Photography: Marcio Madeira / Style.com - Sophia Kokosalaki Fall ‘08 RTW

According to WWD, “Sophia Kokosalaki is venturing into new territory with a denim capsule collection that will bow in July”. The pieces are made of Japanese stretch denim and are described as “sophisticated and with a London-street-style feel” with retail prices between US$386 to US$1,236.

The line will be part of the designer’s first pre-collection launching for spring-summer 2009. Detailed with Kokosalaki’s signature lyre emblem and her graphic stitching, the six-piece line includes jackets, miniskirts, pants and shorts, all in black. “This collection is very me,” Kokosalaki said. “I wear denim all the time and I always wear black.”

I adore Sophia Kokosalaki can’t wait to see what she comes up with!

Denim label, Cheap Monday, a subsidiary of H&M (as of March) has big plans to eventually open its own stores and new markets in South America, Russia and Asia. H&M’s goal is to a make Cheap Monday as big as Levi’s or Diesel with a price tag that is based on the “Big Mac Index“, I agree that a good pair of jeans doesn’t need to cost so much.

Cheap Monday has already diversified its lineup to include looser fits. In August, the brand will introduce its first chinos and for fall will unveil 14 men’s and women’s styles, bringing the total designs to 25 and, including washes, 120. New women’s designs include Lady Loose, a high-waist, nonstretch style with tapered legs; Flare, a Seventies-inspired high waist with flared legs; A L, a high fit, tight waist with wide bottoms, and France, a normal waist, nonstretch fit with straight bottoms. For spring 2009, the offer will rise to 29 styles.

To further broaden its appeal, Cheap Monday aims to build its renown in ready-to-wear. Currently, the label’s offer is split evenly between rtw and denim. Next spring, it will introduce a new streetwear collection dubbed Wknd. via WWD

Denim Bomber, £75 (about US$147), Denim Skirt, £45 (about US$88) and Denim Jeans, £60 (about US$117).

Yesterday I announced the Danielle Scutt for Topshop collaboration news, today Elle UK has the exclusive sneak peek of the range. The “10-piece denim collection is a retro, hark back to the 1980’s as well as nod to her spring/ summer 08 catwalk show, featuring skinny jeans, tight fitting, belted denim dresses, rock tees and a stand out cropped denim bomber”, the range hits Topshop on June 2nd.

“I chose to use denim for Topshop because of it’s authenticity and breadth of appeal spanning generations, cultures and subcultures. Denim provides a cool, effortless statement that not all fabrics can achieve” Scutt says of her latest project.

What are your thoughts of the preview?

According to FWD, the Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz is in the “initial stages of creating his first jeans line with Stockholm-based Acne Jeans“. He aims to bring a Lanvin feel and offer women a variety of options to the collection with the price point comparable to Lanvin rtw pieces. The denim collection should be ready to be released in 2009. “It’s the first of several niches I’d like to build” says Alber Elbaz.

Hmm…all I can think of is expensive jeans…

Photography: SuperiorPics

Heidi Klum by Jordache, even with the second highest paid model bearing the name of the brand still doesn’t make much of a buzz. Her spring 2008 collection launched at Bloomingdale’s Beverly Center a few nights ago and is sold exclusively at Bloomingdale’s. Heidi looks great in anything but the collection itself is very bland - I mean who still wears Jordache jeans? In case you’re interested the range has hit www.bloomingdales.com.

I’ve been searching around for a pair of leather or leather-like jeans for awhile but haven’t been lucky enough yet. While looking through 7 For All Mankind I came across these fab Roxanne jeans in black non-stretch denim, it has a glossy look which kind of resembles leather or lamé. Too bad the only size left is a size 31 which is too big for me, if that’s your size cop it quick! The search goes on for me…

> 7 For All Mankind: Roxanne Jeans in Indianapolis

While in Las Vegas, I swung by Project to check out Lanie’s spring ‘08 collection Hellz Bellz collection. The booth was always packed with friends and buyers, with small gaps in between appointments I snuck in to get a few shots (didn’t get a chance to post up the images yet). Hellz Bellz never fails to impress me, this collection as well.

The new Hellz Bellz spring ‘08 collection is shipping to stores now, check here for store listings and where to cop online. Besides the dope Hellz Bellz x INSA Denim Jean collaboration under her belt there are also her usual t-shirts, jackets, jeans, zip up hoodies and tops. This collection is a tribute to the revolutionary female of the 70’s and 80’s.

I’m diggin’ the denim jacket, HB x INSA Denim Jean, hoody and striped top - cute stuff!

More pics after the jump….

> Continue reading…