Image: Dion Roach

This week, I thought we would feature jewellery designers who are either based in the islands or refer to the islands for inspiration.

First up is Kristy Collado whose armour-like line of body decoration called Chéjo we stumbled upon a few months ago.  While Collado takes her inspiration from different cultures, she seeks to combine a metropolitan aesthetic with Caribbean flair using mixed metals and up-cycled leather materials.   The pieces are geared to enhance the presence of the wearer, bridging the gap between accessory and living art.

This splashy packaging is from Danish design label Normann Copenhagen. Twelve different carefully selected blends of loose-leaf tea have been packaged in colourful and striking tins which are designed to be displayed, not hidden.

In contrast to the Hangzhou stool featured above is this - part rocker, part seating, part storage – the U Stool by Richard Clarkson, Zena Verda Pesta and Clay Kippen.  Designed as a stool to encourage "active sitting" in that it engages the participant by gently rocking, allowing the sitter to use their abdominal muscles and feet for support, the stool also uses significantly less energy in the manufacturing process and is compostable.

With a similar aesthetic to the Alpha stool from Bēhance which we featured here, is the Hangzhou stool by Min Chen.

The stool consists of layers of bamboo veneer of varying lengths which are themselves made of several ultra thin bamboo layers.  The layers are aligned vertically in accordance with the natural direction of the bamboo fibres which makes them very flexible and strong.  Each bamboo veneer is bent in an arc and glued together at each end.  When the layers of the bamboo are sat upon, the arc of the stool is bent in the centre.  A piece of raw bamboo stick penetrates the two ends of the stool and provides additional sturdiness.

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Over at Tod's there was a lot of perforated leather, flat sandals and pretty embellished loafers.

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We're going to wrap up our fashion week coverage with a look at a few collections out of Milan which we liked, starting with this sportswear-inspired showing from Marni. 

Designed with the intention of encouraging interaction with its tactile surface, the Haptic chair by Trine Kjaer Design Studio, plays on our sense of touch and the way in which we are drawn to an object.  Made from oak and fabric, the backrest and the seating are wrapped with a rough material that stimulates the body’s different haptic sensitivities sensitivities.  The chair is designed to stimulate the hands with fine and detailed craftsmanship, while the areas in contact with the chair's back and the seat have a rougher and more tactile character.

Image" Isabel Marant for Target

After what seems to have been an interminable wait, a few photos of Isabel Marant's H&M collaboration which hits stores on November 14 were leaked online yesterday. Our favourite piece? This embellished jacket.

For all you font- and typeface-philes out there, Japanese retailer Uniqlo has collaborated with House Industries to create a line of long-sleeved graphic tees featuring typeface elements in bright colours and patterns.

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Gorgeous bejewelled sandals were on show at Aquilano e Rimondi. 

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It was a riot of colour in this standout collection from Stella Jean which proved to be a master class in pattern and print mixing.

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I don't always love what Prada designs - this collection being a good case in point - but as she is so influential in the industry, no fashion week would be complete without a preview of her work.  So for this season, Prada casts a spotlight on the chest and gives us sporty chic with an emphasis on underwear as outerwear.  Bras (trompe l'oeil or otherwise) featured prominently layered on top of dresses and sweaters.  Coats and dresses were covered with oversized portraits of women's faces.  Athletic touches included ribbed leg-warmers and sports-inspired footwear.

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I am loving all of the 1960s references that have come down the Milan catwalks this week, including this offering from Jo No Fui which successfully managed to combine jewelled embellishments with a camouflage/jungle print.

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Sophisticated sportswear from Ports 1961.

Image: Imaxtree

Springtime is huge in Japan, so it's not at all surprising that someone would look to the East for inspiration.  The result is this take on cool (pun intended), modern sportswear from Iceberg, which featured t-shirts bearing Japanese slogans and images of Mount Fuji. The collection also had something of a sci fi  feel with Iceberg's logo showing up repeatedly, skewed fly, cropped trousers and of course the ubiquitous shear panelling and layers.

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One of our favourite collections from Milan fashion week thus far has to be this show by Daniela Gregis.  White is such an important colour for Spring 2014 and Daniela Gregis understood its power with this easy, relaxed collection which featured volume and texture. 

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Dsquared2 take the Italian bombshell on vacation in this glamorous Spring collection.

This rocking toy for children has a smooth, streamlined form which sits atop curved wooden rockers.  Designed by Doshi Levien for Richard Lampert, the Rocker resembles a found object.  The London-based design office celebrates hybrids and explores the coming together of cultures, technology, industrial design and fine craftsmanship all of which are perfectly embodied in the Rocker.

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Alberta Ferretti gets her inspiration from traditional folk-wear for Spring.  Pure white forms a refreshing backdrop for jewelled-toned floral embellishments on dresses, skirts and gowns.

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Blugirl beautifully represents the 1960s with this stunning collection of A-line shift dresses and separates. 

Charlotte Olympia has created the most adorable line of shoes for girls which is available exclusively in stores and online.  Playing on the brand’s spider web logo, the Incy collection consists of shoes while the Wincy collection is made up of slippers.   The shoes manage to maintain the brand’s aesthetic and features leopard prints, colour and fruit appliqués.  

Each pair comes with a colouring book and 10 per cent. of the first month’s profits from the sale of the line will go to The Art Room, a UK charity and Art Start, a charity based in the US.

This beautiful decorative ladder by Gothenburg-based designer Charlie Styrbjörn Nilsson has curved steam bent rungs that maintain its strength so it functions as well as any ladder should. The manner in which the rungs bend to align with the side of the ladder form a very strong bond and at the same time create a ledge for the next rung above.

Prolific designer Arne Jacobsen is responsible for this, the less well-known Tongue chair which was originally designed in 1955 for Munkegård School in Denmark.

The Tongue chair was Jacobsen’s second completed chair design, introduced on the heels of the Ant chair and before the now-iconic Swan and Egg.  The chair was used at the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen but disappeared from use save for a brief comeback in the 1980s, after which it became fairly obsolete and extremely rare.  Danish brand Howe has decided to remedy this oversight and are reissuing the chair in the exact original design, the only improvements being some strengthening of the chair's construction and updating the materials and finishes.

Image: Matteo Volta/Imaxtree

While the first looks down the runway definitely had a 50s feel with full skirts and loafers, the collection quickly morphed into something more modern: colour-blocked shift dresses, stripped hems and dresses worn over trousers.  The finale showed beautifully embellished bodices and jackets. 

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Platform sandals at Mulberry. 

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Beautifully detailed envelope clutch at Mulberry.

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Ashish elevates the mundane - distressed denim, t-shirts and the humble plastic shopping bag - with sequins and emboldens everything with stunning accessories including chunky necklaces, bracelets and crowns.

Image: Matteo Volta/Imaxtree

David Koma showed structured, modern clothes with a largely monochromatic colour palette broken up with hits of nude and blue. Textured weaves made up of cage-like, perforated leather bodices topped  asymmetrical hemlines and cropped trousers.

Image: Imaxtree/Alessandro Lucioni

Pleats and textures create volume at the J.W. Anderson show.

This, the second summer collection of eyewear by Karen Walker, has been getting a lot of attention online largely due to the fact of the adorable children modelling the pieces.  Oh, and the glasses are pretty spectacular too.

Image: Kaelen

Graphic lines including stripes, windowpane check and even marbling was used to good effect at Kaelen. 

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In what feels like a huge departure from her usual conservative looks, Michelle Smith for Milly showed modern shapes, mesh and transparency.  

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A quietly atmospheric collection from Gary Graham.

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He can keep the boxy business wear because Michael Kors' best pieces were the flower-covered separates.

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Gorgeous textured jackets and high shine took central stage at Sass & Bide with a collection that was equal parts luxury and glamour. 

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Sleek, minimalist sophistication from Narcisco Rodriguez.

Although I keep swearing off Target's designer collaborations, I inevitably I get sucked into the hype and excitement by the time the next one rolls around.  3.1 Phillip Lim for Target debuts tomorrow online and in stores.  Have a look at some of what will be on offer and decide for yourself whether it will be worth it.

PS - The bags look ridiculously good.

Image: Alessandro Lucioni/Imaxtree

Tory Burch sends the embodiment of Spring down the runway with a collection that evokes trellised gardens, blooming flowers and the lightness of the season.  

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Tommy Hilfiger makes a complete 180 from his usual preppy, All-American style with this beach and surf collection featuring colour-blocked neoprene separates and some seriously fun footwear. 

Image: Victoria by Victoria Beckham

I always get more excited by the clothes shown for this the diffusion line, rather than the main one.  In any event, Victoria Beckham shows not so much a collection but a group of really beautiful dresses for Victoria by Victoria Beckham including the scene-stealer above.

Ladylike glamour at Carolina Herrera where tailored shapes were softened by the use of sheer, flowing fabrics.

Image: Imaxtree

A sleek and stylish collection from 3.1 Phillip Lim based largely on the natural swirling shapes found in geode formations. 

Product designer Carsten Astheimer has created what he hopes is the the ultimate contemporary outdoor seating collection for furniture manufacturer Gloster. 

The vision behind Bella lounge chair and garden bench was simple but it challenged every aspect of Gloster’s technical and manufacturing capabilities in the re-creation of the vision.  Fundamental to the design of Bella is its highly sculptured seat and back made from a series of shaped, laminated teak slats. Unique within outdoor furniture, this feature provides a three-dimensional form, making Bella not only elegant, but also very comfortable.

Image: Imaxtree

A gorgeous collection from Vivienne Tam featuring a beautiful lotus motif on dresses, jackets, pants and tops.

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Although we have started to see the same boxy silhouette showing up in show after show, Derek Lam managed to capture our interest with the use of gingham in a most unexpected but effective manner.  Lightweight woven fabrics also add a touch of elegance to his simple dresses.

Slouchy shapes in soft dove grey and white are emboldened by the use of embellishments, cut-outs and mesh in this sporty yet chic offering from Rebecca Taylor.

  

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White gives way to acid brights and shiny satin at Prabal Gurung.  Also shown: oversized floral motifs in print and as appliqués. 

Image: Lyn Devon

Simple, streamlined silhouettes with a 70s flair and flowerpot hats from Lyn Devon.

Images: Victoria Beckham

For the AW2013 collection of her diffusion Victoria, Victoria Beckham line, the titular designer has produced a sleek, slightly futuristic (Star Trek anyone?) range of dresses, skirts and tops.  The dresses, while not overly exciting in their design, are perfectly serviceable.  

Image: Imaxtree

A bit of a departure from Tibi's usually conservative looks is this collection which featured pretty embellished mini skirts, cropped tops and flowing skirts.