We’re buzzed about a few items in particular in the latest range from our friends at aspirational street-wear label, ZANEROBE, who we’ve been fans of since we launched Lost At E Minor back in 2005. Our faves at the moment include the Chuck Navy shorts, with rolled cuff; the Curtis Brown Sunnies, ‘with full rim metal detail in a round vintage frame’; and the Acapulco Navy Tee, with twisted side seams. Stocking fillers? Hell yeah. We’ll take them all for Christmas. ZANEROBE is hanging in the cream of stores, including Australia’s David Jones, Japan’s Barneys, the USA’s Nieman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks. Or just get into it online.

SPONSOR

Aside from creating startlingly original looking hoodies and tees, fashion label Carrot Clothing also has an interesting story to tell. The label was founded in Serbia, where the owner, Alex, ‘in an effort to uplift lagging spirits and voice personal concerns about freedom, began printing t-shirts featuring unmuted anti-war messages for family and friends’. This landed him in jail and at the mercy of unforgiving local authorities for spreading allegedly ‘terrorist’ policies. Since then, he has ‘joined forces with skateboarders, street artists, and other creative minds to establish Carrot Clothing, a brand whose essence is based upon the family-like relationships between global art, skate, and street communities’.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I first discovered menswear label, Saint Augustine Academy. Since its inception in 2002, the Sydney-based team have risen to cult-status amongst individuals with a keen eye for sophistication and intelligent design. Playing on the lifestyle of a modern rock and roll star, the designers at Saint Augustine Academy are heavily inspired by the rock nouveau ethos that surrounded bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Designers Alvin Manalo and Adrian Amores met in the mid-90s whilst studying economics at Macquarie University (not exactly feeling destined for fashion design). As chief designer, Alvin had no fashion design skills before beginning the label, but has since created consistently contemporary and sought-after designs each season.

Abstracted tees with off -centered cuts, tailored tuxedo jackets and skinny denim are key staples of the Academy’s aesthetic. Saint Augustine Academy focuses upon an underlying elegance with a strong emphasis on sharp cuts and unexpected prints. The limited colour palette that the label uses insists upon maintaining the rock star lifestyle in darker, night-life tones. The latest collection to come from the Academy is Psycho Candy 08/09. All I can say, is boys beware; this could change your outlook on fashion, in a very good way.

The last time we heard from Melbourne label TV, they were busy preparing for their debut at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. Since then, the girls behind one of this year’s most talked about labels have delivered a stunning collection. All of a sudden it doesn’t matter that winter has only just finished here, we know what we’ll be wearing when the weather heats up. Cute summer one-pieces and statement dresses teamed with suede booties, and if we can get our hands on them, a pair of those hot little dream-catcher specs.

If you’ve ever wanted to work your alter ego’s dark side without looking like a total emo, now’s your chance. New kid on the block Ben Pollitt is shaking things up with his label Friedrich Gray. And the best part about it? Pollitt’s androgynous range has a little something something for everyone. From skinny legs and low crutch pants, to long-length T-shirts and tanks – this is gear that’ll have you looking all discreet and mysterious. These garments are just as luxurious as they are dark. But don’t go getting all melancholy on us. With a bit of luxury in your life, dressing in black has never looked brighter.

SPONSOR