This shoot had to be included

Realised it quite late, nevertheless this shoot had be included in 2010's index of mine. Here's a summer memory, before this year comes to an end. Ino Mei for Epifanios S/S 10. Photos by Ilias Tsepas.

Strigles rubber ducklings

Flip-flops customized by Strigles, they just make my day.
A fun accessory sprinkled with good vibes always does and this brand is loaded.

Strigles blogs too, have you seen? All the wonderful stuff she makes and does are here.

August comes in colours

In case you are starting August on top of a suit-case about to load and go, I suggest you pack it with colours. We've had enough grey and all shades of 'dull' walking around during last winter and most likely we'll have them again. I packed a rainbow and I'm glad.
Happy, sunny August, wherever you are.

Clutch and tweet

I am a fan of Anna Economou's bags - I think I made a point of that this past winter. This clutch is from her summer collection, available upon order only (here) and currently on sale. The garden birds print is such a nostalgic seasonal theme and so is the whole shape idea, strongly resembling some of my grandma's 60's gems. I can almost hear 'come and get me' tweets*.

*not these tweets:) amazing how the web can change meanings these days.

Finally gave in

To the baby blue mani. Or Carribean blue. Or Aegean blue. Call it what you may, at the moment it's dominating fingers this side of the world.

*What's with the percentage? It's what's happening in almost every store in the country. Sales time is officially on as of Thursday the 15th.

cool(er) beach bag

West Coast Cooler has boarded the Greek summer by taking as many fash-bloggers as a Golden Class projection room could fit, for SATC 2. This wine made a point about being inspired by girlie bonds but it's not all about style you can only watch in a movie (and afford in a dream). To put this in a picture, WCC created a beach bag full of colourful summer essentials and had it at our doorstep. It was like the Irish myth about a treasure at the end of a rainbow, only I get to keep the rainbow too. And got something fruity and fat free to toast with. Sweet.

Euangelia for Summer

(Euangelia, photo by Natasha Andreou)

Euangelia's summer collection is being showcased at Occhi Concept Store until the 3rd of June. Euangelia creates unique, one-off pieces. Dresses can be worn from both sides, with details that allow each piece to take a new form and shape on the body. I think it's great this time she's going for vibrant colours. See all styles at Occhi's website - Collections.

Location: 35 Sarri str., Psurri, Athens

H&M - Fashion Against Aids

Today is the launch of H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS (FAA) collection in selected stores (Stadiou in Athens, Ag. Sofias in Thessaloniki). A special line for a very important cause, as in the past two years has raised over SEK 30 million to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness and fight the spread of the disease. This season, FAA has gone for the summer festival theme, a great choice for the young audience the brand aims to alert and with a rock-boho concert approach, lively captured by Dan Martensen's lense. The campaign illuminates concert vibes, bringing in mind flashes of famous past festival shots. I couldn't help noticing the similarities between the photo above and that below (Kate Moss & Pete Doherty, back in the days).
Whether images like this were used as inspiration I can only guess, but either way, the essence of the shoot is strong, realistic and up to date. All the better if extensive research was involved. There's also an excellent website supporting the theme online, check it out here for festival videos, fashion and survival tips. Quite a project.
Yet again, let me say it is great when a fashion brand chooses to use its popularity for such a humane matter, way beyond what we wear to look good. However, remember that a dress can only remind you to stay safe. Once that's removed, it's something else one's got to wear to actually be safe.

*Shopping Therapy was at the in-store preview of the collection last night. Check out her report here.

Camper's Barcelona Design Centre

This is what part of Camper BDC's S/S 10 project looks like. It's a series called 'Mar BCN' and I think it's worth checking out, both design-wise (from what I see) and comfort-wise (my feet are always happy spending hours in Campers). The fact that it's all the result of the company's collaboration with students, makes it all the more interesting.

"Camper BDC has been created to maintain and grow stronger this relationship between Barcelona and the company in Mallorca. The Center functions as the link with the main colleges in product, fashion and footwear design, looking for possible collaborations with post-graduates, and giving them the opportunity to participate in the Workshops organized by BDC in Son Fortesa". (source)

Tell A Story - Euangelia

Fashion weeks' news caught up with me and my TaS reports had to be interrupted. Designers' work though doesn't stop once an exhibition is over. Here's what Euangelia is up to:
Apart from her being so imposing in her full bum dresses, she always incorporates great details in her designs whether that's a tight knot, a puffy sleeve or an unusual slash-cut. She always has my attention, but this time I had to ask:

Do you follow fashion trends at all?
Not at all. My work is timeless and for those who feel like wearing something different to the uniform shapes suggested each season. Special doesn't always mean 'special occassion', although I have many orders of this nature too.
What's with the big bum?
I love Renaissance figures, voluptuous and rounded. Clothing in that era was an obvious extention of the personality and today these shapes can be considered as classics. Obviously, I feel comfortable wearing a big bum and contrary to any worries that it makes a naturally big bum look even bigger, it actually camouflages it. However, this effect is achieved by an added tutu-like skirt which comes seperately. They can be worn like any other regular dress without it.
In these beautiful shapes you could be making some seriously avant-garde wedding dresses. Have you considered it?
Well somebody has! I have some orders at the moment and I tell you, these brides are going to be too cool.
What's new with you otherwise?
I am soon moving to a bigger atelier with fellow designers Ioli & Mirella. We are staying in the area of Psurri though, we all like it there.
Euangelia's dresses are unique. No, seriously, each piece is made only once and the proud owner is the sole owner. Too good? It's true. And the prices are even better!

Efharis, s/s 10

Her new collection is out and boy, it really is an explosion of prints and shapes. It's fun and fresh as sunny days are meant to be. Like Efharis is about to say a few lines down, the tip is to dare.
What is the main theme of this collection and which was the influence in designing it?
It's the same in all of my collections, liberation and playing with style and colours. And that's because I don't allow myself to set boundaries to my inspiration.

Can you see a strong trend for this Spring? Which tip would you give?
I am not going to talk about trends because that's exactly where the mistake is made. When a trend is suggested, some people try to follow it just to be 'in fashion' and end up adopting a style that doesn't suit them. As for a tip: dare.

Where can we find your clothes these days?
As fas as my new collection is concerned, within the next few days my selling points will be available through my website.

The One T-Shirt project, s/s 10

Fun and fresh Spring tees, no?
But it is actually much more than that. One T-Shirt is a project of communication through fashion. These prints stand for poetic and politcal affirmation. The project was named after the limited numbers of its models but also because the range aims to make personal statements.

The theme of this first collection is the historic and current battle between war and peace. All prints explore motives of war, identified by an aesthetic object: technical drawings of the elements of dissected weapons, written instructions on how to assemble or use arms, etc. set against an opposing romantic motive: illustrations of flowers, birds or insects.

Interestingly, the project is signed by Carlo Ninchi and Vittorio Locatelli (LO STUDIO, Milan), a duo involved in different artistic backgrounds, from architecture and design to photography, global workshops for image, design and research.

The website www.onetshirt.eu features models trying the tees on video and is an active space that continually evolves.

*in Greece, One T-Shirt will be available exclusively at Tsantilis stores.

Dassios s/s 10 & boutique opening

It would be quite precise to say that his handbags and vests are the jewels of (Greek) fashion. Dimitris Dassios' work is marked by luxury materials and precious stones in the most eye-catching ethnic art-y executions. This is a sample of his Spring-Summer '10 collection, only days before the opening of his very own boutique in the heart of Athens.

It is scheduled for February the 23rd at 20.30 and the event will include the presentation of his a/w 10 collection, titled 'November'. It will then travel to Milan and Paris to be exhibited at White Show and TRANOI Femme as part of the respective fashion weeks. In the meantime, the boutique is located at 7 Xanthou str., Kolonaki - should you wish to indulge.

Angelos Bratis s/s 10 shoot

Angelos Bratis is in for a reflection game this Spring. The designer chose to show the world his new collection through mirrored images and took the time to fill us in on the basics.

photos JOHN MITROPOULOS
styling SOFIA TSAKIRI
hair MICHAEL TZIVITZIDES
make up GEORGE HATZIIOANNIDES

1. What is the theme of your Spring collection?
The theme of this collection is a kaleidoscopic game of geometric shapes in electric colours. It resulted from my need to work on an optimistic base.

2. What's going to be the characteristic of this season?
The element that will mark the Summer season (always should) is the sense of freedom.

3. Have you scheduled your next show? Will you be participating in one of the forthcoming fashion weeks?
Our next show in the sense of an exhibition (showroom) is scheduled for the days between 4-7 March, in Paris.

4. Where can we look for your clothes?
At our atelier, located at 24 Mpousiou str. in Athens (Katehaki metro station). To book an appointment, please contact +30 210 6982536.