Here is another label who I’ve noticed popping up on a few online shops I frequent, recently. Nude: Masahiko Maruyama has been creating beautiful basics with a soft, worn-in quality for men and women since 2004, but it’s only been recently with the expansion of online shopping selections that the label has gotten more exposure and has been more accessible.

Maruyama’s pieces are characterized by natural fabrics in classic cuts, some with subtle prints or treatments. I also like the fact that the collections focus on separates rather entire looks-it makes it easy to imagine them blending seamlessly with one’s own wardrobe. There are also particular silhouettes that reappear each season, like the perfect trenchcoat or slouchy sweater, and if you go back to the debut collection and work your way to the most recent you can see a consistency throughout that contributes to the timelessness of all of the pieces.

I’ve posted pieces from the A/W 07/08 and S/S 08 men’s and women’s collectionsThe A/W 08/09 collections are presented in Quicktime format. I’ve posted the women’s items on the left and the men’s on the right.You can find pieces for purchase here in the States at Forward by Revolve and Opening Ceremony.

Swedish brand, Hope, is another label chock full of slouchy, wearable clothes that you’d be hard pressed to not integrate easily into your existing wardrobe. Again this is a label I’d found out about several years ago but never featured, and recently I’ve been seeing select pieces on a few U.S. based webstores (lagarconne and creaturesofcomfort in particular). Designer, Ann Ringstrand, worked for H&M as assistant buyer and designer prior to founding the label.

Some of Sessun’s pieces are a bit too girly for me, but they have some great separates (see jumpsuit, floral harem pants, ROLLED ahem paperbag waist khakis) that I would definitely rock. The S/S 09 collection feels perfect for summer.

Unfortunately, it appears that the French label is currently only available in Europe, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take inspiration from the collection. After a little digging I did find some pieces on yoox.

Since the latest menswear collections seem to be on the fashion radar, I’m posting some more menswear!

Luise&Franck are a self-described franco east german duo who met at fashion school in Paris and began to develop a menswear line together. They cite psych-folk music and postmodern architecture as inspiration, and produce menswear with a minimalist but texture-rich look. I just like their slouchy, relaxed sensibility!

The pieces below are from their S/S 09 collection.

The twenty-six year old Dutch label, Humanoid, began as a design endeavour for Sandra Harmsen and Hans Boelens, and now the label has found some success beyond the Netherlands. What I love about the label is how simple and wearable and effortless each piece is. These are clothes for any age or shape. Oaknyc carries a few of their pieces.