Fashionista

How to Make It in Fashion: June 21, Dream Hotel Downtown, New York

Wednesday May 16th, 2012

Fashion’s Most Stylish Guys Give Mark Zuckerberg an (Almost!) Hoodie-Free Makeover for Facebook’s IPO
Menswear

Fashion’s Most Stylish Guys Give Mark Zuckerberg an (Almost!) Hoodie-Free Makeover for Facebook’s IPO

Mark Zuckerberg is having quite a month. The Father of Facebook just turned 28, bought out Instagram for $1 billion and is now facing the most lucrative point in his career: Going IPO on Friday. We’d offer him a congratulatory “poke” but sadly, that option’s no longer available. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the IPO acronym, it stands for Initial Public Offering– meaning that the company will finally be open to stock holders where the likes of Wall Street—-and even you!—- can purchase a part of the social media company.

But with the estimated $100 billion that’s supposedly coming his way, we’re wondering whether the Harvard dropout will invest in a new wardrobe. Will he finally change out of his usual uniform consisting of dowdy college hoodies, sweat-drenched Adidas shower flip flops, and tattered baggy jeans, into something more uh, dapper? Better yet, the question posed is this: Can all the money in the world transform someone from HTML geek to sartorial chic? Fashionistas can only hope!

To give him an extra boost, we’ve enlisted the help of several fashion experts from designers like Carlos Campos, Alan Eckstein from Timo Weiland and Simon Kneen of Banana Republic, to editors from GQ and Esquire, to buyers and the likes to see what kind of advice they’d shed onto Silicon Valley’s hottest star. And regardless of whether he takes our suggestions or not (note to Marky Mark: you really, really should!), happy IPO Day! We’d definitely like to send you a congratulatory poke soon—- this time, live and in-person.

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Published at 6:30 PM

Thursday March 1st, 2012

L.A. Toasts the Mad Men Collection for Banana Republic With Janie Bryant, Plus a Closer Look at the Collection
People & Parties

L.A. Toasts the Mad Men Collection for Banana Republic With Janie Bryant, Plus a Closer Look at the Collection

It was a quintessential 1960s house party last night as L.A. fashion insiders traveled back in time to an elegant home in residential Hancock Park to toast the second Banana Republic Mad Men collaboration, the eve before it hits stores nationwide.

Ever the charming hosts, costume designer Janie Bryant and brand creative director Simon Kneen warmly greet guests, many of whom donned fabulous Mad Men-inspired ensembles and bold red lips—a stylish salute to Bryant’s behind-the-scenes brilliance.

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Published at 6:47 PM

Wednesday October 26th, 2011

Banana Republic Spring 2012: Ladylike with Latin Flair
Reviews

Banana Republic Spring 2012: Ladylike with Latin Flair

For spring 2012 Banana Republic is keeping with that ’50s ladylike vibe we saw all over the runways this past season and on Banana’s racks in their popular Mad Men collab.

“It’s not about flip flops and shorts,” Banana Republic creative director Simon Kneen told us. “It’s about tailoring and suiting, it’s polished.” Kneen believes the trend towards tailoring has to do with the economic climate–customers are looking for more. “It’s about more of those classic timeless pieces than those quick throwaway pieces you can only wear for a moment.”

At last night’s presentation, models wore ladylike below-the-knee shift dresses and little belted tops over knee-length skirt. It was work appropriate–as Banana should be–but hardly office-drab. Bossa Nova music filtered through the showroom space and it was clear Kneen was feeling Rio this season.

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Published at 6:00 PM

Thursday August 11th, 2011

Tuesday August 9th, 2011

Exclusive: Banana Republic’s Simon Kneen and Janie Bryant Dish on Their Favorite Pieces from the New Mad Men for Banana Republic Line
Shopping

Exclusive: Banana Republic’s Simon Kneen and Janie Bryant Dish on Their Favorite Pieces from the New Mad Men for Banana Republic Line

If you’re not excited about the upcoming Mad Men-inspired collection for Banana Republic, there’s probably something wrong with you.

Mad Men costume designer Janie Bryant collaborated with Banana Republic creative director Simon Kneen on looks fit for a modern day Don, Betty, Peggy and Roger that will make your Mad Men costume parties so much easier.The fabulous line launches August 11 in Banana Republic stores.

Luckily for us, we got some inside scoop on the collab right from the source – Janie and Simon themselves! Here’s what they had to say:

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Published at 5:17 PM

Wednesday June 22nd, 2011

Banana Republic Launches Mad Men-Inspired Line With Janie Bryant: Here’s the Complete Collection

Banana Republic Launches Mad Men-Inspired Line With Janie Bryant: Here’s the Complete Collection

The Banana Republic/Mad Men marketing partnership is one of the smartest things Gap, Inc. has done strategy-wise over the last five years. Now the two entities are taking their collaboration a step further, creating an actual collection inspired by the hit television series.

“Working with Janie [Bryant, Mad Men's costume designer] to gain a true understanding of the Mad Men look and feel was a delight,” Banana Republic Creative Director Simon Kneen said in a statement. “Janie was instrumental in helping us achieve the series aesthetic and standard of authenticity with this capsule collection.”

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Published at 10:42 AM

Saturday January 29th, 2011

Banana Republic’s Summer Dress Collection Will Complete Your Warm Weather Wardrobe
Shopping

Banana Republic’s Summer Dress Collection Will Complete Your Warm Weather Wardrobe

If you’re like me, one of the best parts of going on vacation is buying clothes to wear on said vacation. I’m off to Spain and Morocco in April, thus currently on the hunt for long, flowing dresses that are comfortable and of course pretty.

Luckily for those of us near a Banana Republic (aka everyone), creative director Simon Kneen‘s summer dress collection delivers. Whether or not you’re about to embark on an epic holiday, there’s a dress in here for you. In fact, there are over 70 styles to choose from, ranging from Saturday morning casual to black tie appropriate. And of course, the price is nothing to balk at: from $69.50 to $298, you can probably afford to buy more than one.

Click through to check out our top looks from the collection, which debuted last week at Indochine in New York.

**Photos courtesy of the Billy Farrell Agency.

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Published at 9:43 AM

Tuesday December 14th, 2010