In the traditon of our beloved Sandra Backlund, Ioannis Dimitrousis takes good ole crochet and creates  apparel that crosses over into praiseworthy art. The Spring 2011 collection is one you just stay in awe of, like wow! Images courtesy of Ioannis Dimitrousis.

Founded in 2008, Flocks  Melbourne takes a high end approach to sheepskin footwear with a silhouette that I find  SO much more appealing than that other unflattering sheepskin boot. Sleek  and cozy looking, Flocks  are  available in a high top women and a lower ankle length for men. Take a  closer look  at  the women’s styles  and the look book on the next page.

With the current love of tattoos that seems to have been taking over fashion,  we found it fitting to feature Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins  , one  of the legends of tattoo culture in America. Upon his passing in 1973, his name and   body of work  inspired a full-on lifestyle brand that includes a  spiced rum, a series of books, accessories and even apparel.  The tiger jacket above  has a nice retro feel and easily becomes that piece of apparel that screams when you can’t. Check out  more from Sailor Jerry here.

Apparently the acceptability of Prada’s Spring 2011 collection has been called into question. According to WWD:

Prada firmly denied speculation Monday that it would alter or nix the spring/summer collection it paraded on the Milan runway last week. The rumor went that Prada’s chief executive officer Patrizio Bertelli was unhappy with the colorful and graphic range, which received good reviews from critics and retailers. According to sources, Prada cancelled some writing appointments in Milan for American retailers, saying the company would bring an enhanced offering to New York at the end of October.

It was kind of boxy and bright and art-girl rebellious, though in fairness my take was that Prada collections always need time to ripen. Maybe that’s why the shoes featured here via Purplediary are lying on their side….gasping for air perhaps?

Refinery29 has the latest lookbook for The Lake & Stars Spring 2011 offerings, which is quite a departure from the eye-popping ’70s porn themes of the last lookbook. Inspired by religous cults, the latest one isn’t as fun and the budget seems lower, but oh well, better that the brand keeps it moving than dwell on the past. On this page and after the flip are straight shots of the product, whose theme remains the same–retro-naughty garments, which in many cases work as well as outerwear as lingerie, thanks to modern fabrics and details. The lookbooks may change, but the garments remain perfect for all the high IQ sex queeens who love to flaunt their stuff.  

We showed the amazing cover shot of Lara Stone for Vogue Paris last week and now we have the interior editorial. Photographed by Steve Klein, the shoot was styled by none other than Carine Roitfeld herself who is one of those gifted types capable of making genius look as easy as the snap of a finger. Looking at the images here and on the next page, we rescind what we said earlier about Stone need to cover up more, but only if Roitfeld is calling all the shots. Via Fashionising.

Nicki Minaj has a hit on her hands with her latest single, “Right Thru Me,” which speaks on that special sort of  connect, who often times knows you better than you know yourself.

Was wondering where the heck NY fashion photographer Julia Chesky was an it turns out she moved recently and got hit by a double whammy of Mercury retrograde. Anyway, her windows are back, including this image from the freshly relaunched SoHo Chanel store. What’s great about Chesky, too, is she’s willing to have an opinion and she does a hilarious rant on some other SoHo windows:

Let’s not even touch the merchandising fail going on with some places just yet. I think Soho and I might end our evening attempts and stick to random fun day shots because this made me sad, Boston Newbury Street sad. New York, we cannot be on the same level of Boston. That’s just blasphemy! No offense to my Boston readers.

See one of the J.Crew window she has ish with on the next page. Not sure if J.Crew meant to make its female mannequin look like it was sort of packing, but I doubt it!

I find South African designer Jaques Van Der Watt’s Black Coffee  Fall 2010 collection particularly  inspiring,   with its emphasis on volume and layering,  the fact that the coats look really warm, and  mostly that it  illustrates  my fantasy  of hibernating  in a cashmere cocoon until summer comes back. More on the next page via shopliquorice.

Lara Stone is exposing herself again, this time for the Fall issue of I.D. magazine. We love this girl as regular readers know, but as much as we enjoy seeing her naked it’s time for her to pull top diva status and not pull her shirt off for basically any photographer that asks. Via Fashionising. Two more after the flip. Yes of course don’t open if you’re around someone who has issues with you looking at boobs.