I know it looks like I spend all of my time looking at amazing digitally printed fabrics, and that’s probably because I kind of do. I love the combinations of pattern, colour and photography – it feels like a whole new era of textile design. The process itself opens up masses of possibilities for smaller, boutique designers as well as the big players, not to mention the opportunity for fashion lovers on more modest incomes to be able to get their hands on current, exclusive and exciting pieces.

Syndicate (SNDCT) is a fairly new on the scene Ukranian streetwear brand, inspired by American culture and various super-cool artist collaborations. They place an emphasis on classic style, original design, and handmade production methods.

In particular I’m in love with their botanical print series of sweatshirts, I really want one to wear with a leather skater skirt, or jeans, or pajamas… every single day.

The botanic range is available through the SNDCT etsy shop and are $220 USD each, for other designs, info and collaborations check out the SNDCT site.

A week after an amazing F/W 13 show at New York fashion week, the spring summer collection from Karen Walker landed in NZ stores today. I was driving past on important work business (I swear) and just had to drop in for a quick look. But, my love for Fantastique Magnifique filled me with an unexpected nostalgia for Karen Walker ‘the brand’ and the realisation that I had grown up with these clothes, I’d come of age with them and they had been influencing me for more than a decade. And so, this blog post is bit gushy and mushy, sorry.

Moving to Auckland from England when I was 14, it didn’t take me long to be assured that Karen Walker was the coolest thing in New Zealand (along with elemenoP ?) and like any young teen, desperate to fit in, I quickly pledged my devotion. I kept an enviable selection of printed tees and sweatshirts I sourced through trademe or recycle boutique and financed with a (very cruisy) babysitting job I had. Along with my Nokia 3310 they were my most treasured possessions.

Then, University came and flush babysitting days were mostly forgotten. On entering full time work I reignited my love in the form of lunch time trips to High Street, layby and consequent grown up purchases (that blue coat, the yellow parachute dress) that felt more like pieces for the person I wanted to be, than perhaps the person I was.

Sometime in the last couple of years however, we grew apart, I was never going to be compatible with the more masculine tailoring or dour palettes. There was plenty I liked but less that I was going to part with hard earned cash for. There was no buzzy excitement from flicking through the racks and falling completely and utterly in love. Maybe it was me? Maybe it was the someone-elses?

Today though, I walked in to the shop and fell in love all over again, a sweeter love, much improved with age. Like finding an old friend and then learning that you have more in common now than you ever did previously.

The colours, the fabrics, the styles, the cuts, the accessories and the prints (oh the prints!) of Fantastique Magnifique are just perfect. It all strikes a balance between luxe and casual, tailored and relaxed, the feminine and the masculine, cute and quirky, edgy and wearable. Of course it helps that having a space theme is just plain awesome, but I didn’t realise just how brilliant the  retro-esque prints would be in real life. Pieces like a pink polka dot angora sweater and full metallic jacquard skirt give the whole collection the feel of what a 21st century, Karenwalkerised, Jane and Judy Jetson might wear. It’s definitely what I’d wear to space, or work, or dinner or the zoo.

This has been a rather lengthy and uncool way of saying “Hi there, Karen Walker. Fantastique! Magnifique!”

Go in store if you can, photos don’t do it justice. All pictures from Always Sometimes Anytime &  The Department Store.