Looking for a good gift for the man who has everything? You could always get him David Beckham – his line for H&M, that is. With Valentine’s Day coming up, Beckham has released a line of briefs with H&M, a pack of which costs a measly $15. Commentators have had a field day over whether or not David has been ‘stuffed’ for the ads- what do you think? H&M has also been in the news recently for a less frivolous reason – possibly mistreating its garment workers. Vice Magazine travelled to Cambodia to talk to young women who worked in factories producing mass-market clothing in the West. They talked poor conditions, abominable pay and fainting on their feet – all upsetting stuff. Wonder if David Beckham knows? Image: David Beckham for H&M.
A group of five Australian designers have just been given the chance of a lifetime. Project Runway? Nope. G’Day USA, the initiative which promotes Aussie businesses in America, is jetting them over to NYC to show their lines. They’re all local names who’ve not broken into overseas markets yet. Women’s Wear Daily reports that the line-up includes Kym Ellery, Michael Le Sordo, Magdalena Velevska, Christopher Esber and Fernando Frisoni. Fashionista is a bit confused about what season the designers will show – after all, it is mid-winter in the northern hemisphere – but floaty dresses under parkas are in right now. Meanwhile, the biggest day of the year for fashion’s public image – the Oscars – is coming up rapidly. Lisa Ho, Alex Perry and other high-fashion Aussies will be looking to clothe every woman they can get their hands on. Who do you think should feature on the red carpet? Image: Fernando Frisoni’s latest line, courtesy NineMSN.
The biggest trend this season? Big, loud, tropical prints. Think your nanna’s lounge chairs from the 60s, all palm fronds, vibrant parrots and loud flowers, and you’ll be on the right track. So how do you wear it without looking like a drag queen? Rescu. is here to help. TIP 1: Don’t follow in the footsteps of fashionistas and do top-to-toe matching print suits. This is only for the very thin and those who are immune to looking silly. It’s what’s called a ‘Vogue Look’ – it looks grand on the page, but translated into real life you become a Versace-print gangster. TIP 2: Pick prints which will last beyond the season. Look for the more classic shapes and colours among the rash of fluoro-print, huge florals on the racks. TIP 3: Work back to less stand-out pieces. We’re not saying have a big print and wear black around it – boring! – but don’t let the outfit wear you. Pair a top with muted cigarette pants, or a skirt with a plain blouse in a complimentary colour. And go overboard on the jewellery if you like – nobody’s saying no. Image: Solange Knowles works the prints.
It used to be, as supermodel Coco Rocha intoned, that models were only hired for their cheekbones. However, many are finding that their personalities are now taking centre stage. Their voices – on Twitter, Tumblr and (in the case of stars like Crystal Renn) on the bookshelves – are becoming a key selling point. It’s part of the changing face of fashion. Apparently consumers now want to connect with the face behind the clothing, rather than simply seeing an anonymous face and pair of legs. Rocha has said that she now gets hired because people love her cheekbones and her sense of humour, or her viewpoints on certain issues. Of course, for less polite or witty models (Gisele Bundchen, whose recent Vogue profile was a tad unflattering, comes to mind), this might not be good news. Do you like to hear the voice behind the model? Image: Coco Rocha.
