AGENT2: A Digital Fashion Magazine

This was the website of the digital fashion magazine, AGENT2,  that was live from 2009-2012. The content below is from the site's 2012 archived content.

AGENT2 is for leaders. Fashion-focused and multi-media, AGENT2 is a trend magazine that transcends trendy.

Featuring news and reviews bursting with fresh creativity, originality and style, AGENT2 gives the reader a taste of culture and design with sharp panache.

Skimming the surface of high-fashion, contemporary design, modern dining and nouveau travel, AGENT2 cuts its own chic niche that remains unrivalled in its field.

Always focused on what is just ahead, AGENT2 appeals to smart, style-savvy readers interested in discovering what’s new and exciting in these ever-changing creative arenas.

Our readers are proud consumers of exclusive brands at the forefront of style.

They thrive on new ideas and forward-thinking, adopting trends they can call their own, and thereby creating their own trends for others to follow.

Exuding and reflecting the reputation of style and culture found in many of the worlds bustling cities, AGENT2 catapults new and unique social trends right to the front page.

For those looking for more from their magazine, AGENT2 offers a delectable dish of style and grace; a contemporary philosophy for the vogue generation and those always in the know.

Graham Gartside: Editor

Co-Founders

Graham Gartside-Bernier is the founder, Editor-in-Chief and driving force behind AGENT2 Magazine. A young high school wunderkind, he made a name for himself marketing eco friendly trash bags to green conscious customers, mainly high end stores as a wholesale distributor. He was quick to recognize that the popularity of all things green was not a fad and that even garbage bags could make a meaningful difference to a more environmentally aware world. The small plastic bags business was sold to a major supply company before he graduated and is still a going concern. Although the exact pathway is not direct, clearly sometimes a background hawking trash bags can lead to a most unexpected outcome - from trash to high fashion.

After a career in public relations at the head of GTWO-PR and working with international fashion and luxury brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Richard Kidd, Harvey Nichols and Komakino; Gartside-Bernier has turned his passion for avant-garde fashion and the world’s finest brands into a publication that champions up-and-coming designers from around the globe as well as delivering the finest lifestyle stories to inspire luxury-loving, design-savvy readers that set trends rather than follow them.

Interestingly, AGENT2 has recently explored the intersection of high fashion with popular culture, exemplified by a feature on Batman T-shirts. These shirts, a stark contrast to the magazine's usual focus on luxury and avant-garde fashion, represent a playful nod to the mainstream and a recognition of the iconic status that such items hold in popular culture. Batman fans are known to inhabit the high fashion lifestyle.

AGENT2’s Art Director and co-founder, Vincent Bernier always ensures the publication steps out in style as he keeps us looking our best.  Practicing artist, graphic designer and all round bastion of good taste, when not chained to the desk Vincent can be found traveling the world casting his unique eye for detail over foreign destinations and reporting back for AGENT2’s discerning readers.

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2012

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JASPER GARVIDA’S 2012 SPRING/SUMMER FASHION SHOW

IT WAS ALL ABOUT LUXURY AND GLITZ AT JASPER GARVIDA’S FASHION SHOW FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2012, WHICH WAS PRESENTED AT THE BLOOMSBURY HOTEL.

Women are Garvida’s main inspiration and for this collection, he has chosen Diana Vreland as his muse, due to her sense of style and passion for the daring and the exotic. His other main influence has been the rhythm found in Frantisek Kupka’s painting ‘Autour d’un Point’, from where the collection took its name.

Strong silhouettes in metallic colours such as gold and silver, combined with black and white, give the collection a crisp and elegant touch.

Garvida has mixed soft fabrics and circular shapes with strong materials such as sequins and abstracted feathers, and animal prints to create a futuristic and ‘electro-tribal’ feel.

Spectacular evening gowns with strong metallic hardware and short dresses with oversized pockets and striking zips were the key pieces in this sophisticated and glamorous collection.

Garvida’s designs are very popular among celebrities and fashionistas. TV presenter Hofit Golan and singer Katie Melua were in attendance.

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LISBON FASHION WEEK 2012

LESS KNOWN THAN OTHER FASHION WEEKS BUT TRYING HARD TO ESTABLISH ITS NAME IN THE FASHION WORLD, LISBON FASHION WEEK IS A REFRESHING SOCIAL EVENT AND FASHION SHOW THAT, ALTHOUGH NOT YET ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE BIG 4 (PARIS, MILANO, NEW YORK, LONDON), IS BECOMING BIGGER AND BETTER EACH YEAR WITH QUIRKY AND CREATIVE DESIGNERS WHO CELEBRATE FASHION AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.

Portuguese designer V!tor showcased a dark and sinister collection, where models had their faces covered in “burka style” at the elegant venue Camara Municipal de Lisboa. Ripped t-shirts combined with jeans, dresses and pullovers were the key pieces in a collection inspired by death, zombies and resurrection, where black was the star colour. Street fashion-meets-punk-meets-the-80s-spirit.

Models with painted glasses over the faces and high pony tails opened the runway in a quirky and fun collection designed by Katty Xiomara. Capes, oversized sleeves, bows and mid-length dresses in a colour palette of blues, purples and lime green were the main highlights in this girly and playful collection for a woman who doesn’t take herself too seriously.

At the spectacular location Patio da Gale, designer Dino Alves presented an extravagant collection that explores the nature and meaning of shadows. The models made an entrance standing in a podium where their outfits where illuminated creating a three-dimensional effect. Short grey dresses with black leather gloves, oversized pockets and high-waisted skirts with abstract prints added a futuristic touch to this innovative collection.

Ricardo Petro showcased slick outfits such as maxi skirts, oversized sweaters and mini dresses in white, dark green, peach, black and cream. The result was a serious and elegant collection for a woman who wants to be stylish without showing too much.

It was all about zips and short dresses in the romantic and stylish collection from Os Burgueses. Red, black and white colours where mixed with fabrics such as denim, leather and wool to create a chic collection that oozed “high-school elegance”, sophistication and sensuality.

Male models barefoot with long coats, thick jumpers and scarves presented a look perfect for snowy days and cold winters in style. Grey was the protagonist in this practical collection with an icy feel by designer Daniel Dinis.

Reminiscent of the punk movement and the world of hockey, Maria Gambina presented a rebellious collection where strong colours such as electric blue, red, black and white were combined with padded technical fabrics and original ankle boots, which looked like skates, to create striking designs that exuded attitude and provocation.

To the rhythm of Portuguese guitar the show started, and what a show it was! Fur shined in this stunning and trendy collection by Miguel Vieira, for women and men who want to show off their most glamorous side. A series of exquisite outfits for dandies and femme fatales who want to feel like a hundred million dollars. Bow tie, white trousers and shirts combined with elegant trainers was the main look for men, while for women fur everywhere, from skirts to sleeves, long evening gowns and high-waisted skirts with sequins were the key pieces in this luxurious and tremendously chic catwalk show.

Nuno Baltazar’s collection, “The man I love”, displayed sophisticated and feminine silhouettes in a colour palette of blacks, oranges and greys. Nuno makes a personal interpretation of Pina Bausch’s universe and analyzes the female condition featuring elegant and urban pieces in soft fabrics such as cotton, viscose and wool. Bodysuits, one-shoulder dresses and big puffy sleeves were accessorized with stilettos and clutches creating stylish and timeless designs.

Lisbon Fashion Week presented original designs that had a commercial feeling and awareness of the consumers’ needs and preferences. Although this year’s edition was affected by Portugal’s economic crisis and the loss of one of its main sponsors, Portuguese designers are claiming their place in the fashion world with inspiring and innovative pieces.

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DANISH WAKEEL FASHION SHOW 2012

FASHION DESIGNER AND MODEL DANISH WAKEEL PRESENTED HIS FIRST WEARABLE MENSWEAR COLLECTION AT ONE IN LEICESTER SQUARE.

Danish’s collection, “Draped Modern Kouroi”, is inspired by the concept of drapes, which in the past were worn by Greeks, Egyptians, Romans… Nowadays, drapes are usually associated with women but Danish breaks boundaries creating traditional outfits with a modern twist such as togas, frock coats, sarongs and caftans.

The show started with the presentation of the fashion film “Danish Wakeel’s The Ivory Tower”, a short movie that showcased Danish’s new collection and analysed the different sides of the fashion industry from Danish’s point of view.

Mixing street style with classic British tailoring and luxurious fabrics, the collection featured structured silhouettes in a colour palette of black, white, dark red and blue for confident and stylish men who want to be noticed wherever they go, highlighting the “diva-attitude” inside them.

The key pieces were a beautifully crafted black long jacket, an asymmetric jacket with floral prints, a revealing short top and the stunning final piece: an elegant white suit with a matching t-shirt.

A truly unique collection that showed off the most seductive, intriguing and fashionable side of men.

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LFW AUTUMN/WINTER 2012: BERNARD CHANDRAN

1940S GLAMOUR WITH A VERY MODERN TWIST WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY AT THE BERNARD CHANDRAN SHOW IN THE VAUXHAULL FASHION SCOUT VENUE AT FREEMASON’S HALL. THE SIZE OF THE CROWD WAITING TO PACKED INTO THE VENUE WAS A CLEAR INDICATOR OF THE POPULARITY AND BUZZ SURROUNDING THE DESIGNER.

The show opened with two models walking in tandem in day suits, but it was the unusual details in the eveningwear that really stood out through the collection. The vintage feel of the collection was emphasised by the classic victory rolls worn by the models, while extreme detailing and textures kept it firmly in 2012. Neck adornment was key and ranged from oversized collars to sequined embellishment matching the lip shaped invites sent out to attendees, while the dresses themselves featured cut out shapes, heavy sequinning and sharp angles. The shades of the collection stayed mostly in the monochrome set with occasionally forays into vivid blue and blush pink. The most striking look in the collection was that of a vibrant blue lace evening dress covered in fur detailing which clung to the curves of the model for maximum impact. A less wearable collection than the designer’s previous perhaps, but an exciting one which goes a long way to showing why such celebrities as Lady Gaga are such fans.

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LFW AUTUMN/WINTER 2012: SPIJKERS EN SPIJKERS

ENTITLED ‘BIRDS OF PARADISE’, THE DUTCH TWINS SENT THEIR MODELS FOR THEIR AUTUMN/WINTER SHOW GLIDING DOWN THE RUNWAY DRESSED IN A RICH AUTUMNAL PALETTE OF RUSTS, MUSTARDS, PURPLES AND BLUES WITH THE TITULAR BIRD EVIDENT IN NOT JUST THE COLOURS BUT EMBROIDERED ONTO CHESTS AND THROUGH FEATHERS ON PREPPY LOAFERS. BIRDS OF PARADISE ALSO REFERS...

 

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