alexander wang quitled rocco duffle
j.crew shiny cargo pants
j.crew adorable floral dress

BLACKLOG EDITORIAL #6: Stolen Girlfriends Club AW 2011 by Yasmine Ganley

Lovely red leather, creamy knits, fur, black and white on a rainy day. Stolen Girlfriends Club AW 2011 as seen through the lens of Yasmine Ganley and styled by Rachael Churchward, Caitlan and McInnes @ Nova hanging out in the rain after "Last Night's Party."

Photography: Yasmine Ganley

Fashion editor: Rachael Churchward
Hair & make-up: Natalie Dent using M.A.C Cosmetics
Models: McInnes and Caitlan @ Nova Models
Fashion assistant: Jessica Grubisa
All clothing and accessories by Stolen Girlfriends Club, her boots by Jeffery Campbell, his creepers by T.U.K

BLACKLOG EDITORIAL #5: Zambesi Man AW11 by David K. Shields

Shirt and jacket by Zambesi Man, hat by Margiela

We are excited to announce that Adam Bryce founder of Slam X Hype - and one of the most sartorially sharp New Zealanders we have met - is joining Black as men's fashion editor. Adam has previously styled for i-D, British Vogue and Dazed & Confused among others prior to starting Slam X Hype in 2003 and more recently publishing The New Order magazine. Last week he teamed up with photographer David K. Shields to get back on the horse as it were and shoot David Kemp @ Nova in a few pieces from the latest Zambesi Man A/W 2011 collection. David's haircut by the talented Tom @ Ryder and grooming for the shoot by David K. Shields. Thanks to Bo Hendgren @ Absolute Essentials for use of her farm. All clothing by Zambesi Man unless captioned underneath image.

Shirt by Margiela

Shirt by Margiela

Classic: Comsat Angels - Independence Day

Looking forward to playing with Children's Hour at Laneways in Auckland next Monday and have been slotted into an early 80's mindset this week as a result. Here is a tune that brought Rachael and I together back in the day, a post-punk classic that is also quite simply a great tune with the inimitable lyric "Can't relax because I haven't done a thing, and I can't do a thing because I can't relax..." Comsat Angels, Independence Day, timeless...this video from 1983 but the song itself came out in 1980.

NoLa Bel: Taking your hands on a trip

Last week we noticed a striking sculptural ring on the hand of our friend Briar. It turns out the ring was in fact five rings sitting together and was designed by fledgling Auckland label NoLa Bel. Briar passed on the lookbook and the fabulous skull packaging for the range entitled "I saw this while I was away." The label describes the rings as "architectural postcards for the hands of the adventurous and brave! We simply had to know more and tracked down Karamia Müller and Nicole Allan, the creative design team behind NoLa Bel:

We like the way the rings are named after cities or places like Alexandra, Vancouver, Jordan, Agadir. Have you been to these places? Nicole has been to Vancouver and I (Karamia) have been to Agadir - we are both keen to go to Alexandra and Jordan...Have you actually shaped the rings off the skylines of these places? We designed the rings and then named them after places that reminded us of them...

Briar mentioned you have a background in architecture. Did you use any architectural techniques in the making of the rings? Yes! Nicole and I are both doing our Masters at the School of Architecture, so instinctively we use architectural techniques. In designing them we use the architectural conventions of elevation/section/plan/axonometric, so we are constantly working between 2D thinking/drawing and 3D - the actual object. We usually draw the design in drafting software as that is what we are both trained in and because it is compatible with laser cutting machine. Once we cut the design, we examine it critically as a three dimensional object - this iterative process draws parallels with model making which is intrinsic to an architectural practice.

Similarly with the packaging, it is an intricate piece of paper sculpting. How did you go about creating the skull box?A LOT of coffee, prototyping, double sided tape, fluoro card & trial and error. There are 8 pieces to each skull, these are cut on a laser machine and then we hand assemble. We have a high regard craftwomanship. Do you make other pieces i.e necklaces, pendants, earrings?We would like to, watch this space! Tell us about the name, Nola Bel... It is just a play on the two words no label, sort of a little poke at branding and it's importance in the consumption of fashion. Where can we currently purchase Nola Bel from? This is easy - Children of Vision (we love James!) and Black Box.

Dem Bones, Dem Bones...

Let's face it, in the stony little town of Bedrock there is really only one key accessory for any self-respecting hipster girl like Pebbles that wants to look the part alongside Bam Bam in his matching Tigersaurus cap and shorts - a Bedrock Bone in the hair. So entrenched is the symbolism of the iconic cartoon series that Monique Saville's real life Bedrock Bones seem eerily familiar, although Saville's cute-as-a-button range encapsulates necklaces, pendants, bracelets and other bright bone accessories not seen on TV but that would spice up any trip to the bowling alley or Diner-saurus nonetheless.  Bedrock Bones are available now at all Ruby Boutiques, Ruby online store, M.A.D.E in the Britomart, Guilty As Sin (Palmerston North & Napier) and Belle Bird in Dunedin....Yabba dabba doooo...

yeah, sometimes i put some cheesy inspirational words in there...



Tough tom boy chicks are hot



Gap rocks some cute ads sometimes (far right)... I hate to admit it, but they're reflecting my everyday weekend wardrobe pretty solidly these days. Maybe I shop there more often?


a stylist's office is like my dream closet...

Wonder Woman! Wonder Woman! All the world is waiting for you...

...and the power you possess, in your satin tights, fighting for your rights, and the old red, white and blue.

She's quite a gal that Wonder Woman, able to "make a hawk a dove, and stop a war with love" no less so who wouldn't want a bar of her? Certainly M.A.C do. The cosmetic giant is, as always, prepared to venture where others fear to tread. A perfect partner for Wonder Woman then! The packaging for the colourful new collection from M.A.C mirrors the bright Lichenstein-esque pop sensibilities of the famed American Amazon and includes; super-sized Mineralize Skinfinish, bold Eye Shadow quads, Pigment, Opulash, Lipsticks and over-sized Lipglass, jumbo-big Powder Blush and Penultimate Eye Liner and Nail Lacquer and Lash. Phew.., but let's face it, Diana Prince (let alone her alter ego) has always had superb taste in cosmetics, even when she was "stopping a bullet cold" or "making the axis fold." The collection and a selection of fierce pop accessories go on sale in NZ across all M.A.C locations on March 4, 2011...

why does chanel continue to do this to me

the bag. why? it hurts me.