Generally, when I think about Australian designers I think bright colours and playful, trendy silhouettes, which I admit is kind of silly since I’ve featured plenty of Aussie designers who don’t really fit that mold. I am not going to lie though when I say I was surprised by the relaxed maturity of the brother/sister duo designed Alpha60. Maybe it’s my age, but I find myself increasingly looking for clothing that doesn’t make me feel like some sort of youth trend victim. This label appeals to my old lady ( ha ha ) sensibilities with a lovely balance of structure, draping, and clever prints.
Bear with the annoying flash based website to check out their collections, and you can buy their pleated scarves off their online shop

Here’s my little confession, Tuesday night when I was supposed to be browsing my bookmarks so I could make a post on Wednesday, I instead spent my time obsessively shopping siphon/vacuum pot coffee makers. So no Wednesday post. HOWEVER, I was very good last night and did my blogging duty so I’m posting! (Some day I will make a post about siphon/vacuum pot coffee makers here ’cause I’m kinda obsessed, you know, like I just said.)

So, yes we’re just plunging into summer, the rainy season has about ended, and the hottest months are still ahead of us but that doesn’t mean that I ever stop the hunt for jackets and coats and the like. I was pretty enthused to find these beautifully colourful raincoats by Danish label, MaxJenny. Yes, I love neutrals, but I am really feeling the colours here. Not to worry though, you chromaphobes, they have a bunch jackets in voluminous black, too. Oh, and I should probably mention that all of their pieces are made from recycled PET bottles and dyed with waterbased colours. You can shop the collections on the site, and all prices are in euros

If you’ve been following Pour Porter since the old days you’ll remember that I’ve been a longtime follower of Magda Berliner and I’ve posted quite a few times about her over the years. Well, time for another one! What initially attracted me to her pieces was the use of crochet lace and her characteristic loose and easy silhouettes. The Spring Summer 2010 collection is out and her signature crocheted dresses make an appearance along with a lot of layering and print that has a very Rachel Comey feel to it (both designers have always done the eclectic layering thing very well). Whereas S/S 10 is playful and varied, her A/W 10 collection is a bit more spare and minimal, which while not bad, doesn’t seem as true to the designer’s original aesthetic. Of course, in all fairness the A/W collection doesn’t completely eliminate those elements that have come define Berliner’s aesthetic and which I’ve always found particularly appealing. Plus, mixing one’s look up to keep things fresh isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s a drop-waist dress with a crocheted skirt and a few pieces with print like the leopard tank and shorts. Anyways, I’m glad she’s still producing collections, and will continue to look forward to the next. (Click pictures to enlarge)

You’d really have to be living under a rock to not have heard of Sunshine and Shadow yet, and most particularly because their latest collection (S/S/ 2010) has essentially been posted everywhere. This is totally understandable given how visually appealing and colour rich the collection is-that’s why I posted it at least! The label always delivers with soft, comfortable, and very wearable pieces so it’s no wonder that their popularity is growing