Obey The Vest.

Now this isn't your ordinary designer story, this is backed up by various other motives...Since 1989, the Obey street art campaign has become an important urban phenomenon, subconsciously touching those well aware of their environment. Through the vision of Shepard Fairey, Obey has evolved into one of the most controversial yet influential symbols of the 21st century. Derived from Andre the Giant, a pop-culture athlete in the eighties, the Obey icon has been bombed in developed and rural cities around the world. Its ambiguous idea immediately sparks philosophical discussion and ultimately motivates the inner-person through active participation.




This naturally progressed to clothing...'With the help of Mike Ternosky and Erin Wignall, Obey Clothing continues to spread Shepard Fairey's message through Men's and Women's sportswear fashion and one-of-a-kind accessories. Every Obey Clothing designed piece is cleverly thought out, attracting people of all genres and ages, reminding them of the days when "style" was a one syllable word. Men's and Women's Obey T's, sweats, knits, Obey denim, belts, wallets and military inspired jackets and caps are all examples of what we are known for. Season after season, Obey Clothing has progressed into a brand that holds a huge amount of content and depth.'

Of the collection the casual vests are my preferred choice, perfect for summer, I'm not really a fan of label emblazoned clothing although Obey almost gets away with it I think I'll be sticking with my favourite pattern at the moment, aztec?

Chanel And The Lion.

Born a Leo on the 19th August, Gabrielle Chanel surrounded herself with models of lions in wood, silver, bronze or alabaster for her apartment at 31 rue Cambon. The lion became a timeless biographical seal on numerous of her creations, 'August 19th is my birthday. I was born under the sign of Leo. I am Leo and, like a lion I use my claws to prevent people from doing me harm, but, believe me, I suffer more from scratching than from being scratched.'



The lion is also the symbol of the city Venice, most notably the lion at Saint Mark's Square, the protective emblem of Doge's Palace. Coco Chanel fell in love with the city when she went for the first time, a voyage made in attempt to ease the pain of the sudden death of her lover, Boy Chapel, in December 1919.



The infamous lion was then featured at the Coco Chanel couture show in Paris where we was witness to fashion, art and sculpture colliding in the making of the magnificent gold Lion statue measuring 18 metres high on a podium protectively clutching a giant iridescent pearl under his front paw and like a scene from a surrealist dream, a door opens and models magically appear from within the pearl. The design was inspired by a dream fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld had about the late Coco Chanel's miniature lion sculpture. Karl immediately dispatched his lead set designer Stefan Lubria to make the colossus as the centre piece of the Chanel Fall-Winter 2010/11 Haute Couture line.







The mere presence of a lion is that of great strength and power feared as a creature due to these characteristics, the irony being portrayed through modern versions of Blandina released from the lion's den, their beauty will overpower the beast; their wild allure will tame it, this terrifying lion was as meek and gentle as a lamb.





Coco Chanel loved lions and they surfaced everywhere from her apartment decor, buttons and even her gravestone, the lion inspired many of her creations and lion heads were commonly found embossed on the buttons of the iconic tweed suits. Karl Lagerfeld an ingenious designer and it is evident that he truly respects and understands the woman Coco Chanel was, he stays true to what inspired her and gives it a modern twist, with the added advantage of being one of the few people in the world who has access to her apartments and archives.





The Chanel Spring Summer 2011 pre-collection pays tribute to all of the above, the lion being among the main source of reference for the costume jewellery collection. A contribution of fringes, pearls, delicate chains and embellished lions and of course the infamous two c's come together to form a truely iconic representation of what Chanel stood for in a more modern sense. The extravagant lion head ring with a pearl in its mouth as well as the resin bangles create something which each individually stand out magnificently.

Happy Easter.

'Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.'

Tooth Bikini.

Still in holiday mood after arriving back from Mexico, such a shame that I saw this bikini after I returned.....