It would have been a HEINOUS TRAVESTY (yes, caps are a must...) if I went all he way to Reykjavik and DIDN'T go to see the beautiful couple behind Kron Kron, Hugrun and Magni, who have the multi-tasking identity of being a) designers of a a shoe label (called Kron by Kron Kron) that has spawned s.o. m.a.n.y. posts on this blog because of their delightful confectionary-esque designs, b) owners of a multi-label boutique that in addition to their own label sells other labels too as well as having a separate shoe store nearby too and now they are c) spawners of a clothing label that is now into its second season of pairing pretty frocks and hoisery along with their eponymous shoes.
(Magni and Hugrun - god damn their 'accidental\ colour co-ordination that looks magnificent when placed in the context of their store Kron Kron)
That long ass list can only mean an indulgent picture fest here because when I say that Kron Kron give gooooood shoe eye candy, I literally mean that you almost want to reach into your computer screen and attempt to lift out a pair of shoes, how I envision e-shopping will be like when they discover that Wonka Vision ACTUALLY works. I'm not going to bother with being too exacting about what season is which because if you're at all familiar with Kron by Kron Kron shoes, it's the unique colour combinations and little nuggets of detailing that are consistent traits in their work. Sure some seasons might be more about boots and wedges and others more about T-bar straps and lower heels amd there might be a varying degree of bows and ruffles but the fact remains that Hugrun and Magni seem to have an intuitive feel for colour combinations that on paper shouldn't work but in shoe form present you with a dizzying number of styles for you to choose from. I said this before but I think it's a case of closing your eyes and picking one at random...
It doesn't help that in both Kron Kron stores (the shoe store and the boutique), the shoes are presented on coloured blocks that only makes for a delightful backdrop for this shoe pick n' mix extravaganza...
For two seasons now, Hugrun and Magni have also added hoisery to their Kron by Kron Kron own-label which makes entire sense when you see these stripy gradiated tights paired with the shoes as seen on this shop staff member...
Magni's grandmother also created some traditional cross-stitch patterns that were then turned into prints for these socks and tight designs that recall the best bits of Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (yes, that old fashion inspiration chestnut... )
Their love of interesting hoisery extends to a pretty magnificent selection in their multi-label boutique which is pretty vast by Reykjavik standards and if I'm honest blows other stores in the city out of the water in their selection and breadth of stock...
It's a bit depressing that I go all the way to Reykjavik to find Sonia Rykiel and Tsumori Chisato shoes that I've never really even seen in London but they all fit into the store's promotion of all things happy, pretty and exuberant that is also reflected in the buying of the clothes...
... including again a lot of Sonia Rykiel, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Peter Jensen, Eley Kishimoto as well as local labels like Hildur Yeoman and of course their own Kron by Kron Kron wares. In short, it's a giant amount of colour, a large dollop of print and a dash of whimsy all mixed together and presented in an equally vibrant store that definitely felt like a fashion hub in Reykjavik where girls, women (I saw a 50-something lady buying the gradiated stripy tights - that makes me very happy...) and a few guys too convene to joyfully browse and shop.
Contemplating a Henrik Vibskov oversized grey beret...
For the dudes, there's a selection of Opening Ceremony, bStore, Velour and other easy-going Scandi brands...
As I mentioned before, Kron Kron's latest bit of expansion is their clothing line which for S/S 11 includes a lot of colour blocking that mirrors what the shoes do in terms of colour combinations as well as introducing details such as bows, ruffles and pleats that also feature on the shoes. For Hugrun and Magni though, clothes were always in the pipeline but they wanted to tread carefully, building their shoe collection (it started in 2008) and then introducing elements like tights and simple satin colour blocked dresses first, which incidentally here match the corrugated iron houses of Reykjavik...
These Kron by Kron Kron velvet frocks that are perfect for flouncing about in along with their shoes and hoisery. You can see more from the clothing collection on their online store as well as their blog...
At Hugrun and Magni's new studio space which is MAHUSSIVE and faces a magnificent view, we took a look at the new A/W 11-12 clothing and shoe collection, which also featured in the Reykjavik Fashion Festival. Photographer Saga Sig's lookbook images here have definitely helped to propel Kron Kron's shoes all over the blogosphere where her images are reblogged/Tumblr-ed and generally well-loved...
I'll have to rely on the fact that Saga will once again be shooting the lookbook images for this new A/W 11-12 collection because I made a bit of a Style Bubble blunder on the night of the second night of the Reykjavik Fashion Festival when Kron by Kron Kron were showing as they had an intermission during the show and as the second portion started, I couldn't make it back to my seat in time (and somebody had already taken it...) so was crouching down by the end of the catwalk and couldn't really take pictures properly...
The one thing I did catch was this shell print, which is a big motif for this collection... again, how did Hugrun and Magni make shells look like sweeties? There's definitely a confectionary-based streak in their design skills...
Once again at their studio, I was faced with a dizzying choice of shoes...
...which was made worse by their A/W 11-12 collection featuring more wedge styles as well as a new lace-up, mid-heel, low platform style that looks a little Victoriana...
It goes without saying that at the end of the Kron Kron fest, some physical Kron Kron had to come back with me from Reykjavik. From their clothing line, it had to be this stripy gradiated tunic where I stupidly forgot to get the matching tights as well to complete the perfectly tuned rainbow effect...
(Worn with Piers Atkinson cherry headdress - yes, it's the inky blue version of the one Anna dello Russo wore, Issey Miyake Pleats Please skirt, Heavy Machine shoes)
Steve helped me pick out the shoes because in the end, I couldn't decide and now I'm finding that there's no point trying to match clothes to them - just go with the colours and clash away...
(Worn with James Long sweater and Dries Van Noten trousers)
Then there are those printed socks and tights, with rococo touches and Wedgewood blue undertones, to add to the heaping pile of printed socks that needs its own drawer soon. I actually have two pairs of socks here to give away, one in the design on the left in the pic below, and one in the design on the right on the last pic, so just leave a comment with your email address in the email field and I'll pick two peeps at random and send them away for your printed hoisery enjoyment...
(Shoes from left to right, top to bottom - Rodarte x Nicholas Kirkwood, Stella McCartney, Kron by Kron Kron, Dries Van Noten)
