TrendSpark

The Jelly Craze that once reeked havoc on unsuspecting teens in the mid 80s is back.  This time the deadly little cheese graters that would render your feet lifeless, blistered and in serious need of a pack of BandAids, have grown up and realized there’s no need to fight, we can finally get along just fine thanks to the genius of one designer who has created a collection of jellies that are stylish, heeled (oh dear) and very feet friendly.

Melissa, an Australian designer who’s had over 25 years to perfect the jelly, has released exclusive jellies for designers like Alexandre Herchovich (which we recently spotted in a Cobble Hill Housing Works, the shoes not the designer), Campana Brothers, Vivienne Westwood, and Sommer.  In addition her own collection is highly coveted and certain pieces in her collection can only be described as works of art.  Why Target hasn’t tapped her for a design collaboration is beyond me (hint, hint Target - GET ON THIS), but you can definitely find her must have jellies online at MelissaAustralia.com.au

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It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single girl in possession of a good fortune must be in want of this season’s hottest accessory. You might think you have already completed your spring / summer wardrobe, having invested in all things nautical, floaty and chaotic, but I urge you to think again. There is a vacuum in that voluminous bag of yours that needs to be filled. Now, step forward the ultimate handbag charm - the meerkat.

Forget chihuahuas and pugs, meerkats are the real deal.

The furry creatures are soon to become the “it” Tinseltown companion. Paris has been spotted parading a meerkat in her customary oversized hand-bag in Melrose, LA, and it is only a matter of time before Lazy Lo, Nicole, Mischa et al follow suit.

Meerkats are no ordinary trophy pets. They require almost excessive attention and should be monitored at all times. As an owner of a particularly adventurous specimen - Rollo the Intrepid, I can speak from experience here. They are very sociable animals and this can get them into trouble.

Their tendency to wander off in search of conversation is notorious - Rollo has only just returned from living it up in the bars and clubs of Cavendish Square, London, over the weekend. I endured sleepless nights - fearing he had been katnapped - while simultaneously feeling secretly impressed by his bravery and spirit.

I will never forget being reunited with my most mischievous of meerkats. I couldn’t wait to return Rollo to his sanctuary (his lookout perch in my bag). Never has a fashion accessory so ironically resembled a symbol of unity and safety.

So, let’s immortalise the meerkat in handbags through the streets of London as well as on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

Adopt a meerkat at London Zoo, smuggle one into Blighty at Terminal 5 or, if all else fails, emigrate to their homelands of Botswana or South Africa. Your future as a fashionista depends on it…

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Leila Hafzi is a fashion designer dedicated to making a difference. In 1997, she presented her first collection, introducing the idea of eco and ethical trade to the Norwegian high-end fashion industry. Eleven years later her goal remains unchanged; to champion eco and ethical trade in the fashion industry on a global basis, and continue developing a 100 percent environmentally-friendly production cycle.

This season, her company Nepal Productions is presenting a collection drawing inspiration from the global topic of environmental changes; she is also starting a cooperative effort with the Norwegian Peace Corps and Nepal. Several company employees will be working in Katmandu for one year with clothing production, and two of the most skilled tailors from Katmandu will work in Norwegian company facilities.  Hafzi hopes to present her creations as part of Norwegian design in New York, yet another signal that her eco fashion is truly coming into style.

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Men in Scandinavia are videotaping themselves wearing an insanely, ball crushing, testicular torturing brand of tight (also see painted on) jeans called Mustang Skinlines and putting them up on YouTube. Umm…you’d think a photo would be sufficient, but these fashion exhibitionists feel the need to give you a full 360 degree live-action video tour of just how tight their jeans are, which is tight, as in is there really anything happening between them legs. We hope this trend never reaches middle America or we may have a new crop of muffin tops hitting the streets.

On a more serious note, isn’t this just a bit excessive?  You should be able to let your genitalia hang a bit to prevent damaged cojones, right.  I think the only ones who can make this look work are the boys who don’t have much to work with in the twig and berries department, or those who prefer being infertile to being out of style.

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At a certain point, a shoe stops being a shoe and becomes a work of art—like when it’s made from stingray and python skins, embedded with semiprecious stones and crystals, and amazes from every angle. By these guidelines, Chrissie Morris‘ shoes are veritable masterpieces, but the last thing she wants them to be is precious. “I want to create something that’s unusual, yet feminine and easy to wear,” Morris explains. “My shoes are for women like me, my mother, my sister—strong women with strong personalities, who like beautiful things.”

Indeed, it takes a strong woman not to be overshadowed by Morris’ powerful designs. Although she’s inspired by a variety of time periods, from the medieval era to the ’60s to a sci-fi future, her primary point of aesthetic reference is art-deco design. Every last detail of a Chrissie Morris shoe is carefully considered—sharp, geometric lines merge with soft curves based on deco floral motifs, Swarovski crystals accent and reflect the materials on which they sit, and matte suede and shiny stingray are juxtaposed at precise angles in order to sculpt the foot.

One would imagine that any footwear designer with such technical savoir-faire would need to draw on decades of experience, but Morris actually got her start in knitwear. After completing her degree at Liverpool John Moores University, she headed to Milan for post-graduate studies and promptly became enamored with the city’s famed leathers. “When you’re in Italy, you can’t help but notice the beautiful shoes,” says Morris. “I started out by manipulating leather into my master’s thesis knitwear collection, and from there I decided to move into shoes so I could experiment with leather on a smaller scale.”

While knitwear and shoes may sound like they have little in common, Morris insists that’s not the case, saying that they both prize detail and construction. Her new studies must have served her well, as shortly afterwards, she was hired as a footwear designer for a Spanish design company, where she remained until launching her own label in Milan in 2007.

So far, Morris’ blend of Italian craftsmanship and British innovation has been well received, with boutiques from Moscow to Tokyo to Copenhagen picking up her first collection. Although her use of such unusual materials places her designs firmly in the niche “ultra-luxury” camp, Morris considers them integral to her work. “They’re my little jewels,” she says. “They make everything seem so exquisite.”

Content courtesy of JC Report

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I want to introduce Bristols 6, a company that loves to present innovative and unique products to fashion lovers. They just introduced a line of designer nipple covers called “Nippies”. They’re made with real lingerie fabrics like lace and satin and come in over 50 different styles! They maintain that that their image is not the porno-trashy type like most nipple cover companies, and cater to women who love high fashion style and luxury. They’ve also recently released their Stylin’ Tape which is a high-quality double stick tape that is strong but comfortable to prevent clothes from shifting too much. It comes in a stylish and subtle black croc envelope and is perfect for any on the go women! So, for all you girls looking to cover up this Spring/Summer, check out their website for their full array of products.

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Prada Spring 2008

Miu Miu Spring 2008

Miu Miu Spring 2008

Peter Jensen Spring 2008

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