An artist about men's suits as surrogates for identity; seen at Charles LeDray
New York based artist Charles LeDray, who is stitiching and sewing textiles instead of using the brush on canvas, presents through summer 2009 at Artangel, London his new project that is based on clothing. The artist worked on 'Mens Suits' for the past three years. It is LeDray’s first major presentation in Europe.

It's about a new male t-shirt collection. But; some men are small and some women are tall; seen at Universal Music
On 30 June 2009, the worldwide active music company Universal Music launched its first fashion collection of 30 pieces for men...

Stay elegant and keep an eye on your privacy!; seen at John Richmond's first woman's fragrance
John Richmond's philosophy comes from punk, rock music, and street culture. From these sources he creates couture for men and women under slogans like 'Love and Hate' or 'Destroy Disorder Disorientate'. Annie Lennox, David Bowie or Snoop Dogg has been dressed up already by John Richmond...

Traveling time has started; Fashionoffice Insight by publisher Karin Sawetz, July 2009
Fortunately internet can be received in almost each country of the civilized world! Fashionoffice pre-traveled to give insights into some possible holiday-destinations: Paris, Dubai, Munich, Vienna...

"Unbelievable, but this high-heel is almost comfortable"; Vienna Insight by publisher Karin Sawetz
We all know that walking with high-heels is really a challenge. But ... only a man without a sense for the erotic of high-heels will never experience what's about. On 30 June 2009, the Austrian headquartered European shoes, bags and accessories store chain Humanic presented in front of fashion journalists the trend collections fall/winter 2009/10 in Vienna. "Unbelievable, but this high-heel is almost comfortable," states trend expert Heidrun Pircher...

Female art work on media constructions; seen at the art ofLutz Bacher
Lutz Bacher's work is about the construction of identity through media. Therefore she de-constructs the identities by 'interfering' advertising campaigns, she manipulates comic books, interviews, porn or televised rape trials. US artist Lutz Bacher's first comprehensive solo exhibition in Europe with the title 'Do you love me?' will run from 4th July until 13th September 2009 at the Kunstverein München...

Art and design inspired by football; seen at Scott Elk and Dirk Bikkembergs
On 22 June 2009 Dirk Bikkembergs presented his Sport Couture spring/summer 2010 inspired by artworks of the Australian Scott Elk on the catwalk in Milan. Scott Elk's black, red, white, yellow, and white overpainted photographies of a football player are encoded with numbers which could stand for the strategic play from one player to another, or the numbers could signify the score of the play...

Creative chattering women from Pakistan; seen at the exhibition 'Gup Shup'
The Australian designer-sisters Cath and Ange Braid are working with over 400 women across eight centers in and around Chitral town in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan to produce textiles for women’s accessories like handbags and textiles. The newest project, "Gup Shup" is about daily life in Chitral. "Gup Shup" means as much as "informal chit-chat and gossip". In Melbourne (Australia) the project takes part in an exhibition with 23 contemporary hand-embroidered textile creations by females from Chitral..

Fashion journalism online; seen at CondéNet
In June 2009, the online extension of the publishing house Condé Nast (Vogue, GQ, Glamour...) 'CondéNet' announced new features on their online destinations: Style.de, the e-commerce channel of CondéNet's fashion publications opened the exclusive Hugo Boss store, and Vogue.com started with live-twitter reports from Berlin on occasion of the Berlin Fashion Week...

Scent of a Traveler; by Caroline Zerrini, lifestyle editor from Dubai
Haute fragrance houses are turning their nose to travel for inspiration. It’s all about enchanting you along a magical journey to capture the scent of a destination and drive you along an emotive feel...

Beauty journalism and the materialisation of a scent; Munich Insight by Karin Sawetz, June 2009
In June 2009, the French fashion label and fragrance brand Lolita Lempicka invited journalists to the presentation of the new baroque boudoir inspired scent 'Si Lolita' to Munich. Beauty journalism is a strange profession; if a beauty journalist ever sees a heterosexual man, he is in 99,99% not a colleague. But not so in Munich; in this city it was the first time ever that I have seen a heterosexual male beauty journalist! Certainly I have asked how he got the idea to take up this profession: "Have you searched for a job to become the only man at a hen party?"

International designers show the latest jewellery trends in September in London
Stick your neck out for the latest trends and design-led creations. From 6th to 9th September 2009 International Jewellery London will be unveiling an impressive array of collections from acclaimed designers and brands worldwide...

Jimmy Choo's red carpet high heels at H&M
From 14 November 2009 on, the Swedish manufacturer and store chain HM will present the glamorous, sexy shoe and bag collection for women and men by the British accessory brand Jimmy Choo in around 200 stores across the world. Former Vogue editor Tamara Mellon founded in 1996 together with the Malaysian-East End of London shoe maker Mr Jimmy Choo the British label 'Jimmy Choo'...

New lifestyle reporter from Dubai and daily audience data
In June 2009 Fashionoffice launches the publication of daily new traffic as well as audience profile data by Quantcast on fashionoffice.org/contact and introduces the work of editor Caroline Zerrini...

A port-bonheur pendant wishing well future to the world, seen at Manuel Bozzi SS09
On occasion of the Pitti Uomo in Florence in spring 2009, the Milan based jewellery and accessories designer Manuel Bozzi presented the Mambamondo amulet. It is a port-bonheur pendant wishing well future to the world. It is described to "infuse trust and sense of affiliation". Into this piece the designer packs the irony, that everybody has the same roots: the earth. The 'globe' pendant is made of sterling silver. Question: "Can the amulet be opened?"...

“Green is the only way, with a blush of luxury”, motto of the Greenshowroom 1-4 July Berlin, 1-4 Oct Paris
For the travelling eco-couture exhibition the designers Magdalena Schaffrin and Jana Keller have collected accessories, shoes, jewellery, beauty and gourmet products under the motto “GREEN is the only way, with a blush of luxury”...

Architect Zaha Hadid's shoe collection for Lacoste SS09
Architect Zaha Hadid has debuted a limited-edition footwear capsule collection designed in collaboration with Lacoste. The design was developed from the iconic crocodile logo. To achieve the tactile landscape effect on the footwear, Zaha’s team designed a series of metal plates depicting the desired wave pattern.
The collection of only 850 pairs includes shoes and boots, such as an ankle boot for men and a calf boot for women...

The fashion press in love with the musician Florence Welch
In June, the fashion world has discovered Florence Welch as a new star of the music scene: the Vogue ran a feature about Florence's wardrobe, discussing here on-stage and off-stage outfits, the Telegraph magazine produced a four page feature and has described her as "Kate Bush meets Aretha Franklin", and UK designer Paul Smith wrote on his blog on 9 June 2009 "Listening to Florence and the Machine, love it." Watch out the new video video 'Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)' by Florence and The Machine, release date of the track is the 21 June 2009...

Vienna's relationship to death; seen on photos by Angelo Cricchi
On occasion of Vienna's MAK Gloomy Sunday during the "9 festival for fashion and photography", the art and culture magazine Drome was engaged as the curator of the exhibition. Drome has selected the fashionable photo series by Angelo Cricchi entitled 'Imaginary Portraits of Women who Chose Death' with regard to the strong relationship of Viennese people to death...

Imagination and emotion are more important than that of mere sight; seen in the paintings of Farshid Maleki
For the Persian artist Farshid Maleki the faculties of imagination and emotion are more important than that of mere sight. At first glance the drawings seem like scribbles -- one sees hundreds of lines and colours of magic markers shaping - in an apparent chaos - characters that are only alive in Maleki’s inspiration at the time of the work of art itself, of the action. Read the report by lifestyle editor Caroline Zerrini from Dubai.

20ies Flapper Girl look and 40ies glam style for swimwear; seen at Wolford SS09
The Austrian label presents a retro-sportive swimwear collection, designed for the first time by Ronald van der Kemp. Since some years Wolford collaborates additionally to its own collection with international designers like Giorgio Armani, Kenzo, Missoni, Valentino, Vivienne Westwood...

“I love art. I love fashion. I love everything beautiful. Why no enjoy them all together?” states Robert Cavalli at the Cavalli Club opening party
...reports lifestyle editor Caroline Zerrini from Dubai.

70ies feminine power re-installed today; seen in Edra Soto's art work
Artist Edra Soto’s childhood memories of watching Iris Chacon in Puerto Rico inspired her to re-examine female sexuality and how this celebrity’s image translates into American culture. Therefore she has selected one image where the female show star is surrounded by men in gorilla costumes to start her reflection about the history and presence of culture. Running through 28 June 2009 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago...

Humorous dance music and wearable sculptural art; heard and seen at Chicks on Speed
For the new album 'Cutting the Edge', Chicks on Speed have created artful instruments inspired by fashion such as the high-heeled guitar made of a stiletto. On 19 June, the female band who has collaborated already with Karl Lagerfeld, Douglas Gordon, Peaches etc, perform on stage at the anniversary concert for the online designer store yoox.com in Bologna. Watch out the video 'Super Surfer Girl'...

American retrospective in fashion; seen at Smitten FW9/10
For his first worldwide collection, the New Yorker designer Michael Simon is inspired by his passion of the romance presented in 40’s American comic books and their stories about intoxicating love. The pieces will be featured at Fred Segal; the store is known for a good hand in picking trend items...

Underwear from health garment to fashion must haves; seen at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London
From 12 June until 27 September 2009 the exhibition 'Undercover' at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London traces the evolution of underwear from health garment to fashion must haves. Lingerie fashionistas have the opportunity to purchase two exclusive boudoir pieces by the Italian label La Perla and support at the same time the Breast Cancer Care organisation...

Are you looking for an attractive man? Paris Insight by Karin Sawetz
Men in Paris are looking adventurous with an inherent magic as if their treasure lies in the fantasy. You can find them in the famous Café de Flore where fashion people love to appear and enjoy the 'streetwalk'. Unexpectedly a man with a book in the hand, wild hair, three-day beard, comfortable trousers, and shoes that tell the story of an urbanist, sat down on the table beside me... This happened on occasion of the presentation of Paul Smith's photographs in an art gallery in Paris where I had the chance to interview the designer in his showroom about some themes which are of interest for Fashionoffice.

T-shirt designed for the World Environment Day; seen at La Redoute SS09
On occasion of the World Environment Day on 5th June 2009, the homeshop La Redoute presents the 'Change your Future' bio-shirts for women and men. On the same day the movie 'Home' about the evolution of Earth is released; the movie's subtitle could be "It's Too Late To Be A Pessimist"...

Art pieces instead of plastic bags; seen at the Academy of Art University School of Fashion, San Francisco
Textile design students present over 100 one-of-a-kind tote bags made of organic cotton with artful eco-friendly water-based ink illustrations. The students are trained by experts such as the journalist and illustrator Gladys Perint Palmer, who is working at the time on her second and third books 'Fashion Bible' and 'You are not on The List', or Simon Ungless, a graduate from Central St. Martins School of Art and Design...

The liberating way from the corset to seductive lingerie
In the 90ies, after the decade of the re-feminising era of the 80ies (the 60ies/early 70ies celebrated androgyny), women have discovered a new femininity. In this time Aubade started the 'Lessons in Seduction' saga with focus on lingerie as a mean of seduction. In 2009 Aubade presented its re-launched website with information about trends, know-how about lingerie, the making of campaigns...

Róisín Murphy has inspired this month's Fashionoffice Insight
The song 'You Know Me Better' by Irish musician Róisín Murphy is this month's inspiration for some thoughts about images of women, public opinion and strategies of online and print publishers...

Guide to design shops in Vienna's 7th district
In May 2009, 34 design and fashion shops, studios in Vienna's most creative zone of the 7th district have published their third issue of the biannual '7tm' leaflet under the motto: “Ask the designer if it fits”...

Create the content by defining the meaning of keywords! Apply to the 'Keywords School' at La Biennale di Venezia
During the 'Keywords School' at La Biennale di Venezia the Chinese artist Xu Tan, who insists on his lifestyle as 'outcast' to maintain sensitivity to the changes in social life and culture, reinvestigates the meanings of selected words together with 10 participants per day. In the new public space the meanings of the keywords are further transformed. The recruitment for the ‘Keywords School’ runs until 31 May 2009!

When moral values are absent, darkness begins; lookbook story by Brian Wood FW9/10
New York based designer Brian Wood's fall/winter 2009/10 men's wear collection 'Night Stalkers' is inspired by the depths of human nature where moral values are absent and darkness begins. The photos of the lookbook are dramatically arranged. Question: Does the BWood lookbook tells a story about three different gangs - and the 'good' ones with the masks wear...?

Jewellery made of Formula 1 and Air Race Jets material; seen at Purisme SS09
In spring 2009 the Austrian design label Purisme presented its fourth product after the pipe, the letter opener and the Yoyo for adults: a bracelet which looks like a black diamond. The lightness and durability of the bracelet comes from its carbon fibres. Question: Isn't the carbon fibre a material normally used for cars or aeroplanes?

Style Amazons are celebrating intercultural artfulness; seen at MAC Cosmetics SS09
You can find different heroic looks such as Gold Rebel, Fierce and Fabolous, Tribalist, Liberated, Night Manouvres etc which express the courageous and wild style of the colorful creations made of lipsticks, eye shadow, brush...

Eyewear named after Clark Kent, Charlie Chaplin, and 'Niko' from Lipstick Jungle; seen at GlassesUSA SS09
The international online shop of GlassesUSA presents its website with an extensive product range of eye- and sunwear and a blog with articles about themes like 'Help for Kids who Need Eyeglasses' or 'Computer Vision Syndrome'. Question: "Your website navigation shows several categories; one of them is 'Fashion'. What’s the difference between the other glasses and the Fashion glasses?"

Curtains, folds and the political system of a society; seen at Frank Thiel in New York
German artist Frank Thiel presents new large-scale color photographs showing curtains made of fabrics arranged in folds at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York. The photographer is addressing the recent history of the city Berlin...

About emotional design and eco design; Ciclus founder Tati Guimarães
Question: Is the half-moon bracelet made of film material like it is used for movies? Eco-designer Tati Guimarães: "The Half Moon Bracelet is made of films like those that used to be used in printers before digital replaced the need of film to print, for example, newspapers. We collect it with some few off set printers that still work with it. This film, after used, generally is thrown away because it's all printed and cannot be reused for printing. So, Ciclus gives one more use for something that would inevitably be thrown into garbage."

Ironic, absurd texts on an electronic mix of music styles; Kissogram is on tour
The electro-pop duo Jonas Poppe and Sebastian Dassé started in 1999. Today, they are one of the most important musicians of the Berlin independent scene. They are on tour: 5 June Moscow, 12 June Altdöbern (DE), 26 June Vienna, 10 July Rüsselsheim (DE), 31 July Freising (DE), 20 August Zurich... Watch out the video: 'She's an Apple Pie'.

An installation, capturing the sounds and noises of the laboratory and Missoni knitting machines
The Missonis have "realized that modern design is a synergy between machine and art," has written Richard Martin. In the new exhibition you are invited to enter the typical Italian way of making fashion, which begins at the loom: an installation, capturing the sounds and noises of the laboratory and Missoni knitting machines, recorded and written for the installation by composer Pietro Pirelli...

Learning machines and our role of designing them is the main theme of this month's Fashionoffice Insight by publisher Karin Sawetz, May 2009
It's the first time in history that the masses are structuring a media by using a common 'brain'. This 'brain' with its 'thinking memory' makes the real nature of the internet; it is ‘learning’ your behaviour!

Have high quality designers today produce an object of utility and address our senses at the same time?
Ronan und Erwan Bouroullec's 'Rocs' are made for deconstructing the space. The design idea behind comes from 'software': the system allows you to elaborate your taste infinitely by building your own architecture!

"...parallels between the rhythm and repetition of songs and typical regional knitting patterns...," curator Eva Kreissl, exhibition 'Good Signs - Bad Signs' at the Folklife Museum, Graz
The exhibition 'Good Signs - Bad Signs', curated by Eva Kreissl, invites the visitor to 12 interactive stations for experiencing the meaning of symbols in game situations such as an everyday symbols quiz, an orientation terrain game, or a sound-effects test from 15 May until 26 October 2009 at the Folklife and Folk Art Museum in Graz (Austria)...

An invitation to become designer of retro glam couture furniture with modern appeal; seen at Maison Ventury Paris SS09
Emmanuel Touraine presents the early launched label Maison Ventury Paris with the debut furniture collection entitled 'Divine' created by designer Vincent Cadena. At the same time, the two fashion addicted had the idea to motivate their clients to become a designer...

"Male suits are 100% eco-friendly", Carla Gallas SS09
Why have you used male suits for the bags? Carla Gallas: "I use male suits for the bags mainly because they are 100% eco-friendly, including inside. They are a way to give a new use to an old piece. Usually the laptop bags are a bit boring, black, etc."

How to give old material the appeal of luxury, seen at unika(r)t
The Austrian designer Irene Wölfl presents her label unika(r)t (the word combines unique and art) during the 3rd edition of Designformat from 8 May until 25 July at the workshop kaRja in Vienna. How to give old material the appeal of luxury...

Busy P, Kavinsky, and autoKratz on Levi's Unbuttoned Tour

Fashion and the absence of the body, seen at Ursula Neugebauer, Design Festival assembly in Graz, Austria

A roboquin, dancing to the magical downtempo by Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber, known as 'Tosca'

Sonic Youth etc. : Sensational Fix; 30 May - 20 September 2009 Malmö Konsthall, Sweden

The progress of personal evolution; Maurie Polak at the Rhode Island School of Design Exhibition

Bags made of Water Bottles; seen at samsāra SS09

News from
April - May 2009
Jan - March 2009
October - December 2008