James Perse

strong>Name: Elyse Saunders Age: 22 Occupation: Model, Artist Blog: http://treeandtreasure.blog.com How would you describe your style? Eclectic, girly-grunge. What item of clothing do you own that gets you the most attention? My studded leather jacket and a yellow gown I have. What is your favorite vintage store in NYC? Narnia.

What do a James Perse black dress, a pair of fuschia Hunter wellies, and a floral Tucker blouse have in common? They each topped sale aggregator Shop It To Me's list of most clicked-on items of 2010. This was measured by how many clicks each item received when it showed up in Shop It To Me's daily email alerts. Other coveted items included a Balenciaga bag and a Black Halo one-shouldered dress. What these findings tell us:

James Perse
 Deal: $25 to $30 for t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, and shirt dress samples, $135 to $175 for sweatshirts and outwear, $50 to $65 for trendy T-shirts, $75 for long jersey dresses, and more. When/Where: Thursday, August 26 through Sunday, August 29. Thurs 4pm—9pm, Fri—Sat 10am—8pm, Sun 10am—4pm.
189 Schermerhorn St between Hoyt and Smith Sts, Boerum Hill (no phone) Kiki de Montparnasse Deal: Bras are $35 to $65, thongs are $15 to $30, panties are $20 to $45, ready-to-wear and lounge wear is $45 to $175, and accessories are $20 to $75. When/Where: Friday, August 27 through Wednesday, September 1. Daily 12pm—7:30pm. 79 Greene St between Spring and Broome Sts (212-965-8150) Sophomore Deal: Up to 80% off pieces from the laid-back label's spring and fall collections When/Where: Thursday, August 26 through Sunday, August 28. Daily noon—8pm. Court, 178 Mulberry St between Broome and Kenmare Sts (212-925-1022)

"Not to sound too much like Bateman but the James Perse t-shirts and hoodies I bought a week ago are the best clothes I've worn in a year..." Bret Eas

About a week ago, I received a package in the mail from Gap, stuffed with two of the brand's new t-shirts. The "Perfect T" collection, which launched July 1, includes tri-blend knits, micro modal tanks, and a soft, relaxed burnout fabric. Most styles are just $19.50. Of course it's nice to receive a gift, but more than that, I was intrigued by the feel of the shirts. They felt, well, expensive. Which leads me to my point. Thank you, The Row. Thank you, James Perse. But above all, thank you, Michael Stars--the original "I can't believe these t-shirts are that expensive" brand--for raising the quality bar in the t-shirt category. Now, don't misunderstand my gratitude. I would never, ever spend more than $50 on a tee. (Yes, I know that's still kind of expensive, but if it's a silk blend I can excuse it.) But I am glad that these brands exist. Why? Because it pushes less pricey labels to create better product at a lower price. Do you remember what t-shirts used to feel like? They were thick, took years to soften, and often became a funny shape after a wash or two. Why the change? Consider a brand like James Perse. I'm not going to go crazy at James Perse every time I walk in, but I have spent money when there's been a good sale. My reasoning: Why would I spend a few dollars less at a specialty retailer if I can get higher quality on sale? Suddenly, the Gaps and J.Crews and even Old Navys of the world are not only competing with each other, they're competing with LNA, Kain, and Splendid as well. So we must thank those ridiculous brands for offering up $500 t-shirts. We might not be buying them, but they've improved the quality of t-shirts we do buy. Here are a few of Fashionista's favorite tees for midsummer.

I've spent almost three of the past four weeks in California which means I've worn pretty much nothing but old Levi cut-offs, white James Perse tees a