Archive for November 2010

Dolce & Gabbana Pieces Worn By Madonna and Gaga To Be Featured At Musée Des Arts Décoratifs

Two iconic looks from Dolce & Gabbana will represent Italian fashion at the Musée des arts Décoratifs’ “Histoire idéale de la mode contemporaine vol. 2 : 1990–2000″ exhibit, which opens in Paris on November 25 and runs through May 8.

The exhibit looks at fashion from the last ten years of the 20th century, beginning with looks from minimalist designers like Azzedine Alaïa, Yohji Yamamoto, Helmut Lang and Martin Margiela and ending with the more provocative and over-the-top designs of John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood.

The Italian design duo, who are currently in hot water on charges of tax evasion, provided two looks to represent Italian fashion at the exhibit–pieces that place them squarely in the more provocative camp. The first look is a corset embellished with multicolored stones and charms from Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall ’91/’92 collection, made famous by Madonna when she wore it to the ’91 premiere of Truth or Dare in NYC. The second piece is a corset armor dress from Spring ’07, worn famously by her Madgesty’s descendant, Lady Gaga.

Check out the looks below both on the runway and on the gals who made them famous.

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Accessories

Accessorize Is Poised To Take Over The US, One Rhinestone At A Time

Last night fashion bloggers were invited for a sneak peek at the new Accessorize store here in NYC, which will officially open on Black Friday, or November 26. Accessorize, the UK-based chain store that is now found in about 70 different countries, is basically the H&M or Zara of accessories–think cheap and trendy jewelry, bags, trinkets.

The first Accessorize store opened in the US in Washington DC in June 2010. The company hopes to open 100 stores in the US by 2015, starting on the East Coast. You can buy online now, but everything is still priced in UK currency. That will change by the end of November, when a currency converter is added.

When I walked into the tiny, adorable shop on the corner of Christopher and Bleecker Streets, my first thought was, “Wow, Katy Perry would absolutely love this.” Turns out that she and other starlets, such as Taylor Swift and, uh, Kate Middleton, are big fans.

The target demographic is 18-35 years old, and the wares are flirty, girly, tongue-in-cheek, and fun. It’s not childish, however, like US accessories store Claire’s can be. It’s definitely meant for women, albeit those with a sense of humor about fashion. Prices range from $8-$80. And the prices are comparable to UK pricing: for example £12.00 earrings were marked as $20–that’s about an even exchange rate.

There’s a lot going on in the store, but once you focus, themes emerge.

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Magazines

More On Anna’s Chinese Adventure, With Pictures!

Yesterday, we reported on Anna Wintour’s mysterious trip to China. Now, thanks to, um, Shanghaiist, we know a little more. First of all, Anna didn’t go it alone-she’s there with American Vogue‘s Director of Special Events Sylvana Ward Durrett. Thanks to some kind of Chinese version of Tumblr/Twitter and Google Translator, we’ve determined Anna is there to speak at some sort of forum at the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum of Fine Art in Beijing, where people will be able to ask her questions. The event is set to take place today.

Anna and Sylvana also paid a visit to Vogue China’s offices to meet with their Editor in Chief Angelica Cheung, who looks like an edgier, more asymmetrical version of Anna.

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The Business

Mickey Drexler in Talks to Take J.Crew Private

J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler is working with two investment firms to take the company private, according to the New York Times‘ blog DealBook.

This means that if the deal does indeed go through, J.Crew will be removed from the stock market and all public shareholders will be bought out.

Generally, with buyouts like this, the idea is to fix the business out of public scrutiny. And eventually either sell it to someone else or take it public again.

Why might J.Crew want to do this if it’s thought as the leading specialty retailer in the US, if not the world? We shop there, you shop there–who doesn’t think it’s a brilliant store?

Well, despite a transformation in recent years, thanks to Drexler and protege Jenna Lyons, sales have been slower in 2010, dropping for the last two fiscal quarters. Separately, we’ve heard from sources within the company that while men’s sales have continued to rise at a rapid pace, women’s have been stunted as of late.

What does this mean for your shopping experience? Probably not much.

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Entertainment

Before I Was a Supermodel: Lily Aldridge

By Lauren Sherman Monday, Nov 22, 2010 / 7:00 PM

In this video series, exclusive to Fashionista, Victoria’s Secret models reveal what their lives were like pre-Angeldom. This segment features the lovely Lily Aldridge:

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airs Tuesday, November 30 at 10pm EST on CBS.

Caption This

Caption This: Willow Smith Is Wearing A _____ At the AMAs

By Leah Chernikoff Monday, Nov 22, 2010 / 6:36 PM


Not one to disappoint, Willow Smith wore this crazy getup to the American Music Awards last night: a long sleeved romper, some slouchy boots, gloves, and this nutty yellow buckled shoulder-arm accoutrement type thing that we can’t quite figure out. Give it a name!

Anthropologie and Doyle & Doyle Launch a Vintage Jewelry Collection

Everyone knows that Anthropologie loves vintage. Walking through their store is like walking through an antique shop. Except for the fact that nearly everything’s brand new.

But now Anthro has teamed up with popular Lower East Side antique jewelry boutique Doyle & Doyle to launch a collection of actual vintage baubles called For The Collector.

It’s a new section of Anthropologie’s website where shoppers can find antique estate and artisan jewelry. Hand-selected by Anthropologie and Doyle & Doyle’s buyers, each piece is unique–styles represented include Victorian, Edwardian, art deco and more.

The site will regularly feature 10 to 20 pieces of jewelry, and will be replenished with different pieces as the others are sold. Take a look at some of the gems that are currently up for sale.

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Sales

Racked Dealfeed: Gap, John Varavtos, & Montblanc

Montblanc
Deal: Up to 75% off pens, watches, and other luxury accessories
When/Where: Monday, November 22 and Tuesday, November 23. Mon 8:30am—5:30pm, Tues 8:30am—4:30pm. Roosevelt Hotel, 45 W. 45th St at Madison, Vanderbilt Suite (no phone)

Jay Godfrey
Deal: Up to 85% off sleek womenswear
When/Where: Monday, November 22 through Tuesday, November 23. Daily 10am—6pm. 333 W. 39th St between Eighth and Ninth Aves, suite 402 (no phone)

King of Greene Street
Deal: 20% to 40% off in-season collections from about 20 designer brands including Kris Van Assche, Giuliano Fujiwara, and Paraboots.
When/Where: Friday, November 19th through Sunday, November 28th. Mon—Sat 11am—7pm, Sun noon—6pm. 72 Greene St between Spring and Broome Sts (212-302-5470)

Convent
Deal: Markdowns on hip labels. Dusen Dusen sack dress was $209, now $145; Cheap Monday velvet dress was $78, now $15
When/Where: Ongoing. Tues—Sat noon—8pm, Sun noon—5pm, Mon closed. 179 Stanton St between Clinton and Attorney Sts (212-673-0233)

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Models

Adriana, Chanel, and Lily Reveal Their Victoria’s Secret Holiday Shopping Lists

It’s Victoria’s Secret season at Fashionista. First, we scored backstage interviews with several Angels before their big runway performance and learned all about that $2 million bra.

Then, we came up with our favorite crazy costumes from the show, which airs November 30 on CBS. And more recently, we’ve been all about those Before I Was a Supermodel videos. (Lily Aldridge‘s will debut tonight, by the way. And Chanel’s is scheduled for tomorrow morning.)

So to wrap it all up–pun intended?–we stopped by the Victoria’s Secret and Pink stores in SoHo this morning and quizzed the Angels on what they plan on giving–and receiving–this holiday season:

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Our Favorite Mother & Child Editorials and Campaigns

H&M’s holiday campaign features Stella Tennant and her daughters Cecily and Jasmine, nine and seven. They’re meant to embody the “spirit of togetherness” theme that H&M is pushing for the quickly-approaching holiday season.

Of course, it’s not the first time model mothers and their kids have worked together in campaigns and editorials. So we decided to round up some of our favorite mother-daughter moments. One of them may surprise you.

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Magazines

Eniko Is Everything In RUSSH

By Elizabeth Jaime Monday, Nov 22, 2010 / 4:02 PM

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Adventures in Copyright

Adventures In Copyright: Lulu Guinness’ Lips Vs. Sephora’s Mouth

Today’s Adventures In Copyright brings us the battle of the big lips. And no, we’re not referring to a botched Botox procedure.

It seems that someone over at Sephora was heavily inspired by one of Lulu Guinness’s iconic red lip clutches . The mega beauty retailer recently released a handbag that’s all too similar to the style Guinness originated years ago.

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