>> london windows: harvey nichols – march 2008

The HN windows this month are undoubtedly eye-catching, if a little overwhelming. As usual, it’s all about the installation and very little about the clothes – but this time round one has to look really hard to actually spot the mannequins hanging somewhere in there.

The theme is a “fluo waterworld” full of gigantic neon-shaded starfish and jellyfish, where the mid-air dummies are probably intended to be floating, and the waves are big iridescent strips of cellophane.

>> london windows: selfridges – march 2008

Here are the installations in Selfridges windows for March: long red-haired castaways in designer clothes, who may be stranded among wrecks, rotting buoys and rusting chains, but have certainly not lost their fashion compass!

>> treasurebox – binglaba’

With the a/w 07/08 Chanel collection came a bold-coloured, bib-shaped plexiglass neck-piece that it was impossible for me not to love.

But when it comes to amazing plexiglass creations, this is not the first object that comes to mind. In fact, my collection features a great piece by Italian duo binglaba’, that use plexiglass for all their creations, and play with unusual shapes to eye-catching results.

[images via binglaba.it]

I first saw these very original creations a few years ago during Pitti Immagine Filati in Florence – binglaba’ were exhibiting in the accessories/vintage area at Stazione Leopolda. Since then, I’ve seen their work featured in many magazines, and they also produced a special range for Pollini by Rifat Ozbeck s/s 2007.

Recently I also spotted a couple of pieces in a lovely independent shop here in Islington, London. I will have to enquire as to where they are stocked here in London, and possibly choose another coloured plexi gem for myself!

>> more news from the high street

As if I needed another excuse to say how much I love monochrome…

I know I haven’t been kind to the whole concept of designers collaborations with high-street retailers – and in fact my opinion hasn’t changed in the slightest – but a few pieces from Giles’ Gold collection for New Look, which was unveiled yesterday, did catch my attention

[images via newlook.co.uk]

Other news from the high-street is the opening of the first Banana Republic store in London’s Regent Street – but I don’t want to comment on that until I’ve actually visited it, so stay tuned!

>> marimekko @ h&m – the preview

Yes we have them – preview pictures, and the date! The H&M collection featuring Marimekko classic prints will be on sale on April, 10th.

Here is a small anticipation of the collection:

>>a spring in music: massive attack curate meltdown

I have an exciting spring ahead of me, especially when it comes to music. I’ve already put a few dates in my diary, namely The Silver Mount Zion Orchestra at Scala, Low at the Union Chapel and (hopefully) Portishead in April, the ATP Festival curated by Explosions In The Sky in May, and Radiohead at Malahide Castle (Dublin) in June.

Sounds busy? Well, luckily that’s all before mid-June. Because 14th-22nd June are the dates for the Meltdown Festival at Southbank Centre in London. And the curators for this year are Massive Attack.

I was really excited when I read they had been appointed, even though no more news have ben released since, regarding the line-up for their version of the week-long festival. The one thing that appears certain is that M.A. will be on stage at some point, and that is the one date I want to add to my list. While curiosity rises as to who they will be inviting to perform. Hopefully some details will be released soon – will post as soon as I have some updates.

>>hussein chalayan is creative director for puma

It was announced on Friday, February 29th, during Paris Fashion Week: Hussein Chalayan has been appointed Creative Director for Puma. This comes in a joint partnership, in which Puma have also acquired a majority stake in Chalayan’s London-based fashion business.

Chalayan thus becomes Puma’s first creative director, as well as the first fashion designer to be appointed as creative director of a major sports label. Alexander McQueen has already designed a range for Puma, and Stella McCartney had her collection for Adidas run on the catwalk of London Fashion Week – but Chalayan will be a global director at Puma, taking on all product categories, from footwear to apparel and accessories.

The partnership certainly sounds promising, with Chalayan famously being an extremely eclectic mind who is always experimenting with new shapes and materials not commonly used in fashion. As Jochen Zeitz, CEO of Puma puts it: “Hussein Chalayan is a proven visionary in the fashion industry. As creative director, he will bring use of new technology, forward-thinking design and a provocative point of view to Puma.”