Collaborations are the way forward now in a rapidly changing fashion landscape. Everyone from high-street retailers right through to smaller, niche labels are collaborating with interesting creatives from all disciplines in an effort to bring a bit of true individuality, exclusivity and authenticity back into fashion.



French label Surface 2 Air Paris has taken a unique approach to the concept by collaborating with cult French dance music outfit Justice to produce a mini collection. Epitomizing the personal style of Justice members, the collection includes 2 worn-in biker-style leather jackets, which are fitted to the body, in keeping with the 'super-skinny' silhouette still favoured by most hipsters around the world. Jeans are also part of the collection, which, you guessed it -are super skinny. The result is a hot look but one that requires the long-term abstinence from traditional French staples - cheese and croissants - what we do for fashion. By Lisa Evans
 

Mark our words: skinny legs are on their way out. Hard to believe, we know, given that every hipster from Hobart to Helsinki is sporting licorice legs right now but the tide is slowly turning, thanks to the world's top designers who have decided that they've had enough of the look. Enter Prada, who are still setting global trends and leading the way in true fashion innovation, despite being a global mega brand (which usually spells one thing: boring). The brilliant fashion house is on a mission to bring back seriously voluminous  "flares," but with a fabulous signature quirky Prada twist in the form of lavish fabrication and intricate prints. Not for the faint-fashion hearted. 



Still with Prada, parts of their beautiful new shoe collection look as if they have slipped straight out of a Salvador Dali painting or some other strange alternative universe where there are no design rules. We love the decorative heels, which look more like pieces of grand, hand-carved furniture than a pair of pumps. They're almost too good to wear. By Lisa Evans

Shoes say as much about the wearer and his or her character as do eyeglasses. Jamie Hayon's line of shoes for Camper is perfect for self expression. With his industrial design aesthetic and love of tap dancing shoes, Hayon has created a collection of sporty shoes that has a touch of elegance; an upgrade from the humble sneaker. With its smooth, form-fitting shape, linen-print lining and diamond-patterned sole, this shoe is more than just a mere accessory for the feet - it's a fusion of style, form and function. - Kate Vandermeer

Pop culture's fervent embrace of the 80s aesthetic - from fashion to music - is not about to abate anytime soon. Which is why now is the perfect time for iconic 80s brands to wipe away the cobwebs (and any chips on their shoulders about being "has-beens") and re-invent themselves to a whole new generation (Y, that is) that did not have the pleasure of consuming them the first time around.

Iconic 80s sports shoe giant Reebok has heard the revival call and is responding beautifully with a mix of classic retro-ism and futurism. Everything about the brand is undergoing a renaissance, from the product right through to the marketing, such as their recent pop-up store in New York which was a feast for the illustrative senses. Good work, we say. Will the brand rise to the dizzy heights of its former glory when a pair of Reeboks was the only shoe any man, woman or child from Dusseldorf to Detroit wanted? Maybe not but we're predicting that the hipsters will give them an excellent run (pardon the pun) this time around. - Laura Demasi

It's not often that you yearn for weather cold enough to turn your fingers frosty but one look at Mary Beyer's divine gloves will do the trick. Actually we'll take any excuse to slip into Beyer's beautifully tailored pieces, which are reminiscent of an era when gloves were an essential component of a lady's everyday wardrobe.



The French designer works with brilliantly colored and textured leathers and her designs feature interesting details such as ties and cuffs.





She works out of her lovely Paris boutique located in the upmarket shopping mecca, Palais Royal, where she also makes couture (made-to-measure) gloves for the city's chicest women. Could gloves be the new black? We can feel a trend coming on. - Laura Demasi

The owl as a fashion trend originated from the craft world. It has since been interpreted on many a fashionable outfit, toy, tote bag and statement accessory since. But none quite like this fabulous singlet dress ($45) for mini fashionistas, complete with ombre background to really make the owl print stand out!  Not only is it likely to offer wisdom to your emerging hunter of cool, but it will help you find them in crowds!!   

Kidswear has undergone a huge transformation over the last few years, led by a new generation of designers who have applied their creativity to the children's category, usually after having kids themselves. Today kidswear is a carbon copy of adult fashion - incorporating key trends.



(Above) Flannel Overshirt - $75,  Mini cord skirt $55, Bunny half length sweater - $55 

You know a brand has succeeded when you look at a kids item and want to wear it yourself. Like this new collection, which features graphic print t-shirts, shorts and boardies, which wouldn't look out of place on the backs of urban hipsters.



(Above) Bunny longsleeve tee $45,  Tote Bag - $35, Green Cave Man tee - $45, Panel Spray Jacket - $95

Unfortunately you need to be aged six or under to squeeze into them so we've accepted that they are strictly for kids. If you have any little people in your life, you can purchase a limited number of these pieces through us - email bill@thecoolhunter.net



(Above) Mini cord dress - $75, dip dye sweater - $65



(Above) - Cave man tee - $45, Mini cord dress - $75)



(Above) - Pack Man tee - $45 - Smiley tee $45 - B+W shorts - $55

If you carry a Blackberry, iPod or iPhone, do you have to look like you have no style at all? Cute accessory bags are fine for weekend hiking trips, just like boring “business like” cases are fine for, well, boring people, but for the power lunch with the merger guys or cocktails in high places, you’ll want this bag made of gold python-print Italian leather.



Grab you platinum credit cards, a few large bills, your well-travelled passport, and your ever-present favourite device/s – there’s a slot for each in this baby – and you are set. The bags are hand-made in Spain, the internal lining is satin and the colour options are gold and black with new - Anthracite, Pearl and Cobalt Blue with a hot pink snake trim.. Oh, and you need to decide if you’d prefer python or rattler. Of course, you could choose the chic creamy-soft lamb but isn’t that a bit too tame? The gold python Blackberry clutch is available exclusively through us. How much you ask? A$300.

 

Only Gold available

gold Option 2 Option 3

T-shirt alert - New limited edition Tee's available for $35 from Toronto based brand, Handsome Clothing

Men’s fashion is a mixed palette currently. Whilst sartorial splendour reigns supreme in key fashion publications and hip hop styling has been given a modern makeover with an American sportswear feel, new European sub-cultures have been busily building on their own unique style that is quite unlike any other mainstream trends dictated to us by the catwalks.

Rising from the street as all ”wearable, commercial street art“ is one such brand that appears to have a unique perspective on men’s style. HUMöR has been carving quite the niche, working on creating a total silhouette heavily influenced by the metropolitan underground electronic music scene.   Hailing from Denmark, HUMÖR describe the inspiration for their latest range as ”Tokyo’s Shibuya area, where the fashion crowd is giving an entirely new meaning to the word paint box.“



With a penchant for comical quirky knitted prints, bold graphic tees and unique pant silhouettes, the look is fresh, irreverent and could be described as a slightly more toned down version of singer MIA’s personal style.  Loud, brash with a kaleidoscope of texture, these clothes make statements and are not for the faint-hearted wall flower!  It seems that the consumer is embracing the brand as well, with key stores like Size?, American Retro and Choices stocking the brand and fashion website OKI NI selling out online.  Having expanded the range to include accessories and footwear and HUMöR about to be stocked in Topman in Oxford Circus, it’s a matter of time before this brand takes it to the next level.  – Kate Vandermeer

The use of print within fashion is not a new phenomenon, however, with technological innovation a surge of photosynthesis prints is giving an almost 3D effect to the finished garments. The fusion of colour, print and reality makes the wearer feel like a moving installation! One brand whose signature style integrates narrative prints and a kaleidoscope of colours is Susanne Ostwald and Ingvar Helgason of Ostwald Helgason. The German and Icelandic designers met when both were working for a London design studio. They won two design grants from the German government and showed their first joint collection at Paris Fashion Week. Ostwald is the colour and print designer and Helgason is the maestro of the silhouettes. The Ostwald Helgason label launched in 2006 and stocks in Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands, UK and US in shops such as Opening Ceremony, Kokon To Zai and Bauhaus, and boasts fans such as Rihanna and Daphne Guinness.– Kate Vandermeer

We all know that Gen Y is the most cynical generation on earth when it comes to marketing and advertising. They hate being 'sold' to and expect so much more from a brand than just the product.

This cynicism has spawned an amusing trend  where cool young things - we've dubbed them Brand Whores  - are appropriating corporate logos and turning them into ironic fashion symbols. From McDonalds to KFC, Brand Whores are poking fun at brands and our rampant consumerist culture.

Not that the brands mind, we presume. Any opportunity to have their logos splashed about - irony, or no irony - is a chance to market. - Laura Demasi

When you think Italian fashion design, Armani, Valentino and Versace spring to mind, having paved the way for strong, bold aesthetics. Quality and tailoring is also intrinsic to the Italian sensibility. A new label that epitomises both has emerged from a 20-year strong lineage. Italian company “Paoloni Group” launched a new label “MSGM” recently with strong acceptance domestically and internationally with the likes of Harvey Nichols, Joyce, Lane Crawford, Matches and Browns plus being named as one of the best new emerging designers for Vogue Talents.

Created by and for a youthful demographic of under 35, the label has both a men’s and women’s collection.  Blending comfort and function with a distinctly Italian preppy edge, the Men’s collection is fresh and modern yet combines achingly simple pieces together.  The Women’s is more fashion focused with an emphasis on print and staying current to the season. Either way, this is one label to watch as they make their mark on the international fashion scene.  – Kate Vandermeer

The new winter Jelly Toy Watches are here to buy with new colours - Blue, Purple, Grey & Olive Green. 

Design your own watch by mixing and matching watch straps and cases to create a custom watch. Just pop and swap. Buy 2 watches for 3 different looks. The Black and white versions and summer Jelly's are also available here

Colour choices

Grey $325.00 Olive Green $325.00 Blue $325.00 Purple $325.00

iPhone/Blackberry clutch

Silk Tunic Dress

Look inside any of the best-dressed list wardrobes and you’ll find a mix of key designer looks, carefully selected vintage and some stand out one off pieces that have stood the test of time.  The kind of pieces that you reach for over and over as you know that no matter how tired you are, how old the rest of your outfit feels, you’ll be happy with the overall look as long as you are wearing that piece.

Well, TCH a piece that will be the missing jigsaw piece to your wardrobe puzzle. For the ladies, a stylish, printed silk tunic dress that could be worn easily in winter with tights and a trench or in spring with heels and a statement necklace. At US$650, it’s an investment that will bring you plenty of return in your wardrobe. (Sizes 0 +1 only). Purchase exlusively through TCH below. – Kate Vandermeer 

Sizes

0 (US size) 1 (US size)) Option 3

The 80s revival wave has swept the cobwebs off many brands, including the quintessentially preppy Lacoste. Gone are the pretty pastels and tennis whites - enter graphic, techno prints as exemplified in their new 'Ibiza' range of neon coloured trainers. Inspired by pixellated graphics, the graduated-print collection is sure to become a must-have amongst all self respecting creative types. - Lisa Evans

As The Sartorialist has proven, Italian men really do have their own unique sense of style; one part old world gentleman glamour, two parts super chic. The Italian brand Noodle Park, has managed to harness this typical Italian style yet still retains an affordable price point. What’s with the name, you ask? Well, it’s all about what the Noodle box represents; a global perspective, androgynous in its appeal and a link between people, despite ethnicity, tradition, culture or religion (plus they use Noodle boxes for their packaging!) Noodlepark offers some clean, modern shapes featuring contrast zippers, comfortable fabrics and a muted, complimentary colour palette. Seen all over Milan by stylish locals, Noodlepark should be on your radar.  – Kate Vandermeer

Australian designer Josh Goot showed a divine, blindingly bright SS2010 collection at London Fashion Week earlier this week, presented in an open air car park - a suitably urban location given the collection's powerfully modern feel.

The collection, made up mostly of elongated t-shirt dresses, mini dresses and tanks, was all about bold graphic prints. The pieces themselves, which also included a handful of pants and jackets, were kind of secondary, acting more like personal, mobile canvases for the beautifully sharp, urban graphic prints that adorned them.

If Goot's bold colours freak you out, fear not, the designer also showed a section of less-in-your-face black and white prints, which, while still precise and complex will probably appeal to a broader range of customers (read: colour-phobes). - Laura Demasi

New York's loss is Paris's gain. For his debut show here, Thom Browne paraded an army of astronauts who removed their spacesuits to reveal shrunken shorts suits in a vast array of classic Thom fabrics - Valerio Mezzanotti for the New York Times

Is creativity a genetic likelihood? Look at Paul and Stella McCartney, Ronald & Sophie Dahl, Rosa and Margherita Missoni. In Lucila Lotti’s case, genetics definitely played a part in her creative upbringing. Her father, Jorge Lotti began his tailoring shop in Buenos Aires in 1920 and grew the business to become a major presence in the South American garment industry until the 90’s, when it closed. Lucila, the youngest of the family grew up amongst this love of detail, fine fabrics and quality craftsmanship.  

Lucila began her own business focusing on shoes made from patent leather, suede, satin and vinyl in homage to her mother who always wore heels and lipstick when leaving the home. Opening her own boutique in the creative, bohemian hub of Palermo in Buenos Aires, Lucila is amongst fine company. Given this sense of history and creative disposition, it is no surprise that Lucila’s debut collection came to the attention of Patricia Field and Sex & The City. Her bright, bold shapes and ability to mix colour and silhouette in a brave, fashionable style will no doubt continue to inspire more international press. – Kate Vandermeer

It’s a vexing conundrum: you can tell a lot about a man by his shoes; yet there are only a limited number of ways a gentleman can truly express himself via his footwear. Men’s shoes just don’t cut it in the expansive design stakes.

But we’re sensing a mood shift, as evidenced by these snappy striders, fresh for Spring 2010.
Christian Louboutin’s Freddy Flats lace-up shoes are made with patent leather and smattered with a profusion of studs to the toe and heel. They scream: daringly dapper. Not surprisingly Pharrell Williams has already stepped out in a pair.

In keeping with what the bling theme, Michael Kors has released these Capote Flats. Made from tan leather and featuring silver toe jewellery they’re a statement in English eccentricity. - Bill Tikos

Eleven - Paris	Converse Jack Purcell	Whale Shorts by O'Connells

David Hart Ties	Burberry X Colette Trench	Timberlands

Toywatch Jelly	Akris Clutch	Bess Sneakers

 

Finger in the nose – what a great name for a kids’ brand you say? Well, this French brand is the epitome of style (regardless of the size of their audience!) From its ‘Sartorialist-snap-worthy’ mini models with just the right amount of attitude to its authentic rock n roll aesthetic, this brand offers quality kids’ wear for the emerging fashionista.

This label is not just about cutting a stylish figure on the streets; integral to its DNA is the long-term quality of the pieces, offering superior comfort and wearability. They use 9-11 ounce real European denim with raw, stone, bleach, snow and leather-look washes, and real feather down for their jackets and Geelong merino angora for their knitwear. Their 100% cotton tees feature wild animals and mythology-style graphic prints. The only negative? Your kids could quite likely steal the spotlight from your own sartorial efforts. Consider yourself warned!  – Kate Vandermeer

Norma Kamali Studded Swimsuit	Silver Spartans Tights

Bjorg Jewelery - 2010

AA Hartwick Unisex Shoe

SU75 - Paris

Vanguard Neo Tribal Sweater

Silk Tunic Dress

 

Prada

Tods