Beautiful Fül SS13

This is one of those moments that articulating my awe and telling you guys what I like and what I don't like about a collection becomes really hard. I am so floored by the imagery and the collection itself that I don't think I want to get up. If I had a bed with a projector screen I'd want these, on a loop playing as a I go to sleep so I could dream about it.

Beautiful Fül isn't a name I've heard before today, and it'll assuredly not leave my head anytime soon. They managed to capture the easiness of the West Coast and edge and sophistication of the East. There's interplay between print and subdued colour here which I like and the styling is more than on point.

The imagery is on a whole other level, as much as it's supposed to lend to the clothes everything kind of meld into this incredible cauldron of insane awesomeness that...I can't. Lawrence Schlossman saw the collection in person and in his post about it on Four-Pins described as 'Castro by way of Miami on crack' which is probably the best descriptor possible. Since spending a little more time behind the camera I am beginning to appreciate the artistry that goes behind something like this - I mean the colours, lighting, composition and just everything seems like it was thought out but doesn't look like it if you get what I mean. Effortless but looking like it required all the effort in the world.

This is amazing and I'm so excited to get out to California and possibly seeing this stuff up close.

Uniqlo x Undercover Men's FW12

Uniqlo's recent collaboration with Japanese uber street label, Undercover, may not have been met with the fanfare from the public and blockbuster sales that their previous collections with Jil Sander did but from elsewhere there was measured appreciation. At first, I was unable to understand the concept Jun Takahashi and growing fast-retail giant, Uniqlo, were going for when they wanted to 'dress the family', because it's not something I'd expect them to do. Admittedly, as a fan of Undercover, I was underwhelmed by the offerings - a feeling along the lines of what I got with the Versace x H&M collab but that's a different story. I still very much enjoyed the offerings but at the same time I thought more of the essence of Undercover could've been brought over. Additionally, many of the offerings for women were more attractive, at least for me, than what I would get buying the menswear.

Perhaps after regrouping and re-strategising Jun and Uniqlo decided to throw out the rule book and throw us Westerners in at the deep end. Whilst still accessible, the new looks for the upcoming FW12 collection definitely take things to a new level. The collection carries nuances of an urbanite, attempting to block out the cold whilst remaining stylish. Subtle interplay with fabrics and texture - something I've identified as decidedly Japanese - is present in the outerwear. Military influences in the colour pallet with navys, maroons and olives creating cohesive looks.

UU Utility coat (Warm lite liner) with corduroy accents and faux fur trim 

The looks were styled by the man himself, Jun Takahashi, and give some inspiration as to how to put these clothes together (should you go head to toe). I'm really liking the Utility coat, the wool blend cargos and the sweat pants but I'm not sure how they'll fit into a West Coast wardrobe. I guess I'll have to find a way. Something that wasn't in the first collection was footwear so it's nice to see a nice basic pair of sneakers with a slight edge to them being introduced.

The collection drops in stores in August, in the meantime more photos (including the women’s and kids looks) are on the UU Collection Site as well as on Pinterest.

LC: Men Take Two

The second edition of London Collections: Men takes place on January 7-9, 2013, the British Fashion Council announced today, July 31. The BFC has also appointed Dylan Jones as on-going Chair of the menswear showcase. Initially engaged as Chair of the 2012 menswear committee to support the launch of the event, this new role sees Dylan working alongside the BFC to lead the charge on developing London Collections: Men as a biannual event; the appointment is initially for a fixed term of two years and will encompass four seasons. Each season he will re-focus the menswear committee, comprising industry professionals. Those joining the committee for the next event are Adrian Clark, ShortList; Anda Rowland, Anderson & Sheppard; Douglas Booth; Grant Pearce, GQ Asia Pacific; Paula Reed, Harvey Nichols; Robert Johnston, GQ; Tracey Emin and Tom Hiddleston.

US fashion designer Tom Ford has announced he will present his menswear autumn/winter 2013 collection during London Collections: Men in January. The event will take place at the design headquarters in London and the retail delivery will coincide with the opening of the debut Tom Ford flagship store on London's Sloane Street in the autumn. Tom Ford Menswear was established in 2006, and other current projects include dressing Daniel Craig in the upcoming James Bond Skyfall film, out later this year. London Collections: Men runs from January 7-9, 2013.

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