Forest Functional Attire

You would suppose that most clothes associated with trees are done so on the basis of either camping gear or those woven from fabrics that have been recycled four times over. But what if the clothing we wore actually took after the trees in the sense that the very fabrics would purify the air? ...But of course without the dirt, mossy branches, and crunchy leaves.

Illustration: Max Munsie
No need to worry about going out looking like
you've slept in a fern patch for the past four years...

I'm intrigued to say that the innovative minds at the London College of Fashion and the University of Sheffield are striving to bring fashion and science together with this idea in mind. The collaboration is known as Catalytic Clothing. Go to catalytic-clothing.org for the full details and a stunning video on the ideology and the dress they are developing.

Aural Style: Headphones, Looking Good.

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: AKG Quincy Jones Q701
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

It was the ‘80s; the use of noise in style was a loud statement, literally. Everyone remembers the boom box shoulder walk, and the very colours of clothes themselves would often cause deafness. The boom box, and the neon clothes, however, didn’t quite make it through the filters of the ‘90s. There has yet to be a style as memorable as the shoulder borne boom boxes. Over the past couple of decades the boom boxes have been replaced with something more civilized…

When you’re walking in the street, or while you’re stuck on some variation of public transport, have a look around at what the boom box legacy has dwindled down to – mere tiny white cables!These tiny white adverts for the Apple Empire, laden on commuters’ ears in the most unsociable manners, are the statement of a bland mediocrity we’re constantly drifting towards. Every so often though, some guy with blaring, bright white and green AKG headphones will wander by, and just for that moment, you understand the reasoning behind the extinction of the boom box. But there is a rather large part of you that stares – these headphones are way cooler than the dull iPod ear buds you’re hiding beneath your hair… and you understand that, if you had a headband of sound like that, there is no need to listen to them at that volume. To you, they’re like a beautiful, noisy shall, plus they match your shoes.

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P, PX90
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P, PX90
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Fostex T40RP MkII

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 598
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 598, HD 25P
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Olga Shvarova
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 518
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 518
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: Sennheiser HD 25P
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: AKG Quincy Jones Q701
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Beyond the occasional odd person in the street, headphones aren't likely to replace the tie or scarf any time soon. It's important to consider the oncoming style of Silicon Valley's finest tech entrepreneurs. They may be singled out by the magazines and media at the moment for their dress, but it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise when they begin wearing headphones both as a functional piece of attire and to compliment their flip flops. Who knows how many people unfamiliar with orthodox style will be looking to them for inspiration...

Agnieszka Burzynska
Headphones: AKG Quincy Jones Q701
available at Oxford Audio Consultants

Credits - Creative directors: Max Munsie, Chloe Mansell. Photographers: Agnieszka Burzynska, Olga Shvarova. Stylist: Chloe Mansell. Hair & Make Up: Sophie Kevlin. Models: Kristy Chen, Lucy Treadwell, Josh Mansell.
A special thanks to Greg Blatchford and to David and Jon from Oxford Audio Consultants.

A larger collection of photos from the shoot can be seen on our facebook page here

The crooning Burberry

The global markets are a moderate mess lately just in case you didn't notice, and the once soaring publicly traded fashion companies of Burberry, Mulberry, and even ASOS, in all its massive e-retail glory, have taken a heavy hit during the turmoil.

This made me wonder, when I found out what Burberry's Christopher Bailey tweeted as part of his #MusicMonday, just how hurt Burberry is from the recent share holder attrition...

Stay strong Burberry, there's plenty of fish in the sea!

London's Next Top Model

hi all, i've just walked passed the model castings for london's next top model. i dont know what times it is on for but if anyone is interested and in london it's happening in the piccadilly institute right beside ripley's believe it or not!

enjoy!

p.s. excuse the lack of capital letters, i just found out that they weren't factored into the mobile version of the blog... how effective!

Autumn / Winter 2011 Ad Campaigns .

Summer seems to have barely got under way , but now its time to look forward to just a few of the campaigns gracing our glossies this forthcoming season . From etherial 70's floral goddess's at Cavalli , futuristic gothic at Balenciaga and feminine felines in photo booths at Chanel to name just a few .

CHANEL

GUCCI

ALEXANDER WANG

FENDI

CHLOE

ROBERTO CAVALLI

BALENCIAGA

YVES SAINT LAURENT

Get some Colour, it's Summer!

Flourescent colours, flashy apparel, and BIG sunglasses to shield yourself from the incandescence these compositions cause seems to be the big pitch of the season.
The first three vibrant designs are from Jil Sanders (I could have included her entire S/S 2011 collection here!), followed by Prada, two elegant dresses from Alexander McQueen, and the incredible shoes and hand bag are from Miu Miu. I highly recomend having a look at Miu Miu's selection of shoes, they sum up the flamboyant qualities of this season's near neon style in a very unique and artistic way.

Locally, or relatively so... T Norman Designs handcrafts colourful scarves, ties, and the rest. Check out their site and support your local designers!

Men's Fashion Week Round-up: What Would you Wear?

With the menswear Spring/Summer fashions tucked away backstage, here's a selection of the styles carried at the recent Milan and Paris shows.
Tell us what you think of some of these sets. Would you wear any? Or if you're a lady, persuade you're man to try them on?

Louis Vuitton
1)
2)
Lanvin
3)
Alexander Wang
4)Prada
5)6)Rick Owens
7)Alexander McQueen

8)All photos creative commons Dan Hwang

London Model Agencies: Doing the Footwork

So if you are an aspiring model you might just find yourself asking how, with the myriad of model agencies in London, is it possible to get around to them all in a timely fashion? Or which ones should I start with?

Here at Oxford Fashion Campus we've devised an itinerary that makes it possible to attend the open calls and walk-in windows for up to eight of London's male and female model agencies, all of which are members of the Association of Model Agents, within a single day.

Firstly, it's a good idea to review this map of the eight agencies you'll be attending. If you select an agency and choose 'street view' from the 'more' option list, it will show you the front entrance to the agency's office. Once you have an idea of where the agencies are situated on the map, the following is a full walk through of how to get to the agencies most efficiently:

OFC London Model Agency Guide

FENG HO

The Fabulous 'Ethical Fashion Forum - Innovation Award Winner', Oxford based fashion designer Feng Ho, who's glorious draped jersey designs encompass sleek and chic femininity with modern fashion forward tailoring and geometric shapes. Using fabrics such as bamboo and soy as well as end of line textiles from British fabric merchants which are all completely sustainable sources ........saving the planet has never been so stylish!

Feng's skills in drapery are evident here, in this vibrant fuchsia dress as well as scoop and boat neck lines and handkerchief hems punctuating this collection. I personally have a passion for young designers who are skilled not only in a garments design but also in its execution another example of why she is an award winning success.

Car Park Style

While not necessarily at all related to fashion, I believe there is a lot to learn from this type of style.

The planner who decided to place a parking lot beneath the old ceiling probably annoyed hundreds or thousands of people who wanted the structure to be used for something more prestigious. However, at the same time, the architect likely created the most elegant car park in the world, and that is something unique to smile about on a CV.
There are several ideas here that could be replicated by fashion designers in their efforts to create something 'stylish', in all of its shape-shifting glory.
The old-meets-new is and, given the nature of time, probably always will be a secure base for any new creation. If the creation can be as radical as this parking lot then the old-meets-new template doesn't need to be as boring as it usually is.