Breaking the Rules: Fashion Rebel Look is screening at ACMI as part of the Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (for those who can't make it to Melbourne's sunny shores, you can get a glimpse of this BBC documentary here).

Breaking the Rules: Fashion Rebel Look chronicles the maverick designs of some of the most flamboyant Brisitsh designers. Cue John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen.

With their revolutionary techniques, these fashion rebels were at the forefront of design innovation and are still causing a stir today.

Screens March 13 - 19 at ACMI. You can book online.

Pre-Fall 09 with Alexander Wang & Proenza Schouler

As our final weeks of summer disappear we look to the international scene for a glimpse of what is striding down the runway for Pre-Fall 09 as we prepare to head into the cold.  What we found were a couple of very wearable collections from some of the new kids on the block…

Alexander Wang was intent on “bringing sexy back” sexy that is, in an Alexander Wang kind of way.  The Fashion Fund winner threw together a more grown up look with a thigh grazing scarlet velvet tuxedo jacket, a one-sleeved coral draped cocktail dress and a black crepe wide legged pant.

There were still glimpses of Wang’s sporting past with black jersey drawstring shorts and midriff scraping grey marle sweat tops.  And of course the rock n roll girl was not forgotten with a masculine leather vest, body-con dresses, black mesh bra’s tailored with elongated tuxedo jackets and a sexy long sleeved mini dress in both black and ivory.  The collection is subtle, the silhouette far softer and more feminine than we have seen from Wang previously, perhaps his days of grunge are long gone.



The Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 09 took a step back from the level of fantasy normally seen on their runway’s with the boys opting for a more “real” approach.  The emphasis was placed on creating a range which is what team Proenza (Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCullough) would want to wear if only they had girl bits. This included sequined t-shirts with industrial zips up the back, skinny stretch cord pants and jersey blazers with a cardigan-esque ease.

Shrunken tailored jackets were layered over slouchy knits and short full skirts, sculpted shift dresses were hidden beneath double breasted woolen cocoon shaped coats and who doesn’t want a full skirted lilac leather party dress?? I also particularly liked the Amelia Earhart inspired leather coat.  All in all a very “real” collection… for all the cool girls.

Finally the highly anticipated Lanvin loves ACNE collaboration has ch-ching ch-ching hit the stores.  A delectable mix of Alber Elbaz’s feminine couture with the tough, masculine denim aesthetic that those Swedes do so well.

The entirely denim collection includes a Men’s and Women’s range of classic, sharply tailored pieces and all denim accessories.

The Women’s collection features a signature Lanvin strapless dress, a classic trench coat, denim trousers, pussy bow shirts and tuxedo jackets.

And, for the boys tailored denim suit jackets, trousers and shirts.  So get browsing at the ACNE online store, its double denim time.

Ann Demeulemeester kept it in the family for her recent Fall/Winter 09 Runway show.  The brooding cavalier Day Zero collection was captured with a soundtrack produced by Nick Cave and key looks modeled by the son-of-Nick, Jethro Cave.

Jethro’s androgynous, long lithe rock look has been favoured on the UK and International runways for the past 6 months, having walked for Balenciaga, Costume National and Gareth Pugh, to name but a few.  There have also been shoots with Dazed and Confused and i-D magazines as well as an incredible highly androgynous shoot with infamous fashion designer/rock photographer Hedi Slimane.

Look out for Jethro doing his thing down the runway’s of the upcoming L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, March 15 - 22.  Welcome home Mr Cave.

Wellington based design house D-Luxe (Megan Oliver and Karie Higgins), have released a mystical new jewellery range entitled Dream Weaver.

Their braided gold chains, leather details and cult charms are the ideal accessory for that perfect Stevie Nicks look. Equally suited to your favourite faded t-shirt or designer dress, Dream Weaver is avialable online or from the following stockists.

SYDNEY
Incu Clothing, Capital L, Dobry Den

MELBOURNE
Alpha 60

BRISBANE
Violent Green, Dirtbox

PERTH
Atlas Divine