Club Monaco Fall 2013 Ad Campaign

Club Monaco has tapped British fashion photographer David Sims to shoot for their Fall Ready-To-Wear collection ad campaign.  Sims, returns to Club Monaco after more than a decade, bringing his discerning eye to one of the most celebrated fashion brands. Amongst other photographic visionaries’ including Bert Stern, Patrick Demarchelier, and Richard Avedon all contributed to creating Club Monaco’s iconic black and white photography.  With Sims use of minimal backgrounds and flat studio lights, it was natural for the brand to once again collaborate with him for Fall 2013, as the brand evolves its iconic imagery from black and white into color.

 For women, timeless styles and shapes are re-worked in traditional fabrics like eyelet, cloqué, and lace, incorporating more structured fabrics like bonded cottons, quilted pieces, double knits, jacquards, and neoprene for extraordinary contrast. Eccentricity and clean lines run throughout the collection and are accented by unique details such as faux texture patterns, unexpected trims, and bold pops of color in African prints. The Men’s Collection also explores modernity combined with mixed media in daringly updated classics:  casual tailored pieces are mixed with cool knits; 1960’;s inspiration is reinterpreted in modern silhouettes; and traditional styles are infused with a nod to hi-tech functionality.

Aesop Opens in ifc

 Aesop opens its latest Hong Kong signature store in ifc mall designed in collaboration with US-based architectural firm NADAAA. Upon entry, sisal flooring immediately signals a preference for humble, everyday materials which is continued in the utilization of blonde wood for fittings and ceiling, and in the fine-grained neutral fabric that covers the walls. Curving towards the rear, the left wall hosts Aesop’s full product offering in ceiling-high shelves. Opposite, a complementary structure houses the point-of-sale counter, demonstration sinks and an embedded bench seat. Contoured wooden fins are fitted to the ceiling, creating an undulating surface that filters light to mediate the geometries of the interior. The whole effects a soothing curvilinear balance and a sense of calm integral to the brand’s signature.

There are complete range of skin, hair and body care formulations, distinguished by botanical and laboratory-generated ingredients of the highest quality.  Aesop was founded in Melbourne in 1987 and today offers its exceptional products in signature stores around the world. As the company evolves, meticulously considered design remains paramount to the creation of each new space.

Diane von Furstenberg Opened The Accessories Shop

Diane von Furstenberg opened The Accessories Shop located in the gallery space of the company's headquarters at 440 West 14th Street. The Accessories Shop is a playful nod to summer just a few steps from The High Line and introduce the complete Pre Fall 2013 Accessories collection, featuring a range of popular styles. 

Grab the weekend-ready On the Go Tote or the 440 Top Handle Satchel so famously carried by Beyonce. Mini bags like the quilted Milo and the 440 Mini abound, as do whimsical small leather goods such as iPhone cases, wallets and wrestlers.

James Franco X GUCCI New Eyewear Ad Campaign

Gucci announced James Franco to appear for the first time in the House’s eyewear campaign for AW2013 wearing the new Black Bamboo sunglasses. The campaign, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and debuting worldwide in August 2013, highlights the classic yet contemporary elegance of this new style, perfectly matched with Franco’s sophisticated personality.

These sunglasses are a refined evolution of the classic Bamboo version launched in SS2013. The exclusive eyewear that James Franco wears in the campaign stands out for the new black version of the bamboo detail, complementing the dark ruthenium and grey shaded mirrored lenses. This style, which uniquely uses natural bamboo cane, blends tradition and innovation to reflect the House’s philosophy of contemporary luxury.

The 70s-inspired pilot-shaped metal frame, embellished with the bamboo cane detail on the bridge and the Gucci laser signature on the lenses and temples, make these sunglasses highly distinctive and iconic. Bamboo is one of Gucci’s most distinctive signature motifs and a material that has been historically used by its Florentine artisans since 1947 on a variety of products from handbags, ready to wear, jewelry and today, eyewear. The Bamboo sunglasses come with an elegant chocolate-brown leather hard case bearing the gold Gucci logo, highlighting the exclusivity and sophistication of this model.

In a specially dedicated video artisans demonstrate the expert skills involved in the design and creation of eyewear featuring natural bamboo cane. The video can be seen on Gucci website: http://www.gucci.com/us/worldofgucci/videos/bamboo-sunglasses

Cate Blanchett In Balenciaga

Cate Blanchett wore Balenciaga edition dress and shoes at the <Blue Jasmine> Premier in New York.

BEADY EYE @ BE

Beady Eye's second album <BE> is utterly predictable of the way it's unfolded and it is no where near as exciting as it might have been. After the criticism of Beady Eye's unadventurous debut, Liam Gallagher Senior walked out of Oasis into instant treasure status, Gallagher's described Beady Eye as "more rootsy, more organic and more real" than Oasis but yet this album rarely sounds sure of itself. The indie rock band were born with a point to prove and wanting to become "bigger than Oasis" and attempting to do what their old bang never could to evolve. Once again, the band have promised a balls-out rock'n'roll record by delivering  something top-heavy with sweet, slight acoustic whimsy but by exiting the comfort zone could lead to a strange and fantastic place. Such a clear disconnect could be a formula of dissonance but what is gained is imagination along with some degree of subtly that feels new coming from veterans of Oasis and deliver a pure pop rush with an insouciant flair, perhaps the band are happy to stuck in the past and produce retro goods. When it works, it would be genuinely exciting but too often with brave retro-futuristic collision is neither fish nor fowl.