Today's Fashion Flashback -- PUNK

Oy, oy, oy !!!  Punk is HUGE for Fall 2013, and it is one of my favorite trends for this season.  Grunge was the revival for Spring (See my post:  Today's Fashion Flashback -- GRUNGE,) and now Punk makes a come-back.  So if you bought any plaid this Spring, be sure to recycle it for Fall.  Pair it with a leather vest or jacket, or don some chunky leather boots with that plaid.

Some key pieces to sport this trend are:

1.)  The leather motorcycle jacket or vest

2.)  Anything plaid

3.)  A tartan skirt

4.)  Heavy/chunky leather boots

5.)  Safety pin accessories

6.)  Tattered/distressed jeans

Make sure your outfit is age-appropriate.  If you're older and about my age (a youthful-minded 40's) pick just one item from the above list for just a hint of Punk.  You don't want to look like you shop at Hot Topic with your teenage kids.  If you're younger, you can be a bit more liberal with this trend.  

Chanel, Saint Laurent, Moschino and Givenchy are just some of the designers that featured Punk-inspired fashion on the runway for Fall 2013.

Fall 2013 JUNYA WATANABE

Fall 2013 SAINT LAURENT

Fall 2013 FAUSTO PUGLISI

Maybe not a trend to try at the office but definitely a fun trend to try for a night out or the weekend.  Have fun with this one!

For more Fall Collections, visit Style.com.

Eeeeeegads !!! Part of the Isabel Marant for H&M LOOKBOOK Leaked !

Now, I don't understand what the secrecy is all about, but anyhow, part, JUST PART of the Lookbook leaked yesterday and the Huffington Post has a nice 59 page slide presentation of it.  Click the following link to view the Isabel Marant for H&M Partial LOOKBOOK.

Well actually, I do understand.  It is a very annoying marketing tactic to build up anticipation and excitement.  H&M, you are killing me over here!!!  LOL. 

Harper's Bazaar Shares a Sneak Peak Into the Isabel Marant for H&M Collection

An article in the October issue of Harper's Bazaar featuring this picture gives us a tiny peak of what to expect on November 14.

from Harper's Bazaar OCTOBER ISSUE

According to the Harper's Bazaar article, Isabel Marant drew inspiration from her catwalk archive and chose pieces that she would "not get tired of" and wouldn't want to lose if it was packed away for a trip and the luggage got lost.  Click here for the Online version of the article.

The article also described some of the items we might expect to see:  "requisite T-shirts and sweats, tribal-chic jackets that reference Spring 2010, and delicate embroidered dresses reminiscent of the doily lace numbers from Fall 2012 all make an appearance."  Isabel Marant says that she loves furs but that H&M doesn't use it for political reasons, so she came up with a fur look made of knitted wool.  Hmnnnn, this is very interesting.

Let's check out these referenced collections to imagine what similar versions we might see in the upcoming Isable Marant for H&M collection.

Isabel Marant Spring 2010 from Style.com

Isabel Marant Fall 2012 from Style.com
 

My Review of Eva Mendes for New York & Company

I am not a big fan of collections by celebrities with clothing lines, with the exception of Gwen Stefani, but I just happened to step into a New York & Company store nearby looking for a black blazer and saw the Eva by Eva Mendes for New York & Company collection.  To my surprise, I liked what I saw -- A LOT.  The collection definitely has a dominant presence in the store as it was featured at the front as you walk in.  The color scheme of peach, coral and burgundies was very warm and welcoming.  The look of the collection is demure and very feminine.  It is definitely a girly-girl's collection.

The collection has a little more to offer other than clothes to wear to the office, as that is what New York and Company is known for -- affordable work-wear.  According to Women's Wear Daily, New York & Company is venturing into the "lucrative day-to-dinner, cocktail and evening categories."  Partnering with Eva Mendes and offering the Eva collection is just part of that strategy.  

Well I am very happy for Ms. Eva Mendes.  I hope this partnership is a success for both the talented actress and New York & Company.

I walked out of the store with nothing, but I was glad I got to see the collection.  My favorite is the bow blouse in City Leopard;  too bad I have nowhere to wear that to.  If you like feminine dressing that is not fussy, this collection might be for you and worth checking out.  The Eva by Eva Mendes collection includes blouses, lots of dresses, skirts, trousers and accessories.  Definitely something you can wear from the office to cocktail hour.  The price-point ranges from $19.95 to $159.95 with most of the pieces being between $50. and $80.  This collection is very affordable.

Ms. Mendes talks about the partnership...

Fast Forward to Spring 2014: The Next Target Collaboration is with PETER PILOTTO

Fresh from the success of Sunday's release of 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target, it was announced on Monday that the next designer collaboration will be with PETER PILOTTO.  Designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, the masterminds behind the brand PETER PILOTTO, announced during their show at London Fashion Week, that they are indeed the next designers to link up with Target. 

Not yet on Americans' fashion vocabulary, but celebrities are leading the way in making the designer duo known to us Americans.  Just some of the celebs sporting their gear are Kerry Washington, Kristen Stewart, Miranda Kerr, Kate Bosworth, Sienna Miller and Emma Watson.  You can easily spot a PETER PILOTTO design on the red carpet, with bold colors and unique graphic prints, it is no wonder that celebrities are wearing their designs for events -- IT GETS NOTICED.  

 

As you can imagine, this is the perfect collab for Spring.  PETER PILOTTO for Target will hit the stores and Online on February 9, 2014.  The collection will feature nearly 70 items that includes women's apparel, swimwear and accessories.  What's most exciting is that most of the 70 or so items in this collection are under $60.  Separates, dresses and swimwear are priced between $14.99 to 79.99 while the accessories are priced between $16.99 to $39.99.  Expect the color scheme in cool blues and greens and warm reds and oranges.  The following teaser video gives a hint of what we might see in February.



The video is a little eerie.  It reminds me of the marketing tactics behind the success of the movie "The Blair Witch Project."

Another exiting feature of this collab is that it will have a wider international presence due to a special partnership with British Online site and purveyor of luxury and great fashion, NET-A-PORTER.COM, which delivers to more than 170 countries.  This is great news to those outside of the U.S. to which Target.com does not deliver to.  Also available on February 9th, NET-A-PORTER will carry a curated assortment of the collaboration.  

To get more of an idea of the PETER PILOTTO aesthetic, check out their Spring 2014 collection from Style.com.

This One Slipped Past My Radar -- Catherine Malandrino for KOHL'S Design Nation

Well lookie lookie here, another designer collaboration slated for Fall 2013.  There was NO BUZZ for this one at all, well not as much as the recent 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target and the upcoming Isabel Marant for H&M anyways.  Granted, this one is not as exciting as either two, but there are some interesting pieces in this designer collab available to the masses later this month on September 27th.  Prices for this collection will range from $36 to $130.

Catherine Malandrino uses inspiration for this collection from a trip to her homeland of Paris, France.  You will find the words "Paris" and "Paris, Je t'aime" emblazoned on pieces in the collection, along with images of the Eiffel Tower.  My favorites in the collection are the edgier pieces like the cutout pleather top and shift dress.  These are very similar to her designs for her own line this fall.   

Check out the similarities:

Meet Catherine Malandrino as she talks about I don't know what, her accent puts me in some sort of trance...



View the entire Lookbook for Catherine Malandrino for Design Nation available only at KOHL'S.

View the Catherine Malandrino collection for Fall 2013.

I'm Hungry for More Designer Collabs !!!

It is 1:35 PM EST as I start this post, just five and a half hours after my score of two handbags from the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collaboration.  I am still high from this morning's purchases, and I WANT ME SOME MORE COLLABS !!!  So what have we got to look forward to for the rest of Fall.  Well there's Isabel Marant for H&M which you are probably very well aware of already.  I would love to post some images for you, but the lookbook is not out yet.  Come on H&M and release the lookbook already for cryin' out loud!  The collection soon to debut on November 14 will have clothing and accessories for women, teens, and ahem men.  Yay, men can get some stylin' duds-for-cheap too from this Paris-based designer of effortless-chic!

What else?  Well there's L'Wren Scott for Banana Republic coming out during the holidays.  Expect a slim silhouette in jubilant hues perfect for Christmas dinner, New Year's eve, or any day you feel like being festive.  This designer collaboration will launch on December 5, 2013 at select Banana Republic locations around the globe and Online.  Included in this 50+ piece capsule collection will be sequin party dresses, bejeweled cardigans, tailored jeans, lace dresses, and of course pencil skirts (this is after all a collab between Banana Republic and L'Wren Scott, known for her ultra-feminine, form fitting, sexy designs.  And pencil skirts are all of the above.)  There will be accessories too like a clutch with a detachable chain that can double as a statement necklace or a bracelet.  Oooh, I love versatility!  My bet is on the clutch, and that is definitely going on my wish list.

Three original prints were created for this capsule collection:  one with multi-colored lips, another with peonies, and the last in candy stripes.  Colors for the prints are dominated by reds, violets, and pinks.  Expect warm colors for this holiday collab.  The only images I could find so far are the photo of a clutch and some sketches.

Sigh, until the next designer collaboration launch...

IT'S HERE!!! My 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Experience

Boy oh boy!  I set my alarm clock for 6:15 a.m.  It was as if it was Christmas, and I was a little kid again.  Too bad for me, I went out to see a movie last night with a friend and got home late.  I ended up hitting snooze at least a dozen times.  When I managed to finally get up an hour later, I was abuzz with excitement, thankful that my clock was 15 minutes ahead.  Plenty of time for some coffee and to check Online if 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target was live.  Yes it was.  The large black tote, along with some of the other handbags are only available In-Store.

Here is the scoop.  If you live in a metropolitan area, you probably won't be able to get the large "Tote with Gusset" in black unless you were one of the first in-line at the opening this morning or due to some serendipitous event like a return.  I was in line outside my neighborhood Target by 7:55 a.m., and I wasn't able to get one.  I was lucky to get it in taupe, along with the "Top-handle Crossbody" also in taupe.  The black handbags, along with the small-sized yellow handbags flew.  I can't even say off the racks because some weren't even put in racks like the large totes.  They were pulled from a shopping cart and one large box on the floor.

Thank God it was a civilized event.  I overheard a Target employee say that Target had learned its lesson from the Missoni collaboration, and what transpired this morning was pretty calm.  When I got there at 7:53, there was a line at the door of about 40 people.  Three more people got in line after me.  An employee opened the doors at about 8:00 to make an announcement that each customer was only allowed one color of each style of handbag.  I was fine with that.  I mean, I originally only wanted the large tote and the top-handle crossbody in black anyways.  The line of people were allowed inside, then five customers at a time were allowed to approach the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target area.  The smaller handbags were on the racks, while the larger bags were in that one cart and one large box.  Although nobody fought for anything, a lady behind me in line managed to get THE LAST black "Tote with Gusset."  Sneaky little...  I guess I am weak at this game.  I mean here I am, thinking I am still in line.  I need to work on my slickness and agility when it comes to special releases like this. 

I was lucky to get one "Tote with Gussett" in taupe from the cart as it was divied to me by the Target employee.  There were about three or four there.  To my surprise, there were still two of the "Top-handle Crossbody" bags in taupe on the rack.  Nobody was actually within three feet of me, so I was slowly able to pick out the more perfect one.

The clothes were actually not out yet, except for the "Boom" sweatshirt and scarf.  Apparently, the early birds were not after those anyways.  As expected, this collaboration extravaganza was all about the handbags, with the popularity of the Pashli.  After snagging my handbags, I walked over to the men's display, and that display was more complete.  Although I didn't get anything from the men's department, the large travel bag looked really nice.  There was only one there.

All in all, I was a pretty happy camper.  I didn't get what I originally wanted, but I was satisfied with what I was able to walk away with unscathed.  I would normally go back to sleep this Sunday, but my adrenaline and feel-good hormones are still pretty high.  The good news is that there are some handbags available Online at Target.  Happy Shopping the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collaboration.  Target did it once again!!!