Mozza Incognito

OK, technically it may just be a simple old t-shirt, but putting Morrissey in disguise on the front turns this t-shirt - The Morriscula - into the coolest thing we’ve seen today. We just love American designs sometimes... Kayrock screenprinting Inc seem to know a thing or two about designs that really rock. Check out their posters, record and CD covers too! (via No Good For Me)

Calling All Businesswomen

Little more than a year ago, two NY-based professionals decided they’d had enough of the lack of handbags for professional businesswomen. Identifying that options were limited with little variation in style, a business idea was formed - GT&CL was born. Genie Tang and Cindy Lam’s hand bag and accessorise line primarily focuses on exclusive structured handbags for businesswomen. The "brief bag", known as their signature piece, embraces timeless design. Realizing that many women carry their bags on the forearm, their bag's center-strap design allows the bag to sit comfortably on the forearm with the bag facing forward without twisting. Inspired by traditional briefcases, the bag features a combination lock in the centre, giving the brief bag a classy yet sophisticated look. The inside compartments, well-designed with professionals in mind, are finished with pockets for cell phones, filofaxes, and separate documents.

Dazed and Confused for Amnesty

Keen readers of Dazed and Confused may have heard of the Dazed Gallery, inviting readers to take part of July’s human rights “Freedom” issue. Do participate in this petition and support Amnesty, Oxfam and IANSA in their work...

“The Dazed Gallery is opening its doors to the public and asking you to take part in a collaborative art exhibition in support of the Million Faces petition, part of the Amnesty International/ IANSA/Oxfam joint Control Arms Campaign.

The petition has been asking people to send in photos and self-portraits from around the world to show their support for an International Arms Trade Treaty.To support the petition and be part of the Dazed exhibition you need to bring a self-portrait (of any size) to the Dazed Gallery at 112-116 Old St, London and put it anywhere within the space. Alternatively if you can't make it down or live outside of London you can send your photo or self portrait in to Million Faces Petition, Dazed & Confused, 112-116 Old St, London, EC1V 9BG and we will do it for you. Please include your name and country with this so that it can count towards the petition.

The exhibition will go live from June 1. At the end of the month the images from the exhibition will be given to Amnesty International who will include them in the petition presented at the UN Review Conference on Small Arms.”

Free Range Design

Design lovers in London are spoilt for choice these days. Not only did they get a glimpse at Christopher Bailey’s photographic talent not long ago... On the 1 June another excellent London event is kicking off. Free Range, held 1 June - 24 July 2006, is show casing at the Old Truman Brewery, near Liverpool Street. Launched as Europe's largest graduate art and design show, this event sounds like an excellent excuse to mingle with the up and coming generation of fine arts. Graduates get a chance to showcase their work in a unique environment, whilst talent scouts appear to have landed in headhunting-heaven with the cream de la cream of UK's art graduates. The festival includes works from over 2000 students in the UK, and keeps a special focus on photography, graphic & interior designs and textiles. Arty farty-alert, everyone!

Marie Antoinette in Cannes

Pet-en-l'Air, Robe Ala Anglaise, and Caraco Jackets. French court decadence from 18th century has never been more talked about than today. As Cannes Film Festival is in full swing, today’s premiere of Marie Antoinette is one of the highlights at the glamorous Riviera film event. The fashion world is salivating over the movie posters; a saucy Kirsten Dunst winking from behind a fan, dressed up as the frivolous young Austrian princess. As fashion editor teams round the world flock to Cannes, we’re intrigued over the mystery of this fashionable royal lady. Directed by Sophia Coppola, the film script is loosely based on the book “Marie Antoinette - The Journey” by Lady Antonia Fraser. Soon perhaps, we’ll find out whether “Let them eat cake” and other famous sayings really were uttered by this famous French Queen.

Beckham’s Full Length and Fabulous Party

“...We had a menu of grilled tomato consomme, carpaccio with seared tuna, Label Anglaise chicken with vegetables and a thyme veloute, followed by a peanut butter parfait with cherry compote, conjured up by Gordon Ramsay...”

Hilary Alexander’s first hand account from the Beckham’s ‘do’ on Sunday, reports that Gordon Ramsay’s delicacies were only a small addition to a deluxe party she won’t forget too soon. Attended by 400 A-list invites, the bash hosted at ‘Beckingham Palace’ had a swell guest list, including Conservative party leader David Cameron and wife, the Duchess of York-Sarah Ferguson, and Prince Charles (who incidentally didn’t turn up). The pre-World Cup party had luxury items worth £2 million going on auction; the profits from which all will be donated to Unicef. Posh, in a fluorescent yellow Roberto Cavalli gown wasn’t the only footballer’s wife who’d donned the evening’s ‘Full Length and Fabulous’ dress code; 80 per cent of the English team turned up with wives and girlfriends for the evening. Reading that James Brown and Robbie Williams did a little performance at the event doesn’t come as a surprise at all. Do parties come any posher than this?

Fashion in Photos

The attraction in an interesting fashion shot lies in the complexity of putting it all together. We simply love this black and white shot by Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue: the unmistakable platform shoes by Marc Jacobs and Balenciaga, skinny legs, thick tights, and a deliberate blurred image (click to enlarge).

Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue

Vraiment Inspiré!

Internet in all its glory, though noting beats a glossy fashion magazine where articles, editorials and style reviews become so much more desirable to read... French Vogue, as always masters of fantastic displays, are providing a superb rundown from prêt a porter A/W 2006-2007. Go check it out!

A Bow for Bailey

Celebrating 150 years as a leading fashion brand this year, Burberry can be proud of their current head designer, who continuously proves what a remarkably gifted guy he is. Christopher Bailey, recently returned from Anglomania in NY, is now unveiling another awesome talent... From 18 May, Londonders will get a taste of what he's up to outside the designer work studio. Located at Burlington Gardens (a 5 minute walk from Piccadilly Circus), a collection of his favourite photographs of London life is set up. Named Photo-London, this photographic art exhibition also includes photos taken by fellow industry people Mary McCartney Donald and Tim Walker. Held 18 - 21 May, this makes a perfect weekend event for all Bailey fans based in London.

Demi Moore to Play Coco Chanel?

“Fashion passes, style remains”. Imagine the famous quote voiced by a Whiskey-husky Moore ... No, it doesn't particularly come as a beautiful vision, does it? Moore's croaky voice aside, let's face it - at least physically there's a certain Moore-Coco Chanel resemblance (and we're not referring to their dress code). But what are the odds on pulling of a success for a film like this, do you reckon?

Viktor and Rolf for H&M

Forget all rumours about Prada... Yesterday's press release from H&M announced that Viktor and Rolf are the next designers in line of the third exclusive designer range for H&M. Considering the duo’s specific love for couture, this collaboration is by far the most exciting one H&M are about to embark. Previously we've seen the opening of Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld sell out in less than minutes. H&M, available in High Streets in Europe, North America and soon the Middle East, are delighted about the announcement. “We really admire Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren and are fascinated by their unique way of working with design, combining their artistic talent with great craftsmanship," says H&M's head of design, Margareta van den Bosch. "We look forward to offering our customers a collection by these extraordinary designers."

Mimco Expansion

Chatswood Chase continue to expand their already extensive shopping selection. The most recent label to hit the northern suburb shopping-giant is Mimco. Moved in recently at Chatswood’s Victoria Avenue, this boutique complements the Paddington store with their superb selection of cool knitted scarves, hats and funky jewellery. Word has it that there’s also a newly opened Mimco store in Adelaide. It almost qualifies for a trip down south.

Fashion Moments Exhibition

Celebrating Sydney's recent fashion week and love of art, the exhibition Fashion Moments threw an opening yesterday at the Attic Bar in The Arthouse Hotel. Organised by Art Moment Gallery, the exhibition presents works by local artists, designers, graphic designers, illustrators, photographers, fashion photographers, sculptors & students. Continuing until 3 June, this is an inspiring opportunity to see fashion related art in Sydney.

Kate's Clothing Line

As much as we’ve been whinging about celebs making sudden careers as ‘designers’, it doesn’t come as a surprise reading today’s gossip at Vogue that Kate Moss is planning to launch her own clothing line. We’re not sure whether we love it or hate it.

Anglomania

“Gathered in Manhattan to celebrate the essence of English-ness, fashion's Britpack proposed their own ideas...”



Reading more of Suzy Menkes' intro to the article Sex and Brits: An Ode to Irony, we learn that this isn’t just a few Britpacks enjoying a fashion expo in NY. Officially opening tomorrow, the Anglomania exhibition was launched by an exclusive party at the New York Metropolitan Museum.

The theme – the creativity in British fashion over the last 30 years – focuses on the main approach and inspiration of British fashion. Throughout these years, irony has been a constant source, elevated from historical satirical prints, landscape paintings, and flamboyant grand manner portraits. In amongst mingling celebrities were Johnny Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, whose wool tartan trousers (by Vivienne Westwood) were on display.

Our favourite part of the article is...

“...It takes a certain irony to envisage Anna Wintour, first lady of American Vogue, showing the Duke of Devonshire around the grand and glorious English period rooms of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where, among dark Jacobean furniture and an Elizabethan portrait, a Vivienne Westwood gown is accessorized with a necklace filled with sperm; or where a grand state bed has a Gothic scenario of Queen Victoria in her widow's weeds watching her Albert lying in a compromising position in a silver death mask and Alexander McQueen's taut tartan trousers...”

Sienna Miller For Pepe Jeans

Like Posh, JLo, Gwen and a zillion other well-known names, the next celebrity to jump on the (designer) band wagon is Sienna Miller. Sienna, recently signed up to be the face and body of Pepe, is now planning to design the perfect jeans. Another one bites the dust springs to mind.

Coutorture.net

A quick video from Prada’s "Waist Down" skirt Party, an interview with a fashion designer, or a professional make up artist’s most exclusive advice... Add integration of ‘old fashioned’ media and fashion blogs, and you’ve landed somewhere next to Suzy Menkes at a fashion front-row seat and geek-city Arizona (right up our street). Thankfully Coutorture.net is not just another average blog roll community. Behind this much-hyped site - unsurprisingly - are fellow fashion bloggers Julie Fredrickson (Almost Girl), and Phil Leif Bjerknes, (Millionaire Socialite). Our immediate reaction to this translates into two words: deeply cool.

The Fashion Week Has Left The Building

Yesterday’s grand finale and closure of Australian Fashion Week included a big VIP party and a list of new names on the runway (Sydney TAFE Design Studio and the New Generation Group collection show). As the event moves into a new corporate era under the New York-based IMG, some industry people can't wait for the plan for next year to be outlined: Is the late-april event a realistic time for Sydney fashion week to compete with the rest of the fashion scene globally? Considering how and when the international buyers are setting budgets, IMG Fashion may have to re-schedule the fashion week next year in order closer coincide with NY, London, Milan and Paris. Publications of the success of the event are already everywhere. IMG Fashion’s own Simon Lock claims the Sydney frock fest has already surpassed London's rival fashion event. "We have eclipsed London in terms of size, participation and attendance. On the ladder of fashion weeks, we could probably put ourselves four at the moment."