Style & Design
Originally published on Tuesday, 17th August 2010
Retail Spy: August
Join UJ as we bring you the latest and greatest of this month’s shopping news, including cool in-store collabs, launches, hot gossip and product picks to see you through August.
1. Go International
Hong Kong
Our agents abroad are telling us that HK’s got a few sartorial tricks up its sleeve – starting with Gareth Pugh’s first store. The avant-garde designer has tricked out his shop floor with padded leather changing rooms, special black rubber paint and LED screens featuring video collabs with the likes of Nick Knight. And if all that shopping makes you hungry, we’re hearing HK will be the base for the first of Condé Nast’s new venture into restaurants; though what you’ll be able to eat in order to actually fit into one of Pugh’s geometric catsuits, God only knows. How much does a plate of air go for these days?
2. Spotted!
Jeremy Scott x Adidas Mickey Mouse
UJ’s lunchtime stroll took us past Carnaby Street shoe store Size!, where we spotted these Jeremy Scott beauties on sale. Featuring his signature extended tongues on the classic Adidas El Dorado basketball boot, it’s Mickey’s turn to get the quirky designer’s playful touch as the cartoon mouse makes an appearance in his famous overalls. Snap up the last few pairs now.
33-34 Carnaby Street, W1F 7DW
3. Shop News
Hi Panda at Harvey Nichols
OForget Hello Kitty and say Hi to Panda. After a sell-out stint at Colette, Chinese artist Jiji is bringing his cartoon creation exclusively to Harvey Nichols at the end of this month. The limited edition range of menswear, womenswear and quirky toys feature the bear eating noodles and playing basketball, with moods ranging from ‘Happy’ and ‘Evil’ to ‘Wounded’. Fans include Pharrel Williams, Kanye West and über-Editors Carine Roitfeld and Anna Wintour, whilst Jiji has recently been invited to participate in an exhibition at the Louis Vuitton Museum. We’re saving up for a hoodie come Winter.
Men’s collection drops end of August, Women’s follows in September and art hits in October in HN’s Fourth Floor space. www.hipanda.org
4. UJ Loves
Umbrella Magazine
Men’s mags – what’s on offer once you take out the lads rags and motorsport material? For an intellectual fix that comes with plenty of stylish content check out the newly launched, and free, Umbrella Magazine. Written with enquiring male minds in – well – mind, it contains cool travel tips, handy how-tos, Q&As, columnists and fashion fixes in one cooly bound, brolly-laced edition. We love its Monocle-esque air and beautiful layout. It’s online now too, so check it out at www.umbrellamagazine.co.uk and dip your toes in.
5. Overheard...
Topshop Unique A/W Animals
Fashion fiends will remember the totally covetable and utterly impractical woodland animal headpieces Topshop Unique sent down their LFW runway last season. Good news for deerstalkers and fawn-fanciers alike – the Emma Cook designer toppers are actually going into production, ready for the A/W season. And yes, we want one. Badger, bunny, hare or horns...?
www.topshop.com