When Coach launched its Classics collection in June, it’s safe to say the entire Fashionista office was instantly obsessed. (Okay, there are only four of us, but still.)

Anyway, while we coveted the truly classic styles in truly classic colors like brown, navy, and black, we’re doubly excited about the latest shipment of bags, which come in candy shades such as vermillion. My pick? The Madison Satchel in lime.

Click through to view the new collection, and head over to Coach to order yours before they sell out.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

It’s been a good year for luxury companies–everyone from Hermes to Richemont have reported gains in 2011–and LVMH is not immune. Sales reached €10.3 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of 13% from 2010. The fashion sector of the company also saw a 13% increase in sales, to 3.97 billion. And what’s more, every single brand gained market share.

Including scandal-ridden Dior, whose creative director, John Galliano, was dismissed in February due to racist comments he made in a restaurant (and other unhinged behavior).

So it seems that the brand, despite the constant negative press it’s received over the last six months, is in incredibly good shape. Whether that’s due to the consumer’s understanding of its rich heritage, or the consumer’s ambivalence toward bad behavior, remains unknown.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Today is my last day at Fashionista. After 20 crazy, amazing, exhausting months, it’s time to move on. (I’m joining Lucky as the executive digital editor.)

I can’t even begin to explain how important this job has been to me. Not only have I met many of fashion’s smartest, most creative, and kindest, I’ve also learned a ton about the business, about journalism, about blogging, and about myself. Including:

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Claudia Schiffer‘s 30-piece knitwear collection hits Net-a-Porter tomorrow, but we’ve got the inside scoop one which pieces are the supermodel’s favorites. Bonus: Schiffer also reveals some of her favorite labels (other than her own, of course). Click through to see her top six looks and read why she’s obsessed.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

There’s a big fat story in WWD this morning about the rise of fashion reality TV shows, but the only actual news is that Lifetime has a new series in the works starring Alexa Chung.24-Hour Catwalk will be hosted by the presenter/fashion star, and the show will pit designers against each other in runway challenges. We’re hoping this means Zoolander-esque walk-offs, but it probably just means Project Runway-esque competitions (with new contestants each episode).

We’re still stoked for Chung’s PBS series, but who knows if that actually ever went into production. IMBD doesn’t.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her London flat, the Daily Mail reports. She was 27. In the short period in which she made headlines, Winehouse became a style inspiration for plenty of fashion folk, most notably Karl Lagerfeld. Our condolences to her family.

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

We unabashedly adore designer/Fashionista columnist Chris Benz, and we’re so excited to see that FLOTUS Michelle Obama wore the “Nelda” dress from his Resort 2011 collection. This is huge for Benz, not only because it’s the first time Obama has donned something from the label, but it’s also the outfit she chose for her appearance on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which will be viewed by millions of people. We hope he’s got extra fabric around, because those orders are sure to start flooding in!

**Department of Defense photo by Elaine Sanchez.

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Personally, I’ve been obsessed with Aurélie Bidermann’s Do Brasil bracelet for nearly two years now. I wrote about it on one of my first posts for Fashionista, and my admiration has never waned.

So it’s with great pleasure that I’ve perused Bidermann’s Do Brasil capsule collection for Donna Karan’s Urban Zen brand. The line, which features muted tones that complement Urban Zen’s earthy aesthetic, isn’t just for show: 10% of all sales will go to the Urban Zen Foundation, which helps to preserve cultures and empower children across the globe. (Prices start at $440.)

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

WWD ran a rumor today suggesting that Macy’s was about to reveal Karl Lagerfeld’s much-anticipated collection for the department store. We’ve yet to witness said reveal, but we did see a Karl for Macy’s dress in August’s Vogue, via the glossy’s Steal of the Month column. (True Blood‘s Deborah Ann Woll is modeling it.) In the interview, Lagerfeld explains that the looks are inspired by the dresses he became famous for at Chloe. Which is apropos, given he worked there in the ’70s and everyone’s very into that style right now. Are you excited for the collection after seeing this first look?

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Throw the stereotypes out the window. At least when it comes to teenagers and their shopping habits.

Asian American teens spend an average $140.97 per month on fashion, the most of any ethnic group, while white teenagers spend the least amount ($111.58). Latinos spend the most per trip–$98.20–while again, whites spend the least ($81.41).

That’s according to a new survey released by online market research Y Pulse, which taps its community of around 80,000 13 to 30 year olds to conduct surveys like this. The results of this particular report were drawn from 1,300 interviews with teenagers and college students conducted online between May 20 and May 30, 2011.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Karl Lagerfeld loves Lady Gaga so much that he personalized her Chanel shopping bag with an illustration. Lady Gaga’s thank you tweet to Karl? “Dear Karl Lagerfeld, your kindness and generosity are beyond magical. I will cherish this forever.” Via The Fashion Spot.

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

When we think of Issey Miyake, we don’t necessarily think trendy. Or hip. Or cool. Yet the brand’s resort collection for 2012 is all of those things, and much more.

Not only are we obsessed with the colors–plenty of pastels and summery bolds–but we’re also keen on the silhouettes, from the oversize shirt dresses to the ballerina frocks. And the patterned tights were just beyond. It was all very on-brand, without being boring.

Surely this has something to do with the appointment of a new creative director; Yoshiyuki Miyamae was promoted in May to the position. But it’s also that Miyake’s aesthetic–much like that of Dries Van Noten and Kenzo–is very right now. So while these labels always do good work, they currently happen to be tapping into something greater.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Looks like Proenza Schouler and Andrew Rosen are finally teaming up.

It’s been over a year since we first learned that Theory ceo Rosen was interested in buying Proenza Schouler. The label is part-owned by Permira Group, a London investment firm that also owns Valentino. Permira put its 45% stake in Proenza on the block in February of 2010.

At the beginning of 2011, we heard that the deal had been penned for months but that Permira wasn’t happy with the terms, resulting in severe delays.

Then Mark Holgate pretty much confirmed on the pages of Vogue that it was all happening!

Now WWD reports that it is indeed happening, probably by the end of this month. The partnership will be structured similarly to the agreements Rosen has with Rag & Bone and Alice and Olivia, which are also personal investments. Rosen runs Theory and Helmut Lang, but they’re owned by Uniqlo.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

WWD reports Harvey Weinstein and Marios Schwab are out at Halston, following news earlier this week that Sarah Jessica Parker was also exiting the company. (Former CEO Bonnie Takhar, who was part of the Parker/Weinstein group, left late last year.)

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

As we know from our own coverage of the market, Turkey is a hotbed for new and notable fashion design. Not only does the country have a rich history in textile and clothing production–Mavi denim is based there, for instance–but a ton of luxury brands are looking to Turkey for its high quality manufacturing combined with reasonable pricing.

Axel Burla and Begum Tuna, designers of the three-season-strong label Beatrixe, are well-suited to take advantage of Turkey’s offerings. Not only are they both from the country, but their aim with Beatrixe is to create luxurious clothes at a non-scary price. (Leather shorts, for instance, are $345. Expensive, but not insane.)

We caught up with the two designers over breakfast to learn more about how they’re making it.

Continue reading »

Follow Fashionista on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.