Converse x Comme Des Garcons PLAY: Jack Purcell shoe

Yesterday, Converse Inc. announced its next collaboration with Comme Des Garçons  PLAY, this time giving their own spin on the Jack Purcell shoe.

Building on the notable success of the Spring 2010 collaboration between Converse and Comme des Garçons  PLAY, the two brands have reunited for Spring 2011.

The Jack Purcell shoe is the perfect fit for Comme des Garcons PLAY, the more casual, streetwear-influenced line from the pioneering, avant-garde Japanese label,as the shoe's history is as unconventional as CDG.Born as a badminton shoe ,the Jack Purcell was later adopted by style icons who didn't play by the rules.

The four new styles are engraved with ,the ever so famous, PLAY’s signature heart-with-eyes logo and are available in black and natural canvas colour.

Retailing at £110, the Jack Purcell shoe will be available from March 2011 at Dover Street Market,London.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

Cold Heart Collective

I would like to introduce you to THE COOLEST brand we have stumbled across in 2011. Our Junior Fashion Editor Hannah showed us her little brothers hardcore band Fallacies endorsement brand Cold Heart Collective. Ultimate cool staple t-shirts and totes for next to nothing!

Go and clean out their online store http://www.cold666.bigcartel.com/

Gil Scott-Heron x Jamie Xx-emplar new collaboration

If you know music then you'll know Gil Scott-Heron.The American hip-hop neo-soul legend has left his mark on the industry influencing the sound of many generations being sampled in songs from Dr.Dre, Mos Def, Q-Tip and more recently Kanye West but trust us, he is way better!

21^st February sees, Gil Scott-Heron  collaborating with one of the Uk's most celebrated producers Jamie xx  for the release of their ‘We’re New Here’ album. The Mercury prize winner that recently gave proper beat to Adele's "Rolling in the Deep", revamps thirteen tracks from the acclaimed 2010 "I'm New Here" album of Gil Scott Heron. 

To celebrate the forthcoming release, you get the chance to hear the whole album a full 10 days before it actually hits our wavelengths.‘We’re New Here’ album transmitters located around are turned on and ready to start sharing the new brand spankin remixes of what is been tipped to be "probably the best album of this decade".

Fans can tune in and hear the album in its entirety by heading to one of the locations and logging on to www.werenewhere.com/radio using a smart phone (iPhone / Android / touch screen Blackberry). The album will be broadcast 24 hours a day but can only be heard at the exact transmitter locations.

‘We’re New Here’ is available to pre-order now on various formats including a Vinyl Box Set which will feature the album on pink heavyweight vinyl, an instrumental version of the album on green heavyweight vinyl, CDs of both the album and instrumental album and 2 limited edition photographic prints.

For a map of all the worldwide transmitters – which include such locations as record shops, venues, clubs, rehearsal rooms, museums and art galleries – just click here  

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

Is Jaeger the most hard-working British brand in the industry?

It seems that Jaeger is hitting all the right notes this coming Spring/Summer'11 season!

On top of unveiling their new suit silhouette and having already announed their plans to enter the Russian Market, the heritage brand has sealed the deal through a strategic partnership with JamilCo,one of Russia's leading luxury brand distributors.

Belinda Earl Jaeger's Group Chief Executive confirmed the news saying that they are delighted to be expanding into the Russian market with Jaeger London, along with Jaeger Black and Boutique by Jaeger collections. "The Russian market is dynamic and vibrant, and we look forward to attracting new customers to Jaeger."

In addition Jaeger is going all out and presenting the new trend-led series of outerwear and jackets that any fashion conscious individual can identify with!From the British made Jaeger by Jaeger trench to the navy three-quarter length technical jacket and the reversible Jaeger by Jaeger bomber jacket, the English brand looks set to finish off another year as one of the most successful heritage brands around.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

7thMan must-have : REN skincare products for men

In the words of Marc Jacobs "PROTECT YOUR LARGEST ORGAN"!With the cold weather setting in we thought it was about time you introduce to your daily regime skincare products that would give you the necessary boost to feel fresh as a daisy and not take anything away from your masculinity.

Multi-Tasking After Shave Balm, 50ml | £20.00

You always want to eat quality food with no preservatives,go to the gym, lead a healthy life and even listen to good ol'real music.Would't you want the same for your skin?REN is the skincare the way it should be and the way that we like it.

REN products were devised with a new approach towards skincare. Blending well effectiveness, pleasure and aesthetics, REN founders Robert Calcraft and Antony Buck created hi- tech, effective and formulated skincare products with cutting edge bio actives that are a pleasure to use but at the same time are free from all the skin-unfriendly chemicals routinely used in the skincare industry.

Seaweed and Sage Body Wash, 200ml | £14.00

Offering a wide range of body care and skincare including day creams, moisturisers, shaving creams and balms, the brand is available at Space NK, Harvey Nichol's, Libertys and many more(not to mention in the bathrooms of countless celebrities).

So maybe next time you try reaching out for your girlfriend's day cream or your wife's moisturiser, we think it could be about time you get your own stuff.No need to hide anymore!!

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

Röyksopp & BUG event at London's BFI

"Alcoholic" by Lluis Miras

This coming Friday, London is bursting with super events that you guys can go to!

11th February sees Röyksopp teaming up with Adam Buxton (Adam & Joe) for an extra special BUG event at London's British Film Institute.

The BFI will be showing a big-screen retrospective of the band's output in moving image (including standout works such as their exquisite videos of 'Remind Me', 'Eple' and 'Happy Up Here'.).Both Svein and Torbjorn will be joining Adam on stage to talk through the band's legendary visual output.

The "Alcoholic"video by Luis Miras from Argentina was the winner of the Röyksopp  Senior video competition hosted by Genero.tv .Chosen in association with Wall of Sound and PIAS, the video captures brilliantly the Royksopp aesthetic and sense of the bizarre within the mundane.

If you can't make the Röyksopp and BUG event  you can catch the duo at Benugo Bar where they will be DJ-ing for one night only!

To have a look at all the videos that won you can click here!

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

Centre Commercial by VEJA

What are you doing to protect the environment?Do you still go out and buy the same old high-street products that are mass-produced and harm the world we live in, in all kind of aspects - including visually?

VEJA the French footwear and accessories brand has been built on 3 purposes,using ecological input, fairtrade cotton and latex and most importantly respecting the worker's dignity.On top of that every season they manage to lash out stylish and wearable collections that are on-trend and never dissappoint!

They are not just producing ecological products for the sake of it,VEJA founders tend to initiate projects to raise awareness for what they believe in.For their latest project CentreCommercial, they combined fashion with social commitment and artistic projects with environmental concerns, establishing a space infused by all these varied influences.

CentreCommercial offers a selection of second-hand bicycles,vintage furniture, art-works but also pieces from several established fashion labels from Great Britain, France and Denmark including VEJA, Gloverall, Knowledge Cotton Apparel and St.James for both men and women.

What is so fantastic is that VEJA managed to interpret their own ideas through all the products that are sourced for this project.The clothes & accessories combine local know-how and ecological materials,the furniture are from actual antique dealers and the bicycles are collected and restored by the social association Ateliers Sans Frontières (ASF).

"Centre Commercial wants to slow down the rhyme of our fast-paced society. Reminiscent in the ways of our grand parents, we favour know-how and continuity. Rather than offering mere products, we try to curate genuine projects."

Sebastien Kopp & Ghislain Morillion

Founders of Veja

Make sure you check it out if you are in Paris!Maybe next VEJA should do something similar in the UK!

Centre Commercial is located on 2 rue de Marseille ,75010, Paris, France!

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

TOPMAN DJ sets for Men's Lab @ Harrods

Topman can advertently claim the No.1 spot for menswear on the high-street but now the cult-status fashion infused brand is going up-market.

For the launch of Topman  inclusion in the recently opened Harrods trend-led offering space Men’s Lab, the party loving brand is throwing a showdown for all of us every Friday and Saturday for the rest of February.Topman hand picked some of the hottest and most influential DJ’s and bands around to play some of their favourite records in the new destination Menswear area.

And noone could've done it better!

With a selection of right on the money DJ's,club promoters and even label owners on the decks, the line-up includes Echo Lake,Kool Kids Klub, Teeth,Something in Construction and Fiction.Get ready to shop and bop with Topman DJ's spinning some brand spanking beats that West London "daaahlings" have never heard before!

If you haven’t paid a visit to the Men’s Lab area yet and shopped some of Topman’s latest ranges and collections including Topman Design, Topman LTD, AAA and some very exclusives pieces to Harrods there is surely no better time to do so than whilst listening to some of London’s hottest properties soundtracking your shopping for you.

Kicking things off this Friday 11th of February is electro DJ and producer ‘Magnets’ who’s about to release his highly anticipated first EP on the ever progressive ‘Kill ‘Em All’ label.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

 

Soulland "Civilized" by Ironflag

Soulland Autumn/Winter 2011, Civilized from Soulland on Vimeo.

Following our recent Copenhagen Fashion Week expose we fell head over heels with Danish brand Soulland due to its simplistic yet intricate approach to menswear tailoring and aesthetic.

The team behind Soulland have released a short film by Ironflag featuring pieces from the A/W'11 collection entitled "Civilized".

The film premiered alongside their Paris Fashion Week conceptual presentation and translates the emotion and feel of the collection through a series of purposely manipulated video shots.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

What went down at Copenhagen Fashion Week this weekend!

Soulland A/W '11

The Copenhagen Fashion Week is always one to spot new talents, emerging new trends and brands that we would like to see being featured in many editorials and stocked in London boutiques.

For Autumn/Winter 2011-12, the designers at Copenhagen fashion week moved away from the norm and broke free from the sartorial tailoring of both Milan and Paris fashion weeks, showing an array of luxury loungewear outfits,easy to wear pieces and most of all inspired a youthful attitude towards menswear.

Henrik Vibskov A/W'11

Henrik Vibskov is propably one of the most detail infused enthusiasts of this past decade.His shows are always a fantastic alternative to the usual boring walking down the runway shows and the A/W'11 presentation didn't dissappoint.Starting off the models were presented sitting round an immense table and one by one were doing the rounds presenting his hobo-esque sci-fi meets heritage collection.Featuring several navajo and fairisle printed sweatpants,pegged in at the leg or shorts worn over tights, the designer volumised the outfit with oversized deconstructed wool coats and vibrant nylon parkas.

Danish brand Wood Wood definitely needs to make a move into the UK market.The A/W'11 offering was full of chunky cable-knit knitwear, printed head &neck knit shawls and tight long-johns.Buffalo plaid shirts, military influenced jackets,capes and even bomber leather jackets infected the catwalk with the necessary pinch of cool.We might've just found our new favourite brand!

Soulland A/W'11

For a brand that started out in 2002 producing printed t-shirts they have done pretty good for themselves as the brand is now stocked in several boutiques in Europe & the USA but it has also evolved into a full-blown design brand to watch.After a small presentation at Paris Fashion Week, the Danish brand returned home for an excellent presentation at Copenhagen fashion week.

This is what designer Silas had to say about the brand's revolutionary new collection "For the autumn/winter 2011 collection we studied the uniforms of the soldiers who fought the civil war and the flags they served under. We were particularly inspired by the portraits of the time and the sense of honor in the soldiers that comes across in the portraits.We especially looked at the hobo soldiers, their layering has served as a great inspiration throughout the development of the collection.”

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

Photography Copenhagen Fashion Week®

Have a look after the jump to see more pictures from Copenhagen Fashion Week!

Menswear prevailed at the LCF MA Showcase for 2011

With a collection that could have easily been part of the Autumn/Winter 2011 Milan Catwalk schedule, MA London College of Fashion Graduate Matteo Molinari won the award for Collection of the Year at the LCF MA showcase on Wednesday night at the V&A.

The up&coming designer managed to wow the crowd with his incomparable black structural tailoring and crocheted pieces from a cohesive collection that was heavily matador-esque reminiscing.The offering of Molinari felt complete and nsync as accessories,shoes and sunglasses were designed to complement the essence of the collection.Conceptually the ready-to-wear line was very much commercially aware of what designers were showing at Milan & Paris fashion week, including oversized knit blousons and an emergence of youthful tailoring and unique approach to suiting that looks set to become statement wear for next season.

Menswear were definitely the highlight of the evening which included our favourite and tipped to win Mario Alexander Antoniou  who showed his "CLOWNLAND" collection inspired by Charlie Chaplin offering a lavish alternative to luxury clothing with suggestive tailoring and well crafter oversized bell-studded shirts and Asger Juel Larsen with his gothic inspired america obsessed creations.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

MYKITA x Agathe Snow sunglasses collaboration

MYKITA the fashion forward eye-wear company has launched a new MYKITA LABORATORY project, in collaboration with New York based artist Agathe Snow.

Agathe Snow chose one of the most iconic sunglasses design "Cyrus" to feature her work entitled "You are here", 2011, for Deutsche Guggenheim to mark the "All Access World" exhibition. 

 

The inner side of the lenses features a golden line depicting the skylines of New York or the Pyramids of Gizeh. The motifs are only there to see for all once the glasses are removed. The skylines are hand-painted by the artist, making each pair of glasses a unique item.

The MYKITA & Agathe Snow glasses will be available at the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin and over the next few weeks in the MYKITA Shops as well as selected optical and fashion shops.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

JANE CARR launches menswear scarf collection

JANE CARR, the scarf designer adored by the likes of Cheryl Cole, Olivia Palermo and Diane Kruger has launched her debut men's scarf collection entitled "REBEL REBEL" this January at Pitti Uomo.

The collection follows the same aesthetic of the womenswear collection and is aimed at the fashion conscious man who enoys style and wants to have fun with it.Carr who has previously worked as a textile designer for Versace, said that introducing a menswear collection felt like the right next step after the success of the women's line.

“We’ve always been asked by both press and stockists about launching a menswear line. It was a natural progression for us to produce this collection and what better a way to start than to debut in Italy...” the lovely creative director Jane Carr commented.

Staying true to form in creating distinctive prints “REBEL REBEL” looks to the legacy of original bad boy James Dean for inspiration. For the menswear line Carr included designs of the brake pads in his 1954 Porsche tearing down Route 66 to the entangled bike chains of his motorbike, even a digital print of the icon himself against a variety of lightweight hand made fabric bases including silk blends and pure cashmere.The masculine effect of Carr's work can only be unveiled in its full effect when the pocket squares and neckerchiefs are unfolded!

The collection will be launched exclusively at selective influential men’s boutiques and major department stores internationally, in addition to the JANE CARR online boutique at www.jane-carr.com.  

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

7thMan Must-Have : 80s runner Originals by Originals David Beckham

You all know how David Beckham is collaborating with Adidas Originals,well we never thought we'd say this but the result is actually quite brilliant,especially the new Adidas ZX 800 DB Trainers for Spring/Summer 2011!!

"For the adidas ObyO ZX 800 DB, collaborators David Beckham and James Bond took a more polished direction. They’ve redesigned the iconic late-80s runner from fine leather and mesh, adding a classy leather tongue label and a bold adidas label on the midsole.”

We were considering buying a new pair of trainers(maybe the new Stan-Smith x Diesel) for casual wear and the redesign of the 80s runner seems to be the perfect fit!

Definitely a 7thMan must have!

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

London College of Fashion showcase & exhibition : "The gloves are off"!

During the first two weeks of February 2011, London College of Fashion is putting it all out in an event that will showcase the work of  more than 200 future fashion industry professionals at the lavish central London venue of Victoria House and at the LCF flagship site at John Princes Street, Oxford Circus.

Being one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the world, you will have the chance to witness work from upcoming photographers and curators, designers and journalists from all eleven MA courses.

Looking to be inspired?Well LCF'S MA "Fashioning the Future", is definitely the place to be!

The amount of energy and diversity such an event will offer, can only be an asset to the art&design scene of London but also to each of us as individuals.From footwear to installations,photography, film,drawing and performance the two-week event will feature only the most talented stars of the future. 

7thMan was able to have a sneak-peek at the MA designers who will showcase their work on the catwalk this coming Tuesday 2nd of February and we can wholeheartedly say that the competition is stiff as the level of dexterous graduates is at an ultimate high.

Mind you we do have a favourite!

Designer Mario Antoniou's MA collection , entitled "CLOWNLAND", is a detail-driven luxury infused fashion extravaganza, manipulating the multi-faceted existence of costume whilst re-working it to create a fashion statement that is alluring,romantic and wearable at the same time.

Mario Antoniou S/S'11 "CLOWNLAND"

For those of you not attending London College of Fashion's live catwalk and exhibition will be streamed live on Wednesday 2 February, G.M.T 20.00 at :

http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/ma/live/

Have a look at more images of Mario Antoniou 's "CLOWNLAND" after the jump!

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

NICOLE FARHI reworks the classics for A/W 2011-12

NICOLE FARHI's Menswear Autumn Winter 2011 Collection paid homage to the brand's long-standing heritage, reinterpreting the House’s signature trademarks into a new contemporary luxury for men.

Inspired by the figurative painter Egon Schiele, the grey,charcoal and black colour palette was  punched with the necessary dose of indigo and cassis & olive and tobacco this way accentuating the design and craftmanship, the soft construction & natural fabrics and the ever-iconic outerwear of a very well-thought of and cohesive collection.

The show opened with melton wool coats, over-laid with detachable parkas in soft stone leather and waxed charcoal linen, setting the mood for the NICOLE FARHI man this coming Autumn Winter 2011-12 .The mood of a man who is contemporary yet edgy and understands and appreciates understated modern luxury.

 

Taking inspiration from the sartorial traditions of Saville Row ,the autumn/winter offerings are sharp in silhouette and designed with attention to detail, managing to incorporate traditional British textures such as the Donegal tweed, Houndstooth and Herringbone but also leather, wool and linene into outerwear and tailoring.

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

This just in from TOM FORD International

TOM FORD International have just released this statement:

New York, January 31, 2011

"Recently we have received calls from the press as well as calls from individuals regarding

correspondence that they have received from the on line retail website “Mr. Porter” signed

by a person named Tom Ford.

Please note that neither Tom Ford, the Designer, nor TOM FORD, the fashion brand, has

any involvement whatsoever in Mr. Porter and that any correspondence received from

Mr. Porter has no relation to Tom Ford, the Designer, or TOM FORD, the fashion brand.

TOM FORD also does not sell any TOM FORD products to Net-a-Porter or its affiliate

Mr. Porter and neither Net-a-Porter nor its affiliate Mr. Porter is an authorized distributor

of TOM FORD products."

There you have it folks!

Boys of Milan & Paris F/W 2011

Boys of Milan & Paris FW2011 from Justin Wu on Vimeo.

Jason Wu managed to get together all the boys from the menswear shows in Milan & Paris and created this fantastic behind-the-scenes video exclusive for street fashion photography blog Jak&Jil!

Enjoy!
By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant

7 Bands, 7 Songs...

Our Favourite New Bands For 2011.

PLAYLIST 1

1. Everything Everything - 'Photoshop Handsome'

2. The Strange Boys - 'Woe Is You and Me'

3. Gypsy & The Cat - 'Jona Vark'

4. The Mantles - 'What We Do Matters'

5. Beach Fossils - 'Daydream'

6. Best Coast - 'Boyfriend'

7. Tom & The Tides - 'Show Me'

"Mimetic Desire" A short fashion film by Jason Last & Jaime Rubiano

If you consider yourself a fashion forward individual then you must've come accross some of the work of Jason Last.

Cienmatographer Jason Last has been credited with a lot of short fashion films, has worked with Maison Martin Margiela & Emanuel Ungaro and has also been the creative consultant behind Kanye West's film "Runaway".

Being one of the fashion industry's most sought after fashion filmmakers,Last worked with creative director Jaime Rubiano and together unleashed "Mimetic Desire", a very interesting short film that features superstar model Nicolas Ripoll in the same dark,aetherial and haunting style that made Jason Last an industry favorite!

Shot at Gallerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris, the film was styled by Jenke-Ahmed Tailly with Dior Homme!

By Andreas Menelaou Features Assistant