How does the designer Alber Elbaz feel about success? It’s complicated.

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Lanvin Designer Alber Elbaz in the Spotlight’s Glare

For daring to call the designer ‘overrated.’

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Karl Lagerfeld Trashes Newsweek

Jonathan Ive, the designer behind the iPhone, iPod and iPad, has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.

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Knighthood for Apple design head

The space that the designer Rei Kawakubo used for Saturday’s Comme des Garcons show reduced the usual allocation of front-row seats from 80 to 30, and the overall seating from 300 to 160.

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On the Runway: For Commes des Garçons, Kawabuko Chooses Art Over Front Row

Key menswear from two Daiki Suzuki-designed labels’ latest collections Heritage-inspired clothes having established their stake on men’s style, certain labels stand out for their attention to the details that even the most observant vintage-obsessed guy can miss. Engineered Garments and Woolrich Woolen Mills have set themselves apart with an impressive dedication to minutiae and a willingness to put unexpected twists on the classics from which both lines draw influence. Being fans of both labels, we were lucky enough to get a special preview of Oi Polloi’s buy from both collections, making us eager for warmer weather and new looks. Engineered Garments’ Field Parka nears a technical wear apex with a bevy of buttoned pockets in all the places you’d expect and some that you wouldn’t, like on the sleeve and on the parka’s back. The sleek covered belt and tonal hardware prevent the jacket from looking too intimidating, keeping the focus on functionality that just happens to look great. The Trail Parka by Woolrich Woolen Mills represents a marked contrast to the EG Field Parka, bearing a much more minimal and casual air. Eschewing visible buttons on the flap pockets at the chest and waist gives the jacket a cleaner silhouette. Available in a subdued shade of green, the Trail Parka is also available in a rich gold color. Noted similarities between the brands are due to the fact that both are designed by cult icon Daiki Suzuki, whose involvement in the heritage menswear scene dates back to the late 1980s, when Suzuki would regularly purchase American vintage clothing in the U.S. for resale in Japan. Having shepherded both his own line and Woolrich Woolen Mills to menswear greatness, Suzuki is relinquishing design duties for the latter to another respected industry figure, Mark McNairy. With more time on his hands, Suzuki could very well dedicate more time to surfing, which the designer has stated is one of his favorite hobbies. The inspiration from his aquatic pastime is clear in both collections, but nowhere better expressed than in the WWM Camp Shirt, a subtle short-sleeve with enough flair to carry an entire outfit. The small floral print looks interesting enough from afar, but it takes getting up close to appreciate the intricacies and variety of shades. Perfect for the Hawaiian vacation you’re finally getting to take or continuing to dream of, the shirt is our favorite item from both collections. These and other items will be available starting Wednesday, 2 March 2011, from Oi Polloi .

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Spring Style at Oi Polloi

Sruli Recht and Ghostly collaborate on a multi-use cable organizer Reykjavik-based leather designer and CH mainstay Sruli Recht has had a great 2010 and is set to have an even more exciting 2011. Preparing to launch his first menswear collection at Paris Fashion week next January has been his recent focus, but he also somehow found time to repurpose waste materials left over from a collaboration with record label Ghostly earlier this year. Taking remnants of the ethically-sourced Icelandic horse leather used in their notebook project, Recht cleverly created simple ties that function as either a multi-purpose keychain or cable organizer. The package of three ties comes in Ghostly battle green and each is heat-branded on the underside. They ship in a limited-edition fold-out box (perfect for gift giving) and sell exclusively through the Ghostly Web Store for $25.

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Tied

From honey bear bongs to portable Bluetooth speakers, Cool Hunting’s limited-edition series of collaborations This year, Cool Hunting teamed up with select favorite brands—innovators in technology, design, fashion, and perhaps most fondly, food—to create limited-edition versions of their much-beloved products, available exclusively through our online store and at our pop up for Gap. When we learned that 160-year-old Swiss watchmaker Marvin was undergoing a revival, we worked with their designer to put a CH spin on their newest style, the Malton 160 Cushion . Our interpretation ($1,250) features green accents and is signed and numbered, as well as engraved with “Toujours Plus” (a riff on one of our taglines, “Always More”). Already sold out, the last chance to get this sleek watch is through our upcoming charity auction. (Stay tuned for details, and check out our recent video on Marvin to learn more about the brand that supplied JFK with gifts for Marilyn.) Created by CH founder Josh Rubin and his father, the tech-friendly glove brand Freehands came out with a CH Edition ($80) this season. Like all Freehands, these are designed to keep your hands warm while using your mobile phone, camera, iPod and more, but this luxurious version is made from 80% pure cashmere in gray-on-gray stripes, and features the new magnetic design that discreetly secures the finger and thumb flaps back out of the way. We collaborated with Brooklyn brand Outlier on this Swiss wool hat , an accessory technically designed for bike riding in less-than-cheery weather. Completely wind-resistant, highly water-resistant and with a brim that perfectly shields a rider’s brow, the stylish cap ($90) comes in three colors, keeping you protected from the elements without ruining your holiday party entrance. Maintaining their minimalist design, local sourcing, and small-footprint credo, Rickshaw created one of their bestselling Zero Waste bags for Cool Hunting. Featuring a green interior and a black exterior, our exclusive multifunctional Zero bag ($150) and its matching CH Edition felt and nylon iPad case ($30) keep your precious goods protected on the go. Already fans of their caps and belts, we commissioned the creative Tokyo-based label Zillion to completely cover a series of vintage skateboard decks in their dead-stock kimono fabrics. The limited-edition collection was crafted in two styles— with wheels ($850) or without ($750) —each in beautiful patterns that look fantastic hanging on any wall, especially when grouped together. Local artisan Jill Platner (another craftsperson who’s long been on our list of favorites) created a series of 12 of her signature rawhide bracelets exclusively for Cool Hunting ($175). Handcrafted in New York for nearly two decades, Platner’s jewelry features her trademark sterling silver toggle clasps, but our version comes in a longer bracelet length and a custom dove gray leather. We’ll be hosting an event premiering our video on Jill in our pop up shop for the Gap soon, check back for details. Handmade from locally-sourced vintage fabrics in one of the few remaining factories in Manhattan’s Garment District, 3sixteen ‘s four patterns of classic ties for Cool Hunting ($80) boast clean lines that demonstrate the menswear company’s extreme attention to detail and craftsmanship. Other collaborations include the pairing of Brooklyn chocolate purveyors Mast Brothers with San Francisco fruit gastronome June Taylor to create an out-of-this-world artisanal chocolate bar ($10), a beyond delicious Happy Goat scotch caramel sauce, an Esque honey bear water pipe ($360), and Good Fight’s herbal smoking blend. Stay tuned for more in the upcoming days on those Cool Hunting exclusives! Though it’s not for sale, also keep an eye out for CH giveaways of Jawbone’s brand-new portable Bluetooth speaker the Jambox in custom Cool Hunting Green. Almost all products will be available through our gift guide as well as our new Cool Hunting x Gap pop up store .

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CH Editions

Jun Takahashi’s latest collection of monotone looks and Godzilla themes Jun Takahashi’s subtly clever line Undercover (along with his collaborations ) rarely disappoints. From looks that satisfy my current preference for monotone dressing, like a khaki barn jacket paired with khakis, to striped backpacks, his Spring/Summer 2011 has plenty to covet. (We’ll take the turquoise raincoat or army green v-neck sweatshirt too please.) But beyond the exaggerated ’80s silhouettes of narrow pants-and-oversize shirts, the look book is a great cultural artifact in and of itself. With overt Godzilla references, the Japanese designer set the shoot in a miniaturized cityscape—complete with taxis and tiny people at the model’s feet. The images come across as a riff on the popularity of tilt-shift photography, achieving the effect by much less sophisticated means. Suggesting people lost in a bizarre version of the everyday world (Takahashi has said they’re meant to evoke a comic book strip), they provide the perfect backdrop for the designer’s inventive take on traditional clothes.

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Undercover Spring/Summer 2011: Underman

Hollywood hand-me-downs now available online from the designer consignment experts at Decades Sourcing from some of the most phenomenal wardrobes around the world, L.A.-based designer consignment shop Decadestwo takes their tightly-edited collection of luxury threads online with Decadestwo.1 —making it easier than ever to find a distinct look on a budget. The user-friendly site allows for easy navigation through the collection, with categories spanning styles of clothing, as well as helpful guides such as ” Editors Favorites ,” ” Future Collectibes ” and ” Under $300 .” The site’s blog is updated daily with stories about the newest consignment, constructive advice such as how to spot a fake Chanel bag, the latest fashion news and a weekly column from editor-in-the-know Billy Garcia . While they keep their consignors confidential with a Bond agent-style number, each week Decadestwo.1 features one of their favorite contributor’s closets, revealing just a little information about the woman behind the wardrobe. Often though, the consignors don’t mind sharing their identity (Rachel Zoe is #143 Decades founder Christos Garkinos tells us) and the site will share those stories about what makes their closet so special in full. With all of the brands you covet right at your fingertips, Decadestwo.1 is an inspiring site to scour (read: slightly dangerous addiction). In celebration of their online launch, Decadestwo.1 is offering CH readers 20% off of all purchases until 19 October 2010, simply by using the code DEC20. For those in NYC, check out the Decadestwo.1 pop-up shop at Kiki de Montparnasse from 14-17 October 2010. (Sunday includes their $150 shoe sale.)

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Decades Two.1

Alber Elbaz, the designer of Lanvin, presents a diverse collection and John Galliano tries a pirate’s life.

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Fashion Review: Lanvin Says Take Your Pick; Dior Joins the Navy

Free up floorspace with a wooden bike mount that doubles as a shelf After visiting friends in both New York and San Francisco, furniture maker Chris Brigham realized that there was very little effort going towards proper bike management and maintenance coast to coast. The resulting Bike Shelf by the one-man design team (whose graphic design background includes a stint at Google) joins his home furniture line, Knife & Saw . A cleverly efficient way to store bikes, the solid wood conceals a steel square rod mount for elegantly hanging a bike, doubling as a table-top space for books, keys, flowers and more. Currently available in solid wood options of Walnut ($300) and Ash ($275), Brigham will custom make it to fit your bike size, and can use different wood preferences if requested. The shelf is made to align with 16″ spaced studs, but can also be adjusted to personal liking. Get it from Knife & Saw’s site .

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Bike Shelf

Over-the-top macabre glam from a Japan-based jewelry designer by Meghan Killeen Not content with just simple macabre, Japanese jeweler and designer Joji Kojima ‘s heavily-bejeweled creations layer on baroque references and over-the-top fetishism, with the kind of craftsmanship usually reserved for more conservative luxury brands. His glitzy output spans gold-chained rabbit muzzles and hats made of crystallized teeth to tk and tk. Born in California, Kojima studied graphic design at Tama Art University , honing his talents while assisting the couture brand, Yoshiko Creation Paris . The label turned heads when Lady Gaga made a guest appearance on Music Japan wearing Yoshiko’s black umbrella headpiece entitled “B-612″ (from the Le Petite Prince collection). Later when Kojima introduced his custom brand Hotel Gluttony, Gaga celebrity helped catapult it into a fashion sensation too when she wore his chain mail mask on the cover of her “Fame Monster” album. Kojima’s latest A/W 2010-2011 collection turns death into design with a suspended skull ring (based on the designer’s own head) that gracefully dangles several inches above the finger. Standout pieces also include a skull mask with a working hinged jaw piece, and a fashionable accessory to violence—a diamond studded knuckle duster. The line sells through Tokyo-based retailer, Restir .

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Joji Kojima