Archive for April 2011

Sales

Racked Dealfeed: Gap, Otte, Resurrection Vintage and More

Gap
Deal: Enter code GAPLOOK at checkout to save 30% off regularly-priced merchandise and an additional 15% off already-reduced sale prices
Link: Gap.com
Ends: Thursday, 14 Apr 2011

C&C California
Deal: Enter code BDAY411CNC at checkout to save $10 off your order, no minimum purchase required
Link: CandCCalifornia.com
Ends: Saturday, 30 Apr 2011

Otte
Deal: Over 60% off a wide selection of clothing and accessories from labels like Alexander Wang, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Elizabeth & James
When/Where: Wednesday, April 13 through Thursday, April 14. Daily 10am—7pm. 37 W. 26th St between Broadway and Sixth Ave, suite 305 (no phone)
Link: www.otteny.com

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Magazines

Update: Prada’s Spring Collection Lands 48 Covers (Way More Than We Originally Counted)

Last season it was Miu Miu, specifically that one appliqued dress, that kept appearing on cover after cover. This season, Prada’s spring 2011 is sweeping the glossy covers (though Dolce & Gabbana’s spring collection is making a run for it, too). So far Prada’s colorful stripey bananas collection has seen 48 covers 15 covers (that we’ve counted) and starred in countless editorials. That’s over triple the number we initially tallied. Thanks to the good people at Prada for sending us their cover clips (and we didn’t include men’s or tabloid covers).

Amanda Seyfried landed the cover of two major glossies for April–US Elle and Marie Claire UK–and wore Prada on both. Abbie Cornish is wearing the same green striped dress on the cover of Australian Harper’s Bazaar that Seyfried is wearing on the cover of Marie Claire UK. If you needed any further convincing that Prada’s spring collection is the cover star of the season, Anna Wintour herself is wearing Prada on the cover of WSJ. magazine.

Are we leaving any out? And which cover do you like best? I still like Gisele’s Vogue China cover–but now I think Avenuel is my fave. Which is yours?

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Look Book

Look Book Exclusive: Charles Henry Fall 2011

Meredith Fisher, the 23-year-old designer behind Charles Henry, has quietly been building this new brand after shuttering her original line, WAYF, which she started at the age of 17. Meredith has always counted her garmento grandfather as an inspiration, and her A/W 2011 look book reflects this, with its crisp designs and clean tailoring.

The collection is girly but not frilly, with watercolor prints, black lace, and pops of red. Skirts are short–call the length flirty–but balanced by blousier tops or shirt dress tailoring. The overall message? Adorable but never precious.

Click through to see the whole look book.

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People & Parties

The Parsons Grad Pre-Show Offers Students the Opportunity To Critique Each Other’s Work

Is one of these kids the next Alex Wang?

Last week, Coach CEO Reed Krakoff and Simon Collins, Dean of the School of Fashion at Parsons, hosted a pre-party for the 2011 Parsons Fashion Benefit at Krakoff’s eponymous store on Madison Avenue. On display were looks from ten designers, chosen by their peers, representing the cream of 2011’s young fashion design crop.

Now, the grad show for Parsons fashion design student will take place in early May, but consider this a preview. If that show is the Oscars, where those chosen to present their thesis collections are chosen by a panel of Parsons staff and industry experts (the Academy), these are the SAG awards, where the kids were judged by their peers.

“One thing I love is that the students go so far beyond what was required,” said Collins. “There’s a dress over there that was hand-woven. It reminds me of Michelin 3-star chefs, who will spend six hours slaving over one detail of one entrée to get the right flavor. They need to create 6 looks in their collections and there’s a student here who did 19. There’s blood on the sewing machines.”

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  • John Ortved
  • Wednesday, Apr 13, 2011 / 3:30 PM
  • 0 Comments
Streetwalker

Street Style: Anastasia Doesn’t Wear Brands

Name: Anastasia Khodkina

Age: Model

How Would you describe your style? Myself.

What is your favorite dessert? Fruit.

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Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Michelle Obama Has a New Stylist, Amar’e Stoudemire’s Designs for Rachel Roy to Debut this Fall, and Kasia Struss Miu Miu Ad Ruled “Not Irresponsible”

An Unknown To Replace Decarnin at Balmain: Despite reports that new Balmain stylist Melanie Ward might take over for Christophe Decarnin as creative director at Balmain, Elle UK hears that “They’re going to choose someone unknown…Christophe was an unknown when he came to Balmain, and the owners want to support lesser-known design talent.” {Elle UK}

Mrs. O’s Got a New Stylist: At a panel called “Why Style Matters,” moderated by Kate Betts, held last night at the New York Public Library, Peter Soronen, one of the First Lady’s favorite designers, let slip that Mrs. O seems to have a new stylist (who has replaced Meredith Koop, who stepped in after the FLOTUS stopped working with Ikram Goldman). Soroenen also dishes about what happens with the First Lady requests a dress from him. {The Cut}

Kasia Struss Ruled Not Too Skinny in Miu Miu Ad: The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority received complaints that Kasia Struss looked ‘significantly underweight’ in the brand’s spring print campaign and that the ad was irresponsible. The ASA cleared Miu Miu, stating that the ad “was not irresponsible” because it was “typical of those used for fashion products and that the model did not look significantly underweight.” {Telegraph}

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Events

Harper’s Bazaar Fetes the Winners of its “Fabulous at Every Age” Contest (and Glenda Bailey Tells Us Which Editor She Thinks Is Hot)

Last night Harper’s Bazaar and Estée Lauder held a lovely cocktail reception at Hearst Tower to celebrate the winners of its second annual “Fabulous at Every Age” reader contest. It was a girl-power love fest, leaving a good chunk of the room weepy by the end of the presentation.

I snuck in a quick chat with Harper Bazaar’s EIC, Glenda Bailey (in Erdem), before the presentation started. She talked about what a huge franchise “Fabulous at Every Age” is for the mag, saying, “When I’m walking along and someone wants to get my attention, they don’t go ‘Harper’s Bazaar!’ or ‘Glenda!’ They say, ‘Fabulous at every age!’” When I mentioned that I recently had a birthday and had to jump to the next age category she said, “As somebody who is not in the 70-year-old category (she’s 52), I find myself lusting after the 70-year-old picks–so I have something to look forward to in my 60s and 70s! The spirit of it is, you immediately look to where you are, but then you look a little bit before and a little bit after.”

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Beauty

Brazilian Hair Straightening Is Making Waves Again: US Department of Labor Issues a Health Hazard Alert

Brazilian blowouts–otherwise known as keratin straightening treatments–are in the news again, this time prompting the US Department of Labor to release a Hazard Alert about the dangers of formaldehyde-containing straightening formulas. The Department of Labor used the information gleaned from the various state and federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) investigations to formulate its report.

The salient points in the alert:

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Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day: Lady Gaga Had a “Kegel-exercise vaginal reaction” to Hollywood

By Leah Chernikoff Wednesday, Apr 13, 2011 / 12:02 PM

“I had all these number-one records, and I had sold all these albums, and it was sort of this turning point: Am I going to try and embrace Hollywood and assimilate to that culture? I put my toe in that water, and it was a Kegel-exercise vaginal reaction where I clenched and had to retract immediately. I ran furiously back to New York, to my old apartment, and I hung out with my friends, and I went to the same bars.”

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Webvertorial

Nordstrom Spring Fashion: Professional Can Be Colorful

Halogen

If the spring runways dictated one thing, it was: Color is in! And while candy colors make us all smile, it might be nerve wracking to attempt to incorporate them into your work wardrobe. Herewith, some tips:

When it doubt, use black as your foundation. Pick one bright piece and pair it with black. For instance, we love this hot pink Halogen skirt, which looks perfectly professional with a black blouse, black heels, and a black satchel.

Chloe

Make conservative fashionable. Is your workplace ultra-buttoned up? Luckily, many designers were inspired by work wear this season, which means lots of suiting. This Chloe double-breasted dress coat in a gorgeous true red epitomizes the idea.

Rachel Roy

A simple sheath always looks great in color. A well-tailored sheath, like this style from Rachel Roy, will look good no matter what shade.

Marc Jacobs

Have a little fun on Fridays. Instead of resorting to jeans or khaki’s when it’s time to relax, why not opt for a relaxed frock? This Marc Jacobs number is loose and playful, but the belt offers some structure so you don’t look sloppy. And of course the color is gorgeous.


Fendi

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Still unsure about going bold with your wardrobe? Start off with a bag or shoes. This Fendi lady-like clutch is extremely on trend and comes in an incredible cherry red, black, and camel combination.


This content series is brought to you by Nordstrom.com: Think Less Buttoned-Up—It’s a New 9 to 5.

Reviews

Banana Republic Fall 2011: Dunaway-Esque

Banana Republic showed their fall collection yesterday on the second floor of the Bowery hotel, set to a live, soulful soundtrack by A Fine Frenzy. For fall, Banana Republic is falling instep with the ’70s trend in a major way–looks were described as “Dunaway-esque” on the line sheet. Creative director Simon Kneen sent out menswear-inspired pants and drape front pencil skirts in browns and camels paired with knits in mustard, tomato and plum over silk blouses. There were flashes of winter white too, as well as animal prints here and there on lady like gloves and swing coats. The collection felt luxe, cozy, and inviting despite the steamy temps inside the venue. Also The Daily Show‘s Aasif Mandvi and Samantha Bee were inexplicably there. New campaign stars maybe? That would be awesome.

Check out the fall collection.

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Fashion Is Fun

Which Reed Krakoff Mini Shoulder Bag Do You Love?

By Steff Yotka Wednesday, Apr 13, 2011 / 11:00 AM

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