Debonair, sophisticated, classy are all words that define the quintessential British Gentleman. These words are also synonymous with Designer Aaron Ray Dowie.  I first saw his work two years ago and I was really impressed by the sophisticated yet quirky aesthetic.  I usually don’t find menswear collections as exciting as  womenswear but Aaron’s craftsmanship and style really blew me away. His current collection is a tribute to the classic British gentleman with a modern twist.

“It was all based around my accrued knowledge in tailoring, from working at many of Savile Rows classic tailors. Also through searching through family archives and finding that the Dowie family had tailors many generations ago led me to design a strong heritage feel to the collection.”- Aaron Ray Dowie

Aaron has also revealed to me that his new collection will be based around Winston Churchill. Bow ties and military are themes that run through as well as classic double breasted coats. Wonderfully British!!! 

I was looking at all of the ads for 2009 and two stand out as being particularly bad.  The first is an ad for a hair product that sounds like an ad for erectile dysfunction. Who describes hair as "weak, limp and lifeless" and talks about geeting back your mojo, It really, really bad. Im a big Cheryl Cole fan and  I think she's stunning but even I cant pretend this ad is good. I was almost gonna call this the worst ad of 2009 but then I changed my mind becuase I  remembered an ad so bad that I tried to shut it out of my mind.

The worst ad of 2009  without a doubt has to be Lindsay Lohan's ad for Fornarina. It looks inspired by 80's arcade games. They may have been cool in 1984 but  not in 2009. I have never seen an ad that is so annoying before and Lindsay looks absolutely mortifying. The funny thing is she probably got paid a ton of money to say "click, flash, wow,bang wink smack Fornarina splash smash crash glam pink heart Fornarina". This ad is a total mess. Even Stefano Pilati, creative director of Yves Saint Laurent thinks that Lindsay is a mess.

"She is one of those who make fashion be a mess" – Stefano Pilati

I couldnt have said it any better. Infact, I would go as far  as to say that this might be the worst ad of all time.

This year milliner Stephen Jones, womenswear designer Amanda Wakeley and the founder of lingerie brand Ultimo, Michelle Mone were  on the Queen’s New Year Honours List. They each received an OBE.

Other honourees included designers Luella Bartley and Cath Kidston and bespoke tailors Imtaz Khaliq and Timothy Everest. They each were recognized with MBEs.

Image Source:picapp.com

If you were a fashion retailer how would you advertise your sale?..get the models to wear your clothes….WRONG.

Brand Alley abviously knows that sex sells and they got 6 hot naked models to strut across Oxford Street ( one of the busiest shopping streets in the world.) The 4 female models and 2 male models did a catwalk show at Oxford Circus wearing only bodypaint to promote Brand Alley's sale. Now anyone that knows london knows that it gets pretty cold in Winter. Infact as I am writing this post the temperature is about -1 celsius. SO not only  our these models braving the eyes of onlookers they are also  facing the bitter cold. They're mums and dads must be so proud of them.

The song playing during the Flash Walk is Catwalk Criminal by Kane. Its very fitting given that this impromptu catwalk show surely caused a stir. I even see that the Police were at the Scene to get a look, make sure the situation remained under control.

Pull and Bear has used Sam Way in their last 3 campaigns, now the brand has  switched to another Brit for their christmas 2009 -2010 campaign. They have" chosen Josh Beech as the face of the collection. The  Creative Director for the  ad was Liam Gleeson and it was styled by Alberto Murta. No word yet on who the female model is, I've searched high and low but I can't find her. I love the part where the are jumping in the air and spinning around, it reminds me of ice skating … but without the hideous outfits skaters where.

 I love the use of  shimming fabrics and sequins in the collection and the  headbands give the collection a bit of 40's nostalgia.

I usually get emails asking what the music is in campaigns. So in case you were wondering, the song playing during the ad is "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth" by Four Tet.

Source- Pull and Bear

UPDATE: this was just an outtake the real Burberry Prorsum Spring Summer 2010 ad featuring Emma Watson and Alex Watson can be viewed by clincking here.

Burberry is keeping it in the family. The new Spring Summer 2010 ad campign stars Harry Potter actress, Emma Watson and her brother Alex Watson. Her brother, Alex Watson recently signed to Storm models and was enlisted by Burberry to feature alongside his sister in the Spring Summer ads.

source: TFS

image source:Storm Models

Another Spring Summer 2010 ad campaign has been revealed. This time is  British legend Paul Smith. Look at all the bright colours It almost makes me dizzy. I Love it!! It all reminds me of  the album "Life in Cartoon Motion" by Mika.

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I swear Kate Moss  must have to beat designers off with a stick. Every season she gets so many campaigns and Spring Summer 2010 is looking to be business as usual. She stars alongside Karl Lagerfeld's man candy, Baptiste Giabiconi.  This marks consecutive seasons that Kate Moss has been the face of Just Cavalli.

source:tfs

Lara Stone 2.0, Georgia May Jagger's ads for Versace Spring Summer 2010 have been released. The campaign was shot by Mario Testino. on the internets most popular fashion forum, TheFashionSpot opinions on the campaign are  mixed. one user described it as " Bright colors, nice pose, unusual angle of her body. It's a huge step up from the past seasons" while another said "Freaking love it for some reason. the colours are fantastic."  However, not all of the users were as positive. Salvatore said, "I hate to judge so early, but it looks kind of tacky."

As you already know when Georgia May Jagger won the British Fashion Award I was in major disagreement. georgia is a pretty girl, but model of the year is not accolade that I think  she deserves at the moment. I think my problem with Georgia May Jagger was aptly discussed by TigerRouge from TheFashionSpot.

"Yes, she's a beauty but she's yet to learn how to model like a pro, and in a way, that's only natural. The disadvantage of having a famous surname is that it allows you to step into campaigns before you've done your apprenticeship, where you learn how to model in editorials for foreign Marie Claire and Glamour before your big moment comes" – TigerRouge

Yesterday I showed you the River Island Menswear Spring Summer 2010 collection. Today its the ladies turn.  Here are the latest pictures from the River island, Spring Summer 2010 womens collection.  Overall the  collection has a boho chic vibe. The materials  in the collection are also very diverse in textures and pattern. I think there is something for every girl in this collection.

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Alexa Chung's MTV show might have just been canned but Alexa is still in high demand. The British presenter is the star of the  new Pepe Jeans Spring Summer 2010 ads. The campaign has a daydreaming theme  and Alongside Alexa are male models Tom Guinness and Boyd Holbrook. 

The campaign was lensed by Tom Munro.

Madonna was the face of  Louis Vuitton  in 2009 until she was recently replaced by Lara Stone. A few months ago it was confirmed that  Madonna would be starring  in the  Spring Summer campaign for Italian designers Dolce & Gabanna. The  shots appear in Vanity Fair and were lensed by Steven Klein.

First they released a teaser clip and now the whole commercial for the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection has been released. There are only two weeks left until the the Jimmy CHoo for H&M collection will be released at H&M stores around the world so make sure you've got November 14th marked off on your calendars.  The new ad features model Anna Jagodzinska and was shot at The Standard Hotel in New York.

This video is from Christopher Shannon's Spring Summer 2010 collection that he presented at the Man Show at London Fashion Week.  In his short career the  Central Saint Martin's MA graduate has worked with Kim Jones, Richard Nicoll and collaborated with the legendary Judy Blame on T-shirt range for Comme Des Garcons. He has also worked with  WIlliam Baker who has been the cretive director for Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears.

For Spring Summer 2010 Christopher Shannon has taken sportswear and given a it a fashion forward makover . It's fashion but its wearable and  has very sporty aesthetic. His use of colour blocks is ingenious its like a male  version of Stella McCartneys range for Adidas.

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Chanel Coco Cocoon has just launched a new site to mark the release of the Chanel Coco Cocoon collection. Last month the images featuring Lily Allen for Chanel Coco Cocooon were released. The new ads star Karl Lagerfeld’s muse Daul Kim. Daul is sporting a new blonde look. Surprisingly, Karl’s other muse Baptiste Giabiconi is nowhere to be seen in the campaign. For some reason i keep expecting Baptiste to jump out of one of the oversized bowling bags .

The ‘Coco Cocoon’ bags are made of nylon or lambskin,and have a quilted finish. The bags come in several different sizes and models and the result is a modern bag with two sides to its personality. In other words it is just as perfect in an urban environment as it is for heading off to explore new horizons. With the lightweight shopping bag, in mini or maxi version, the bowling bag and even a trolley bag model, there is a ‘Coco Cocoon’ bag for every occasion and all different lifestyles: whether in town, for active women who are constantly on the go and need a spacious bag, or when travelling, for unbeatable comfort and style.

  Last Friday. September 18th, Nike Sportswear and East London rapper Dizzee Rascal released a limited edition, Nike Air Max 90 'Tongue N' Cheek' sneaker. The shoe was created as part of  a collaboration between  Dizze Rascal and  Nike. The sneakers share their name with Dizzee Rascal's 'Tongue N' Cheek'  album which was released on monday. The shoes are available exclusively  at Nike's 1948 store in Shoreditch.

This promo video has  was directed by Drury,  and shot by Tim & Barry from dontwatchthat.tv .

I know New York fashion Week is over but I thought I'd share these images from CommonWealth Utilities. The show featured some of the biggest male models in the industry and he clothes were amazing. Like a fusion between casual wear and formal. The color  palette included  pastelle the usual menswear staple colours (brown, grey, black and white). The show featured  Major models, Patrick Rukai, Thierry Pepin, Ryan Konig, Kerry Degman and Chad White. 

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London Fashion week is just around the corner and with it comes the fashion week parties. Pull & bear just recently opened their new UK flagship store on Oxford Street and they are kicking off Fashion week with the a  launch  party at the new store.  It’s a double party . It kicks off on Oxford Street  with a star appearance from new superstar wonder-kid, Pixie Lott, and music by British band Filthy Dukes, Spanish group Cristal Fighters, and DJ Man Like Me.

The Party doesn’t end there!!! The celebrations will then continue at the Hidden after party… at  East End night club The Bath House for various DJs including Cooly G & Patchwork Pirate, as well as a special performance from Drums of Death! The after-party is rsvp  so make sure to contact  rsvp@hidden-agency.com.