The technique of collage is fascinating and still appealing nowadays, while fashion itself became a huge collage of the contemporary culture. Here’s a particular editorial from the Chinese fashion magazine Vision, featured in an issue inspired by the work of Lee Alexander McQueen.

Handmade collages:  Ashkan Honarvar/ Editor : Ujin Zhou/  Photographer:  Yin Chao /  Styling :  Qiaoran & Josh @ Babyghost  / Model:  Wawa/ view more from this series on behance.

John Rocha is, perhaps, one of the most underrated figures  on the fashion scene, despite his particular approach to design and his own distinctive style. Yet, this Hong Kong born fashion designer, now based in Ireland, is worldwide known for his hand-crafting, beading and appliquée to garments, and also for his passion for jewelry, decoration and architecture. John has also turned his design skills to interior designs as well as launching home and clothing lines at Debenhams. Once awarded with the British Designer of the Year (1994), John Rocha was left in oblivion. And that’s not fair for a designer who’s constantly working and improving each season with new fabrics and creative techniques.

Anyway, John Rocha SS 2012 Collection, that he showed at London Fashion Week, absolutely needs un certain regard. I mean, look at those beautiful raffia dresses, those crochet details and exquisite silk drapes! John Rocha is renowned for his use of contrasting textures and muted colors, marrying age-old materials and techniques with contemporary shapes. Inspired by natural elements, his work is somehow beyond fashion. His clothes are modern and yet timeless. Isn’t that exactly what we need- timeless well crafted pieces, that can be creatively styled while being worn, adding a girly, a grungy, a romantic touch?  Oh yes, the styling of this collection is fantastic:  shaded make-up, elaborate hair dressing and those statement head pieces.

images via awake-smile.blogspot.com

“Eyescapes” series, photographed by  John Rankin

( I have a huge respect for Rankin’s work, but I was really impressed with these close-ups)

There’s always a sense of modesty and self irony in Borges’ writings. We cannot say the same thing about Karl. However, watching Karl Lagerfeld’s recent interview, released for Net-A-Porter, I felt something different and unexpected. The 78 years old designer talks to himself. So, for the first time (and the last time, as he claims) it’s Lagerfeld vs. Lagerfeld. Enjoy!

Hush editorial in Vogue Russia, February 2012/Model: Alla Kostromicheva / Photo:  Emma Tempest/ Styling:  Camilla Pole/ Hair:  Halley Brisker / Make-up: Zoe Taylor/ image via fashiongonerogue.

It seems that Rick Owens’ monk sobriety gets a sporty twist for the next season men. Which is very nice.

Henrik Vibskov’s oversized outfits are mixing a lot of textiles techniques with some statement head- pieces. Once again, he doesn’t seem to care about anything, breaking the rules and following his own way;

Raf Simons – sober look, bright cuts and a Tilda-like hairdo;

I love this crafted- tribal look at Damir Doma…

and the man-machine from Mugler

and Dries Van Noten – oh yes, he knows how to use color like no one other!

Dior Homme.  Of course, nothing compares with their last Summer collection, but I admit that the sporty couture in black & white looks pretty cool.

Jean Paul Gaultier comes along with his bohemian style, fake tattoos and spirited boys. The brick-outfit is genius!

This one is my favorite, I have to say it! I always loved red & black in bold stripes (and this time, it’s not Yohji Yamamato, but Riccardo Tisci). The Givenchy Collection for the next Fall is really fresh and powerful. Take a look at those nose – accessories, they’re perfect!

Great rush behind the Galliano show… plus a delicious mix of matt and shiny black.

all images source:  sonnyphotos.typepad.com

Few artists are able to build an entirely new imagery starting from a traditional background. But definitely, the Japonese artist Shohei Otomo (aka Hakuchi), is one of those happy few. We don’t know many things about him: he graduated from Tama Art University, and, soon after that, he managed to develop a personal style, gaining international recognition with  his signature ballpoint pen illustration. Further, he keeps it simple – always using black&whites with some killer red accents. His works are just impossible to ignore, they’re powerful, filled with a genuine creative passion and a lot of attention for the details. Although we can get an idea about his inspiration – manga, traditional Japanese iconography, western comics, gheisha look or samurai attire, it is still difficult to drop Shohei’s art in a particular style. It’s just his own style. For me, it’s like Sin City treated a la japonaise, or like a playful alternative of Bjork’s infamous Homogenic cover, designed by Alexander McQueen.

But, what I like most about Shohei Otomo’s art is his particular spirit of vitality, the enthusiasm of mixing violence with juicy fashionable elements, always adding a dose of good humor. I think the Europeans have a certain (mis)understanding of  the Japanese culture, which they often regard as minimal, intellectual, sober and colorless (the Japanese fashion makes no exception). But, as the Harajuku style already showed, there’s a lot of creativity out there, a sense of theatricality and a creative optimism. And Shohei Otomo’s art stands as a major proof for it.

Tank Girl (1995, starring Lori Petty) vs. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011, starring Rooney Mara)

Jefta is young (24), Jefta is talented, Jefta loves art, and, most of all, Jefta is mad about the human body. His photographic work revolves around the body, exploring it in various creative ways, from lighting to projecting, from freezing to fragmenting, constructing and deconstructing, always questioning and finally refining a very personal statement.

Jefta Hoekendijk, or simply JEFTA, is the name behind this stunning photo series, entitled Human Sculpture.

Alexander McQueen‘s famous clutch versus the Magistral Cabinet by Sebastian Errazuriz .