That's So New York - Despite the fact that it may seem like I spend my days sitting here searching through a ridiculous amount of online-stores and designer profiles in an attempt to find a brand which I could happily label "the next big thing" (and I won't deny that yes, a huge percentage of my week, month and year has been taken up by this activity alone), I seem to be constantly posting about Women's and Unisex labels, in addition to a topic which I've shied away from yet can relate to the most (when shopping at least), that being menswear. I will gladly shout from the rooftops in regards to the fact that yes, I do enjoy popping into a selection of womenswear only stores/boutiques and flipping through rail after rail of admirable dresses, skirts, sweaters and shirts; yes, I will also admit that womenswear is most probably my forte as such, despite the fact that if I really admire something, no matter what it is, I can easily sit here and throw my opinion all over it, simply because that's what I do; I write about things I enjoy and admire whilst portraying an occasional yet slightly arrogant form of carelessness in regards to the thoughts of others, meaning that just because someone tells me "that sweater is horrible!" it doesn't mean you won't be seeing it again, and again, and again.
A label which I have been admiring recently is Auckland, New Zealand-based label, I Love Ugly. I came across I Love Ugly a number of months ago, yet for some reason I decided to delay posting about them up until this very moment. Label founder, designer and illustrator, Valentin Ozich focuses on creating garments which are durable and of high-quality, in addition to following trends and selling pieces which may be considered in for a month or so, yet would gladly be thrown away and labelled out the next. The I Love Ugly label offers a selection of graphic tee's, sweatshirts, cardigans, pants and shirts, presumably to fit the labels admiration for all-year-round wearability, meaning you could throw on a top one day, and a sweater the next (yet if you live in England, United Kingdom or are simply visiting, I would advise that you plan a strategic sweater alternation timetable for this Summer in particularly, due to the rather odd lack of sun yet frequent abundance of rain).
The main subject behind this post which I wanted to focus on primarily is the I Love Ugly Spring/Summer 2011 collection which is said to hit stores sometime over the coming weeks; despite the fact that you may be thinking "will it even still be Summer by then?" the answer is, "does is really matter?" again, referring back to the labels all-year-round wearability aesthetic. The I Love UglySpring/Summer 2011 collection follows a concept that you may expect from any other classic menswear label, yet then goes onto modernize the pieces as it makes an attempt at bringing them into the 21st century whilst urbanizing a stereotypical "my gran bought this for me last week" portrayal, due to its incorporation of knitted sweaters and cardigans, along with a series of classy looking button-up shirts and classically youthful shape-based graphic prints (the same type of pieces my gran would instantly grab for me come my birthday or christmas, primarily because the pieces are all typically masculine and would look great on anyone). Admittedly these garments are not the type of pieces you would throw on to simply head on down to the supermarket, yet neither are they pieces which you would wear whilst heading on down to watch a show on the West End or perhaps wondering around the British Museum, followed by a tour of London. I think that I'm getting more of a "let's go for lunch!" or"wanna hang out?" type feel; you know, something a little more casual yet following a "dress to impress" approach. Onto the images ...
I Love Ugly Waffle Sweater Black (Retail Price: $250.00 $180.00 NZD)
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