MERCEDES-BENZ “AVANTGARDE DIARIES – TRANSMISSION1″ IN BERLIN

The Mercedes-Benz ‘Avantgarde Diaries’ took place in Berlin from July 15-17 2011, at the Berlin Congress Centre on Alexanderplatz, under the direction of Belgian industrial and fashion designer and curator Raf Simons. Artists and trend setters including presented their take on today’s and tomorrow’s world, engaged in dialogue with experts, as well as the general public. With this event, Mercedes-Benz provides a creative platform for the discussion of social and contemporary issues relating to art, fashion, music, innovation, trends, culture and the automobile.
The artists were picked by Raf Simons, the curator of the Berlin ‘Avantgarde Diaries – Transmission1′. Each artist was given the opportunity to stage an exhibition, performance, concert, installation or even unveil a work of art. Among these artists were: Peter Saville a British art director from Manchester, Konstantin Grcic a German industrial designer, Michael Clark a Scottish dancer and choreographer, Jo-Ann Furniss an editor, creative director and writer, These New Puritans a British band from Southend-on-Sea, Peter De Potter a Belgian artist, Germaine Kruip is a Dutch artist, Begüm Sekendiz Boré a French-Turkish journalist for fashion and art magazines, Peter Henderson a fashion writer for a large publication, Goose a Belgian electro rock band, and Fischerspooner an electroclash band from New York City.

The Berlin ‘Avantgarde Diaries – Transmission 1′ was also the artistic setting for the Concept A-CLASS and kicked off an outstanding series of events that will also take in other major international cities.
As the venue for the first ‘Avantgarde Diaries’ festival, the Berlin Congress Centre on Alexanderplatz provided a building that ties in perfectly with the event: a potent symbol of the best in German avantgarde architecture. For three
days, this impressive building designed by Bauhaus-influenced architect Hermann Henselmann, became the focal point for leading thinkers from both home and abroad. Exhibitions, discussions and performances were held on the stage, in the lounge and studio as well as in the Showcar Suite.
Anyone unable to attend the events in person can get to meet the protagonists at www.theavantgardediaries.com. To coincide with the event in Berlin, Mercedes-Benz launched a digital interview magazine, which takes a personal look at innovations, remarkable ideas and people who are influencing style and setting trends.Renowned designers, editors in chief, gallery owners, art directors or pop icons can use this space in the future to introduce people from their lives whose ideas and work inspire them.

With the ‘Avantgarde Diaries’, Mercedes-Benz is demonstrating the sustainability of its ambition to lead in automotive culture.The brand with the three-pointed star held Europe’s wealthy and aristocratic society in thrall towards the end of the 19th century, and still to this day excites people all over the world. Over the course of the company’s history, Mercedes-Benz has been able to demonstrate time and time again, in a way that no other automotive brand can, that this is a company that is ahead of its time. Mercedes-Benz picks up on this tradition with the ‘Avantgarde Diaries’-a response to the major challenges facing the automotive industry, with enthralling vehicles, new mobility concepts and innovative drive technologies, rising to these challenges, showing itself at the same time to be a responsible brand that is well prepared for the future.

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Tags: AVANTGARDE DIARIES, MERCEDES BENZ

A STORE DEDICATED TO FASHION, FOOD, and DESIGN: “EXCELSIOR MILANO”

In September, the Coin Group will open a unique store in Milano: a project on fashion, food and design. A building 4000 square meters in size, modern but in line with the existing Excelsior Cinema, designed to become a statement of style. Jean Nouvel has retrieved a key point in the Milano urban area, seven floors that seem to be suspended in an envelope of images, a technological flow that ideally links the ancient site to the new hub dedicated to high profile urban shopping.
Excelsior Milano invites you to take a journey into the future of shopping. A journey in search of the best in clothing, accessories, footwear, jewelry, beauty, design and “fine food”. Designed to target a cross-age, sex, and social background, but curious, cosmopolitan ans interested in fashion.

The Basement: dedicated to “Eat’s Store”, a food market designed for a demanding public. A wide selection of gourmet products with dedicated corners.

Ground floor: overlooking the Galleria del Corso, a new generation design bar destined to establish itself as a meeting point of Milano fashion, changes its mood depending on the time of day, between different sounds and aromas. On the same floor you will find the Beauty area, with exclusive fragrances and the most desired brands in makeup. Here you will also see the first Tiffany&Co. in Italy within a multi-brand store. And then there’s Valextra, and the sophisticated patisserie Ladurée and a corner of flowers.

First Floor: dedicated to contemporary American designers, not all available in Italy yet and intended for women: designs by Helmut Lang, Theory, Rag & Bone, Alice and Olivia, Vince mixed with entertaining proposals for home design by Skitsch and international accessories by Globe Trotter, Swatch, Anta, Portolano, Antipast. And a limited edition by Borsalino exclusively for Milano Excelsior.

Second floor: the first of three floors of Antonia, a Milano boutique and reference point for international fashion communities. Here the selection is dedicated to Men, with a pronounced taste for casual and denim, mixed with emerging designers and traditional must-haves. Brand Reference: Maison Martin Margiela, Dries Van Noten, Marni, Balmain, Marc Jacobs, Neil Barrett, Band of Outsiders, Golden Goose, RRL Ralph Lauren, Visvim, Haversack, Nigel Cabourn, Mackintosh, Lead, Edwin, Gilded Age, Levi’s Limited Edition, PRPS, Porter, Moscot.

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Tags: Excelsior Milano

TOMMY HILFIGER FALL WINTER 2011 AD CAMPAIGN

This time, “The Hilfigers” an imaginary family with unique American flavor consisting of eclectic characters, return from their travels and meet up again at home, for a campaign signed by Photographer Craig McDean, Stylist Karl Templer and Creative Director Trey Laird from the agency Laird + Partners.
Set in the ultra-preppy Hilfiger home, the campaign shows how busy this great family is throughout Autumn. From the first brisk of air to the last leaf that falls, The Hilfigers move constantly. They come home from college, or China, or even the hairdresser’s on East 61st. They dress for breakfast, have lunch in bed, hang on chandeliers, ride around on their bikes from room to room. They caress stuffed animals, come out from secret passages, and sleep together in improvised beds, posing, sulking, dressing up, and having pillow fights. The party atmosphere builds up from one moment to another, until it is felt in every corner of this very busy house.

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Tags: TOMMY HILFIGER, TOMMY HILFIGER FW 2011

N H I V U R U / A PULP AND POP COLLECTION WITH LOVE AND PEACE

NHIVURU has come to life. A new brand of tees, sweaters and accessories is born.
The S.S 2012 collection was presented in Milan, this June 2011, at Cafè Teatro in the Brera area, through a catwalk organized in partnership with “Out of the Box” fashion magazine, during the last “Milano Fashion Week”.
The concept of the project NHIVURU spreads out from Pop to Pulp as a graphic review of some “Cultural Icons” of Sicilian tradition. A contemporary and visionary idea….an imaginative world, that has not come to existence yet. An island in the middle of The Mediterranean Sea, in which the buildings recall the Berlin TV Tower and the SKULL building is decorated with textures inspired by the designs of Sicilian horse-trucks and scenes of war between The Paladins of France (Sicilian string puppets).
NHIVURU is already available in some stores with its capsule collection which is part of the larger “S.S.2012/The Icons Collection”.
More info on the web-site www.nhivuru.com

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Tags: NHIVURU, NHIVURU S/S 2012

ROBERTO CAVALLI SPRING SUMMER 2012 – MILANO FASHION WEEK

Roberto Cavalli evolves the elegance and tailoring of the last collection, freeing the man from the rigour of Winter and dressing him with the freshness and positivity of Summer.
Italian tailoring is enriched with colour, embroidered thread and embellishments.
The jacket is rigorously cut with a close-fitting back, a narrow front with generously proportioned, embroidered lapels.
The shirt is also tailored, made in cotton and enriched with details that give it a less formal, intriguing edge, the pants harmoniously follow the line of the leg. The casual tuxedo suits are illuminated with sashes of embroidered silk. The silhouette enhances the long line of the body.
Authentic masculine tailoring fabrics, such as mohair, grain de poudre and linen/silk, are interpreted through the use of colour and specialised weaving techniques.
The colour palette includes a gradient scale of blue that declines into a purple, and a strong presence of white, with sprinklings of colour that evoke the earth and the sun.
Prints are present as all-over micro-designs, vertical graphics and photographic reinterpretations of specialised leather processing from the archives of Cavalli.
Leather is the protagonist for much of the collection: American inspiration for blazers and jackets made in suede and python with precious tassles, paired with denim and linen in bright, bold colours.

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Tags: Roberto Cavalli, ROBERTO CAVALLI S/S 2012, SPRING SUMMER MEN 2012

TRUSSARDI SPRING SUMMER 2012 – MILANO FASHION WEEK

Trussardi men reopen the closet, pack their bags and travel towards Palazzo Trussardi in Milan. Some of them drive vintage cars, some arrive in their BMW Series 5 GT Trussardi, others by taxi from the airport, or in a limousine or Trussardi bicycle. Some arrive alone, some in groups: The Trussardi Boys are all different however all of them share the same timeless elegance.
In the year that Maison del Levriero turns 100 years old, ator archives, the memories, but also the life and habits of the Trussardi family are the vocabulary of the new Spring Summer 2012 menswear collection, designed by Umit Benan. The clothes and travel accessories that wrote the story of Trussardi in the ’80s return in an essential collection, where the simple yet radical icons of history meet with the sensitivity and the taste of the future. Trussardi is a symbol of elegance and becomes a source of inspiration for new generations.
Personality, charisma, passion, and the pioneering spirit of Nicola Trussardi is seen throughout the entire collection.
The Trussardi man loves to travel, and is a citizen of the world that embodies the charm of an all-Italian Dolce Vita. He moves with spontaneity, determination and class in double-breasted outfits withunstructured shoulders that thanks the use of light fabrics like linen and silk evoke relaxed elegance. The high-waisted trousers with pleats fall lightly on the loafers or on classic shoes in precious leather. The single-breasted casual jackets, made in soft leather, are juxtaposed with pants and t-shirt fabrics with micro patterns inspired by the original choices from the historical archives: drawings from the retro touch, tone on tone or contrasting stripes and a kaleidoscopic print that plays with the initial of Trussardi. The Trussardi collection uses vibrant and sophisticated colors: shades of blue, burgundy, chocolate and those of cobalt, cornflower blue, powder pink, peach, salmon and gray. The shapes, materials and colors express a relaxing summer lived with great elegance: each piece is a reinterpretation of a historic piece of clothing and expresses the way of being Trussardi, the lifestyle brand, ready-to-live of Levriero.

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Tags: SPRING SUMMER MEN 2012, Trussardi, TRUSSARDI S/S 2012

JOHN VARVATOS SPRING SUMMER 2012 – MILANO FASHION WEEK

For Spring/Summer 2012 Collection John Varvatos was inspired by a light, fresh and romantic style. This style was typical of several bands from the seventies including The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Who.
The look is soft, nonchalant. Outerwear, tailored pieces, long shirts and knitwear move softly around the body. Nothing is tight; fluid lines and layering suggest a take on style that is both poetic and individual.
Cutaway jackets, fencing-inspired blousons, long dusters and 3/4 length summer coats are precisely-cut, but the absence of linings translate into a new, smooth line.
Lacing detail on collarless coats adds both ease and movement; pin closures and studs in place of sleeve buttons give an unexpected twist. Vest add another layer of ease, with a gentlemanly touch. Had painted roses on suits and jackets are unexpectedly romantic, yet manly.
Shirts meant to be worn outside of trousers as the base of the layered silhouette, collarless painter shirts are pivotal to the whole look. Light but crisp, they create soft contrast when worm underneath the tailored pieces. Tailored pants caress the leg without being body-consciuos.
Fabrics weightless and crisp, colors pure and serene, shades of grey: stone, pearl, dove, steel. Earthy notes of sand, khaki, olive, pure white, a touch of black.

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Tags: JOHN VARVATOS, JOHN VARVATOS S/S 2012, SPRING SUMMER MEN 2012

NICOLE FARHI SPRING SUMMER 2012 – MILANO FASHION WEEK

For Spring Summer 2012 Nicole Farhi is looking forward to the upcoming Olympic Games in London.
A metropolitan collection with a reference to modern sports equipment and a look back to retro ones. This collection is inspired by the cult film Chariots of Fire and images of the Olympics in 1908, also linked to traditional British sports games such as championship rowing, fencing and horseback riding.
Technological innovation, performance and comfort, are applied to formal men’s clothing:ergonomic cuts distinguish the collection. The seams are sealed and fabrics within the classical male wardrobe are treated with new techniques and finishes.
Canvas and linen are paired with a technical jersey for contrasting combinations. The trench coat is re-examined with a double construction so that the jersey is shown. The cricket jersey combines the classic cable stitch with a thermo impression to give a scuba effect. The typical rowing blazer is pinstripped by laser.
The color palette focuses on neutral tones and gray melange. The chalky white fades on chino and khaki, and the blue sugar paper turns to navy and accent is given by shades of lime.

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Tags: NICOLE FARHI, NICOLE FARHI S/S 2012, SPRING SUMMER MEN 2012

ERMANNO SCERVINO SPRING SUMMER 2012 – MILANO FASHION WEEK

For summer 2012 the Ermanno Scervino man wears unlined and unstructured tailored suits and jackets with minimalist Prince of Wales check or houndstooth prints or a play of stripes, in a variety of the new soft summer fabrics that naturally follow the shape of the body.
These are alternated with cotton shirt brightened by invisible steel wires or white cardignas in cotton, linen, hemp or raffia, in which the hints of red and light blue carve out of the shapes.
He wears pants with a soft yet fitted cut, even high-waisted. in shaded degradé colors: more formal versions are present with a silk crease with necktie-inspired pea coats.
Wool crepe for tuxedos in blue and white with lapels in silk faille, both single and doublebreasted, to be worn over cotton and cotton/silk pure white bow ties.
Fabrics hats take the place of clutch bags, slip-on shoes in satin, blue canvas, or white a soiled effect, belts and pints turquoise stones.

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Tags: BACKSTAGE, ERMANNO SCERVINO, ERMANNO SCERVINO S/S 2012 MEN, SPRING SUMMER MEN 2012

DSQUARED2 SPRING SUMMER 2012 – MILANO FASHION WEEK

An American tourist arrives in Europe tagged Dsquared2 and decides to go around the old continent during the summer, a journey with four stops from Scandinavia to London, passing through the sunny island of Mykonos and the magnificent city of Florence. He doesn’t have much luggage but what he does have with him has been carefully chosen. Easy to mix pieces that can be worn in every latitude and temperature.
For his stay in Scandinavia, the Dsquared2 American adopts a sporty look, easily layering multi-colored garments to protect himself from the wind: light waterproof jackets, colorful knitted sweaters and hats, trousers up to the ankle with thick socks and colorful boots.
Change of scenery and wardrobe: the tourist Dsquared2 turns up on the beaches of Mykonos Greece, here he becomes sexy and more summer-like. Exploding colors: hot pants, swim wear, beach towels, caps and colorful flip-flops.
Next stop Florence: the tourist visits the city on a Vespa and takes on a more Italian look, refined and chic tailored suits, double breasted jackets, ankle length pants and handmade leather sandals.
The Dsquared2 traveller reaches London, the last leg of his journey and takes on a more contemporary mod look, neat and stylish, with more of a rock n’roll feel. Skinny silhouettes, studs, leather, and a touch of animal prints ..

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Tags: BACKSTAGE, DSQUARED2, DSQUARED² SPRING SUMMER 2012, SPRING SUMMER MEN 2012