Fashionista

Thursday August 18th, 2011

10 Things We Learned About Jenna Lyons From Her New York Magazine Profile

10 Things We Learned About Jenna Lyons From Her New York Magazine Profile

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New York magazine’s fall fashion issue features a lengthy profile on J. Crew president, Jenna Lyons.

When I started reading it I thought I couldn’t admire Lyons any more than I already do – she worked her way up in a national company and revitalized J. Crew from a fuddy-duddy lady brand into the coolest thing for ladies of all ages. But lo and behold, there were a slew of facts about the California native that even the most obsessed Lyons follower wouldn’t have known.

So click through to find out more about Jenna Lyons. (Bonus fact: Her workspace is cooler than yours… and ours too.)

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Published at 2:16 PM

Tuesday May 31st, 2011

Kate Middleton Sells a Dress a Minute: How Does the Duchess’s Selling Power Stack Up to Mrs. O’s

Kate Middleton Sells a Dress a Minute: How Does the Duchess’s Selling Power Stack Up to Mrs. O’s

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Michelle Obama may have met her match when it comes to selling power.

During the Obama campaign and her first 100 days in office, whatever Mrs. O wore created a buying frenzy. The $148 Donna Ricco floral print dress from White House Black Market that Michelle Obama wore on The View during the campaign? Gone. The three-piece J.Crew ensemble the First Lady wore on the Tonight Show back in October of 2008? It crashed the retailer’s site.

Now it’s Kate Middleton who sends shoppers to stores and online in droves to buy whatever she’s wearing.

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Published at 5:30 PM

Friday May 27th, 2011

Seven Questions for Nili Lotan: The Designer Dishes on Her Collaboration With J.Crew and Considers Runway Shows
People We Like

Seven Questions for Nili Lotan: The Designer Dishes on Her Collaboration With J.Crew and Considers Runway Shows

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Israeli-born NYC-based designer Nili Lotan has been quietly churning out simple, stark, elegant designs since she launched her eponymous label in 2003. But it’s hard to stay under the radar when J.Crew CEO Mickey Drexler stops by your showroom and wants to collaborate. Lotan teamed up with the specialty retailer to produce a very small capsule collection of relaxed basics including a perfect striped boyfriend sweater that sold out immediately.

We talked to Lotan to find out how she landed that plum collaboration, how her background in Israel and time in the air force has influenced her design, and if she would ever consider putting on a runway show.

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Published at 4:32 PM

Tuesday May 24th, 2011

Thursday May 5th, 2011

The Fashionista Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Shopping

The Fashionista Mother’s Day Gift Guide

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Looking for the best gift for your mom this mother’s day?

Well, forget about the “Mom” tattoo (seriously, those are hard to get off), and peruse our gift guide for the best most fashionable gifts for that special lady in your life–at price points to suit every budget. Our guide is a sure way to infuse your mom’s life with a little high fashion–this is not to say, of course, that moms aren’t stylish to begin with.

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Published at 2:38 PM

Tuesday May 3rd, 2011

Thursday April 14th, 2011

Fashion News Roundup: Dov Charney Wants to be Like Hugh Hefner, Dita Von Teese Designs Lingerie, and J.Crew is Opening Across the Pond
Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Dov Charney Wants to be Like Hugh Hefner, Dita Von Teese Designs Lingerie, and J.Crew is Opening Across the Pond

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Dov Charney Wants to Recreate Hugh Hefner’s Lifestyle Circa 1970: The New York Times‘ piece on Charney is full of interesting tidbits. Ilse Metchek, president of the California Fashion Association and friend of Charney, says that the controversial CEO of American Apparel’s 20-room home is like a “dormitory.” On his front yard? A sculpture of a hand giving the middle finger. How fitting. {NY Times}

The World’s Most Expensive Shoe: Your Louboutins got nothing on these solid gold heels that are encrusted with 2,000 diamonds. The shoe, created by jewelry designer Michael Shellis, are going for a little over $200,000. {Telegraph}

J.Crew is Heading Overseas: The all-American brand plans to open shop in the UK at the end of the summer. {Elle UK}

Models as Mannequins: In the catalog of the upcoming exhibit, “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” at the Met, the photographs of white mannequins in the designer’s creations are actually…real live models. Photographer Solve Sundsbo was able to create the illusion thanks to Photoshop, makeup, and lighting. {Racked}

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Published at 1:57 PM

Wednesday March 30th, 2011

J.Crew Women’s Fall 2011: Glamorous Prep
Reviews

J.Crew Women’s Fall 2011: Glamorous Prep

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For fall, Jenna Lyons, Marissa Webb, and the rest of the J.Crew women’s collection team chose a decidedly preppy look. “Of course they did!” you might say. But it was prep in the way we like to think of it: buttoned up with a bit of quirk and glamor for good measure. There were geeky platform loafers in lavender satin, sky blue cropped trousers, and a fit and flare trench that is sure to become a wardrobe staple for many.

Gone were the relaxed military inspirations of recent collections. This was more about refinement. And adventurous color; along with the lavenders and sky blues, we saw melon, lipstick red, and crayon yellow. But really, out of everything, we can’t stop thinking about that fit and flare trench.

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Published at 1:52 PM

Thursday March 3rd, 2011

Fashion News Roundup: Crystal Renn Models Swimsuits, Rachel Zoe Talks Anne Hathaway’s Oscar Wardrobe, and Anja Rubik Gets an Entire Magazine
Fashion News Roundup

Fashion News Roundup: Crystal Renn Models Swimsuits, Rachel Zoe Talks Anne Hathaway’s Oscar Wardrobe, and Anja Rubik Gets an Entire Magazine

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Dolce & Gabbanna Rumored to Merge D&G with Signature Line: Sources say that the Italian designers are looking to put all of their brands under one umbrella, surprising retailers who say that D&G is doing better sales than the upscale line. {WWD, subscription required}

Karl Lagerfeld is Furious at Galliano: The Chanel designer worries that John Galliano’s actions are giving the rest of the fashion industry a bad rep. {Telegraph}

Rachel Zoe Dishes on Dressing Anne Hathaway for the Oscars: The super stylist calls Hathaway one of her muses and addresses that rumor about charging the actress an “astronomical fee.” {Entertainment Weekly}

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Published at 12:30 PM

Friday January 28th, 2011

Campaigns

Watch: Jenna Lyons Stars in J.Crew’s New Behind-the-Scenes Film Series

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What’s not to love about J.Crew, Jenna Lyons, and Italy? J.Crew premiered the first of their new behind-the-scenes set-in-Italy mini-documentary series on their site yesterday. The first video in the series, called “About a Shoe,” follows creative director and president Jenna Lyons and VP of women’s design Marissa Webb as they visit the factories in Read more →

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Published at 9:46 AM

Wednesday December 15th, 2010

Karl, Lacroix, and More Sketch Their Dream Wedding Dresses for Kate Middleton
Fashion Is Fun

Karl, Lacroix, and More Sketch Their Dream Wedding Dresses for Kate Middleton

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Even if Bruce Oldfield seems to have pinned down the honor, designers still had fun imagining what they would create for princess-to-be Kate Middleton, if indeed she chose them to fashion her royal wedding dress.

Women’s Wear Daily asked 29 designers to sketch their fantasy. Karl Lagerfeld gave her boots. Chris Benz gave her color: yellow, to be exact. And Christian Lacroix–yes, the man, not the brand–gave her a collage of the old (a Victorian skirt), new (a patchwork gown), borrowed (Queen Elizabeth’s veil), and red (an “Elizabethan top, as red was the wedding color until 1900!”). Other impressive participants included Tory Burch, Lyn Devon, Prabal Gurung, and Jason Wu (shown here). Which look did we like the best? Well, we have to hand it to our friend Chris Benz. While we know Kate won’t go with his sunny yellow–as fun as that would be–we do think the slinky, nipped in silhouette he chose is perfect for the soon-to-be royal. (And we promise we aren’t being biased.)

Click through to see our 12 favorite designs.

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Published at 11:54 AM

Thursday November 25th, 2010

What We’re Thankful For in Fashion
Fashion Is Fun

What We’re Thankful For in Fashion

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There’s a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Here at Fashionista we’ve each picked one thing we’re thankful for in fashion, from our most trusted and reliable articles of clothing, to the people that make working in fashion worthwhile. Click through to see what we’re thankful for and let us know what you’re giving Read more →

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Published at 9:00 AM