Drop it Like it's Hawwwt!!

Sales are finally over, and the SS collections are starting to drop, slowly, slowly, slowly. Dover Street Market has just re-opened its doors for the season with an inimitable line-up of designers showcasing their collections. I adore Dover Street Market; it's like falling down into a couture-filled rabbit hole. You never know who you might spot, and it's undoubtedly got the best VM in London. Check out Alber Elbaz's winning design for his space in the store. Checkmate, sir.

This is awesome: the New World Archive space, Flight of the Dragon Empress, designed by Michael Costiff.  Totally dying to get my hands on a true Native American war bonnet (back left).

Also loving:

Hussein Chalayan space, inspired by traditional Japanese puppet theatre. Amazing, the symmetry here.

The sneaker space designed by Michael Samuels

Get down and see for yourself!

Konichiwa, Bitches

OK yes so I am ripping off Robyn in my post title today (love her!!) but here's something for the weekend. If you haven't already, head down to the Barbican to see their latest retrospective , 'Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion'.

This exhibition, the first of it's kind, traces the impact Japanese designers have had on our sensibilities by looking at works by prolific designers: Rei Kawakubo, Issey Miyake, Junya Watanabe and Yohji Yamamoto, and exploring such themes as the preoccupation with shadows and darkness; and the way in which [these designers] utilised traditional Japanese design processes. The exhibition finishes by taking a look at Japanese fashion today. 

This exhibition precedes the upcoming Yohji Yamamoto retrospective at the V&A in the new year.  In terms of trend forecasting: look out for Japanese references bubbling up in street culture, fashion and music. Spotted so far: 

'Konichiwa' slogan T's in Urban Outfitters

Robyn:

Check. It. Out.