Explain
Can Stylists Like Kate Young & Tina Chai Make Boring Clothes Interesting?
By Britt Aboutaleb
It’s impossible to ignore the stellar names listed in bold on Theory’s store window’s right now: Andrea Lieberman, Tina Chai, Leslie Fremar, Kate Young, Annabel Tollman, etc.
They’re part of Theory’s “Fashion Insider” initiative, in which they’ve hired 17 stylists (including, inexplicably, Derek Blasberg) to take their classic SS10 collection and make it look both hip and fashion forward—it’s working, I want all of this.
Meanwhile, Ann Taylor’s hired four stylists (two of whom overlap with Theory’s program) for their “Style Studio.” It’s similar; they’ve asked a few top stylists to make their LOFT collection look ten times cooler. We don’t know how LOFT has worked their stylists into their retail stores, but Theory’s Meatpacking District location has organized their racks by each A-list stylist (their collective clients include Maggie Gyllenhaal, Scarlett Johansson, Madonna, Amanda Peet and Michelle Williams) which makes it both easy and attractive to shop.
These women have an extraordinary eye, but will they make you shop at stores you’ve ignored until now? If it works, we see brands like Land’s End and Gap following suit. Imagine what it would’ve done for Gap if they’d plastered Phoebe Philo’s name all over the place instead of keeping her quietly behind the scenes.
Tags: Andrea Lieberman, Ann Taylor, Derek Blasberg, Gap, Kate Young, Lands' End, LOFT, Theory, Tina Chai
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If the clothes, themselves, are weak…then no amount of styling or big names attached to the brand can incite interest in them. I've not seen LOFT lately, but what I remember of it…bleh. Even moreso for the GAP. We will see, though.And is Phoebe Philo styling them now? I know that Patrick Robinson is designing, and I think he's doing a great job, but I still think that he hasn't made enough of a departure from the stale brand that the Gap was turning into. I understand that he has to maintain some sense of brand integrity, but still…..give me glitz, glamour, and flash. At least more than what they've been offering. Fashion is too…..ECLECTIC now for the Gap to be able to stand out with just basics in a sea of a lot of glitter.
Does it make me a total nerd that I want to go into the store and try to guess which stylists put together which looks? I think that'd be a fun way to spend an afternoon. And that's probably why I'm single.
Phoebe Philo was designing for Gap prior to Patrick coming on board.
so true. theory's always managed to infuse more fashion forward ideas into each collection, so they're starting with a strong foundation. (though they could do more to make the quality match the pricepoint).
Fashionista.com It's not Ann Taylor it's just LOFT. Ann Taylor is one store and LOFT is another. Stop confusing the two.
the website is anntaylorloft.com – it's ann taylor
LOFT is Ann Taylor's lower-priced diffusion line. Ann Taylor, the company, chose to drop their name from LOFT's label about a year ago in order to delineate the two brands more clearly.
it's loftonline.comIt's no longer Ann Taylor LOFTit's just LOFT, cupcake6.
so which do you work for? LOFT or Ann Taylor?
http://www.anntaylorloft.com/home.jsp this is the URL .I bought a dress from there last year. I am frugal aka cheap so it had to be good and it was nice got tons of compliments on it. Really pretty lace dress that everyone seems to want now and they were early on it. I personally don't believe in disliking something because the “cool kids” don't. Ann Taylor is not bad. I am just saying it is still listed as Ann Taylor Loft.
I work for neither, Britt!
LOFT is a stupid name. Say it out loud–”Loft”–what a lame word. What would be amazing is if they called it LOFT-WAFFE and made it all german military *snort*
I can't believe there is this much disqus-ion about Ann Taylor. Gag me with a spoon.
What I can't believe is how hard I laughed at “disqus-ion.” Too funny! Anyway, I love the “Fashion Insider” addition to Theory–I really like listening to the stylists explain their looks in the videos. Isabel Dupre is one of my favorite stylists and I always love her looks!
Well, at least everyone knows how to use the Reply button.
I think Gap has done a great job of making their standard offerings relevant. There aren't many other brands like them. They now sell many different styles, some trendy, of affordable denim and style.com just announced Patrick's plan to update their trouser designs as well.
Derek Blasberg needs to go away already. I don't understand why he is famous. And I don't understand why fashionista and other blogs (usually) kiss his ass, in their posts and on twitter.
Being a model is so tough. You have to learn every step that you take to maintain your image. I am a model for 5 years already . When i started modeling things are getting to crazy and harder for me but thanks to Vedic Image Group they have shared to me their tip in developing image, Vedic Image is a fashion styling