Anndra Neen

Anndra Neen is the collaboration of two amazingly talented sister, Phoebe and Annette Stephens. 

Growing up in Mexico City the girls were surrounded by artists. They gained much inspiration from their Grandmother, Annette Nancarrow who married Conlon Nancarrow, an avant-garde composer. She herself was a painter, sculptor and jewellery designer who collaborated with the Muralist Movement in Mexico. Her pieces were collected by Anais Nin among others. 

While attracted to their Grandmother's eclecticism, the sisters have drawn on their own interpretations of antique European jewellery, ancient Egyptian motifs, Japanese design elements and Bauhaus graphics to create a vision all their own. 

Each piece is unique and hand crafted of both mixed metals and silver by artisans in their workshop in Mexico City.

Anndra Neen continuously pushes boundaries with their beautiful designs. 

I've been in love with Anndra Neen since seeing their amazing cage clutch at Fallow. 

Photography by Richard Burbridge.

Fire Walk with Me - Rick Owens AW12

With a backdrop of a blaze of fire, the models stalked down the catwalk masked by slashed balaclavas, partially obscuring their faces and seemingly looking like they were going to cut some bitches up!

Rick Owens spoke of brutalism and savage impulse when asked what the starting point to the collection was.  In true Owens' style we saw beautifully bias-cut skirts and dresses that fell to the floor, gently draped front coats all in shades of grey but unexpectedly soft shades of apricot appeared. Not everything was leather and shearling, we were given sumptuous mink and blanket wool. 

I have to say I love the masks and even more so, Rick Owens' explanation of how they came to be..

"The funny thing was that the hat were supposed to be more of a veil. It wasn't supposed to be this Hannibal Lecter thing that some people might see. There's something about marking a woman's face that can be very violent that I don't approve of. I don't like the idea of putting woman in uncomfortable situations. They were meant to be coquettish in a very contemporary way." 

I love Rick Owens!

Obscur

"Distressed leather and finely crafted materials coil around the body in soft forms, creating a bound sensation. With "Bound" Obscur's Autumn - Winter 2012 collection, Swedish label Obscur remains faithful to it's raw and essential aesthetic. Refining classic silhouettes through suggestive structures. Fluid and heavy textures are perfectly balanced in the garments construction and sublimely treated leather pieces wrap the body like armor." 

"Obscur never ceases to symbolize purity and simplicity, contrasting the chaos and inconsistency of today's world."

Simply beautiful. 

Obscur A/W12 "Bound" collection. 

In The Rough

It's hard to believe I've only just discovered this editorial of Kinga Rajzak, I find myself google imaging her quite often. She is one of my favourite models.

Taken from The Last Magazine, Kinga Rajzak is photographed by Gregory Harris and styled by Tony Irvine. Decked out in some of 2011's most beautifully dark designs, including one of my favourites Damir Doma!

Photos by Gregory Harris.

OVATE by Audrey Cantwell

I'm a huge fan of Audrey Cantwell. Since discovering her on Etsy as "BlackMarketBaby" I've been an avid fan (and buyer) of her work. I was so, so thrilled when I discovered her latest label "OVATE".

In her small, dark studio in Montreal, Audrey blasts black metal while she weaves leather, wool and silk with Norse poetry and Druidic Wisdom. Her clothing carries an ethereal, dark energy around it. Most of her designs are created by hand. Knitting leather and wool, hand-printing on silk. The effect is both ancient and modern at once and would be equally at home on Scandinavian icy plains and dirty streets. 

An "Ovate" is a shaman, prophet, seer, healer and diviner, an ancient bearer of wisdom and Ovate clothing evokes such wisdom without uttering a word.

Photos by the amazing Alison Scarpulla for the "Nine Worlds" collection.

Rei Nadal

Rei Nadal is an artist based in Barcelona who was born in Sevilla, Spain. Nadal  has garnered attention for her unique and intriguing tumblr page "Death and Milk" on which she intersperses imagery from fashion editorials, art, photography, video and candid self- portraits and text. 

Rei was lucky enough to be asked by Nick Knight to contribute to his award winning fashion website "SHOWstudio". For 7 days Nick Knight sent her amazing designer garb to don in anyway she wished. And these are some of my favourites...

Some of these outfits include pieces by Fleet Ilya and Aoi Kotsuhiroi!

In The Desert Sun by Ann Demeulemeester

Amidst billowing Ann Demeulemeester fabrics, ballet dancer turned model Jamie Bochert stalks mercurially through the sand dunes of the Moroccan desert in boyfriend Michael Pitt's directorial debut, "In the Desert Sun". The Film sets the dark-eyed, defined beauty of Bochert against a haunting soundtrack. 

If I could own just one piece of Ann Demeulemeeter's beautiful creations I would be the happiest girl.

Stills from "In The Desert Sun", directed by Michael Pitt.

Maripossa

Maripossa is one of my favourite Australian jewellery labels. Hailing from Sydney, self taught Lauren Besser handcrafts each piece. Transforming coarse metals into fabric-like statement pieces. She fuses raw earth crystals, sterling silver and fine chains into her distinct style and aesthetic. Each piece is hand oxidized or dip-dyed ensuring it's exclusivity. Each beautiful made piece is made in Australia and is available at Fallow.

Maripossa is a playful reference to the Spanish word for butterfly...the expression of an obsession with the tragically beautiful transformation and life cycle of the butterfly. 

  

Photography by Zac Steinic for the "El Homenaje" collection.

Fannie Schiavoni

Fannie Schiavoni's SS12 collection pushed the boundaries in the best way possible. Building on her use of scales and chain mail she's added clear and ombre PVC elements. Giving the medieval armor-reminiscent pieces a softness and futuristic vibe never seen in her work before.

Fannie originally hailed from Sweden but moved to London when she was 18 to study tailoring. Her background in tailoring and use of traditional methods of handicraft has helped her develop a unique approach to the design of her chain metal accessories.

Photos from Fannie Schivavoni's SS12 collection.

Aoi Kotsuhiroi

Aoi Kotsuhiroi is a mysterious hunter of memories and forgotten tales. The French designer is known for her beautifully haunting jewelry and conceptual pieces. Every piece she creates has a tribal, primitive, powerful charm which awakes the bestial instincts within us. Aoi captures brutality and shapes it into poetry.

There is no concept, no calculation to her work, just affect and subject. She is in the moment. Her use of unconventional materials really encapsulates her unique style and aesthetic. She often uses human hair and bone along with leather to create pieces truly beyond simple accessories.