Obession: Yasmin Sewell in TOGA (Paris)

{Top by TOGA}

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Yasuko Furuta created the brand TOGA in 1997. TOGA originates from the Greek word meaning “draped clothes.” After much success in Tokyo and elsewhere, she decided to start showing in Paris Women's Prêt-à-Porter Fashion Week in 2006.

{TOGA Top, worn on Yasmin Sewell,
Image courtesy of Street Peeper}

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Yasmin Sewell, the Lebanese fashionista from Sydney, Australia, who left school at the age of fifteen, is now a London-based fashion retail expert who provides trend forecasting, product and buying strategies, and overall brand direction for companies internationally, such as Liberty London and Brown's.

Currently, she's presenting on Simon Fuller’s project Fashionair, is a regular features contributor to Elle UK, and is involved with the British Fashion Council where she consults on its mentoring programs as well as works with young, up-and-coming designers.

MOCK Magazine Seeks Sartorial Splendor

MOCK Magazine is in search of stylish individuals from various cities to include in their "Sartorial Splendor" feature.

To be considered, email mockmagazine@gmail.com - subject "Sartorial Splendor":

include a [stylish] Image of yourself, your Full Name, Age, Profession, City, and how you would describe your personal style or what you believe is [true] "Style".

If chosen, you'll be featured in the first issue of MOCK Magazine, the newest [independent] bi-annual fashion/art [online] magazine.

* Images must be of "LookBook.nu," "Trendy Crew" and/or "The Sartorialist" quality!

MOCK Magazine is set to launch in May of this year. The above image is their unfinished cover page as well as their trademarked logo [the mockingbird]. The concept or inspiration behind the magazine title is the way our society or more so individuals mock fashion, mock beauty, mock other people and even mock culture. MOCK Magazine's definition of "mock" is not to ridicule or judge, but rather to mimic, imitate; to challenge and to defy the norms or perceptions of society. Their demographic or target audience would be fashion/art orientated, creative individuals that challenge/defy the norms by thinking and/or creating "out of the box".

MOCK Magazine will be clean [as in layouts], professional, edgy or "out of the box", and the magazine will be more like an European-fashion magazine [think Purple Magazine or Vogue Paris].

Ashish Gupta x Topshop Collaboration

The latest Ashish Gupta x Topshop collaboration features a sportswear range adorned in punk-inspired studs, as seen on Rihanna. The collection looks a bit similar to or influenced by Ashish's Spring/Summer 2010 collection.

The new 7-piece collection features 5 pieces in jersey fabric. The 4 pieces which include a rolled-up grey marl tracksuit trouser, a pair of matching cuffed shorts, a cropped charcoal sweatshirt (tied at the waist), a pair of studded tracksuit bottoms and a studded black sweatshirt all lend themselves to the sporty-chic aesthetic seen on the London Fashion Week Spring runway.

The other two pieces include a biker jacket featuring Ashish’s trademark 3-centimeter studs and a pair of 1970s-inspired gold platform wedges.

Of the collection, Ashish says: “Studs and spikes were a big part of my mainline collection this season, and it felt right to carry that through in some way for my range for Topshop. I love the contrast between soft sweatshirt fabric and metal spikes — it's classic sportswear meets punk.”

I personally think the studded cotton sweatpants is a bit too much, in fact some of the pieces from the collaboration are a bit too far-fetched for me. Above, I've compiled a few of the pieces from the Ashish Gupta x Topshop collaboration that I truly adore.

Monsoon / Accessorize: The Magic Is You

Monsoon Stores, an United Kingdom design-led retailer operating two highly successful chains known as Monsoon and Accessorize, has developed a strong brand with a highly distinctive identity that is quickly becoming well-known throughout the fashion industry.

Founded in 1973 by Peter Simon, the original focus was always clothes with an ethnic origin from various countries, ranging from unusual dresses from Afghanistan to hand block printed clothes from Rajasthan. The intrinsic beauty of fabric, color and technique so evident in the early sourcing of Monsoon's products from the Far East continues to exercise a strong influence to this day.

In May 1973, the first Monsoon shop opened in Beauchamp Place, Knightsbridge, London. In 1984, Accessorize evolved as Monsoon started to sell a small collection of accessories which became so popular that the idea for the innovative new store format was born thus creating an exciting and strongly differentiated High Street concept for fashion accessories in an adjoining shop to the Monsoon, Covent Garden Piazza branch. The second Accessorize store was soon after set in Carnaby Street in 1986. 1992 saw the first Accessorize store outside London with a store opening in Manchester. In the same year the first airport store was opened at London - Gatwick South terminal. Building on the company's phenomenal success, a store opening program began, averaging 16 new stores each year.

In May 1999, Monsoon Home launched its first shop in Kings Road, London. The range incorporates the Monsoon look and philosophy creating an innovative and individual home accessories range. Then in 2001, Monsoon Baby was launched, as well as Accessorize Angels. In 2003, Monsoon Boy was launched with Monsoon Men following in the Autumn of 2004.


Monsoon has expanded rapidly from its London base. Today there are over 400 Monsoon and Accessorize stores in the United Kingdom and over 600 throughout the world (unfortunately none in the United States, as of yet). However, for those who can't seem to find a Monsoon / Accessorize store nearby in their state or country, there is international delivery for online shoppers - which does include the United States (5-12 days delivery time).

I only recently heard about Monsoon and Accessorize when I was browsing through merchandise for looks on Looklet. I came upon this gorgeous scarf covered with peonies (my favorite flower) from Monsoon, which made me want to investigate more on the company/brand.

*Here's a look I created using only products from Monsoon and Accessorize.

Products used from Accessorize: Vintage Enveloped Clutch Bag, Enchanted Vine Wrap Gem Ring, Jaguar Buckle Faux-Snake Skinny Belt, and these black sandals (which I, unfortunately, can not find on their online store).

Products used from Monsoon: the beloved peony-scarf (which I, to my own dismay, can not find on their online store), this luscious violet skirt and this black dress with amazing details on the front (both of which I, also, can not find on their online store).

There's all sorts of goodies for all types of individuals, regardless of your personal style, so I definitely urge everyone to check out Monsoon and/or Accessorize.

To keep up-to-date on more news about Monsoon and Accessorize as well as future promotions/sales, please feel free to follow them on FaceBook and Twitter.

Accessorize -
FaceBook: http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/ACCESSORIZE/100947182366
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Accessorize

Monsoon -
FaceBook: http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/MONSOON/112804304041
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MonsoonTweets

Christopher Lee Sauvé Strikes Again

Remember those infamous "Save Anna" t-shirts?

Well, New York City based artist and fashion impresario, Christopher Lee Sauvé has launched a new collection of hand-painted graphic t-shirts for the new year featuring new mantras ranging from "Fuck The Recession" to "Print Is Dead".

One of my favorites from the new collection would definitely be the t-shirt in memory of Yves Saint Laurent:

I'll forever adore monsieur Yves Saint Laurent because of the ideal he enraptures and I strongly believe in the elegant, stylish grandeur he set forth in the world of fashion.

Another favorite of mine from the collection would be the "God Save The Queen" t-shirt, featuring Anna Wintour (editor-in-chief of American Vogue):


I love satire and the fact that it's a black tee!

You can check out the entire collection, where to purchase the graphic tees as well as previous work by Christopher Lee Sauvé on his official site: http://www.chrissauve.com/

Also, feel free to follow Chris Sauvé via Twitter: http://twitter.com/chrissauve
and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=christopher+sauve&init=quick#/pages/Christopher-Sauve/45096703519
After all, social networking is the future and you'll surely want to be updated on the newest merchandise!