Sarah Hamza

With today’s release of what has got to be the most anticipated album of the year; Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, somehow the masked duo have had time to squeeze in a pretty sweet fashion collab. The French music revolutionaries, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter have teamed up with no other than design powerhouse Saint Laurent (previously Yves Saint Laurent – YSL) to create a series of campaign shots for the design house.

The result is a set of super sexy, super sleek retro disco themed images that have us all grabbing for sequined le smoking jackets. It must be said, not many can pull off robot chic. Guy-Manuel and Thomas are a definite exception to the rule.

If you only do one thing today, make sure it’s download Random Access Memories – your ears will thank you. In the mean time, let your eyes feast on these:

Sarah Hamza

As many of you fashion aware readers out there would know, the past three weeks have revolved around fashion week. First New York Fashion Week, then London and now Milan. Editors, models, celebrities, bloggers and fashionistas have braved the New York snow, London chill and Milan streets to look their best at the years most important events. This naturally meant sporting the latest trends, which were definitely not weather appropriate! However did look stunning… For me, tonal dressing was a big standout, the rules of which are simple:

1. Select bright colour of your choice.
2. Purchase head to toe items in tones varying from selected colour only slightly.
3. Add one contrasting item or accessory
4. Strut like you’re Karl Lagerfeld’s latest muse.

Love Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s look from above? Try these items to replicate her look!

SABA Blazer, Jeans, Shirt & Top, Tony Bianco Heels & Heels.

Image sources: vogue.com.au, style.com, garypeppervintage.com, 

Sarah Hamza

The floral print trouser trend is well established as a key look for the season, with serious fashion gals sporting full print and floral pantsuits. But if you’re after something a little more laidback, yet still want to send across that fashionista message, printed denim is your answer.

Firstly, jeans, sooo much more comfortable then a pantsuit. When you spend the majority of your day lugging your butt round from lecture to tute to lecture to tute, as stylish as you want to be, comfort becomes pretty important. So for me, that’s one big tick next to printed denim!

They’re also a lot easier to wear and adapt into your wardrobe. No need to by any separates to complete your look, simply substitute your classic denim for printed denim. If you’re feeling really out there you could go for a print-on-print look and team your new printed jeans with a printed top!

As always, some of the coolest designs are going to set you back about 200 bucks or so, sometimes a fair bit more. Thank God for ASOS and Topshop I say, who give us trends at a student friendly price. Here at The Bucket, our top 6 under $60 are for the ladies: paisley, cropped pastel floral, dark floral and for the gents: polka dots, blue camo, animal print.

To wet your appetite, here’s some printed denim street style inspiration.

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Currently in New York, fashion week is underway. It’s difficult to decide what’s more inspiring, the designer runway shows or the never-ending street style. We’ve collected some stand out style snaps for you below. Do you have any favourites?

click an image to start gallery.

image sources: vogue.com, harpersbazaar.com, stylelist.com, gq.com

Sarah Hamza

The Melbourne fashion world saw some exciting labels opening up shop over the weekend.

Cult Australian label Bassike has finally opened its first freestanding store in Victoria. The brainchild of Australian fashion pros Deborah Sams and Mary-Lou Ryan, Bassike has become the wardrobe staple go-to label not only for Australian’s but globally. Renowned for their classic, clean-cut designs and high quality organic tees, the label quickly grew to include ready-wear timeless pieces in block colours and subdued neutrals that last a lifetime. Inline with their design aesthetic, the store itself is bright, clean and crisp. Located on Malvern rd in Hawsburn, the minimalistic white walls, timber panel floors and touch of nature; gorgeous spring green branches atop a glass table, create the perfect canvas for the racks of perfectly colour co-ordinated clothes. To complete your laid-back yet fashion forward Bassike look, a range of accessories including sunglasses from The Row and Repetto shoes are available.

A hop, skip and a jump away on Chapel st another Australian labels opened it’s doors this weekend just in time for spring; Shakuhachi. Designed by Jessie White, and stocked by over a dozen boutiques and stores across Victoria, this is the first Shakuhachi store and what a store! The geometric cement shelf, pop colour counter and simplicity of the store perfectly offset the fluid and feminie designs that have made the label so famous.

image source: broadsheet.com.au

Sarah Hamza

Though there’s pretty much nothing that can top Her Majesty the Queen greeting James Bond himself with a friendly “Good afternoon Mr Bond” on international TV, many of the Opening Ceremony uniforms at the London 2012 Opening Ceremony came pretty darn close.

Team America entered the stadium flaunting a sophisticated and refined look which included typical American attire such as blazers, berets and pencil skirts, all in red white and blue naturally. Though they may have come under some scrutiny as their designer Ralph Lauren uniforms where, shock, horror, MADE IN CHINA (how unpatriotic!!!) the team remained classy in their stylish ensemble, perfectly encompassing their nation and it’s values. In their defence, Napoleon did own a large part of the US for some time back in the day, so that supposedly explains the French influence.

Though the English were unable to reach the same heightened level of class as team USA, their white slickers where detailed with gold lamé collars.

In case you ever frustrated by not being able to distinguish the gender of athletes walking in the opening ceremony, the Germans apparently understand your pain. Thus, they created a conveniently colour coded uniform in which boys wore a sky blue and girls a pretty pink, how very thoughtful. Continue Reading

‘Fashion Week’ is perhaps the most powerful phrase in the industry. It has the ability to reduce even the most poised of us into jitters of excitement. It’s essentially five to seven days of continuous fashion orgasms for those involved. Show after show, after-party after after-party, photo after… oh you get the idea: a lot of important shit goes down in a few days. At this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which takes place in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, there was much to lead fashionistas to jitters of excitement. For me, it was Oroton’s, first ever ready-to-wear collection. Oroton is an Australia heritage accessory label that’s been around since 1938. At first hearing of this launch I was apprehensive. I couldn’t help but draw parallels to TV stars launching singing careers because of their breathtaking array of talent. Could such a well-established leather good and accessory brand really make the leap from accoutrement to apparel? Most importantly, could they do it without destroying their stellar reputation?

Continue Reading

by Sarah Hamza

Are you still dragging your sorry ass up at 5am to set up a makeshift stall at Camberwell market in a futile attempt to increase your funds? Do you waste precious study time (lol) taking detailed photos for your eBay listings, hoping to clear away some of the crap that currently forms the floor of your room? And wouldn’t it be bloody awesome if you could pull open the doors of your favourite bloggers wardrobes and take whatever you please? Damn right that’d be awesome! If only…

If only someone out there had had the idea for peer-to-peer ecommerce sites. If only they were popping up everywhere and people like Leandra Medine of Man Repeller fame or Jenn from Le Fashion were listing their barely worn designer pieces for like 50 bucks? I mean, imagine if there were even apps to access these sites… Okay you get the idea, there totally is! Continue Reading

by Sarah Hamza

“We can be cool too…” I get the feeling the director at the house of Hermès must have been thinking just that when they agreed to collaborate with French street artist Kongo. Street art is cool, Maison Martin Mergiala collaborated with Ruby, a motorbike helmet company, to create a graffiti helmet, why not Hermès too? Why not? Well, for one you’re an exceedingly overpriced brand focused on luxury and exclusivity. Basically the complete opposite of the activist-rooted street art that comments on politics and everyday struggles. The price tag alone of an Hermès item would send your credit card into overdrive and if you tried to walk in to a store wearing your latest vintage finds they wouldn’t let you touch anything.

Kongo’s collaboration with Hermès involves a series of graffiti silk scarves designed by the artist as well as “real” graffiti in the streets to promote the collection. Is this an attempt by Hermès to break down the barrier of high and low art and culture? I doubt it, the brand functions almost solely on the concept of high fashion and luxury. So what’s the point? I suppose like all collaborations, Hermès was hoping this would introduce a new clientele to their product. Unfortunately for them I don’t think the fans of street art feel comfortable dropping the half grand or so needed to get your hands on some Kongo/Hermès silk.