Palladium x Major Lazer: Music Video

Woah. Brand/artist collaborations are nothing of a novelty. In fact, they've become so normalised of late cluttering our streetwear blogs' every page that we're all too often numb to the effort or lack of that may have come from yet another 'exclusive' partnership.

No chance of that happening here though. Take an iconic boot brand (step up Palladium) and one of your favourite DJ collectives (Major Lazer, tick). Present a new track offering tasty tropical beats and high calibre guests in the form of Ms Dynamite and Laidback Luke (phew). Throw in a sh*tload of fluorescent paint, black light and some bangin' Palladium boots, and what have you got?

'Sweat' - an unmissable Palladium x Major Lazer hook-up, that is certifiably worthy of your attention. Hurrah! This Palladium x Major Lazer track is set to be a winter stormer, so grab some laces and a pair of Palladium's and get yourself ready for the most colourful party season yet.

Palladium boots available at Surfdome.

BILLABONG GIRLS SURF CAPSULE COLLECTION

The Billabong Girls Surf Capsule is a true testament to how far women's surfing and surf fashion has come in the last few decades. Long gone are the days when broaching the water's edge required donning a boring black suit made of unflattering neoprene, which took 30 mins of tugging and hopping around in a public car park to put on.  

While professional female surfers still have to deal with poorer contest waves and smaller prize packets than the men, the women's surfing industry has still moved on leaps and bounds. In 2011 Carissa Moore became the first woman to receive a wildcard entry into the Men's Triple Crown of Surfing. Alana Blanchard has one of the biggest social followings of any professional surfer (perhaps influenced by the size of her bikini bottoms)- whether this is for the right reasons it has undoubtedly raised the profile of the women's WCT and the surf brands she associates with. In 2012 Steph Gilmore took her fifth world title, proving to surf groms worldwide that you can be the best surfer in the world as well as being fun, feminine and fashionable. 

Laura Enever showcases her Billabong Girls Capsule Collection wetsuits on instagram

With instagram bolstering the profile of many female surfers, fashion is starting to take centre stage. It is not just about performance in the water, this tide of fashionable, beautiful girls want to exercise their right to look and feel good while their doing it. As such we've seen the neoprene seal suits ditched it favour of more feminine cuts and a kaleidoscope of colours. And with high fashion houses such as Chanel, Diane Von Furstenburg and Cythia Rowley jumping on board too, women's surf fashion is making real waves. 

While surf brands, designers and high street chains jumpon board the neoprene inspired sports-fashion trend,the Billabong Girls Surf Capsule collection leads the way this year with its flattering, retro cuts, comfortable stretchy neoprene and 80s-inspired neon-pops. Their campaign features all our favourite Billabong Girls, such as Courtney Conlogue (check out my interview with Courtney Conlogue), Justine Dupont and new signing Laura Enever. 

Courtney Conlogue

Justine Dupont

Laura Enever

Having seen the girls test pilot the suits at last summer's Roxy Pro event, I was really stoked with all the careful time and effort that's gone into creating this fashionable surf collection. Proving fashion and functionality can work together, I won't be surprised to see them pop up across the fashion glossies this season.

Justine Dupont was wearing the Billabong Skinny Jane Wetsuit when I interviewed her in Biarritz last summer

Summer Street Style

Slogans, slouchy, sneakers, skateboards - this is a collection of my favourite street wear pins this week. Embrace the spring-spiration, summer's on the way. Follow me on Pinterest at Amie Trewin.

October Is For: ONE GWEN STEFANI

My personal number one girl crush seems to be Autumn's flavour of the month too (ahem nothing to do with the return of No Doubt, I'm sure) with a mesmerising selection of cover shoots for some of the most prestigious glossies out. 

Here's Gwen Stefani's impressive media haunts for this month, drool... DAMN we're glad she's back!

P.S. if you're yet to hear No Doubt's new single 'Push and Shove'(ft. Busy Signal and Major Lazer) check it now. You'll wake up singing it for days, and for all the right reasons (- fear not it's no Swagger Jagger).

Elle UK - October 2012

Marie Claire USA - October 2012

Harper's Bazaar UK - September 2012

L O V E

Life's a Beach at the Roxy Pro

Last week I was pretty fortunate to be sent to France cover the penultimate stop of the Women's World Surfing Tour - The Roxy Pro... if you haven't seen my event round up check it out on the SD lifestyle blog!

Not only was I there with the team there to bring you the latest surf reports and event gossip, hang out with the pros, eat croissants, vin rouge and get my own feet wet (hard life!) - I was also out papping the most fashionable faces in Biarritz. So here they are!:

Name: Britta

Lives: East London, UK

Occupation: Fashion Ed at Cooler Magazine

We say: Britta looking cool as ever; particularly love her Element Valerie top - styled back to front!

Name: Celine

Lives: Saint-Raphael, France

Occupation: Student

We say: This student's tribal print shorts and headscarf caught the fashion radar straight away

Name: Nathalie

Lives: Biarritz, France

Occupation: Women's Marketing Coordinator at Billabong Europe

We say: Laid back beach styling at its best - I want those oversized sunnies

Name: Courtney Conlogue

Lives: Santa Ana, California

Occupation: Pro Billabong Surfer

We say: Court always looks effortlessly cool in and out of the water; loving the pink top/watch/nails combo... and that California tan!

Name: Helene

Lives: Paris

Occupation: Fashion Designer at Panetone

We say: Colourfully boho in mint green shorts that are perfect for this season. I love the fresh flower headress that she made herself - my festival inspiration!

Fashion's Olympic Charm

January 1st arrived and we were immediately hit with the usual 'get off the sofa, go to the gym then pour yourself a cucumber juice' media frenzy. However, this time round their predictable post-festive fitness message came with a twist.

Harper's Baazar/Max Factor/Marie Claire
L-R Victoria Pendleton, Keri-Anne Payne, Jessica Ennis

Whether picking up a newspaper, glossy mag or flicking through TV channels we're not only faced with the annual post-festive detox regime - as we enter Britain's Olympic year our favourite athletes have started popping up all over the shop. And we're not just talking about sports drinks ads... our top Olympic athletes are now endorsed by the world's fashion and beauty arenas.

 It's an exciting time within an industry that's so often criticised for being shallow and noxious. Forget Hollywood actresses or reality TV rejects, there's a new breed of cover stars in town, who are tenfold more worthy of such accolades. And with Jessica Ennis, Victoria Pendleton and Keri-Anne Payne recently snapped up by beauty giants Proctor and Gamble (Jess to represent Olay, Victoria for Pantene's Sleek and Smooth Range and Keri-Anne for Max Factor Gold False Lash Effect), their advertising pulling power is set to bring them a long and worthy career way after they bring home the medals... 

L-R: Jessica Ennis - Heptathlete; Victoria Pendleton - Cyclist; Keri-Anne Pane - Swimmer

From sporting stars to fashion icons - here's a favourite, brief snapshot of some recent coverage these golden girls have been getting:

JESSICA ENNIS

Jessica Ennis for UK Marie Claire

Jessica Ennis for Marie Claire

Jessica Ennis for UK Vogue

VICTORIA PENDLETON

Victoria Pendleton for Sunday Times Style Magazine

Victoria Pendleton for London Evening Standard

Victoria Pendleton for Harper's Bazaar

KERI ANNE PAYNE

Keri Anne Payne for Links of London

Keri Anne Payne for Max Factor (shot by Rankin)

Keri Anne Payne for Max Factor

Beautiful, talented and strong, these sort of inspirational role models make you proud to be British... bring on London 2012!

Surfdome SS12 Sneak Peak!

Last week I was lucky enough to preview a snippet of Surfdome's potential Spring/Summer 2012 offerings at Coffin On Cake PR's S/S '12 Press Day, held at the Vinyl Factory in Soho.

Being a mere week after Surfdome, the online department store, announced the launch of their FIVE HUNDREDTH brand, it was an exciting opportunity to for me to see firsthand what treats they had up their sleeves for next season.

Born out of a passion for surf, skate, wake and snowboarding, Surfdome is lauded as Europe's leading lifestyle department store, now stocking '500 of the world's best lifestyle, fashion, outdoor and sports brands'. As such, expectations were of course high. And even though their press day display was simply a taster of next year's collections (inevitable when you have 20,000 styles across 36 departments!), what I did get to see was really diverse, radiant and inspiring, especially at a time when we delve into the dark winter months. 

What particularly impressed me about Surfdome is that not only do they house the obvious surf/skate big guns such as Roxy, Vans and Volcom, but they've also invested a lot of time in recruiting more niche, independent fashion brands, such as One Teaspoon, Afends (both from Oz) and Danish brand Nümph.

Surfdome categorized their trend preview into three themes based on location, the first being IBIZA TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT. This collection showcased party playsuits, bikinis and colours, through to more Bestival-inspired knits, tie-dye tees and denim shorts. Here are some of my key-piece snaps:

Cosmic Playsuit by Volcom

Zebra Bikini by Pistol Panties

Pink knit by Numph

Collection Two featured BRIGHTON TO BONDI. Plenty of seaside-inspiration, from deckchair stripes in candy -coloured pastels and 50s beach babe glamour, to surf girl string-bikinis and day-glow paisley prints.

Striped Dress by Animal

Pink bikini by Red or Dead

Floral holdall by Easpak

Bikini buyers guide

Being the biggest online retailer of bikinis and boardies, there was a key emphasis on their swimwear. With 846 bikini styles on offer, the store has produced a buyer’s guide, specialising in providing you with bikini styles according to your body shape. The specific mood board above featured some  key pieces for the more 'rectangular' figure.

The final inspiration came from ST. TROPEZ TO ST. IVES. Think nautical, preppy and heritage tailoring with a laid-back luxe; standout features of this collection's key pieces included simple stripes, rope detailing and discreet leather branding. 

Suede shoes by Gravis

Backpack from Hershel

To celebrate their 500-brand milestone, Surfdome are giving away a total of 500 prizes over a 20 day period (10 days left!) via their facebook page. Every day one lucky winner will get a bumper box packed with 25 prizes from a selection of Surfdome's awesome brands.