Urban Outfitters' Work of Art Look Book

Hipster mecca Urban Outfitters has debuted their winter look book, and it suffices to say they’re letting their colors show. The store quite literally highlighted their favorite looks for the season, swapping out scenic backgrounds for multicolored brush strokes that envelop (and occasionally obscure) each model. Impressively, every piece of clothing manages to stand out in this color collage — after all, it’s hard for gold lamé and leopard print to fade into the background.

So, what’s in Urban Outfitters stores this season? It looks like ladies and gents will be dabbling in lots of textures and patterns, with winter staples like knobby knit sweaters and Fair Isle prints layered over seemingly impractical cold-weather picks like crop tops, minis, and those fantastically fringed shorts. (We’ll find an excuse to wear them, no matter the weather.) And get ready to pop champagne all winter long — if Urban Outfitters’ love affair with sequins (spotted on platforms, sweaters, mini dresses, and skirts) is any indication, New Year’s Eve celebrations aren’t going into hibernation any time soon.

Hey, this look book is no Monet, but we think it makes a lasting impression. What's your take on Urban Outfitters' wearable art?

Text Kara Solarz
Image Refinery 29

Billy Reid 2011 Holiday Look Book

CFDA Designer of the Year Billy Reid is recognized for luxurious southern bred menswear — he is from Alabama, after all. The menswear designer and his team have created a beautiful look book for the labels holiday 2011 collection. There is something truly old-fashioned and nostalgic about this collection — a wonderful feeling of a gentleman bent on preserving elegance, hospitality, and honor. All of the merchandise is available at billyreid.com.

See more of the look book after the jump...

Alexis Bittar Resort 2012 Look Book Is Literally Out Of This World

It seems as though every form of fashion manifestation has taken on a few more dimensions. From fashion videos to runways walked by holograms, the dry cut methods for how to present a new collection are changing at breakneck speed. This is, quite obviously, an advantage for indie brands that might not have the funds to throw down on a double page, glossy spread in French Vogue. It’s also an opportunity for the high end fashion houses to easily target and appeal to a younger crowd of fashion avant-gardes.

With all the media savvy options of presentation available, it makes sense that this would also give a leg up to the accessory subgenre of the fashion world. In the past, accessory lookbooks haven’t exactly revved up the buzz that a fashion lookbook might, but that’s all about to change. Jewelry brand Alexis Bittar’s new lookbook is just what you'd come to expect from this avenue of product presentation – if it were juiced up on Acid, growth hormones, and a dash of the ultimate 80’s party cocktail, that is.

 A staggering 40 pages, the lookbook is a collage of bald headed mannequins with Fellini-like graphics that feature everything from animals, dollar bill t-shirt origami, sunnyside eggs, melting mouths, cars and planes - and oh right, the moon! The jewelry itself is also out of this world, making for a slow, gluttonous look through and an uncontrollable urge to burn last month's paycheck on a pair of earrings.


Text Tienlyn Jacobson
Sources: Alexis Bittar