Top 5 Fashion News

1. Le Specs Kokomo Collection

Iconic sunglass brand LE SPECS takes us on an exotic journey to the shores of Jamaica with its latest KOKOMO collection for its first 2012 summer range.

Following its most successful season to date and recent collaboration with British designer Henry Holland, the collection focuses on bursting neon colours and ultra mirrored lenses at its always affordable price points.

Featuring thirty-six new pieces, the collection adapts the island vibe with a palette of acid yellow, bright cobalt and vibrant mint, in a series of extreme-round, cats eye and sports-luxe aviator shapes.

LE SPECS designer Hamish Tame explains, "the look of the new collection was inspired by the relaxed yet colourful atmosphere of the lazy days in Jamaica that turn into party filled vivid nights in local Tiki Bars. We worked on a series of new applications that fused these day and night elements together; mixing mint for day and navy for nights, adding floating layers and halo effects which feel fresh and innovative for the LE SPECS range."

The LE SPECS KOKOMO collection will be available at all leading department stores, fashion retailers and boutiques from the end of July.

2. Redefining Max

www.maxshop.com

Last week Max launched its new Spring/ Summer collection with a runway event also doubling as a welcome celebration for the new CEO, Trisha Whiting; Buying Manager, Liz Mannell and Creative & Marketing Director, Tracy Heaven, who together combine many years of expertise both in New Zealand and abroad in the fashion and apparel industry.

During their examination of the brand, every area of the business has been taken into consideration, from the quality of fabrics to the fit of garments, operations and marketing. This latest instalment from Max is a nod to its exciting new direction offering an increased selection of fashion forward garments.

This new era for Max begins with the launch of three spring collections;

Hacienda embodies the theatre and power of the flamenco and a Spanish Fiesta with rich combinations of texture and colour, In the Garden is a burst of floral pastels spiked with citrus and warm vegetable brights.

The final collection for spring, To Catch a Thief, is the ultimate in glamour and classic uncomplicated chic. Think a culmination of a St Tropez sunset promenade, along with the classic effortless lines of a true 50’s Hollywood starlet.

The new season collections have now started arriving in store with on-going drops until late August.

3. OPI Germany

Embracing runway trends, the latest collection from OPI draws inspiration form Berlin and its blend of classic looks with the avant-garde. The collection’s twelve shades offer a mixture of vibrant colour, urban-chic neutrals and reds in variations from light to dark.

“Designers Showcased rich colours and striking textures,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Executive VP & Artistic Director. “The Germany collection beautifully complements these looks, with standout shades in various hues of red and burgundy - the season’s ‘new black’.

“The overall feel of the Germany collection is elegance with an edge,” adds Suzi. “The Varied palette of colours adds another accent to the list of special touches –think beadwork, panelling, fur and embroidery-that walked the runways during New York Fashion Week. Wearing these shades on fingers and toes is a great way to accessorize a range of looks for the season.”

The OPI Germany collection will be available in store August 8th 2012.

4. I Love Ugly’s Flagship Store gets a Makeover

www.iloveugly.net

Designed and made in-house by I Love Ugly's head designer, Valentin Ozich, industrial designer & branding manager Mo Kheir and Jordon Saunders, the new store fit-out is based on the I Love Ugly philosophy of achieving a sophisticated simplicity.

The store provides a fresh and interactive retail space for customers, with shelving that reacts to customer’s movements by glowing as they walk past and modular components that allow the space to be easily reconfigured.

The store stocks the full I Love Ugly collection, including their hugely popular Zespy & Jonty Pants, as well as the debut I Love Ugly 1.0 Watch.

I Love Ugly- 11 Mt. Eden Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland

5. M·A·C Heavenly Creature

M.A.C makeup’s latest collection, Heavenly Creature features a selection of nine dazzling marbleised Mineral Eye Shadows along with Skinfinish products and Mineralize Blushes, orbited by Lipsticks, Cremesheen Glass and False Lashes Mascara.

With great makeup starting from great skin, M.A.C’s Mineralize Charged Water Cleanser, Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel and Moisture Eye Cream will give skin a nourishing boost and returning for a limited time is the Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator which gently cleanses and exfoliates for radiant skin.

M.A.C invites you to create a celestial Mineralized look with its three Duo Fibre Brushes. Natural goat hair lifts off, applying the perfect amount of Powder and Pigment while synthetic fibres fuse colour onto skin for a polished, luminous finish.