Posts for October 22nd 2009

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The Hidden Treasures of QVC and HSN

Shopping online feels as natural as purchasing in-store, but buying clothes from a TV-based retailer still seems a little unconventional.

Shopping online feels as natural as purchasing in-store, but buying clothes from a TV-based retailer still seems a little unconventional. Designers, however, are increasingly venturing onto the small screen to hawk their wares. Isaac Mizrahi, always one to explore new ways of getting products to customers, inked a deal with QVC over the Summer, while Naeem Khan is set to debut his premiere collection for HSN on October 28. We took a quick look at some HSN and QVC products that are available now, from established designers like Erin Fetherston and Kenneth Jay Lane.

The Face

>> Rumor Mill: The Face Relaunch; LVMH Looking to Acquire a Designer?

>> Rumor Mill: The Face Relaunch; LVMH Looking to Acquire a Designer? —It circulated earlier this year that Bauer Media is aiming to revive The Face sometime next year in a new format — digital-only, a free magazine, or a subscription-only title.  It was never confirmed, but now supposedly rumors are picking back up.  Also food for thought: a LVMH executive just Twittered, "Dinner with a designer who we might acquire." [@jcreportglobal, @edojao]

J.Crew

J.Crew Mixes Military with Sparkle for Spring 2010

Jenna Lyons, SVP of Design for J.Crew, presented her spring 2010 collection yesterday in New York at the company's downtown headquarters.

Jenna Lyons, SVP of Design for J.Crew, presented her spring 2010 collection yesterday in New York at the company's downtown headquarters.

A mix of utilitarian sportswear and cheerful sequined separates, the spring line combined camouflaged military jackets and khaki anoraks with pastel ruffled mini skirts and paillette-covered tunics. There were pops of bright coral, mint green, and pale blue set against a neutral palette, most notably in a striped floral shift—which Lyons told us was created by cutting strips of the printed fabric and inserting thin silk georgette panels in between.

Accessories included gold and silver metallic desert boots and boat shoes, ecru lace-up Oxfords, and oversized leather handbags. Models were dripping in jewelry—an increasingly important category for J.Crew—sparkling in oversized crystal drop earrings, layered charm necklaces, and stacked jeweled cuffs.

Greeting guests in one of fall's most popular hooded army jackets, Lyons talked about reinventing sportswear and her dedication to optimistic clothing—for that (and for the price points) we are forever grateful.

Ashley Olsen

Ashley Olsen, Robin Givhan, and Isaac Mizrahi Talk Skinny Models, Celebrity Designers, and Runway Diversity

>> Last night at the 92nd Street Y in New York, Ashley Olsen, the Washington Post's Robin Givhan, and Isaac Mizrahi gathered to chat with Glamour's Cindi Leive about the "Future of Fashion."  Ashley, dressed in a long dress — a production sample from The Row — told Glamour backstage: "I'm actually not very comfortable with public speaking, and that was something I told myself I'd work on — getting out more and doing some public speaking."

>> Last night at the 92nd Street Y in New York, Ashley Olsen, the Washington Post's Robin Givhan, and Isaac Mizrahi gathered to chat with Glamour's Cindi Leive about the "Future of Fashion."  Ashley, dressed in a long dress — a production sample from The Row — told Glamour backstage: "I'm actually not very comfortable with public speaking, and that was something I told myself I'd work on — getting out more and doing some public speaking."

Her "number one teammate," sister Mary-Kate, and boyfriend Justin Bartha were in the audience to cheer her on as she doled out tidbits like The Row's clients are an average age of 50, she thinks girls with small budgets who want to be fashionable should shop vintage, and she loves her Toms shoes: "So comfortable." Isaac Mizrahi helped keep the tone light — at one point, he took of his shoes to show off his toes, painted a "day-glo pumpkin" color, but the panel did delve into some heavy topics.

The highlights »

Teen Vogue

>> Teen Vogue Working on New TV Show — Teen Vogue ducked out of their The Hills partnership more than a couple of seasons ago, but from what Amy Astley told FIDM students in Los Angeles Monday, it sounds like magazine isn't done with television — they're working on a new show.  No further details were given, but it sounds like the show won't center around Amy — she also noted during the talk that she didn't appear often on The Hills because “I don’t want to be a media personality.

>> Teen Vogue Working on New TV Show Teen Vogue ducked out of their The Hills partnership more than a couple of seasons ago, but from what Amy Astley told FIDM students in Los Angeles Monday, it sounds like magazine isn't done with television — they're working on a new show.  No further details were given, but it sounds like the show won't center around Amy — she also noted during the talk that she didn't appear often on The Hills because “I don’t want to be a media personality. I’ve seen people laughed off Madison Avenue for taking the reality star route, it can really backfire." [Jazzi McG]

Louis Vuitton

Fashion in 50 Seconds 10/22/09 Alber to Tokyo, Vuitton to Mongolia

Alber Elbaz takes his spring 2010 show on the road to Tokyo.

Alber Elbaz takes his spring 2010 show on the road to Tokyo.

Agyness Deyn to the silver screen in a short film directed by Peter McGough and funded by Guerlain and Mikimoto.

Sea of Shoes blogger, Jane Aldridge, debuts second collection for Urban Outfitters.

 

Louis Vuitton enters Mongolia with new store and yurt-shaped VIP room.

Gilt Groupe expands with GiltMan, offering fashionable gentleman sample sale deals on rtw, accessories and sporting equipment.

New York designers gather to save the city's garment district.

Citizens of Humanity opens a pop up shop in Ron Herman.

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney Casts Baby Animals and Little Londoners for GapKids Campaign

Stella McCartney used Facebook and a casting in London's Notting Hill to find the adorable faces featured in her current GapKids campaign.

Stella McCartney used Facebook and a casting in London's Notting Hill to find the adorable faces featured in her current GapKids campaign. Photographed by Ryan McGinley earlier this summer, the ads feature 20 children playing with baby chicks, iguanas, rabbits, a miniature donkey, and a fox.

Moms will find some of the 70-piece collection look familiar, as McCartney designed a few mini-me versions of her fall 2009 rtw line—most notably a gray sweater dress with intarsia leopard design and matching skinny gray jeans with ankle zippers.

McCartney also created footwear for the lucky little ones—shiny rain boots and high top sneakers—none of which were made with leather, keeping in line with the designer's vegetarian principals.

Sizes run from newborn to age 12, and the collection will be in GapKids stores beginning November 2. [WWD]

Source: WWD