St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is right around the corner and, honestly, have you seen the line up? Anna Calvi, Chairlift, The Drums, The Horrors.. the list goes on and on! Now, add Dr. Martens to that equation and it brings an already awesome festival to a whole new level. Yes, the good people over at Dr. Martens Singapore are providing their fans with transportation to the festival venue!

A fully decked-out shuttle bus service will pick all you festival-goers from the corner of Coleman Street, facing The Adelphi, at 15 minute intervals from 12 noon to 8pm. Talk about dedication!

And that’s not the half of it. Here’s a sneak peek at the exclusive, limited edition Festival Survival Kit prepared by Dr. Martens for the first 1000 people wearing Dr. Martens to the Laneway Festival! Comprising of a drawstring pouch with a poncho (we all know what happened last year..), an LED flashlight, antiseptic hand wipes, and a key chain bottle opener for all those of you who prefer a cold beer (let’s face it, who doesn’t?). Well, I’ve already gotten mine, and I’m already planning a festival-worthy outfit, so remember to put on those Airwairs and troupe down for Laneway!

Photos courtesy of Dr. Martens Singapore

These lemon yellow and sky blue kites were the first thing that got my attention at the 3.1 phillip lim press presentation held by Club 21 at COMO House. It was like being a kid again, flying kites at East Coast Park. Phillip Lim obviously had this sense of lightness and freedom in mind when he was designing his spring/summer collection. Floaty silk and tough-lady leather were the fabrics of choice – a lavender silk jacket with removable sleeves particularly caught my eye, as well as a buttery soft leather vest. This interesting mix of aesthetics worked very well for the label this season I must say.

Sorbet silks and chiffons were cut geometrically to mimic kite strings and made into airy blouses and racerback tanks. Basic, wearable, and most importantly, breathable in our hot, tropical weather.

The functionality of the collection is converged in this denim vest. But it’s not only a normal denim vest, it also transforms into a super handy backpack when turned inside out! However, it is relatively heavy and thick so – wear with caution.

Photo from Park & Cube

I’m intrigued to see the emergence of bomber jackets on the racks of menswear this season, but I really shouldn’t be right? Functional and versatile, it also exudes that dangerous bad boy vibe which makes it oh-so-irresistable. This grey/black Paul Smith bomber jacket with ruched sleeves is a pretty good bet if you want to hop on the bomber jacket bus – simple and functional without sacrificing style.

Remember those days when you’d go to the beach and you’d have floats, beach balls, inflatable animals and what not? It’s from these happy beach memories that British label Mulberry drew on for their spring/summer 2012 collection. The press presentation at Club 21′s COMO House was definitely not lacking in inflated animals and beach balls for sure. While I was there, I counted one ginormous tiger, a zebra, a crocodile, ice cream cones and numerous balloons all in the shapes of animals stacked and piled together in a messy, exuberant heap. Against this bewildering backdrop, the sleek designs of the bags and accessories stood out – in particular, a teddy bear lock on the new Alexa, as well the Alexas in Silky Snake and a navy blue pony hair/lizard print Travel Day Bag. I loved the utter whimsicality of the set and how they made the bags really pop, so, props to the zaniness of the set!

Photo by Ying-ying Lee.

Guys, it’s not always true that the ladies get all the good stuff you know. Hot on the heels of Phillip Lim’s Pashli satchel, a favourite of editors and bloggers worldwide, the designer has also released a series of bags aimed at all the fashionable males out there. Presenting.. the 31 Hour series! Aside from the 31 Hour bag, which is the “Pashli” for the guys, it also includes zip pouches in two different sizes, handy for keeping those absolute necessities and is a super chic (eek!) way of organizing your bag as well.

The “31 Hour” in the series’ name is derived from the hectic nature of modern society, where, from Phillip Lim’s perspective, it’s not simply enough to just prepare for the 24 hours we face in a day. Rather, unexpected circumstances and events may throw a kink in one’s plans and it may be the best if one was well prepared. Crafted from supple nappa leather, it’s a take on the classic tote bag, but with a twist on its proportion to differentiate it from any normal tote.

The label’s signature fold over lip and large zip closure are perfect for throwing obscene copies of magazines, a laptop, wallet, iPad and other such conveniences of the modern lifestyle – great for a busy editor or multi-tasking urbanite don’t you think?

What I’m more interested in is the oversized zip pouch that’s a great alternative to carrying the tote. If you like to leave the house with just your wallet, BlackBerry and keys like me, the zip pouch has an elegantly simple aesthetic that will really appeals to all the minimalists out there. The silver hardware is a big plus, although they could consider making some with rose gold-esque hardware as well, rose gold being the metal du jour of moment and all. In all, this bag is definitely a good investment for busy urban dwellers and fashion lovers alike, and trust me, it’ll pay for itself with all the work hours (geddit?) you’ll get out of it!

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