When a brand known for championing youth culture joins forces with the O.G of punk culture from the ’70s, the result is set to be a cult hit. Enter the Vans sneaker tie-up with Vivienne Westwood‘s Anglomania label which drops in selected Vans stores here on Sept 20. The six pairs of sneakers in the outing go big on boho cool and feature some of the Westwood’s archive prints and the footwear company’s popular designs. Among them are the Sk8-Hi shoes (above) which feature embossed markings to resemble a handwritten letter sent from Van’s home base in southern California to Westwood’s flagship in London. Other designs include the Sk8-Hi Platform (top) which riffs of the iconic Pirate boot from Westwood’s seminal 1981 Pirate show.
Jun Takahashi is not just one of the vanguards of Japanese street fashion. The Undercover designer also has a reputation for strange, humourous and witty designs. The last is evident in his body of work which included a madcap Cindy Sherman tribute and kitschy mash-ups of lingerie that looked like utility gear. His collaboration with Off-White naturally takes that same approach. The streetwear-centric pieces include hoodies, T-shirts and athletic shorts and see Off-White’s trademark markings reinterpreted in vibrant white, red and yellow. Meanwhile, the collection’s name lands as the slogan – “Underoffwhitecovers” – on the clothes. There are also Goth influences: Prints of skeletons, clawed hands and the forbidden fruit wrapped by a snake make their appearance. The pieces ($440-$1,075) will be available at Dover Street Market Singapore and Off-White’s Windows flagship at 268 Orchard Road from Sept 20.
Could alphabet hardware be the next big trend after logomania? For Versace, the answer seems to be a resounding “si“. The Italian label just debuted its latest bag called the Virtus which features a baroque style gold-tone V-shaped hardware on the flap. Named after the ancient Roman deity of bravery and military strength, the flap bag design spans a tote, a top handle, a bumbag, a shoulder and an evening bag. Besides the classic solid-colour leather, the collection also comes in Miami Vice-era hues like coral and lime green and glamorous shiny jacquard embroidered with a V-letter motif in metallic thread.
Meet the smartphone answer to the luggage world. Samsonite’s newest collection (from $470) features a trio of sleek and lightweight designs that go big on practical innovation and durability. The Evoa Tech Spinner (middle) for instance features both a fingerprint-enabled and TSA combination lock, built-in USB port for charging your gadgets and an integrated weighing scale. Meanwhile, the Tri-Tech (left) comes with Samsonite’s trademark Aero-Trac Suspension wheels that are said to glide smoothly as well as a fuss-free but secured click-and-pop locking mechanism. Lastly, the roomy Polygon (right) model packs a useful braking mechanism which can be activated by pressing a side button on the luggage.
Watch brands are thinking out of the box when it comes to the case design. Swarovski’s new watch line, Duo, features a case that is made up of two interlacing rings. Studded with 133 Swarovski crystals, the watch collection’s ($549-$799) glamorous appeal extends to the Roman numerals, satin strap and slew of colourways from Bordeaux red to midnight blue.