Seeing Alexi Freeman's collections in person is always a pleasure. And while the Spring/Summer 2010 lookbook perfectly conveys the understated elegance of the pieces, there are finer details that are only really seen up close. Layerings of mesh fabrics in contrasting colours lead to a unique shimmering effect; while what appears to be a simple black singlet from the front is turned around to reveal a sheer mesh back. Relaxed fits can lean to either a sporty or a more glamorous aesthetic depending on how you dress them, and the bold melon-coloured pieces - while not for the faint hearted - are striking in real life.
The simple elegance of Erdem's Resort 2010 collection really catches the eye. The washy watercolour prints on some of the pieces call to mind youthful romanticism; but it's the floor-length gowns with their floating florals and easy cuts that stand out the most.
Art and fashion collide with Mono; a succession of capsules designed by Canada's Heather Martin. The Spring/Summer 2009 series goes by the name of Interlacing opposing thoughts - and is made up of pieces that play fearlessly with texture and form. Mono's stockists are primarily Canadian-based at present; but we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for future updates on the brand.
Sometimes in Winter there are days where you just want to throw on a big cosy knit and a pair of boots, and be warm. Thankfully, it's quite possible to do so and still look great - if you can find the right pieces. When I came across this Autumn(Fall)/Winter 2009 collection by Ashley Guiel the other day, I was struck by a couple of things: the preppy meets geek-chic looks; the subtly military-inspired pieces; and the big cosy knits.
Eres lingerie made a good move in scoring Lara Stone for their latest campaign. Not only has she the perfect body for modelling underwear, but she's just the sort of name that will get them plenty of attention. Lara looks fabulous in Eres' Autumn(Fall)/Winter 2009 campaign shots - her usual bed-hair replaced with curls, giving the shots a softer feel. Some of the pieces would be a good fit for the lingerie as outerwear trend, in particular the black lace bodysuit pictured below.
Men's jewellery can be a tricky thing. And while we love the dandy look, especially for men's brooches, some prefer their accessories to be a little darker; a little more to the alternative side. Toby Jones' latest collection, titled Words Don't Speak, is definitely jewellery minus the bling. If muted metals and gothic-inspired symbols are your thing, the lookbook is worth a peek.
There's an element of the tribal in the Prada Cruise 2010 collection, but the overall feeling leans more to the tropical. There are some moments of rather awkward clashing prints; and of even more awkward marriages of preppy shirts with sarong-inspired satin skirts. When things go right, however, printed dresses with low-dipping necklines are more of what we'd expect a Prada cruise collection to be.
Leighton Meester has been impressing us with her style choices of late - in particular the daring see-through number she wore to the MTV Movie Awards last week. But it's her on-screen alter-ego, Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl, that constantly shines when it comes to elegant day wear and eye-catching accessories.
If you loved the Stuart Weitzman block colour daisy frame bag carried by Blair in the Gossip Girl season finale, you may be in luck - because we have one of these coveted bags to give away!

As soon as we spied the stand-out take on the military trend in Twenty-Seven Names' Spring/Summer 2009/2010 collection, we knew we were in love. A budding New Zealand label with a strong future on the horizon, Twenty-Seven Names bring a youthful aesthetic to their work that successfully walks the fine line between underground cool and mainstream appeal.
Looking for a twist on the double-breasted suit? The be sure not to overlook Smalto's Autumn (Fall)/Winter 2009/2010 collection.
