PLEASE CALL THE US OLYMPIC SWIM TEAM .... MAYBE

OK, so I know we are all a tad over all the endless variations of 'CALL ME MAYBE' (we published the video by the Abercrombie + Fitch boys the other week) but here's one you must see.  As performed by the US OLYMPIC SWIM TEAM  that is too good to miss, especially as it includes MICHAEL PHELPS and RYAN LOTCHE, and the others are not exactly unattractive too. 

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WINNERS & LOSERS

Whilst we all at TEAM D.W.S will be patriotically routing for all the British Sportsmen and women to do well in the OLYMPIC GAMES , we must confess when it comes to matters sartorial (which we do know a more than a little about) we are so not keen on our Team Uniform that STELLA McCARTNEY designed.

It's made us reflect slightly on some of the OLYMPIC's finest fashion moments in the past, and some of the real losers.  Here's a few of our favorites:-

Miss Charlotte Cooper the first ever Women Medalist in 1900 nattily attired like a real  well-bred Englishwoman.

And we couldn't  miss out the Norwegian Team in 2010 who had us riveted to Curling that year, and those pants of theirs made by a company called LOUDMOUTH GOLF.  The Team's pants have their own Facebook page that has been 'liked' by almost 600,000 people! http://www.facebook.com/NOCTP.

We loved these matching bathing suits the AUSTRALIAN TEAM wore in 1972.  Evidently hers is called a 'tankini' and his were called 'far too short'.

In 1988 West German figure skater KATERINA WITT horrified Olympic Officials by baring so much skin and they introduced new rules to ensure that in future costumes were more modest and 'ladylike' . They  named it the Katerina Rule and it was enforced until 2004.  Personally we were much more 'offended' by what she wore, not now little there was of it!

So for 2012 here's one Team's Uniform we applaud.  If you recognize the designer standing in front, then you will know that this is the Italian Team .  (Yep, its Signor Armani).

And here's one we dislike even more than Ms McCartney's.  Is the 2012 outfits for the Spanish Team and you can see from this photograph how very excited they are to be wearing them.

And finally, we know that the Mayor was not elected for his keen sense of fashion BUT wearing one of the dreadful puce outfits of the Olympic Ambassadors?   Really Boris!  It makes us really worry what he will actually wear to the Games itself.

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RAF SIMONS @ DIOR

We often have pieces from CHRISTIAN DIOR ready to wear at DESIGNER WAREHOUSE SALES. So we were so pleased at the marvellous reception Belgian designer RAF SIMONS received for his debut couture collection for DIOR. Previously he had been the design influence behind ultra chic collection JIL SANDER. He now takes the helm at DIOR from JOHN GALLIANO who had steered this house into the twenty first century. The show was all pared down glamour with a nod to some CHRISTIAN DIOR’S signature pieces. All the showrooms where the Autumn/Winter 2012 collection was launched had their walls covered in approximately 1,000,000 blooms in various shades. 

We also spy sitting centre stage and front row, in acid yellow top, Alexandra Schulman editor in chief of English VOGUE noting down her favourite garments.

Watch the video to see how they achieved one of the biggest flower arrangements ever.

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50 YEARS OF BOND

A new exhibition on JAMES BOND opens on Friday at the Barbican center in London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the most influential and stylish silver screen franchises of all times. The exhibition Designing 007 - Fifty Years of Bond Style tells the inside story of the design and style of the 23 iconic films, featuring over 400 costumes, props, photos, set pieces and design drawings.

Highlights include costumes created by Armani, Gucci, Prada, Versace and other famous fashion designers for the six actors who have played Agent 007 as well as clothes designed for his adversaries and, of course, the ‘Bond girls.’

In the same way that as D.W.S we aren't really meant to have favorite clothing designers (but we do) then although we tried to be unbiased at who was the best Bond of all time, there is no competition.  It's Sir Sean every time.

How styles have changed over the past 50 years look at the difference in swim suits between then and now:

The Exhibition runs at The Barbican in London until Sept 5th, and then starts a 3 year World Tour beginning in Toronto in October.

Click Here For Details

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ADVANCED STYLE

At D.W.S. one of our favorite Blogs is  Ari Seth Cohen's http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/ which focuses on some amazing wonderfully stylish women who just happen to be old. Some fads and trends may get hijacked by youth, but we firmly believe that it doesn't matter what your age is if you have a real sense of style, take your fashion with more than a touch of humor, and posses an enviable zest for life. Mr. Seth Cohen has a new book coming out now called ADVANCED STYLE which we are so happy to reccomend to you. One of women in the book and one we admire most is 90 year old ILLONA SMITHKIN and here's a wee video of her sharing her thoughts on fashion and staying young at heart.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIKINI

We want to wish THE BIKINI  a very Happy Birthday as it is celebrating its 66th year.

No surprise to discover it was 'invented' by two Frenchmen LOUIS RARD & JACQUES HELM who in 1946 named their new bathing suit after the site of the nuclears weapons site at BIKINI ATOLL in the Marshall Islands.  This shocking piece of attire caused its own explosion at the time and at its launch only an unclothed dancer dared wear it.

As it happens two piece swim suits were not that new as any historian could tell you.  The first sightings were in Greco-Roman mosaics of the 4th Century but they looked nothing like Bond Girl URSULA ANDRESS when she came out of the ocean dripping wet and looking so utterly fabulous.  She made them an essential item of clothing and by the year 2000 it had become a $811 million business annually.

So to celebrate (and encourage the sun to come out more!) here's some of DWS's favourite versions ......

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ABS AND CROMBIE

At D.W.S. we have a long summer break until out first Autumn/Winter Sale in September and 'the Team' will all be making their own plans on how to spend the time (IF the sun ever comes out).  I guess with the OLYMPICS practically on us we should think about doing more sports and training to be future Champions.   Our M.D. however just wants to get fit.  Mind you he is a tad ambitious as he has set his goal at aiming to qualify to be part of another Fashion Crew  viz. the boys at ABERCROMBIE & FITCH.  Not that he wants to sell pricey sweatshirts BUT he would like a pair of those abs at least.

Check this video that has already gone viral :=-

What ever your plans are for this Summer : HAVE FUN.


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