Australia Fashion Week

The Australians really seem to enjoy letting it all hang out if Rosemount Australian Fashion Week's Spring/Summer 2008 collections are any indication. If you want a little peek a boo there is plenty to see on the runway from bare tits poking out from see through tops at Manning Cartell and Silence is Golden to tamer bare midriffs at Camilla. And of course the Aussies love their bikinis.

Despite all of the bare skin, big boobs, and tan hides, we are most fascinated by a subtle cover up from Stretsis. The designer Pim Sukhahuta showed a haunting collection of barely there dresses with delicate fabrics like charmeuse and chiffon. But the most fascinating element of her collection was the styling choice of a chiffon cat mask. The cat mask perfectly hovers over the models upper face, sheer enough to see out of but clearly obscuring the natural face leaving the viewer in an uncomfortable middle ground between seeing and being seen that leaves many questions about the power of the gaze unanswered. The fact that the cover up was paired with a very sheer top doubled the fascination quotient for us. It was a most unexpected intellectual quandary in the midst of overdone visceral stimulation.

No one likes to play around with the pricing of fashion more than pricey boutiques. Or at least that appears to be the joke at Colette with their two armor suits on display in the window made from destroyed Marakami bags. Its a collaboration between Andrea Crews and Tokyo-based French artist Item Idem and the set designer A. Bertin & Fils Ltée. It's about reappropriating the empire," said Maroussia Rebecq, the creative director of Andrea Crews. Commenting on fashion's arbitrary approach to pricing, one suit retails for around $11,000, while the other is half-price, she said.

Parson's raised 2 million dollars at their benefit on Monday. Tuition is still pretty pricey though.

Though Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz did let it be known that he was designing a denim line with Acne jeans at the benefit. The only way Acne denim could get more expensive has now been revealed!

Lord and Taylor wants to expand overseas. Considering that the venerable retailer isn't doing so hot in the domestic market we aren't sure if this is a great idea or retail suicide.

Fashion designers continue to not be politically savvy. Australian designer Kate Sylvester showed her collection Royally Screwed with models decked in war medals such as the New Zealand Operational Service Medal. She had to apologize. Much head shaking ensued.

Solar powered handbags? That is a totally killer idea! C'N'C Costume National designer Ennio Capasa has designed a Solar bag with fine strips of mini solar panels that decorate the front of the bag provide power to a supply concealed in the lining. We are thinking this could be super useful for powering that Macbook Air during fashion week.

If the bloggers with laptops photos cliché wasn't yet dead Vogue Australia is intent on bringing it back. Apparently editor Damien Woolnough is quite fond of his Mac Book Air. We don't notice him twittering though so we are still siding with Patty Huntington on the tech savvy editor front.

Nolita-chic shoe line Sigerson Morrison is opening up shop in Malibu at the Malibu Country Mart. We so want to make sure sort of joke but none of them sounded funny but we think you will get where we are coming from. The store will carry the full Sigerson Morrison line as well as lower-priced Belle and their handbag line.

Its a tough time to be in designer retailing. And not just because the dollar is so weak. Supply chain issues thanks to expansion in the far East may be causing several large design houses to miss delivery dates. Rumored late are Chanel, Zegna, Nina Ricci, Roberto Cavalli and Prada.

American Eagle is so not frat boy chic anymore. In fact they seem to be taking some very scary style cues from on neighbors in Williamsburg. Or at least the ones not so up on the trends. Not that we have anything bad to say about scarves in the summer or blue pastel framed glasses. Just saying the merchandising is dated.

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Bill Blass BagsBill Blass is expanding into handbags. Rejoice as Peter Som gives fashionistas "luxurious timeless pieces" in alligator, crocodile, stingray, python and ostrich

Consumer confidence damned! Middle class women are apparently still stupid enough to be concerned with fashion trends in a recession. Seriously ladies, from one fashionista to another it really doesn't matter. Don't be suckered in by the silver lamé J.Crew shirt. Really, it just screams fashion victim.

Men A La Mode Clothing
Men apparently like shopping online just as much as women. And no we don't mean for gadgets. They are shopping for clothing. Though with sites like Men A La Mode we aren't totally sure its not secretly for cruising.

The Associated Press thinks parasols are a fashion trend. Well call us Eliza Doolittle!

Backstage at Kirrily JohnAustralian Fashion Week has begun with some fanfare despite protests by designers that it is too expensive to show. Ahhh IMG you sure know how to get designers to love you! Not too pricey for Kirrily John or Nicola Finetti


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No one likes to play around with the pricing of fashion more than pricey boutiques. Or at least that appears to be the joke at Colette with their two armor suits on display in the window made from destroyed Marakami bags. Its a collaboration between Andrea Crews and Tokyo-based French artist Item Idem and the set designer A. Bertin & Fils Ltée. It's about reappropriating the empire," said Maroussia Rebecq, the creative director of Andrea Crews. Commenting on fashion's arbitrary approach to pricing, one suit retails for around $11,000, while the other is half-price, she said.

Parson's raised 2 million dollars at their benefit on Monday. Tuition is still pretty pricey though.

Lord and Taylor wants to expand overseas. Considering that the venerable retailer isn't doing so hot in the domestic market we aren't sure if this is a great idea or retail suicide.

Fashion designers continue to not be politically savvy. Australian designer Kate Sylvester showed her collection Royally Screwed with models decked in war medals such as the New Zealand Operational Service Medal. She had to apologize. Much head shaking ensued. We doubt if anyone would have noticed in America.