GET YOUR FASHION STAMPS

If you haven't bought your Jubilee bunting, London 2012 ticket, or your Union Jack [insert anything], perhaps this piece of patriotism may interest you instead.
Fashion photographer Sølve Sundsbø has teamed up with Royal Mail to produce Great British Fashion Stamps. They illustrate the best of British designs from WWI to now. For history behind the designs, you can also purchase a presentation pack written by Professor Amy de la Haye of London College of Fashion.
Prices start at only £4.50 

PLEATS PLEASE

In the 1980s, Issey Miyake re-conceptualised the pleat. After adopting inspiration from a finely creased handkerchief, Miyake made pleats suitable for everyday wear- the pieces crush into suitcases without creases and mold naturally to the body. In 1993, 'Pleats Please' was born. As it reaches it's 20th year, Dazed and Confused have raked through the archives and picked out some favourites to create a new spread for their latest issue. A book on the ranges will also be available this July, published by Taschen.

HUNGER:ISSUE 2 'For the culturally and visually hungry' Rankin's heavily anticipated sequel to Hunger is out now. The door-stop sized magazine, shot entirely by the world famous photographer himself, includes no adverts and is heavy in art and culture content. Plus, as those who purchased the first issue will know, Rankin's work is not confined to print. Where most magazines use their back cover as extortionately priced advertising space, Hunger directs us to http://www.hungertv.com/ where you can find extra images,

interviews and plenty of videos. Head there now for a taster of Issue 2.

Hunger, bi-annual, £4

INTRODUCING: YOUGO JEBERG

The rising photographer spoke to Bloginity magazine: http://www.bloginity.com/2012/03/meet-yougo-jeberg/

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER'S NEW CREATIVE DIRECTION

Haute-couture designer Jean Paul Gaultier has taken creative control of Diet Coke. The new look emulates his perfume bottles, and the ad campaign plays on his slightly sexy, French style. His two designs, only available in Europe, are titled 'Day'- his signature nautical look, and 'Night', as pictured above. Rumours among fashion circles indicate we may also be seeing a tattoo-style design appearing this summer. Keep an eye out and get these while you can! 

WHY DO WE FOLLOW TRENDS?

http://theshootingstarsofoctober.tumblr.com

Thanks to our capitalist society, as consumers, we have a great deal of variety. We have a free market and we are free to purchase any style of product we wish. One area we particularly seem to spend on, contributing 37 billion pounds each year to the British economy alone, is fashion. We have thousands of designers and stores to choose from, and countless styles, fits, colours and cuts at our disposal. Why is it then that trends occur? Surely we choose exactly how we each want to dress? Take the 2009 ‘Power Dressing’ trend. Jutting shoulder pads and harsh, masculine cuts- both unflattering and impractical, yet the largest trend of the Autumn/Winter season. Why? Masculinity and powerful cuts bring about connotations of authority, hard work and give an illusion of wealth. 2009 was the year we were in the absolute depths of a recession, when authority, higher roles in the workplace, and wealth were coveted. The trend also reflects the shoulder pads of the 1980s when the economy was in a similar state. Dior's 1947 couture collection, donned 'The New Look', caused a scandal, yet became one of fashion's greatest ever turning points. It was TO READ MORE CLICK HERE

NOTE: This is an extensive piece and may be best suited to those with a strong interest in fashion history & culture

BLACK MILK X JEFFREY CAMPBELL

Solestruck has brought together two street fashion giants, Jeffrey Campbell and Black Milk, to create a range of printed shoes. Those familiar with the brands will need no explanation as to how exciting a collaboration like this is. Twitter lacks any specific quotes that demonstrate the hype, but tap the collaboration into the search bar and you'll find you're greeted with a stream of ''AHHHHHH''s and ''OMG''s.

Fortunately, Solestruck are said to have had an 'abundance' of the pairs produced in order to please as many customers as possible. These are you shoes you will literally not find anything else like on the internet. Black Milk opt for notoriously quirky and unique prints- past designs have included jigsaws, galaxies, circuit boards and human muscles. Jeffrey Campbell shoes boast heel engineering only comparable to Alexander McQueen.
It is a shame not to see more of Black Milk's more popular prints in the collection, and that it only features one pair of the name-making Litas, but if this collection is a success we will be sure to see new designs emerging in future!

PRE ORDER YOUR PAIR NOW AT SOLESTRUCK.COM

TIME 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL FASHION ICONS

Time magazine released its list of the 100 most influential fashion icons list this week, and it wasn't without controversy. There was a predominant lack of British designers on the list, and even more so a shortness of black fashion icons. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were the youngest to make the final 100, and were listed under 'Designers' as one person. The only other person under 40 to make the list was Lady Gaga, who made it into the 'Muses' section alongside names such as The Beatles, Princess Diana, and Audrey Hepburn.
To view the list in full, visit Grazia Daily.

ALLISON HARVARD MAKES 'NYC'S 50 MOST STYLISH' LIST

Despite failing to win America's Next Top Model after appearing in two cycles, Allison Harvard has managed to bag herself a place on StyleCaster's 50 Most Stylish New Yorkers list. After gaining increasing recognition for her aesthetic by fashion bloggers, it inevitably wasn't going to be long before the fashion press took note.
Allison says her style is inspired by creatures and colour and also goes on to reveal one of her guilty pleasures- JanSport rucksacks. "I am a bit like a hermit crab. I move from purse to purse so quickly, but I can fit so many things inside of a backpack!" To view the list in full, click here.