Fashion collaborations

Whoever said marriage was going out of fashion hadn\'t considered the highly strategic union between designer brands. For better or for worse (for richer, for poorer), this is the season of the designer collaboration. And don\'t they all make lovely couples? Well, not always! We suspect money and power, rather than simple love is behind several of these (more the cynic us) but hey, we don\'t care. Anything that delivers a highly covetable item injected with dollops of glamour and catwalk fashion without a preposterously expensive price tag is fine by us. We offer our heartiest congratulations. And if you are a purist who prefers your favourite designer handwriting untainted, sit tight. Fashion marriages - as you might expect - rarely last...

Emma Watson to turn fashion designer?

Louise Goldin to design for Ballantyne

Read more about Stella McCartney\'s range for Gap

Read more about Yasmin Le Bon\'s range for Wallis

Read more about Mark Ronson\'s collaboration with Gucci

Christopher Kane for Topshop

Topshop are correct in thinking that right now, Christopher Kane is \"the one\" in terms of making a crucial fashion partner. In his third and biggest ever collaboration with the high street chain he promises, \"this is nothing like any other work I\'ve done in the past. Everything is a bit \"wow\". The union between the Scottish designer and Sir Philip Green demonstrates how designer/high street collaborations are a win-win situation. Kane benefits hugely from the fame and fortune gleaned from star billing at the young fashion store (now in New York, remember) and, like a caring spouse, Sir Philip picks up the tab for the designer\'s catwalk shows in London. Nice one. The autumn/winter Christopher Kane for Topshop range comprises of 39 styles, some of which feature the same trend-setting mirror, gem and eyelet embellishment of his mainline range. Key pieces include slim \'50s-style briefs and body-con \'80s-fabulous bodies, along with must-have leggings, lacey medieval-inspired evening dresses and camisoles which morph his signature minimalist modern glamour. There are boots and bags too, priced between £40 and £160. In-store from 18 September at selected Topshop stores.

Picture: Emma Watson in a dress from the Christopher Kane autum/winter 2009 collection before an appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman in New York.

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Hussein Chalayan for J Brand

The way insiders are raving about what Chalayan has done with a few darts and a pot of indigo dye you\'d think he had reinvented the wheel. 

The story goes that J Brand creative director and co-founder, Susie Crippen, caught Hussein\'s recent exhibition at the Design Museum in London and asked the British designer from the conceptualist school of fashion to come up with something spine-tinglingly new for the jeans worn by Anna Wintour and most of the fashion pack. Highlights in the new range include circular cut Capris and ‘treggings\' (legging/trouser hybrids) the like of which you\'ve never seen before. If anyone can come up with a new jean, Hussein can. This is the man who fashioned a collection from wood, remember. The range is available from September at Harvey Nichols, Dover Street Market and Selfridges.

Picture: The Circuit jeans by Hussein Chalayan for J Brand.

Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain

Although this is not strictly an entirely new designer ‘marriage\' it is by far the most noteworthy. This heavenly union has produced the pitter patter of pointy, buckled boots that are being heralded as the accessory of the season. This could have something to do with them being seen as a homage to the late, great Michael Jackson. Balmain bootie bears a spooky resemblance to those worn by the sparkly gloved-one in his Bad days (what with all those silver cowboy buckles and straps). Zanotti, who started his own line in 1993, is the latest shoe designer to be worshipped by starlets on the red carpet. This is the trendsetter who kickstarted the trend for gladiator heels, who has collaborated with everyone from John Galliano at Dior to Roberto Cavalli, Missoni and Vera Wang. Fans include Kylie, Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. It\'s his liaisons with Balmain designer Christophe Decarnin that have proved most devilishly dangerous, however, at least for any shoe-loving female. Zanotti\'s buckled bootie takes over where the YSL\'s caged bootie of last season left off.

Picture: Balmain autumn/winter 2009.

Jil Sander for Uniqlo: +J

Following on from all that controversial wrangling with the Prada group (who bought her brand then apparently booted her out), the German high priestess of minimalism returns to the fashion scene, championed by Japanese utility giants Uniqlo. Following on from their hugely successful collaboration with Lutz and Patmos, Jil Sander\'s +J collection for Uniqlo promises to be the basics line the designer never got around to doing. You might think it a bonkers pairing and yet this collection of understated classics perfectly follows Uniqlo\'s zen-like pared down philosophy. \"There can be luxury in simplicity,\" states Sander. Highlights include precision cut T-shirts, button-down jackets, tailored shirts, box-pleat skirts and streamlined sweaters priced only a little higher than Uniqlo\'s usual bargain basement figures. The ad campaign stars gorgeous Brazilian model, Isabeli Fontana.

Picture: A white shirt from the Jil Sander for Uniqlo range.

Jimmy Choo for H&M

Long before Kate Moss triggered a stampede at Topshop, camping outside H&M (waiting for a veritable smorgasbord of glamorous ranges by Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Madonna, Roberto Cavalli or Commes des Garcons) was a part of popular fashion culture. Swedish clothing giant H&M expect to blow their already successful track record out of the water with their latest collaboration, with Jimmy Choo. As well as featuring versions of every A-lister\'s favourite high heel - as worn by Cate Blanchett, Hilary Swank, Halle Berry and SJP as Carrie Bradshaw - men\'s and women\'s bags (starting from £30) and a clothing collection in the spirit of the brand, will land in 200 stores internationally on 14 November. Jimmy Choo\'s pointy toed founder and president Tamara Mellon says they are \"the perfect party pieces to buy now and wear THAT night!\"

Picture: Pieces from the Jimmy Choo for H&M collection.

Stella McCartney for GapKids and BabyGap

Their Alexander Wang and Vena Cava commissions set a new benchmark for quirky one-off ranges, as did their project with Roland Mouret. Their latest venture involves yet another sure-fire hit, with multi-tasking designer and yummy mummy of three Stella McCartney, who will roll out a range for GapKids and BabyGap. \"For years now I\'ve wanted to create a collection for kids,\" she says, adding, \"It\'s something I\'ve often been asked about.\" We wonder could this be a trial for a future designer line aimed at the offspring of her many style-conscious buddies, many of whom are now seriously sprogged up? Something for Gwyneth Paltrow to dress Apple and Kate Moss to dress Lila in perhaps? The kids can get a makeover at Gap from November.

Picture: Stella McCartney at the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition in London in June.

Read more about Stella McCartney\'s range for Gap

Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles

Jane Shepherdson, the woman responsible for Topshop\'s top dog status is now Whistles chief executive. She could have chosen anyone for her first designer collaboration and she chose Roksanda Ilincic, Britain\'s answer to Alber Elbaz of Lanvin. It makes for a perfect coupling. Ilincic has been the thinking-woman\'s best kept secret for several seasons, and Whistles is being hailed as the thirty-something\'s ticket to a wider audience. Ilincic is known for her beautifully crafted avant-garde and yet wearable separates, using luxurious fabrics like silk, satin, net and tulle in feminine colours sometimes referred to as \'30s ‘movie star\' shades: shocking pink, plum, gold, black and grey. Could this be the first of many designer partnerships for Whistles? 
\"We are talking to others [designers] but collaborations have to be very carefully focussed. They have to add something to Whistles that\'s not already there,\" says Shepherdson. The range is available in selected branches from Septem

Picture: Pink silk dress by Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles.

Video: Take a sneak peek at the full Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles collection

Yasmin Le Bon for Wallis

Even if you\'re too young to remember Yasmin as a supermodel in the late \'80s, no matter: she looks just as good today. After decades of featuring on international best-dressed lists, the seemingly ageless Mrs Le Bon, (mother to 18-year-old model sensation Amber) steps off the catwalk and into the design room. She has collaborated with grown-up high street brand Wallis on a range of clothing and jewellery: YLB for Wallis. The emphasis is on a long, lean silhouette with high necklines and includes wardrobe staples the model can put her own faultless track record down to, like a black pencil skirt and skinny black evening trousers. Other highlights include a leather biker jacket, silk blouse and velvet tux trouser suit. The 20-strong capsule range comes in various colours and is available from Wallis branches and online at ylb4wallis.com from 12 September 2009.

Picture: Yasmin Le Bon at a gala dinner at Hampton Court Palace in London in June.

Read more about Yasmin Le Bon\'s range for Wallis

Gucci and Mark Ronson: the \"Gucci Ronson\"

The highly sought-after record producer who put Amy Winehouse on the map moves in with the fashion pack by making sweet music (in a fashion sense) with Frida Giannini. Sneaker-collector Ronson and the Gucci designer have designed a limited edition of trendy trainers to be sold in ‘flash\' stores popping up in flagships from London to Tokyo. The Gucci Ronson incorporates iconic Gucci features from the GG logo to signature red and green stripe web.  Silver or gold metal dog tags and the chance to get your initials stamped onto a leather tag on shoe laces up the luxe factor.
 \"From the moment I first sat down with Mark we connected,\" says Giannini. \"He has a great eye for design and an amazing knowledge of sneaker history.\" A custom-made 12-inch vinyl record with exclusive tracks produced by Ronson is gifted with each pair sold.

Picture: Mark Ronson with one of his designs.

Read more about Mark Ronson\'s collaboration with Gucci

Margaret Howell and Norman Walsh: MHL trainer

As you can imagine, purist designer Margaret Howell is pretty picky about what she puts her name to. Her recent highly successful collaborations with classic British furniture brands Ercol and Ernest Race furniture, and Anglepoise lighting, have had international fans rubbing hands in anticipation of what she will do next. The wait is over: we can reveal that next month she will unveil a range developed with Bolton-based heritage footwear company Norman Walsh. The combo of Howell\'s simple-is-best design ethos, and techie functions like the use of Xymid, an ultra light, fast drying water resistant material, will also please Howell\'s legions of fans. The designer, a keen walker herself, based her MHL trainer on Walsh\'s PB Elite X\'treme fell running shoe. This comes in two colours and has the Walsh logo embossed on the leather heel tab and an authenticity label discreetly stitched inside. Shoes cost £95 from Margaret Howell stores and online from September.

Picture: Margaret Howell autumn/winter 2009.

Want to read about more designer collaborations? Don\'t miss...

Emma Watson to turn fashion designer?

Louise Goldin to design for Ballantyne

Read more about Stella McCartney\'s range for Gap

Read more about Yasmin Le Bon\'s range for Wallis

Read more about Mark Ronson\'s collaboration with Gucci

Video: Take a sneak peek at the full Roksanda Ilincic for Whistles collection