Bitten by the Cheap bug juli 9, 2007

 

She may have made Manolos a household name, but what you might not know about Sarah Jessica Parker is that she grew up with seven brothers and sisters, and thus with a fashion philosophy more hand-me-down than downtown chic. Now, following the lead of seemingly everey other style icon, Parker has created a fashion collection, Bitten-this time it’s for discount apparel megastore Steve & Barry’s-with the the tag line, “Fashion isn’t a luxury, it’s a right.” Designed to reflect Parker’s own wardrobe, the nearly 500 pieces that comprise Bitten-from knit tops and cashmere sweaters to jeans, sleepwear, shoes, bags and belts-are all under $20. Sure, shopping for your Saturday night outfit acouple of aisles over from Coors sweatshirts and WWE jackets might not seem very Sex and the City, but we think Carrie Bradshaw would get a kick out of it.

(NEW YORK)  Glamour’s June cover girl and fashion-plate Sarah Jessica Parker dishes with New York Times writer Bob Morris about her new under-$20 fashion line Bitten, and her preference for sandals over Manolos. Here’s a few topics that SJP tackles in the interview. 

On life post-Sex in the City: “I’ll go to the market, and women will say to me: ‘Let me see your shoes.’ And then I show them I’m wearing flip-flops. I say, ‘I’m old now. I can’t run around in heels when I go to the market for my son’s yogurt.’”

The next Ghesquière?
On her well-priced basics: “They’re not setting a trend. We’re not Balenciaga. They’re well-made clothes that feel of-the-moment.”

Modesty is the best policy-On not naming the line after herself: “I was embarressed to. I don’t want the line to be about me. I’m not pretending these are clothes from my closet. Or that this is Carrie Bradshaw.”

for more info, please check www.bittensjp.com

Libertine and Justice for all juli 9, 2007

            

The enfant terrible of New York and L.A. fashion may seem an unlikely fit for the fluorescent-lit aisles of Target (Target is a chain of discount department stores that are about 95,000 to 135,000 square feet (12,000 m²) and carry hardlines (“regular” products and goods), softlines (clothing), and a limited amount of groceries, usually non-perishable in the US), but in this era of designer collaborations, anything can happen.

Libertine, notorious for its rough seams and bold graphics, is the latest fashion label to partner with the big-box retailer. The collection features polo dresses, tie-front jackets, and Bermuda shorts with the same quirky sensibility as Libertine’s main line, and is set to launch this month. Of their democratic shift, designers Johnson Hartig and Cindy Greene, friends, co-founders and co-conspirators of the brand that’s not just a fashion label, it’s a fashion cult, explain, “it was an exciting challenge to try and interpret our aesthetic into a mass-produced product.” Plus, they add, “With so many people knocking us off, it was fun to knock ourselves off for a change.” How’s that for subversive?

Earlier on Target collaborated with Luella of Luella Bartley, Patrick Robinson  of Paco Rabanne and Proenza Schouler.

Andyland juli 9, 2007

 

Andy Warhol and Levi’s first collaborated back in 1984, when Warhol silkscreened images depicting the classic 501 jeans for an advertising campaign. Now, the tables have turned, and Levi’s is honoring the late artist by producing the Warhol Factory X Levi’s line, which launched last year. The new fall collection made an appropriatley splashy debut with a show at New York’s Gershwin Hotel as part of a tribute week called “Factory Craze”. Models were sent down the runway in full Andy mode, disguised in bleached-blonde wigs and black sunglasses. Inspired by his iconic 1978 shadow series, the collection features screenprinted T-shirts, plaid shirts, blazers, and an unforgettable pair of cherry-red vinyl jeans with contrasting gingham lining. But if these seem a little too statement-making for your tastes, the black skinny tuxedo trousers, high-cuffed jeans, and charcoal denim skirt will be closet stpales for far longer than 15 minutes.

Would Warhol have worn these clothes? “I would never purport to know what he liked,” says Michael Hermann, director of licensing for the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts. “One thing about Andy Warhol, he was a very complicated guy.”

But consumers in their 20s and 30s are lapping up super-premium jeans, undeterred by prices that can go $200 and much higher. With embroidered pockets, distressed fabric and rhinestone detailing, it is a profitable but fickle market. “It’s crazy,” said Jamie Rohm, owner of Zipper Blues in Mt. Lebanon. “Jeans I used to get for $110 are $170.” But she gets very few complaints about price, and has people coming in asking for the $184 Blue Cult butt lifter and other high priced brands. But she draws the line at $300 to $400 jeans, which she doesn’t think would fly in suburban Pittsburgh.

“Everyone is doing premium denim,” Rohm said. “Celebrities like Puff Daddy and Posh Spice. It is getting to be like too much. Where is the exclusivity in it now? It is like, ‘What’s new? What’s new?’ Before something can be the next big thing, they are out.” But Rohm thinks it is smart for Levi’s to enter the fray with an assist from Andy Warhol. “You expect them to keep up. With a brand like Levi’s, you are the jeans of the world.”

 http://myspace.com/theandywarholmuseum Check out what’s new at the most comprehensive single-artist museum in the world.

Faking it juli 9, 2007

Maybe you can’t afford the real thing. Or perhaps you think you deserve a bargain. So you head off to an online auction or a street corner to buy a fake handbag. After all, the fakes (also called copies, knockoffs, replicas and counterfeit goods) now are so good that even pros have trouble telling the difference. You get the bag/shades/shirt/watch that you wanted and saved hundreds of dollars. What’s the harm?

Why buying counterfeits are a bad idea

According to the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) about 18% of the $98 million of counterfeit products seized by U.S. Customs in ‘02 were made up of fashion-related items: apparel, sunglasses, watches, handbags and headwear. While it’s not a crime to buy counterfeit merchandise (only to sell it), there are legitimate reasons why you should rethink your buying tactics according to the IACC:

1.  Counterfeiting robs the U.S. alone of more than $200 billion a year. It’s a cash, tax-free business; legitimate citizens like yourself will still get stuck paying taxes, while counterfeiters line their pockets at your expense.

2. Terrorists, gangs and organized crime syndicates all profit from selling counterfeit merchandise. Sometimes designer handbag knockoffs are lined with drugs and used for smuggling things like heroin, too. There is also evidence that the bombing of the World Trade Center in ‘93 was funded by the sale of counterfeit apparel.

3. You might realize that things like knockoff toys or electronics are an unsafe idea, but did you know that even items such as fake sunglasses can hurt you. According to IACC counterfeit sunglasses can shatter easily; they may fail to provide UV protection as advertised.

 How to spot a fake

Knockoff designer goods are readily available on the street in such areas such as Los Angeles’ Santee Street and New York’s Canal Street. And the internet is full of online auctions and cybersellers offering “Inspired by” copies and outright fakes. The old method of spotting fakes was simple: flimsy hardware, cheap leather and misspelled logos were a giveaway. Now, fakes are so good (and expensive) that you simply can’t tell the difference. So how do you know what’s real and what’s not? Some clues:

• The price. A new Louis Vuitton handbag for $100 is not authentic. The real thing often sells for $500 to well over $1000. Same thing for Prada and Gucci.
• Where it’s being sold.  Authorized dealers for Chanel, LV, etc. do not sell handbags out of the trunk of a car. Nor do they sell them at online auctions or at home parties.
• Point of origin tag. Designer apparel or leather goods with a “Made in Taiwan” tag are not authentic.

Buying online

So what if you are shopping online and come across a great deal on designer apparel or accessories? How do you know you’re getting the real thing? Read the fine print. Some etailers or items for sale in an auction will lure you in with words that you’re likely to search for like Chanel or Gucci. Many sites also use overkill — “authentic,” “genuine” and other enticing adjectives — to describe their fashion items. It’s only by reading carefully through the descriptions will you see comments like “Inspired by…” to let you know that the merchandise isn’t an exact copy (whichtheetailersclaimgives them immunityfrom trademark infringement.) Many of the better knockoffs come with packaging, locks, etc. to look (and sound in description) exactly like the real thing. Ebay.comhas rules posted forbidding the sale of counterfeit goods, but it’s not unusual to see Louis Vuittons on the site for less than $100. The only way to know if it’s real? Only buy the goods from an authorized dealer (a department store or a company outlet). Many labels sell directly to the public on company-owned sites such as Gucci.com, eLuxury.com (Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, etc.) and Coach.com. If in doubt about an outlet, contact the designer directly and ask if you’re buying from an authorized dealer.

1-800-report-a-fake

Manufacturers spend millions of dollars a year battling the counterfeit problem. Labels like Coach and Kate Spade have information set up on their websites for you to report anyone who is selling knockoffs of their goods; these sites also have more detailed ways for you to spot fakes of their labels.

Burberry verjongt zonder Moss juli 9, 2007

 

Kate Moss (33) is niet langer het gezicht van Burberry. Het britse modemerk heeft gezegd dat het de voorkeur geeft aan jongere modellen. Dat meldt het Britse blad Marketing Week. Agyness Deyn (21)  en Lily Donaldson (20) hebben inmiddels geposeerd voor fotograaf Mario Testino. Het Burberry-contract zou Moss jaarlijks 1,5 miljoen euro hebben opgeleverd.  Ze was tien jaar het gezicht van het merk, dat bekend staat om de geruite kleding en accessoires. Eind 2005 werd Moss ontslagen, nadat ze cocaïne snuivend was gefotografeerd. Burberry nam haar een jaar later weer in de arm. Volgens een woordvoerder van het merk maakt Kate, ondanks het ontslag, nog steeds deel uit van de ‘Burberry-familie’. Burberry is niet het eerste merk dat afscheid neemt van Kate. Twee weken geleden werd bekend dat haar contract bij het Britse lingeriemerk Agent Provocateur niet wordt verlengd.

Dubbele provocatie juli 9, 2007

London- Een Britse modeontwerper weigerde vorige week een koninklijke onderscheiding voor zijn lingeriemerk Agent Provocateur. Joseph Corre, de zoon van Vivienne Westwood, kwam tot het besluit omdat hij premier Tony Blair moreel corrupt vindt. Corre deed de naam van zijn merk eer aan door te verklaren dat Blair zich schuldig maakt aan georganiseerde leugens en verwerpelijke acties in Irak en Afghanistan. Samen met zijn vrouw Serena Rees richtte hij het übersexy Agent Provocateur op in 1994 en is het merk inmiddels te koop in meer dan 30 winkels wereldwijd.

Research of an upcoming NY intern! juni 25, 2007

 

SHOSHANNA by Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss

Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss changed the look of dress departments nationwide when she launched her eponymous clothing line, SHOSHANNA, in November 1998. Her debut collection was a feminine and sexy combination of sundress, bag and thong. Her dresses remain feminine and whimsical with an attention to detail rarely seen in contemporary collections.  SHOSHANNA has expanded far beyond the original three-piece set that catapulted the line to fashion notoriety. In addition to the signature dresses, SHOSHANNA now designs clothing for every season from string bikinis to cashmere sweater sets. “I found there weren’t wearable, beautiful clothes out there for someone with my body type. I could never find a halter dress or a strapless top that offered support for women who usually need to wear a bra. That need inspired me to create the pieces that make up the core of my collection.” states Shoshanna.

 Born and raised in Manhattan, Shoshanna recieved her primary and secondary educations at the exclusive Nightingale-Bamford school at Manhattan’s Upper East Side. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in History and Art History, Shoshanna began working in a lingerie factory to prpare for her career. There she learned about construction, design and fabric sourcing.

In February 2001 Shoshanna launched her swimwear line, SHOSHANNA SWIMWEAR. True to the signature SHOSHANNA style the line is feminine, fun and sexy. The line quickly became a succes, out-performing its well-established competitors, due to the revolutionary sizing system; the suits are sold as separates, not sets. The swim collection is comrpised of bikinis, tankinis, maillots and wraps.

 Inspired by the gowns she created for her bridesmaids at her 2003 wedding, Shoshanna launched her evening and bridesmaid’s lines in the summer of 2004. Shoshanna has also been designing collections for A Pea in the Pod, a high-end maternity store, since 2002.

The record-breaking reaction in deperatment and specialty stores alike proves that women of all ages identify with Shoshanna’s sensibility and designs. In addition, Shoshanna works to maintain a price point  that is as inclusive as the collection itself. “I feel strongly that my customer should be able to buy a dress or as many dresses as she loves without letting the price inhibit the purchase.” states the designer.

A favorite in Hollywood, Shoshanna fans include Uma Thurman, Debra Messing, Kristin Davis, Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Heather Graham, Mariah Carey and Venus Williams.

Shoshanna has served as a contributing editor in Cosmopolitan magazine, as a lifestyle reporter for Today in New York and as a fashion correspondent for E! Entertainment Television. In 1999 Shoshanna was one of Cosmopolitan’s Fun Fearless Female of the year recipients. She’s currently on the advisory board of Life & Style Weekly. In 2003 she was honored at Westhampton Beach Hadassah’s Woman of the Year, and she is also on the board of Love Heals and regularly supports OCRF and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

In May 2003 Shoshanna married Joshua Gruss. The couple, who live on the Upper east Side of Manhattan, had their first baby in the spring of 2005. 

Although I have a small bust and aren’t sure whether these designs will fit me as well as others do, I have been a fan of her label ever since my mom thought I had reached an appropriate age to read Cosmopolitan. Then just two weeks ago I was flipping through a magazine featuring bathing suits, when still in doubt as to buy the mag or not, my eye caught the image of a beautiful rainbow colored bikini. In a rush, I decided that that was the reason to buy it, and went to the cashier to pay for it.  I forgot about it, send out a few emails stating I was looking for an internship. Days went by, I had been hired at Shoshanna designstudio and was now looking at the press she got for her line. And there it was, staring right back at me from across the computer: it was the rainbow colored bikini. If this isn’t meant to be, I don’t know what is anymore…. 

Online mag juni 22, 2007

Op zoek naar een inspirerend online magazine?

‘With all the inspiration the online art world fuels us with, it’s only common courtesy to return the favour.’

Honey eat your salad is begonnen als een soort dagboek voor jonge creatieven. Na groot succes is het gelanceerd als een online magazine. Het magazine laatwerk zien van getalenteerde jonge mensen en is een magazine vol met inspirerend beeldmateriaal en illustraties.

De eerste twee issues zijn al op internet te vinden.

www.honeyeatyoursalad.org

Roberto Cavalli voor H&M juni 22, 2007

Het is weer tijd voor een nieuwe ontwerper om de kledingwinkels van H&M te gaan sieren. Roberto Cavalli zal de 4e ontwerper zijn die een collectie voor H&M gaat ontwerpen. Het gaat om een heren- en dames collectie en hij zal 8 november in de winkels liggen. De collectie zal maar in 200 geselecteerde winkels wereldwijd te verkrijgen zijn.

De collectie van Roberto Cavalli vertegenwoordigt een overdadige, succesvolle lifestyle,” zegt Margareta van den Bosch, hoofd designafdeling van H&M.

De lijn zal uit toonaangevende heren- en dameskleding bestaan. De herenlijn omvat 20 items, de dameslijn 25 items, waaronder lingerie en bijpassende accessoires.

Roberto Cavalli kleed regelmatig internationale sterren als Madonna, Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Gong Li, Victoria Beckham, Lenny Kravitz en Adrien Brody. Cavalli’s visie staat voor glamour en een sensuele, revolutionaire stijl.

 Dus noteer in je agenda: 8 november-07.00 op de stoep van de H&M

Marlies Dekkers juni 22, 2007

Vanavond: Sample sale Marlies Dekkers. Voor iedereen die altijd graag een setje van haar zou willen hebben en niet zijn hele portemonnee er voor om wil keren.

Natuurlijk wel voor diegen die elk nieuwe bericht op deze blog bij houdt, anders is het te laat!! So be there.

Vrijdag 21 juni md sales & distribution
wijkermeerweg 33
1948 NT Beverwijk

én!!! just to know: bij binnenkomst mag er geen marlies dekkers gedragen worden. Dus de echte fans komen helaas niet binnen!