed to them about your work?
There were actually six of us in competition, we all had to prepare a file on our vision for Lacoste. I brought in a variety of things, ranging from fashion, to interior design and architecture, which are in fact very close to the brand's values. Also, I looked at their use of color, and suggested ways of mixing their trademark bright shades with other prints and layers.

It was said that Lacoste is trying to rejuvenate the brand and feminize it. What are your planning on doing to develop these aspects?
It's not just about feminizing the brand, but expanding the clothes offered beyond their basic crocodile polo. I feel it's an emergency for them to start building a real wardrobe from A-Z.

Can you reveal what we will be seeing at your first Lacoste show?
We haven't started discussing the concrete style, but we are working on developing certain coherence between all their lines. The question of style comes with it, naturally.

You have worked for Christophe Lemaire before, and now have the same position he used to have. How does it feel?
It's just funny! People say he recommended me but honestly, it's just a nice coincidence.

And what are you preparing for your next collection for your own brand?
The collection will be called “Polymorphous.” It is hard to describe, it will be like a dialogue between different dichotomies, a puzzle of contradictory things. I can't summarize it in three words…just come to the show!

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Exclusive Photos: Life is Good on the Dolce & Gabbana Yacht

Posted: 06 Sep 2010 11:37 AM PDT

Since today marks the end of summer, the end of vacation, and the dreaded return to work (no, really, we are excited about NYFW!), we thought we’d share these exclusive photos a source sent us of Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana frolicking on their yacht this summer.

They fashioned a bouncy castle type slide and attached it to their yacht, the Regina D’Italia, for the maximum yacht frolicking experience. You know, because being on a yacht off Italy isn’t glamorous or fun enough. We’ve already gone on about how envious we are of the Italian fashion elite and their fabulous vacations. Now we’re just a little greener.

Photos of Stefano Gabbana enjoying the ride after the jump.

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Ksubi Does Eyeglasses

Posted: 06 Sep 2010 11:30 AM PDT

MELBOURNE–These days, eyeglasses are as fashionable as sunglasses–maybe even more so. But for some of us, perfect vision gets in the way. Yet Ksubi’s new optical range makes us (almost) want to wear a pair sans-prescription.

The seven-style-strong collection is the latest addition to the growing book of tricks from the Bondi duo, and helps to dust off all those pesky “are-they/aren't-they out of business?” rumors.

A new sunnies collection will be released alongside the optical collection–both will be available in Australia this month at Myer and David Jones and online at Generalpants.com.au, with prices ranging from AUD $289 – $329 (USD $265 – $300). Both ranges offer toughened up yet quirky retro shapes and materials, and should come as a welcome addition to the usual bland optometrist fare.

The icing on the cake for the boys’ big comeback is of course the stunning look book and campaign, featuring our favorite model of the moment (and founder Dan Single's current squeeze) Bambi Northwood-Blyth.

The apocalyptic farmer/pirate like shoot, complete with hessian bow ties and gas masks, shows just how far this pair has come. While the addition of a few cheeky loose 'eyeballs' throughout some of the shots makes it clear that the rats-down-the-runway spirit that Ksubi is known and loved for is still alive and well.

Kate McKibbin is the founder of Australian online publication Drop Dead Gorgeous Daily.