Friday 30 March 2012

Evil Twin


Jodie McKenzie explores a darker personality with her designs at Evil Twin. The name explains the brand, with the Australian designer gaining inspiration from her twin’s 80s inspired dark style. Channeling this sinister vibe with her latest collection ‘The Night is For Hunting’, an essence of both grunge and punk are blended to create an intriguing and wearable look book. Black leather skirts and trousers are re-energized with tie-dye print crop tops, graphic tees and sheer unfitted shirts. Paint-splattered jackets and dresses are combined with the brand’s signature hat in every picture. Colour wise, there is anything from burnt oranges and reds to military inspired khaki and of course black.
As well as her sister, McKenzie claims to be inspired by Australian street style, resulting in her collections being not only wearable but also suited for every body type.  With the collection now being sold at both Urban Outfitters and ASOS, Australian street style looks to be the way forward.


Maarten Van Der Horst


From petticoats and Bermuda print, to florals and box jackets, Maarten Van Der Horst offers a playful side to high fashion with his collections. His debut S/S12 showed vibrant 1940s Hawaiian prints with matching capri shorts, with a keen focus on tailoring extended to the pastel coloured suits finishing the show. Tailoring proves to be a signature element of the fashion house, with his Winter collection producing sharp shirts paired with bustiers on top and heavy box jackets. Inspired by drag queens, transvestites and holidays, Van Der Horst sees his clothes as a form of escapism demonstrated by his charming floral prints for A/W and use of lingerie as outerwear in all of his shows. Referring to his S/S Bermuda jacket as a ‘Big fat Western tourist in Bangkok’ jacket, it is clear that Van Der Horst’s fashion is unrestricted and brilliantly garish. Hoping to continue his success with furniture design, Van Der Horst is just at the beginning of his success.



Viktor and Rolf: Fairytale

After Viktor and Rolf’s shaved and slashed gowns in 2010 and their increasingly surrealist shows, it is hardly surprising that they also have a talent for writing fairytales. Released last October, the duo’s debut book features 12 stories with a lingering moral message to be learnt. Tales of a girl named Candy Floss, a dress made of pure gold and a lonely disco hedgehog let us further into the weird and wonderful minds behind their dramatic vision. The pair have stated that they want these 12 stories to act as a form of escapism, having written the stories years ago and finally deciding to publish them. Keeping in spirit with the rest of the brand, the book is designed in their signature pink and black. In a recent interview with Vogue they say, “We would love to bring to readers of the book a sense of irony and fascination; to trigger the imagination and open up new windows to different worlds and possibilities. It’s ok to be different or think different.”
With the release of the films ‘Mirror Mirror: The Untold Adventures of Snow White’ and ‘Dorothy of Oz’ in 2012, it looks as though we will be bombarded with both brand new stories and remakes of our favourite childhood fairytales within the next year.


Monday 5 March 2012

Ragged Priest


Ragged Priest’s S/S12 collection has everything from studs, peace signs, tie-dye and hawaiian print. Their lookbook features re-worked vintage items in shades of pastels and ‘club tropicana’ floral prints, toughened up with their statement punk look. Quirky items such as peace-sign sunglasses and smiley-face badges keep the brand’s fun, experimental designs in tact and are perfect to complete a festival look. The collection brings an 80s, rough vibe to this summer’s oh so feminine trends…