Brooklyn-based designer Samantha Pleet has become known for her twisted tailoring, 50’s inspired silhouettes and her otherworldly campaigns. After studying at The Pratt Institute, Pleet went on to debut her namesake collection in 2006. She is also recognised for her eco-friendly attitude towards fashion – often using organic materials and making her garments in New York City. Each season, Pleet collaborates with other creative minds to create installations, films and editorials and SS16 is no exception.

Pleet’s SS16 collection previews in this campaign titled ‘A Lovely Haunted House’. The images, shot by Amber Mahoney, follow the dreamy vibes of her previous campaigns. The collection is inspired by all things fanatical – ghosts, dreams and visions. The designs feature 50’s-inspired detailing in the form of cute collars, cut-outs and buttons and the haunted house theme is translated into embroidered door frames and window panes. The collection also features ethereal prints by painter Jenna Gribbon.

Fashion: Samantha Pleet

Model: Sara Hiromi

Photography: Amber Mahoney

Set Design: Patrick Pleet

Assistant: Tyler McGillivary

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This three-piece trio hail from the suburbs of South London and have been noticed by many for their unique Electronic/Pop sound. Lua Sonique consists of Alex, Jordan and Sam – three friends who are independently almost as impressive as they are together. Alex plays multiple instruments and is a talented producer, producer/DJ Sam was titled ‘Artist of the week’ by Radio 1Xtra and Jordon has featured on MOBO nominated Bashebatrack’s song “Dirty Love”. These talents together prove for a authentic and distinct sound.

Their track “Dancefloor Killer”, taken off the EP of the same name features funky electronic beats as well as airy acoustic melodies. The smooth lyrics are performed by Jordan whose vocals are absolutely dreamy. The rest of their self-produced EP drops on October 19th. Below, the band have also kindly curated a playlist for Wonderland, titled 10 Dancefloor Killers. Enjoy.

Lone – “Aurora Northern Quarter”

Oliver Cheatham – “Get Down Saturday Night”

Friendly Fires – “Kiss of Life”

New Order – “Blue Monday”

Four Tet – “Plastic People”

Hercules & Love Affair – “Blind”

Jamiroquai – “Run Away”

Roosevelt – “Around You”

Parliament – “Flash Light”

Metronomy – “The Bay”

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There’a no truer statement for this season’s trends than Iris Apfel’s infamous words, “More is more, and less is a bore.” Feathers, skins and psychedelic prints are the hip and hyped trends for SS13, but a loud and wild palette needs to be paired with sophistication – otherwise, it’s dressing yourself for primary school all over again.

Luckily, babe jeans brand 7 For All Mankind and its Pre-Fall Peacock provide us with the rebel cool and the sophisto-chic factor for trending it like a boss in the coming months. The house of dare denim combines that so-in printed trouser with the proud and loud peacock.

Sculpted pins will impress the competition dressed in the collection’s sexified skinnies, from the soft, non-denim Peacock Tail trousers to the feather-light Feather Impressions and Indigo Peacock Tail denims (pictured above, €350). Paired with the range of sleek silk tops or quilted bomber jacket, this is a collection made for the chicest birds in town, day or night.

7 For All Mankind Peacock Tail Skinny Non-Denims, €400

7 For All Mankind Feather Impression Skinny Jeans, €180

The Pre-Fall Peacock Collection will be available in 7 For All Mankind boutiques from the end of May. 

Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter: PardonMe_Lissie)

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Sundance is where the brightest talents of American independent cinema go to show off their movies, so its presence on British soil is kind of a big deal. The London iteration of the world famous festival, now in its second year, offers a selection of the films screened at Sundance plus a number of fresh new British works, live music and panel discussions, all over the course of a long weekend at the O2. We’ll be reviewing the festival once it begins at the end of April, so stay tuned.

1. Upstream Color

In 2004, Shane Carruth’s fascinating debut, the time travel maths lesson Primer, premiered at Sundance where it won the Grand Jury Prize. Although his second film, Upstream Color, didn’t win the big prize at this year’s festival it was well received by audiences and critics alike, even if nobody seems to have any idea what it is they saw.

But that’s understandable. Details on the film are pretty thin on the ground, but we do know Carruth writes, directs and stars (among other things) alongside mumblecore darling Amy Seimetz (Tiny Furniture, Silver Bullets) in a film he describes as a mythic romantic thriller. Sounds great, right? And if it’s half as good as Primer we’re in for one helluva treat.

2. Mud

Since he made waves with 2007’s Shotgun Stories writer-director Jeff Nichols has gone from strength to strength, with his second film, Take Shelter, premiering at Sundance in 2011 and his new one, Mud, screening in competition at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and this year’s Sundance.

Mud follows two teenage boys in America’s deep south who discover a charming fugitive (Matthew McConaughey) living in the woods and attempt to hide him from the authorities, all while helping him reunite with his ex-girlfriend (Reese Witherspoon). The film looks to be a coming-of-age story reminiscent of the novels of Mark Twain and 80s Spielberg which, considering Nichols is one of American cinema’s most interesting storytellers, is something we’re really excited about.

3. Peaches Does Herself

Berlin based Canadian electro-shock-pop star and artist Peaches has made a docu-musical about her life and career. Do you really need to hear anything else? Filmed at one of her live performances in Berlin, Peaches Does Herself marks her debut as a writer-director, and looks set to be as vibrant and confrontational as her music, famed for its thematic exploration of gender identity and sexuality.

Peaches will also give a live performance downstairs in the IndigO2 at the festival to accompany the film, so that’s something to look forward to (read: prepare for).

4. The Look of Love

“My name’s Paul Raymond. Welcome to my world of erotica,” proclaims Steve Coogan in the trailer for Michael Winterbottom’s new film, The Look of Love, a biopic of London’s most controversial publishing magnate, strip club owner and so-called “King of Soho”.
Imogen Poots, Stephen Fry, Anna Friel and Tamsin Egerton round out the cast of this wholly British drama which, in spite of the mixed critical acclaim levelled at it following its Sundance premiere in January, looks set to find its audience in London.

5. Running From Crazy

Barbara Kopple’s career as a documentarian is an undeniably impressive one. The winner of multiple awards, including Oscars for her films Harlan County U.S.A and American Dream, Kopple has directed numerous documentaries about people as diverse as Woody Allen and Mike Tyson, and now she’s turning her lens to Mariel Hemmingway, granddaughter of celebrated novelist Ernest.

Running From Crazy documents the Hemingway family’s battle with mental illness and suicide through the eyes of Mariel and her two siblings, and the word from its premiere at this year’s Sundance suggests it’s as bleakly riveting as the subject matter suggests. Colour us intrigued.

The festival takes place between the 25th and 28th of April. Tickets are on sale now. www.sundance-london.com

Words: Matt Mansfield

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(1) Hype Williams

Hype Williams are a rather elusive London duo who bring together high and low cultural references in both their music and in interviews. Their sound is blissfully lo-fi and ideas-laden, tinged with hip-hop and dance influences. The joy.

(2) The Bug

The Bug is the stagename of prolific London producer Kevin Martin. Drawing in a diaspora of influences- from dancehall and dub to noise, grime and hip-hop, Martin has been filling dancefloors for more than a decade. His experience and encyclopaedic music knowledge is evident at his live shows – don’t miss his headline show on Saturday.

(3) Jarboe

As a 14-year-old in visceral noise band Swans, Jarboe cemented her place as a great sound experimenter. As a solo artist and collaborator, she continued to draw from a variety of charged sources, and her unique live energy has certainly kept fans glued. Jarboe will be reinterpreting songs of Swans, World of Skin, and solo works.

(4) Merzbow

Having released 350 songs since 1979, Merzbow is a hugely influential purveyor of white noise electronica. His music makes use of tape loops, squealing feedback and dramatic bursts of unidentified sounds, amounting to indescribably visceral noise music. Unforgettable.

(5) Kevin Drumm

Kevin Drumm has been lost in a kind of noise nightmare sound-cloud since the mid-90’s. His most recent release was a triptych of albums, each recorded in a separate room in his house. His live show is a fascinating watch: Drumm recreates his impossible sound with guitar, synthesizers and laptops.

(6) Dylan Carlson

With his band Earth, innovator Dylan Carlson bravely set to stone the doom metal genre. His newest solo project DrCarlsonAlbion is set to culminate in a book/album/DVD project early in 2013 called Coleman Grey Presents Falling With A Thousand Stars And Other Wonders From The House Of Albion. Amazing. For Supersonic, he will be enlisting some friends to help out with vocals, bagpipes and the snare drum.

(7) My Disco

Melbourne-based minimalist trio My Disco are notable for their use of complex time signatures. Tension is built through their music through use of steady drumbeats and staccato guitar riffs. Spicy stuff – the My Disco clan have spent nearly a decade refining and defining their sound, each album a triumph of stripped-bare post-punk grooves.
Supersonic
Words: Ellen Falconer

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