School of Rock

One of the first street style photographers, Amy Arbus' gritty black-and-white images have inspired legions of photobloggers to take to the streets. They're also a major reference point for Saint Augustine Academy's current collection, which transports her vibrant, monochromatic aesthetic from the Village Voice archives to some of the world's slickest retail destinations.

Since launching in 2004, the Australian label has found favor with indie kids the world over, not to mention an equally hip roster of bands like Hot Hot Heat, The Rapture and The Horrors. This isn't really surprising, given that designer Alvin Manalo takes his cues from the annals of music history: along with Arbus' shots of musicians and artists, he cites inspirations as varied as '60s British invasion bands, '80s New Romantics and modern acts like Kings of Leon and Interpol.

"Music has always been the starting point for every collection I've designed," says Manalo. "The most enjoyable bit in the process is theorizing and intellectualizing a band's sound, the lyrics of a song, the story told in a particular album, or referencing my heroes' style aesthetics."

This translates into the sort of pieces seen stumbling around Williamsburg in the wee hours of the morning—the skinniest of black jeans cuffed at the ankle, artfully deconstructed white tees and tanks, vests with ultra-long tails and double-breasted grandpa cardigans. With veteran rockers (Tommy Lee and The Killers) and retailers (LA's H Lorenzo and Miami's Base) taking notice, the brand won't likely stay part of the underground scene for long.

www.saintaugustineacademy.com.au

—Erin Magner