A Very Visible Step For Fashion's Most Invisible Designer. [Tangent Magazine]

Who would have thought? The most notoriously invisible fashion house will now be accessible all-day everyday from anywhere in the world thanks to the opening of the Maison Martin Margiela e-boutique.

Debuting on October 1^st with the Fall/Winter ‘10/11 collections for both men and women, maisonmartinmargiela.com will give consumers from every corner of the globe access to the fabulously unique creations from this usually elusive label.

Given that there are a mere seventeen flagship stores in only nine countries worldwide, the e-boutique expands the shopping possibilities for lovers of Maison Martin Margiela to revolutionary proportions.

Renzo Rosso, president of Only The Brave – the holding that incorporates Maison Martin Margiela, says, ‘Many times, I heard friends asking me where they could find some of the amazing creations by Maison Martin Margiela. So, I am sincerely excited to open a Margiela store accessible worldwide with all the collections.’

Despite sharing common themes and ideas, no two spaces inhabited by Maison Martin Margiela are alike in form, decoration or projection, and the e-boutique provides no exception to this unpredictability.

Maison Martin Margiela’s e-boutique is an X-ray of its original website, where positive turns into negative, as black replaces white.

Blatantly flirting with computer language, processor codes and Internet communication, the e-boutique presents a perfect juxtaposition of glamorous, high-end fashion within a minimalist, tech-savvy underground environment.

And if the sheer intrigue isn’t enough to draw you in, to celebrate their 18^th flagship store, Maison Martin Margiela has created a limited edition reinterpretation of their ‘5 zips’ leather biker jacket available only via maisonmartinmargiela.com.

For the first time since 1999, the iconic jacket has been transformed from a statement piece with optimal desirability into a casual must-have for anyone by replacing the traditional leather with a glazed indigo cotton denim.

And, to make this piece even more enticing, there are only 100 on offer – 50 for the girls and 50 for the boys. Best get in quick, these definitely won’t last long.

Who can resist limited edition of any kind, let alone Maison Martin Margiela limited edition? I mean, it would be an investment – and an exclusively luxurious one at that.

As the latest fashion label to join the world of e-commerce, the Maison Martin Margiela e-boutique permits unrestricted access to the most subversively concealed brand in the industry.

And, although not the first to tackle the online world, given the label’s traditional elusiveness, maisonmartinmargiela.com has to be the most exciting online prospect thus far.

A New Piece Of The Maison Martin Margiela Puzzle. [Tangent Magazine]

The most elusive fashion house in the industry, Maison Martin Margiela, may have revealed just a little bit more by joining forces with Cutler and Gross for their first eyewear collaboration.

Maison Martin Margiela and Cutler and Gross have worked together to launch an eyewear collection for Spring/Summer 2011 that is, unsurprisingly, original and distinctive.

The first collection called Line 8 is made of just two lines – Anatomic and Wrong Size – and allows an exclusive peek into a new dimension of Maison Martin Margiela, a label which is well known for being subversively inconspicuous.

Anatomic incorporates an enlarged rounded shape, enveloping the face to protect the full visual field, while Wrong Size uses a geometric play on lenses which are seemingly ill fitting the frame.

The collection is based on irreverential design and hand-made quality, demonstrating a clear sharing of common values between the two labels.

Since its beginnings in 1988, Maison Martin Margiela has been one of the most influential and enigmatic design houses on the global fashion stage.

Often referred to as iconoclast and experimental, Maison Martin Margiela expresses creativity through recycling, transformation and reinterpretation – defying all fashion laws and rules to exhibit something endlessly surprising.

And Martin Margiela himself, although no longer directly involved in the design process, by having always maintained an incredibly low profile – rarely even allowing his photo to be taken – has forever represented an anomaly in an industry that places utmost value on image and public accessibility.

This elusiveness has ensured that Maison Martin Margiela’s designs speak for themselves and are always appreciated as products of a collaborative team.

These values and the tradition of mystery has continued since Martin Margiela’s departure and is strongly reflected in this collaboration with Cutler and Gross, a label which also values secrecy and subtlety.

Since founding Cutler and Gross in 1969, Graham Cutler and Tony Gross have pioneered unique eyewear, transforming what was once a medical necessity into a desirable, modern item that is shaped by innovation, British flair and manufacturing by hand.

Cutler and Gross pride themselves on celebrating the individual rather than the label, a philosophy that has enabled the brand to be internationally chic and discerningly underground.

In fact, Cutler and Gross eyewear doesn’t even have a logo.

I don’t think it gets any less ostentatious in the fashion industry than that.

With their mutual appreciation for discretion, originality and understated flair, the parallel between Maison Martin Margiela and Cutler and Gross is blatant.

And, this collaboration is destined to be one of fashion’s most perfect matches.

Line 8 will be available in November from all Maison Martin Margiela’s stores and selected Cutler and Gross retailers.

Horsing Around With Beau Coops. [Tangent Magazine]

In the latest collection for Beau Coops, designer Carrie Cooper incorporates innovative equestrian detailing to acknowledge a life-long admiration.

Statement of Intent will be the third collection from the stylish shoe label, and draws inspiration from the elegant, luxurious and wild-at-heart theatrics of horses, equestrian and polo.

Carrie Cooper has designed for fashion royalty such as Alexander McQueen, Eley Kishimoto and Bernhard Willhelm, so it’s no surprise that her powerful yet elegant creations are making their mark in the realm of high-end accessories.

And Statement of Intent is no exception.

For this particular collection, Carrie Cooper has focused on new textures, integrating pony skins, full-grain leathers and lacing techniques, but without losing those quintessential ‘boyfriend chic’ touches typically associated with the Beau Coops aesthetic.

With these unique equestrian textures, Statement of Intent palpably resonates the work of Tim Fash, a photographer that Cooper confesses to having an endless reverence for.

Fash, who acted as a pseudo-muse for the collection, is forever drawn to the powerful elegance of the horse – not only the form, but also the innate beauty and history this animal has had with man over time.

There are some clear stand-out pieces in the latest collection that I promise you’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting to get your hands on and your tootsies into.

The Beau Coops ‘Ice Skate’ is a new take on the wedge, constructed with direct reference to the saddle glove and intended to feel like you’re walking on a panel of glass.

The form of a sailing boat inspires ‘The Yacht’ by Beau Coops, which includes a hand-carved platform that comes complete with bow and stern. And, the use of high-shine leather, super-luxe colours and gold finishing ensures that the equestrian theme is not lost on this divine piece of footwear.

And, of course, the boys are not forgotten. In fact, they are excellently catered for.

Statement of Intent offers a clean, straight-cut attitude to menswear, featuring a more refined pointed shape as well as equestrian hardware and weaving details to keep with the Statement of Intent theme.

The new Beau Coops menswear range is chic, sleek and impeccably constructed.

Reflecting on her latest collection, Cooper eloquently remarks, ‘After I’ve Fallen, Stood & Delivered, even though It’s Not You, It’s Me, my breath is still short, and my heart still thuds inconveniently. But from my heart to yours, this is my Statement of Intent.’

And what a seducing statement it is.

Burberry Theatre Makes Runway A Virtual Reality. [Tangent Magazine]

As part of the new ‘Retail Theatre’ concept, Burberry customers will now be able to enjoy the atmosphere and energy of the brand’s runway shows in their favourite Burberry flagship store.

Burberry ‘Retail Theatre’ is a technological revolution that will allow the brand to stream their runway shows directly to 25 flagship stores in 15 countries across the globe, creating the very first live, worldwide and simultaneous fashion show.

The first show to be broadcast at a ‘Runway to Reality’ in-store event will be Burberry’s SS/11 women’s collection, showing in London on September 21.

Customers at ‘Runway to Reality’ in-store events will first explore Burberry’s collections using iPads and a Burberry application built exclusively for this purpose.

Following their discoveries on the sleek iPads, customers will then go on to enjoy a private viewing of the Burberry runway show on screens so big with sound so sharp that it will feel almost as fabulous as sitting front-row in London.

And do you want to know the best bit?

Customers at the in-store events, and also at Burberry Online, will be able to immediately purchase their favourite pieces from the show and have them delivered to their doorstep in just 7 short weeks.

This means customers can have their very own piece of Burberry heaven before the collection even hits the stores.

Christopher Bailey, Burberry Chief Creative Officer, admits that the brand has been developing digitally charged in-store ‘Retail Theatre’ environments for months, hoping to create the ultimate experience for modern luxury consumers.

For Bailey, ‘This concept allows us to broadcast our multi-faceted content all over the world, creating a modern and pure brand environment. Customers at the exclusive in-store digital events will experience the clothes, the music, the energy and the atmosphere in real time.’

These events represent an amazing, global incorporation of every aspect of the Burberry brand – Burberry Online, old-fashioned, in-store Burberry as well as the exclusivity of Burberry live on the runway.

Burberry has long been at the forefront of online luxury fashion, but the ‘Runway to Reality’ in-store events add a unique dimension to the online experience for their customers.

Welcome to Gucci's W-W-World. [Tangent Magazine]

Gucci has unveiled its new luxury Digital Flagship store, taking the online shopping experience for Gucci-lovers to a whole other level.

Under the direction of Frida Giannini, Creative Director for Gucci, and taking 18 months of architectural renovation, the new online shopping haven takes advantage of the most innovative technologies to provide its visitors with the same exhilaration that they would feel when entering a Gucci Signature Flagship store in any fashion capital of the world.

Except, they can be at their desk, on the bus, or even at home with a glass of vino. It’s even iPad friendly.

Mrs Giannini says it herself, ‘Through the use of new technologies I believe we have created a Digital Flagship destination, where our customers can truly experience the beauty, quality and craftsmanship of Gucci’s collections in a truly luxurious way’.

Luxurious, it most certainly is.

Upon arrival to gucci.com, the shopper is confronted with immaculately dressed models in Gucci ready-to-wear, a flawlessly crafted mens shoe by Gucci and an iconic Gucci handbag – all just waiting to be explored with a sheer click of the mouse.

These decadent pieces of shopping heaven are displayed against a backdrop of gold, light beige and rosewood, giving a strong sense of richness and thoughtfulness to the site. These intricacies are complemented by contextual video and photography that tell the unique tales behind each product.

As Patrizio di Marco, President and Chief Executive Officer for Gucci has said, ‘The destiny of the gucci.com Digital Flagship store is that it will become our highest volume store in the world’.

But admittedly, online shopping is not a new idea and the similarities to the work Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer for Burberry, has recently done with Burberry Online are clear.

However, almost as though such a comparison was expected, Gucci being Gucci have pushed the boundaries well beyond, leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that this fashion house has online opulence and innovation well-covered.

The new Gucci Digital Flaghship store is socially connected in a way that no other online high fashion store is: Shoppers can express their passion and excitement for Gucci by sharing product and content pages via links on Facebook, Twitter, e-mail or by simply selecting ‘love’ for a particular product or page.

What else is cool is that, if you really love something, you can click on a link that directly connects you to product-relevant content, such as videos, news items and even photos of celebrities wearing that particular Gucci piece.

To really get people in the digital mood, Gucci Flagship Stores will have hologram window displays and iPad stations giving immediate access to gucci.com – an amazing convergence, distorting the online world and the real world of Gucci.

Do you have plans on September 22? Gucci is giving you a great reason to cancel them with the launch of gucciconnect.com.

On this day at gucciconnect.com, shoppers will watch a live stream of the Gucci runway show directly from Milan. Just sign up for an e-ticket, a golden key of access which will allow you the same visual stimulation and pleasure as anyone sitting front row – what a thrill!

Gucci has long been considered a benchmark for the luxury fashion industry and after unveiling their innovative dominance in the online world, lets just say, they’ve certainly raised the stakes.

Ralph Lauren. Pink Ponies. And The Fight Against Cancer. [Tangent Magazine]

Fancy a very fashionable walk for a fabulous cause? You might even get a cupcake.

On September 22, Ralph Lauren will be hosting Australia’s first Pink Pony Walk to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the brand’s Pink Pony Campaign – a perfectly inspiring mix of fashion and compassion.

The Pink Pony campaign is a global initiative that was launched by Mr. Lauren following the death of his dear friend and former editor of the Washington Post, Nina Hyde, to breast cancer.

Pink Pony represents Mr. Lauren’s vision, a vision which aims to raise awareness and reduce disparities in cancer care in under-served communities. For Mr. Lauren, ‘Breast Cancer is not just a woman’s issue – it affects all of us, the brothers, husbands, fathers, children and friends’.

While the first Pink Pony Walk might have been a lovely stroll through New York’s Central Park, Australia’s first Pink Pony walk will be set amongst the gorgeous surroundings of Sydney’s Centennial Park at the sprightly time of 7am.

The participation fee is just $20 which, of course, goes straight to the Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Foundation. And, not only do you receive a cute, pink wristband and balloon, upon completion participants will relish in cupcakes and other delightful breakfast goodies.

The Pink Pony Walk, which is expected to attract more than 100 Ralph Lauren staff, family, friends and celebrity campaigners, is an amazing opportunity for the community to come together and show that we can all make a difference and be in involved in the fight against cancer.

But never fear, if you can’t attend the Pink Pony Walk to support this great cause, the Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Collection will be in stores on September 13 with proceeds going to the Pink Pony Foundation.

This season’s Pink Pony Collection is, in typical Ralph Lauren fashion, contemporary, stylish and wearable, with every piece featuring the international brand’s signature pink polo player.

Most excitingly, this year marks another milestone with, for the first time, the introduction of a men’s line to the Pink Pony Collection. As one would except from Ralph Lauren, the men’s line is classic, impressively sleek and impeccably structured.

The Pink Pony Campaign directly benefits the Australian National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre of Australia who will receive 25% of all sales from the Pink Pony Collection.

So far in Australia, Pink Pony has raised more than $650, 000 of which every cent has stayed in the country to help support local nurses and communities across the country.

Ralph Lauren has been dedicated to the fight against cancer for more than 20 years, and has been recognised universally for persistently using his worldwide influence to raise breast cancer awareness.

With his inimitable style, sophistication and dedication, Ralph Lauren combines fashion with philanthropy through an abundance of initiatives and non-profit organisations, the Pink Pony Foundation very much included.

If you want to get involved in this fusion of fashion and good-will, visit http://www.nbocc.org.au.