Sutsu's Cheery Cloud Formation Sweatshirts

Too awesome. Make light of the weather with these super cute crew neck 'Formation' and 'Formation Sun' sweats in heather grey, black or navy organic cotton jersey with multi-coloured cloud motifs from cool skate-wear specialists, Sutsu. 

At the bargain price of £37.50 and in sizes S, M, L and XL, the top two multi-coloured cloud print sweatshirts first came out for SS11 but were so popular you can now pre-order them, whilst the new Formation Sun colour ways (bottom row, pictured above) are new additions to the range. The same print is also available on t-shirts at £25 each. All available to buy online from www.sutsu.com 

New Nike X Liberty Collection Goes Monochrome on Monday - Sneak Preview!

So the new 'Lotus Jazz' Liberty print which will feature on the latest footwear collab with Nike has just been released and, not only will it cover some great new running shoes, it's also making an appearance on the strictly limited edition Destroyer varsity-style jackets that accompany the collection.

I've managed to get my hot little hands on one so am able to give you a sneaky preview (see pic below) - seriously, how cool???  Oh how I wished my name began with an L... I'm loving the angular, monochrome print which has been reworked from a 1965 design and has a really modern, minimalist aesthetic. Baseball jackets are such a hot trend for AW12 and next Spring too but this colour way make it a real classic, classy, hard working piece.

The Nike x Liberty collection drops exclusively at Liberty in store and online from www.liberty.co.uk from 10am on Monday 16th July (jackets are in-store only) but, for now, you can read all about it here.  Anyway, now to the important business of ogling my new jacket... :)

Rita Ora Kicks It In Custom JW Anderson at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend

Jay-Z and Rihanna may have stolen the show at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend but Rita Ora brought some serious fashion game with this wicked J.W. Anderson stage outfit.

Made specially for her, the sporty three piece worked the menswear-as-womenswear trend, having been adapted from a men's look from the JW Anderson AW12 ready to wear line (pictured below).

Keeping it urban with some sweet Jordan IIIs, the cheeky matchy-matchy number was made up of high waisted, rolled trousers, a cropped tie waist shirt and boxy jacket, all in a fun cockerel print. This sports luxe look had definite new wave shell suit vibes to it - could it be true they're making a comeback..??

From J.W. Anderson AW12 RTW collection (image via Style.com)

Kate Spade's Chelsea Tea Party - Flowers, Frocks & Fun in SW3

You know me, I love me some colourful Kate Spade so I was delighted to be invited along to their Afternoon Tea party yesterday to celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show at their Sloane Square outpost.

The sun shone on the Chelsea store which had filled it's already colourful windows and displays with some of the most beautiful orchids and floral arrangements, with bright silks, denims and my favourite leopard print shift peeking through like a scene from the fashion amazon.

I was so taken with photographing the fabulous new Spring/Summer 2012 collection - including the first Kate Spade swimwear line which has the most major prints - I didn't find time for any Cocomaya canape treats but I'm assured they were as mouth watering as the collection's juicy colour palette.

These are just a few snaps from the event - more on the collection later or check it out over on www.katespade.com

Vans Launch New Camden Store

Where would indie boys and girls be without their trusty Vans Authentic plimsolls?  Opening a dedicated Vans store on the old Footlocker site opposite Camden Town tube station on the High Street side is a genius move by the American skate brand. The US-style shop fit - the first of its UK stores to have this edgy, raw wood and wire, artisan warehouse style interior - gives it a more urban feel well suited to the North London muso vibe.

Although the official launch was last night, the store - which sells both men's and women's apparel, skateboards, longboards, accessories, luggage, some great snapbacks and, of course, shoes - has been open for two weeks now and the super helpful staff tell me they've been run off their feet every single day with a mixture of tourists and Londoners.

Possibly the best news from last night's launch was that the super hot, long awaited Vans' Waffle Sole iPhone Covers which started off as a promo item then went cult, selling for crazy$£ on eBay, will finally be getting a general release this August.

This new Camden store has a similar feel, interior-wise, to the Vans x DQM General Store in New York (although it's far less mainstream on the product front), so I'm hoping it's a step towards bringing this kind of upmarket, skate inspired street fashion boutique to the UK.

Vans Store, 191-209 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BT. www.vans.co.uk

Pete Doherty's Clothing Line for The Kooples

Doesn't wor Pete (the Birthday Boy - 33 today - Happy Birthday, sir) scrub up well? This is him modelling the line he designed for super cool French fashion brand, The Kooples (which goes by the dodgy-band-like name 'Peter Doherty & The Kooples') which comes out on 14th March. The men's collection is a nifty mix of bohemian indie boy about town and quirkily styled retro geezer with that slightly-too-small charity shop chic. His on/off girlfriend, the doe (Doh?) eyed model Irina Lazareaunu models the women's designs which all have a relaxed, vintage charm to them and a subtle sexiness. (Lock & Co.) Hats off to the boy.  It's a good look.

Check out the full menswear and womenswear ranges at www.thekooples.com 

 

SCREAM! KARL'S COMING

Fashion's hardest working designer, Chanel and Fendi's ingenious visionary, Karl Lagerfeld is launching a new affordable fashion range called Karl which will include everything from tees and trousers to sweats and biker jackets, with prices between £50 and £390.

What amazing news to wake up to.  Even better, it launches on 25th January 2012 so remember to save that Christmas money!  

Net-a-Porter.com will sell the womenswear collection exclusively for four weeks from 25th January, then after that the Karl label will be available from it's newly launched e-commerce site over at www.karllagerfeld.com - go there now to sign up for alerts about exactly what, when and where the collection will drop as pop ups, retail partnerships, a menswear line and an accessories range are also set to follow, as well as a Karl Lagerfeld Paris ready to wear line for autumn 2012.  Does this man ever sleep?

More after the jump if I can get near it - like his 2004 H&M colab, this is guaranteed to be another gone-in-60-seconds sell out.  

SALE ALERT! PAUL SMITH WAREHOUSE SALE

Wednesday 26th - Friday 28th October
8am-7pm
37 Kingsway, London WC2.

Nearest tube: Covent Garden / Holborn / Temple - click here for a map

FLATSPOT'S ACE SELECTION OF TOTALLY BORROWABLE MEN'S SWEATSHIRTS

Only New York Beach raglan sweatshirt, £60

I love Flatspot. It may be a men's fashion site but they have the coolest stuff from new and cutting edge urban brands, with a particularly nice line in American imports like Huf, Only New York and DQM.

Wood Wood, Beach Boys Don't Cry sweatshirt, £80

These are a few of my favourite comfort dressing, wardrobe staple sweatshirts they're currently rocking - made for guys but great for girls too. How Alexander Wang is this scoop neck Kr3w sweatshirt below (£50)?

What do you mean I'll put boob holes in it?  Hey - borrowing is eco friendly - I'm just doing my bit for the environment. OK??

Obey au Portant, Breton style hoody, £69

GUYS & DOLLS, GET RETRO WITH BANANA REPUBLIC x MAD MEN

Grab yourself a whisky sour or a gimlet royale and get ready for Mad Men to hit the High Street!

The international TV smash's award-winning costume designer, Janie Bryant, has produced a Mad Men collaboration with Banana Republic, that's due in store in two weeks’ time. 

Bryant's highly acclaimed, trend shaping work dressing the show's small screen icons - Betty and Don Draper et al - has won her a host of accolades, including an Emmy.

This super chic range comprises both women’s and menswear, from classy, classic little Fifties frocks and fancies for the broads to cocktail king lounge suits and a full on tux for the Joes.

The high-end American High Street fashion chain’s Mad Men collection showcases affordable, vintage-looking finery without any hints of dress up - or nasty smells.

For those of you based in the US, you can already get your hot little hands on the apparel and accessories right now - a fortnight early - thanks to the members-only premium sale site, Gilt.

The looks in these images, courtesy of Gilt, give you an idea of some of the treats we can look forward to with accessories such as shoes, bags, tie pins, money clips, fedoras and, of course, neck scarves to add the perfect retro flourish.

I am totally after the leopard print cardis and the slinky black dress – so Joan Harris – which look gorrrrgeous.  Although the little Betty-esque lace number caught my eye initially, in close up it looks rather like the same material used in the lace prom dresses Rodarte did for Target a while back, both of which I bought, which is disappointingly cheap and stretchy-nylon-y.  Let’s hope Banana Republic didn’t make the same mistake.

Preview pieces available online now until Wednesday at Gilt.com with the full mens and womenswear collection to follow online and instore at Banana Republic shortly.

In the meantime, if you need a little Mad Men hit, I highly recommend getting the boxsets on Blu Ray so you can fully appreciate Janie Bryant’s magnificent vintage fashion masterclasses in even greater detail, or download Rjd2's “A Beautiful Mine’, which that unmistakable theme tune is excerpted from, in full from iTunes.