fashionologie

Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2012

fashionologie — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:34:41 PST

>> After a recent trek to the Himalayas, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez were inspired to model tweed jackets after mountaineering parkas, fashion button-downs out of windbreaker nylon, and give coats and dresses quilting like sleeping bags. Thus, the Proenza Schouler Pre-Fall 2012 collection - which also finishes up with a round of bustier dresses and skirts in a silk jacquard pulled from a Google Earth aerial view of mountains.

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Catch a Peek Inside Style.com's New Magazine

fashionologie — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:45:22 PDT

>> Style.com's new magazine, Style.com/Print launches next Monday, Oct. 31. Meant to be a distillation of the Spring 2012 shows which ended earlier this month, the magazine, Eric Wilson writes, "is a surprisingly effective product, one that reads with a swiftness that is not unlike the experience of clicking through multiple screens at a time. The first 100 pages can be read in five minutes."

“We wanted to give the reader a sense of what it is like to go through the journey of the shows, from New York to London to Milan to Paris,” said Dirk Standen, the editor of Style.com.

Inside, there's a profile of Proenza Schouler in which Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough talk expansion plans: "We want to create easier everyday stuff, like jeans and a collection of more wearable shoes." Theo Wenner followed Lindsey Wixson (who appears on the magazine's cover) from her home in Wichita, KS, through the month of shows, and then back home again for a 27-page portfolio. There's a Q&A with Azzedine Alaia, Tommy Ton's street-style photos, top-10 lists of most-viewed shows on Style.com (Chanel was No. 1 with 3.5 million pageviews, followed by Louis Vuitton, Prada, Balenciaga, Dolce & Gabbana), Style.com's top 10 shows (Balenciaga came in first, followed by Lanvin, Prada, Givenchy, and Proenza Schouler). There are also lists of the most ubiquitous party people, "fashion maps of New York, London, Milan, and Paris," and "an illustrated guide to the world's fashion cliques - from Miuccia Prada to Aziz Ansari in six degrees or less."

The issue costs $14.99 on select newsstands across North America and Europe, including Kirna Zabete in New York, 10 Corso Como in Milan, and Colette in Paris, and costs $4.99 plus shipping to order online before Monday. (It will be $6.99 after.)

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Proenza Schouler Spring 2012

fashionologie — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:06:14 PDT

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Proenza Schouler To Launch Denim Line

fashionologie — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:04:25 PDT

>> After the cash infusion Proenza Schouler received from 20 investors - led by Theory founder Andrew Rosen - in July, it was speculated that the money would be put towards a significant expansion of the label - in the way of accessories, retail, e-commerce, or potentially denim. It sounds like the last category will be the first focus: Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, who have collaborated with J Brand on jeans in the past, plan to introduce their first denim line in December or January. They were already fitting samples last week. [On the Runway]

Andrew Rosen, Partners Reportedly Invested $10 to $20 Million in Proenza Schouler

fashionologie — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:34:05 PDT

>> Theory founder Andrew Rosen led a group of 20 investors in a deal that was finalized Friday, giving them ownership of a stake in Proenza Schouler. WWD reports that the group invested between $10 and $20 million in exchange for a minority stake equal to that held by Proenza Schouler's management. By comparison, Permira bought a 45 percent stake in the label - which it no longer holds - in 2007, for $3.7 million.

Apparently little of the new cash will be going straight to Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez; they are said to have passed up opportunities for a bigger payday in order to maintain more control over the label.

So where is the money going? It's speculated that before the designers venture into new tiers - like, say, a diffusion line - they'll focus more on accessories, retail, e-commerce, and potentially denim (they have collaborated with J Brand in the past). Earlier this year, Proenza Schouler CEO Shirley Cook also suggested that they've been considering a fragrance launch.

Proenza Schouler Stake Officially Sold To Theory Founder Andrew Rosen

fashionologie — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:46:03 PDT

>> As suggested, after more than a year of negotiations, Permira has finalized the sale of its stake in Proenza Schouler to a group of investors that include Theory founder Andrew Rosen and John Howard.

According to a statement from Proenza Schouler, the new partnership is a "recapitalization" of the label and will allow it "to enter a new phase of development.” Valentino Fashion Group (which is owned by Permira and bought the 45 percent stake in Proenza Schouler in 2007 for $3.7 million) will keep a minority share in the new partnership.

“We are thankful to VFG for giving us a start, and allowing us to get where we are today,” Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, and Proenza Schouler CEO Shirley Cook said in a joint statement. “There’s so much we’d like to accomplish and have found the perfect complement in John and Andrew to help us realize our dreams.”

Rosen and Howard, meanwhile, jointly commented: “When we look at the current state of American fashion, we see the next generation focused in the advanced contemporary space. We believe that the Proenza business is the future of American luxury, and uniquely poised to compete in a global marketplace, which is currently dominated by European designers. In infusing this brand with our resources and experience, we will position this business to achieve its full potential."

This is a personal investment for Rosen, who also hold similar investments in Alice + Olivia, Gryphon, and Rag & Bone.

Andrew Rosen Could Have a Proenza Schouler Stake By Tomorrow; Plus, the Label's New Campaign

fashionologie — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:18:49 PDT

>> A deal that has been rumored since March 2010 could go through as soon as this Friday, Cathy Horyn reports, although she notes that the talks are not yet complete.

European private equity firm Permira - which took a 45 percent stake in Proenza Schouler four years ago and is also the principle owner of Valentino - is expected to sell its shares to a group of New York investors led by Andrew Rosen (founder of Theory, overseer of Helmut Lang, and investor in both Rag & Bone and Alice + Olivia) and John Howard, an early and successful investor in Seven for All Mankind and Aeropostale.

Horyn speculates that after the deal is complete, Proenza Schouler may explore more product categories like denim or bolster its accessories offering with more leather goods, shoes, and eyewear.

As for Proenza launches already in the works, the label just released its Fall 2011 ad campaign (left), shot in New York's Milk Studios by Willy Vanderperre, styled by Marie Chaix, and starring Zuzanna Bijoch.

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The 2011 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists Announced

fashionologie — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:34:07 PDT

>> The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund judging committee - which this year includes Jack McCollough, Lazaro Hernandez, Vogue's Mark Holgate, Jeffrey Kalinsky of Jeffrey and Nordstrom, CFDA executive director Steven Kolb, Reed Krakoff, Andrew Rosen, Diane von Furstenberg, Jenna Lyons, and Anna Wintour - have determined the 2011 finalists. They are:

AA, Antonio Azzuolo
Altuzarra, Joseph Altuzarra
Carlos Campos, Carlos Campos
Creatures of the Wind, Shane Gabier and Christopher Peters
Cushnie Et Ochs, Michelle Ochs and Carly Cushnie
Finn Jewelry, Soraya Silchenstedt
Fenton/Fallon, Dana Lorenz
Ohne Titel, Alexa Adams and Flora Gill
Pamela Love
Suno, Max Osterweis and Erin Beatty

Joseph Altuzarra and Pamela Love are repeat finalists from last year, and Ohne Titel was a finalist in 2009. The winner and two runners-up will be announced Nov. 14.

Proenza Schouler's Latest Online Exclusive - A Beach Bag and Towel

Christina Perez — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:39:42 PDT

>> Heading to the beach? Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to bring a little locale-appropriate Proenza Schouler with you: a sporty beach bag ($485) and a graphic-print beach towel ($145) . The waterproof bucket bag features bungee-cord drawstrings and straps, and comes in a choice of two colors: black and blue. "It’s definitely the kind of bag our friends, guys included, would carry to the beach. We’ve ordered two for ourselves,” Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez said. Both pieces are available exclusively on ProenzaSchouler.com starting tomorrow, June 9. [The Moment]

The 2011 CFDA Awards Are Here! Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, Prabal Gurung Take Home Wins

fashionologie — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:10:30 PDT

>> This evening at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York, fashion's finest gathered for the 2011 CFDA Awards.

And this year's winners are . . . (nominees here):

Accessory Designer of the Year: Alexander Wang
Menswear Designer of the Year: Michael Bastian
Swarovski Award for Menswear: Robert Geller
Swarovski Award for Womenswear: Prabal Gurung
Swarovski Award for Accessories: Eddie Borgo
Womenswear Designer of the Year: Proenza Schouler

This post will be updated with winners and more arrivals as the night continues.

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