A ruched curtain lifted to reveal the betuxed Caten twins playing grand piano at the foot of a grand staircase. And a new style Fred and Ginger whooshed across the stage to Cole Porter. But the staircase was slightly shabby, dégradé symbols of the American dream. It was an extraordinary opening for a show that embraced the dichotomy of the Great Depression. On the one hand, the tailcoat-and-spats glitz of Hollywood, on the other, the railroad man in his engineer stripes.

Their much buzzed-about spring 2009 runway show in Milan was accordingly based on the Caten twins' signature—and now, timely—combination of formal and casual: A stone blazer with a retro polo; a waistcoat teamed with a fitted shirt and distressed jeans. Nor were there any surprises in the shrinkage of familiar items like a shearling jacket. But what felt fresh this time was the Catens' unholy optimism.

In fashion, there is always an interest in looking forward. "What's next?" Subliminal or verbal, this question is forever present in those who pursue fashion and those who create it. Consequently, the industry and its fans are often fickle. It is difficult not only to captivate an audience, but to hold on to it as well. Some designers change their identities, relying on trends, sensation, and the promise of pop-iconography. Some instead evolve from within. A true personal, creative effort is expressed, and a public finds its creative stars. Identical twins Dean and Dan Caten have mapped their future on this premise. Having a former background in women's wear, the twin brothers moved to Milan to create a men's collection, something completely different, personal and unique to themselves. Since 1994, their collection DSQUARED2 has been building a steady following around the world. Always sexy and often theatrical, their garments are fantastic yet easy to incorporate into a healthy wardrobe. Their popularity has been bolstered by the consistent nature of their creative vision as wells as support from the most exclusive specialty stores in the world, not over-active press or media attention.

The work speaks for itself, and it does so in volumes.

RLC

The Miller sisters new Twenty8Twelve collection is feminine yet edgy and full of must-have pieces to keep you cool and effortlessly chic throughout the summer months.

The Twenty8Twelve brand began in 2006 when fashion entrepreneur Carlos Ortega approached rising film star and fashion icon Sienna Miller as well as her, Central St Martins trained fashion designer, sister Savannah to help create a designer diffusion level brand. Over the past two years the Miller sisters have firmly established the Twenty8Twelve brand, which takes its name from Sienna’s birthday, into fashion consciousness.

Savannah graduated in 2004 with a first class honours degree in Fashion Design with Knitwear, before cutting her teeth at Alexander McQueen, and then working freelance for Matthew Williamson, Anya Hindmarch, Betty Jackson and Shanghai Tang. While Sienna began her acting education at Lee Strasberg Institute in New York before launching onto our screens, stages and television sets. However, the Miller sisters won’t have you believe the brand is a celebrity brand as the Twenty8Twelve tagline reads “Twenty8Twelve is about beautifully made clothes”.

The brand takes inspiration from 1970’s youth culture, 20th century poetry, Victorian romanticism, as well as film, theatre and art currently interesting the two sisters. This mix of history, styles and art forms creates clothes that are feminine with vintage overtones and the collaboration of different fabrics adds a masculine edge to this usually feminine brand.

The Twenty8Twelve brand is also expected to show at London Fashion Week this year alongside designers such as Nicole Farhi, Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith.

Savanna - “Twenty8Twelve is now in its fifth season and we just felt it was ready to be taken to the next level. British Fashion Week is celebrating 25 years in 2009 and we are thrilled to be a part of this.”

Nicole Farhi’s Mediterranean roots shone through in bright hues of yellow, red and blue at the designer’s ‘Farhi’ diffusion line showing for Spring / Summer 2009. The collection was a vibrant mix of 50’s colours, prints and patterns coupled with luxurious fabrics in simple shapes and the no-nonsense style that her clothes have come to aspire.

The Farhi Neptune shift dress in nautical blue, navy and white horizontal stripes with softly folded neckline and tapered belt tie waist is on everybody’s wish list.

Nicole Farhi was born in Nice and trained in fashion design, before moving to Paris to become a freelance designer and later London where she worked with Stephen Marks on the French Connection brand. Then in 1982, Marks collaborated with Farhi to launch ready-to-wear label Nicole Farhi, which quickly followed with diffusion line Farhi and the menswear collection.

Farhi is known for creating clothes for women that are feminine and classic with a juxtaposing masculine edge. So it came as no surprise to the fashion world or the designer when she launched her menswear collection in 1989 to critical acclaim.

Little Big Planet is one of the greatest games ever!

No exaggeration, this is one of the funnest games we’ve seen in years, Little Big Planet is the next step in gaming. The game revolves around the player's control of small critters, known as Sackboys or Sackgirls owing to their appearance, in a variety of platforming scenarios. Though the game features a set of pre-built levels for players to explore, of equal importance is the game's customisable nature, from altering the player's character and personal space, to having the ability to create compelling levels, upload them to an online community, and have them played worldwide, all without writing a single line of code, is nothing short of amazing.

Even more impressive is the content that's being created. Welcome to a new era of gaming where user generated content provides experiences professional game designers have yet to even consider.

Is the world ready for Sackboy…or Sackgirl!

Now available for PS3.

MWB

The Legendary Hunter wellies are a classic to be worn year after year. A general purpose boot, perfect for everything from town to countryside, running errands, walking the dog, days out, keeping the kids amused in the park or wading through the mud at festivals!

So be comfortable and chic at Glastonbury, V-fest, Bestival and Leeds Fest this year with a boot that’s made to last and sure to turn heads. Just don’t blame Coggles if you miss your favourite band whilst lusting over a pair of Hunters you see wading through the mud!

The company was established in 1856 when an American entrepreneur, Henry Lee Norris, landed on Scottish soil in search of a home for his rubber boot making company. Over 150 years later, the brand is still going strong, long have they been the boot of choice for Her Majesty the Queen and The Royal Family, working farmers and avid walkers of the Scottish highlands as well as to a newer, younger and more stylish clientele, including our home-grown Miss Kate Moss, Kelly Osbourne, Lily Allen, Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney, Edith Bowman, Cat Deeley, Peaches Geldof, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, festival goers and other fashionistas about town who are sensible about British weather!

Coggles.com has just received the latest styles of Hunter wellington boots in Navy, Chocolate, Red, Pink and the infamous Green Original Hunter boot.

Just add lashings of Festival mud!!

AED

Juicy Couture’s Spring / Summer 2009 collection has now arrived at Coggles.com. Most desirable items include the Fruity Print Silk Dress with a Juicy apples design (that looks good enough to eat); and the Camel Sunflower Dress which plays with Juicy’s counter personality of aristocratic English style.

“…the combination of our two environments is actually what Juicy’s aesthetic is about.” Says Pamela Skaist-Levy, fashion entrepreneur and co-founder of cult brand Juicy Couture.

Her best friend, Gela Nash-Taylor, forms the other half of this dynamic design duo, which was founded in 1988 when the two girls met, through a mutual friend, in an LA fashion boutique. At the time, Taylor was pregnant and dismayed at the death of chic maternity wear and so the two began designing maternity jeans under the brand name ‘Travis Jeans’ – named after Taylor’s newborn son. Actress Melanie Griffith was later photographed wearing a pair and the brand’s sales catapulted.

The girls then set about revolutionising the ‘T-shirt’ with a variety of styles and colours, and it was during this time that they adopted the name ‘Juicy Couture’ which, Skaist-Levy noted in People magazine, was chosen because the shirts were so colourful and tempting that "you just want to eat" them.

Juicy Couture’s most revolutionary moment in fashion actually came when they designed a velour tracksuit.

“Our tracksuit is even in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. That’s monumental!” said Taylor.

It was the first time sportswear had been so luxurious and comfortable. Quirky and outrageous sayings, such as “Dude where’s my Couture” and “Kiss my Couture”, were sewn onto the tracksuits and the brand quickly gained a celebrity following. Madonna was famously photographed wearing a Juicy tracksuit with ‘Madge’ emblazoned on the front. Juicy Couture now offers personalised monogramming on their tracksuits in their 5th Avenue flagship store.

However, the tracksuit is not all the girls want to be remembered for…they are changing direction with their Juicy brand. Incorporating skirts, dresses and tops with a more sophisticated style into the range – the brand is establishing itself as an edgy high-end fashion label. The opening of the brand’s 5th Avenue store in New York is an extension of this change in direction. Time Out New York describes the store as:

“…a mishmash of punk rock, English equestrian, California surfer culture and French hauteur. Knights in pink armour stand guard alongside surfboards, antique and vintage fixtures, and an oversize crystal chandelier…Along the colour-coded walls, you’ll find tiered chiffon dresses [and] buttery-soft sheepskin gloves.”

Skaist-Levy and Taylor describe the style of their new stores (Juicy Couture opened a new store on Madison Avenue and Bleecker Street in New York previously with the new design concept) as “Madison Avenue meets Alice in Wonderland”.

Luxury, as always, is key with Juicy Couture and the new styles that have been added to the range are designed in luxurious fabrics, including silk and cashmere. There are also hints of inspiration from the Parisian couture houses with a woven Car coat in an off white, black and beige check, and cashmere and silk cardigans in cream and navy blue with golden buttons. All of which, Coggles.com now has in stock - happy clicking!

AED

Coggles predicts it will be a big New Year for Florence And The Machine which is the recording name of Florence Welch and a collaboration of other artists who provide backing music for her voice. Florence is an art college dropout from Camberwell, south London, who was discovered singing Motown covers in a nightclub toilet, drunk. Musically Florence and the Machine’s sound is generally referred to as soul inspired indie.

Recognition by the NME, Diesel and the BBC has lead to her playing Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds festivals. They are also set to support White Lies, Friendly Fires and Glasvegas on the tour which will include venues such as Academies and Universities. The band’s debut album is on it’s the way in early Spring 2009.

MWB