Archive for November 2011
Accessories
Here Are 10 Great Bags That Cost Less Than $300 (We Even Found an Alexander Wang)
Sometimes it feels like everyone in New York City is carrying either a Proenza Schouler PS1 or a huge Chanel bag. While dropping $2,000 on a bag is an “investment” for some people, for others it’s just plain out of reach. We were convinced that there had to be fantastic, high-quality, well-designed bags out there for less than $300 (which don’t make you resort to buying Kardashian knock-off bags.) And we were right!
From the high street stores to some of our favorite designers–like Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs–we found 10 bags to fit most budgets (we’re talking $300 or under here) and pretty much any style.
Click through to see our finds.
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Fashion Is Fun
Fashion Fairy Tales: Author Camilla Morton Tells Us How She Turned Manolo Blahnik’s Life Into a Fairy Tale (He Supplied the Illustrations)
Camilla Morton, whose name you might recognize as she’s contributed to this site before, is a veteran fashion journalist with a best selling novel, How to Walk in High Heels, under her belt. But after years of writing countless show reviews, this fashion journo is now penning…fairy tales. “I am enchanted by how clothes make you feel, and the people behind it,” Morton said. “Because sometimes the magic and the art of creation gets forgotten in the rush to find the next big thing.” So Morton set about crafting fashion fairy tales, blending the lives of fashion icons with classic fairy tales. The icons supply the illustrations, of course (see an illustration by Manolo Blahnik, above left).
The first in her fashion fairytale memoir series blended Christian Lacroix‘s life story with the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Out this month is Manolo Blahnik and the Tale of the Elves on the Shoemaker. We talked to Camilla about what it was like to work with Manolo to write his fairy tale. Plus we’ve got a peak at some of Manolo’s gorgeous illustrations.
Joe Fresh is a company that I’ve already come to know and love in Canada (where I’m from), and so it was with double the excitement that, yesterday morning, I went to celebrate Canadian transplant Joe Fresh’s first foray into American retail.
The company’s new U.S. store stands at 16th and 5th avenue, done up sleekly in all white with perfectly distressed vintage-looking floorboards and birch tree installations adorning the nooks and crannies of the space. Though you wouldn’t know it from glancing at the company’s chic and affordable offerings, the new store is a far cry from where Joe Fresh started out, which was, namely, the fresh produce aisle at one of Canada’s largest grocery store chains, Loblaws. “When I said I was going to do a clothing line in a grocery store, everybody told me I was nuts,” Joe Fresh’s founder and creative director, Joe Mimran told a group of editors yesterday morning. Looks like Mimran has the last laugh though. “I joke about it, because we’ve gone from the frozen food aisle to Fifth Avenue!”
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Accessories
Get Up Close and Personal with Carven’s Amazing Spring 2012 Shoes and Accessories
No other spring 2012 collection made us want for spring as much as Carven’s. A month after the show, we’re still drooling over the colorful, lacey frocks and chic suiting Guillaume Henry sent down the runway. In fact, the clothes were so lovely, they distracted us a bit from the equally lust-worthy accessories. We just got our hands on the festive range of jewelry, bags, shoes and belts and realized they are deserving of just as much attention as the clothes.
Highlights include colorful woven bracelets adorned with tiny bells, a collaboration with Les Néréides; a backpack collaboration with French brand Upla and some of the chicest platforms we’ve seen lately, a collab with Robert Clergerie; though their in-house shoe line is pretty adorable as well. We want it all.
We were also impressed by the sheer volume of offerings, considering the French brand only re-launched a couple of years ago. Clearly, Carven’s expansion as a brand is a successful one and we can’t wait to see what’s next. Click through to see our favorite spring 2012 accessories, including the full Upla and Robert Clergerie collaborations.
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Beauty
The NYC Bar Association Held a Panel on the Business of Beauty (Yes, Really). Here’s What the Lawyers Taught Us About the Beauty Biz
We don’t often get invited to beauty events at the NYC Bar Association, but it happened earlier this week. A panel discussion, called “Business of Beauty,” promised me dirt about the beauty industry that I wouldn’t “read about in Vogue,” so off I went. Attorneys from Revlon, Avon, Coty, and Elizabeth Arden spoke in a panel moderated by Charles Colman, who’s also a lawyer and runs the blog Law of Fashion. Despite the sea of practical suits in a staid shade of navy, the conversation was colorful, and most importantly–I learned things!
Here are some of my takeaways from the discussion, whether you’re interested in the beauty industry in general, or you’re looking for a job as an attorney:
Read more »Entertainment
Watch: Behind-the-Scenes of Duran Duran’s New ‘Girl Panic’ Video Starring Supermodels Cindy, Naomi, Helena, Eva and Yasmin (Plus All the Teasers for the Vid)
By Hayley Phelan
At long last, we get a glimpse (or 10, or 12) at Duran Duran’s new “Girl Panic” video, featuring OG supermodels Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen, and Yasmin Le Bon.
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Beauty
Snooki On Her New Fragrance (‘It’s Tacky and Gaudy Just Like Me!’) and Launching a Nail Polish Line
Snooki, who’s quickly becoming a multi-hyphenate like a lot of her fellow Jersey Shore castmates, can add “fragrance maker” to her resume. It was only a matter of time, people. And that time is now.
We got to attend a presentation during which Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi herself talked about her new fragrance, called Snooki by Nicole Polizzi. The room was completely snooked out, featuring lots of hot pink and animal print, piles of Snooki Slippers for the taking, and yummy treats like mini-cheeseburgers and cupcakes. While waiting, we were encouraged to take some Snooki swag, and we can say this:
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Thom Browne
Deal: Markdowns on suiting, jackets, and shirts.
Where/When: Thursday, November 3 through Saturday, November 5. Thurs—Fri 11am—7pm, Sat noon—4pm. 210 11th Ave at 25th St, Suite 500 (no phone)
Link: www.thombrowne.com
Ends: Saturday, November 5
Fenton Fallon Jewelry
Deal: Huge sample sale, stop by early for extra treats.
Where/When: Thursday, November 3- Friday, November 4. 10am-7pm. 347 West 36TH Street Suite 1204
Link: www.danalorenz.com
Ends: Friday, November 4
Rebecca Minkoff
Deal: Markdowns on shoes, bags, and clothing. The cut-out cork and leather wedge is $160 (down from $295) and the quilted leather flame satchel is $272 (down from $495).
When/Where: Wednesday, November 16 to Sunday, November 20. Weds—Sat 10am—7pm, Sun 11am—5pm. 14 West 14th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (no phone)
Link: rebeccaminkoff.com
Ends: Sunday, November 20
Name: Fan Wu
Age: 22
How would you describe your style? Androgynous.
What was the last thing you bought? I bought some things from BLK Denim.
What is currently on your iPod? Jonathan Johansen, Radio Head, Casey Spooner, Cut Copy.
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Fashion News Roundup
Fashion News Roundup: Tom Ford Makes $52,000 in One Night, Katy Perry’s Feline Fragrances, and Vogue Editors Sit for a Historic Photo
Tom Ford Sold $52,000 of Makeup in One Night at Bergdorf Goodman. That’s a full year of my college tuition. Is it too late for Tom Ford to adopt me? {The Cut}
Cat Lady Katy Perry Launching New Fragrance, “Meow”: The sister/follow-up fragrance to her first perfume, “Purr,” has a sweeter scent. Possible future fragrances from Kitty Purry: “Hiss,” “Scratch,” “Claw,” “Hairball,” “Litter Box.” {WWD}
Diane von Furstenberg Expanding Beauty Empire: DVF, who has been on a whirlwind world tour promoting her debut fragrance “Diane,” is now planning a color cosmetics line. Says the designer, “This is just the beginning of me being back in the beauty business.” {WWD}
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