COMING SOON... JULIUS

One of our new brands for the coming fall/winter 2008 season will be the already popular Julius from Japan. This collection marked their first time presenting in Paris and just the other day in Paris was their first ever runway show, showcasing the spring/summer 2009 collection. The brand has been going for quite some time and they are finally getting some well-deserved recognition!

The brand's aesthetic seems darker than dark but a lot of the pieces are surprisingly versatile and can fit into a wide range of wardrobes, perfectly in unison with a lot of brands already in the store. For years now Julius's beautiful silhouette has combined elegance with a strong military and industrial influence to create a dramatic effect -- long draping cut & sew and knit pieces are layered under slim jackets for the upper half while the lower half includes usually a trouser or jean tucked into a boot with extra fabric delicately flowing all around. Based on styled looks, it may seem that only black exists in their world, but this season has some relief from the darkness including cut & sew pieces done in cement, raw (off white), and blood red.

The construction of the clothes, as well as the textiles used, blow me away season after season. Even the simple cotton used in their basic cut & sew pieces manages to be unlike anything else around.

Arrivals are set for August and September and will include knits, cut & sew, jackets (including a gorgeous leather one pictured below!), a heavy melton wool coat, and a slew of accessories. Check out the pictures below showing some styled looks, as well as individual items. Check back also for some more information as the summer progresses!