Fashion Report.

"Today, H&M revealed the eight finalists for its Design Award competition, the winner of which will be announced on January 28 during Stockholm fashion week. The top talents were selected from a group of 26 semi-finalists after presenting their collections in London to panel of judges that included Michelle Dockery, Erdem Moralioglu, and street style star Michelle Harper. Harper, who has a flare for outré ensembles, also stars in a lookbook showcasing the finalists’ wares. Lina Michal, Eddy Anemian, Jia Hua (a Parsons alum who made quite an impression with her graduate collection in September), Xiao Li (above), Devon Halfnight, Sophie Sälekari, Camilla Blasé Woodman, and Henriette Tilanuas will all compete for the grand 50,000 euro prize later this month. Check back here on January 28 to catch Style.com’s coverage of the competition."

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Menswear Spring 2014.

Alexander Wang.

Madewell's Spring 2014 Lookbook.

Somsack Sikhounmuong is the new designer for Madewell and he is giving us a sneak peek of the brand's Spring 2014 collection.

Don't we all like sneak peeks? I know I do!

For the spring/summer lookbook there is unkempt hair, half-tucked tops, a bit of nautical influence, and lots of denim.

 It's a collection of visual inspiration for the casual-chic French girls we all on some level strive to be.
 ELLE has taken the liberty to interview Somsack.

See below:

"Does this collection represent a new direction for Madewell, or was it more important to stick to the company’s signature aesthetic?

For me it's about capturing both—the new and the signature. A good example is our denim. We've worked really hard to maintain what we love—cool washes, great fits—while keeping it fresh by introducing new fabrics and bodies. There's a killer pair of overalls for spring that I'm excited about; they are slimmer and sexier.

How would you describe the girl who wears this collection?

Effortless, cool and considered.

What’s the key to striking the chic balance that's portrayed in the look book?

Casual but never sloppy. All those touches—a rolled up jean, half tucked shirt—make an outfit more personal. There are so many different versions of the roll: one, two, half tuck, left half, right half, skinny half or generous half…I could go on. What you choose to do makes your look yours! So experiment and try a few things out to find what feels natural and looks good.

There’s definitely a french influence to the collection. What was the inspiration behind this?

Travel was key for Spring '14 at Madewell. We looked to a lot of places for inspiration and, yes, were influenced by French dressing. I have always had an affinity for french style. There's an off-handed easy but always put together take on dressing that I gravitate towards.

Is the baseball hat the new “It” accessory?

I can't pick just one! I love a baseball hat but for this spring, you're also going to need a pair of our new chunkier sandals, a small cross body bag and one (or two) of our sash belts to go with it. "

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