Dripping Designer Travel Mugs: The Band of Outsiders for Starbucks Collaboration Makes Coffee Couture

Hitting the virtual shelves of StarbucksStore.com tomorrow, and available for purchase in limited quantity in select retail locations in the U.S. and Canada on June 24, 2014, The Band of Outsiders for Starbucks collaboration brews the coffee giant’s fifth designer mug partnership.   

Inspired by his favourite term for coffee, “drip”, the founder of the Band of Outsiders label, Scott Sternberg, re-imagined the Starbucks travel mug in a way that is modern, and rebellious in spirit. Blending iconic Starbucks imagery with Sternberg’s contemporary vision, the Band of Outsiders for Starbucks Limited Edition Designer Ceramic Mug will be sold in one of two paint-drip styles: a black, drip print and a rainbow one.

In Canada the mug will retail for $16.95, a small price to pay to transform your morning cup of brew into a subtle fashion accessory.

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from Starbucks 

Supermarket Style Stories: The Fashionisto Features the Levi’s Made and Crafted Label in its 'Oh Boy' Editorial Exclusive

 

Whimsical colours, mischievous poses, and a bad-boy attitude help model Dino Sabanovic sell this pop-inspired, grocery-store-raiding style story, entitled ‘Oh Boy’, for The Fashionisto. Captured by photographer Kalia Genova, the spread features wears from the Levi’s Made & Crafted label and focuses on the rebellious spirit of youth-targeted fashion. 

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from The Fashionisto

Street-Style Sportswear: Activewear Gets a New Look from Topman Sport

Combining technical fabrics, functionality, and breathable materials with sleek fits and a heavy dose of street style, Topman takes on fast-fashion competitors, like H&M and Joe Fresh, with its foray into activewear under the new Topman Sport label.

The 20-piece capsule collection debuts with running tights, marl gym tees, and performance pieces with mesh venting and dry-tech technology. Reflective elements and thumbholes give the line a futuristic look and add even more function to the label, while daring prints and colour hues give this collection a signature Topman look.

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from Topman

Luxuriously Affordable Lingerie: Altuzarra for Target Hits Stores This September

Surprising us all, Target recently announced that its next designer collaboration, Altuzarra for Target, will be a little naughtier than the big-box retailer’s past couture joint ventures. Partnering with designer Joseph Altuzarra on a luxe line of lingerie, shoes, and accessories, Target will be releasing the nearly 50-piece, ready-to-wear collection in store and online at both Target.com and NET-A-PORTER.COM come September 14, 2014. 

Keeping Joseph Altuzarra's aesthetic for beauty in mind, romantic details and sensual styling are sure to be a part of the affordably chic collection. Set to range from $17.99 to $89.99 per piece, the Altuzarra for Target collection offers bedtime elegance at price points that women will be immodest to reveal. 

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from A BULLSEYE VIEW

Exclusive Expedition Gear Launches: THE BRUNETTES Attend the Fjällräven Fall/Winter 2014 Press Preview

Sharing its story with the Canadian press for the first time, THE BRUNETTES were among a select group of media invited to attend the Fjällräven Fall/Winter 2014 press preview held last night in the Ballroom at the Gladstone Hotel. 

The rainy, spring evening provided for the perfect night to head indoors and learn about fashionable, waterproof and water-resistant outerwear that is sure to keep even the most experienced mountain trekkers warm and cozy when out for long hours in the cold. 

Teaching us all about Fjällräven's unique brand story and heritage—in addition to giving a demonstration on how a simple bar of wax can help preserve, protect, and keep moisture from absorbing into clothing—Nathan Dopp, Fjällräven's VP of Sales and Marketing for North America, demonstrated why Fjällräven's approach to outerwear is superior to that of its competitors. 

Innovative fabrics, wax coatings, bold colours, down-filled pieces, and affordable price points are just some of the trademarks of Fjällräven's sporty, yet stylish outerwear, accessories, and expedition gear that make the line a hip alternative to those who may be suffering from Canada Goose fatigue.

The brand, whose name translates from Swedish to mean arctic fox and is also used as an expression to describe sharply dressed individuals, has a long history in producing outwear with roots that date back to 1960s Sweden, while the company's Kånken knapsack has been loved by children and adults worldwide for decades.

Although Fjällräven has already been available to the Canadian market through independent retailers, the press preview wasn't only showcasing the brand's future collections; it was also celebrating the establishment of its first store in Canada, which opened in Vancouver earlier this season. 

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from THE BRUNETTES’ own collection *images from THE BRUNETTES’ collection not to be used without providing a source link to this posting 

Supreme Streetwear Launches: THE BRUNETTES Attend the OBEY Clothing Fall/Winter 2014 Collection Preview

Earlier this evening THE BRUNETTES took a trip over to 263 Adelaide St. W. for a special collection preview of OBEY Clothing's Fall/Winter 2014 lineup. Featuring styles for both women and men, the upcoming collection from the label stayed true to its usual, streetwear aesthetic while also incorporating bolder fashion pieces.

Classic tailoring, daring prints, faux furs, and synthetic and genuine leathers are staples in the line. Fans of the brand will also be pleased with OBEY Clothing's new and retro interpretations of its most iconic graphics and designs. As always, exciting, limited-edition collaborations with a diverse array of artists amp up the label's street cred, giving the OBEY Clothing Fall/Winter 2014 collection edge and a laid-back look that can stand on its own.

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from THE BRUNETTES’ own collection *images from THE BRUNETTES’ collection not to be used without providing a source link to this posting

Excessively Elaborate Showpieces: The Art of Costume Exhibit Offers an Overdose of Liberace Glamour

When THE BRUNETTES travel, they always like to try to take in some kind of cultural experience related to the destination's fashion scene, history, and heritage. On his recent vacation to Las Vegas, John spent some time at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas admiring the artistry behind the intricately detailed costumes of one of Vegas's most iconic and revered performers, Liberace.

With a spotlight once again on the pianist's flamboyant wardrobe pieces at the Too Much of a Good Thing Is Wonderful: Liberace and the Art of Costume exhibit, it is easy to see how so many of today's pop stars' stage outfits have been influenced by Liberace's original wears. 

Pearls, rhinestones, beading, ruffles and lace are just some of the painstakingly adorned details of the entertainer's ornate costumes of which one can get an up-close-and-personal look in the intimate gallery space. A tribute to Vegas's past and present obsession with overstated glamour and excess, the Art of Costume exhibition not only offers insight into Liberace's love for resplendent opulence, but Vegas's as well. As Liberace said himself, "I didn't get dressed like this to go unnoticed."

Authored by John Ibbitson 

Images from THE BRUNETTES’ own collection *images from THE BRUNETTES’ collection not to be used without providing a source link to this posting