Coutorture

Fashion in 50 Seconds 6/20/08

coutorture — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:07:44 -0700

Jane Sheperdson, former Topshop mogul, has begun designing for British retail chain Whistles. Sheperdson is attempting to re-imagine the Whistles aesthetic as 'classic', prompting comparisons of her work to See by Chloe and 3.1 Phillip LIm (two designers very popular among twenty-somethings). Her first collection, for Fall 08, will hit stores in September.

Gucci is poised to launch a new mens fragrance come September. Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme will become the first men's fragrance developed from scratch by Frida Giannini.

Diane Von Furstenburg, showed her Resort collection in Florence recently and took the concept of packing-light to it's farthest extreme. Inspired by a 'petite valise' she offered up flirty sun dresses and crisp trenches and all of the swimsuits and scarves to go with them. Prints consisted of flags and keys and stripes and other looks had the red, white, and blue motif we love so much for our mid-season getaways.

Another Urban Outffiters collaboration has been announced. This one with high end costume jewelry designer Lulu Frost. The line will be called Secret Garden and be comprised of five pieces, three necklaces and two earrings, that are loaded up with charms the designer is known for (except these aren't salvaged numbers from the sinage at the Plaza Hotel).

Fashion In 50 Seconds 6/13/08

coutorture — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:35:51 -0700

The Manhattan Jil Sander store is open today and if you're curious about its interior architecture, there are a few details of note. Namely, a wall of rotating mirrors. Hey, it's downtown New York! We don't have room for epicenters and whatnot.

Juicy Couture for Men is changing its name to Dirty English. To which we say, there's a men's line? No, really. Apparently this name is thought to capture the 'edginess' that the men's line has come to represent. We're not sure about edginess but we're pretty sure Dirty English is curiously (and appropriately) similar to Ugly American.

Topshop has been slated as the sponsor of all of the McCarren Park Pool events this summer. Staffers will be outfitted in Topshop's current offerings and 'style consultants' will be scouting the grounds and snapping photos of hipsters. This will probably double as style section of Topshop's U.S. ecommerce venture and research material for the next delivery of ripoffs.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 6/3

coutorture — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:05:43 -0700

The CFDA 2008 Fashion Awards were last night. Reports on the event can be found in WWD, The AP, Marie Claire, Elle UK and Vogue.com.

The fabric of our lives could unravel under pressure from the World Trade Organization. The appellate body of the WTO on Monday rejected a U.S. challenge to a compliance panel decision that sided with Brazil in its claims the U.S. had not fully implemented judgments finding its cotton subsidies in breach of global rules. The ruling advances the prospects of Brazil imposing punitive tariffs against the U.S. of as much as $1 billion. That is a stiff price for such a soft fabric.

Jewel tones remain popular as the cruise market continues unabated. Versace, shown here, really goes with the trend.

There may be a downturn but people are still shopping online to the tune of a 35% retail increase.

Being green is important to American Apparel & Footwear Association. They had their first sustainability conference at the Fashion Institute of Technology last Thursday.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 6/2

coutorture — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:45:10 -0700

Designer Yves Saint Laurent passed away this Sunday at the age of 71. More coverage will obviously follow on Coutorture but we figured it should be in the round up. Reuters, CNN, The Guardian, The BBC, The International Herald Tribune, and the AP report.

Bergdorf Goodman Men unveiled their largest shop in shop in their retail history with a 1,600 Tom Ford boutique.

British denim line Lee Cooper is turning one hundred.

Proenza Schouler and Vicini SpA home of Giuseppe Zanotti are teaming up for a larger Proenza Schouler shoe offering and WWD finally has a photo to show off! Proenza Schouler shoes will retail for an average of $685, with pieces beginning in the $300s up to $3,000.

Fashion sucks in Washington D.C. Well, at least the respective Ann and Annes (Taylor and Klein) still battle it out there.
Just buy one great dress. Really! OK and lots of accessories to go with it to make it special.

Elie Tahari is launching a costume jewelry line.The Elie Tahari Empire Collection will be available in smoke, diamond and ruby hues. It will be sold at Elie Tahari's six boutiques in the U.S., as well as at Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. The pieces will retail at around $400.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 5/27

coutorture — Tue, 27 May 2008 06:42:29 -0700

It would seem that being nominated for a CFDA award just isn't enough anymore. Nominees are being given a book featuring Raquel Zimmermann in their various designs. Styled by Karl Templer and shot by Mikael Jansson, the keepsake came together under creative director Trey Laird. The book contains essays written by David Colman on all the honorees and abstract flower shots by Kenji Toma. This explains why the tables are so expensive at the benefit we imagine.

Russian oligarchs aren't being hit by the recession. Chanel is opening up its second Moscow boutique.

Cruise is so popular because of global warming. Every time a fashion writer pens this piece Al Gore sheds a tear and nobody gets their wings.

The Scottish Fashion Awards have released their list of nominees. We are gunning for Jonathan Saunders for designer personally and not just because he has a hot new collaboration in the works for Target's Go International. But our favorite award is for best use of Tartan by an international designer.

We love that it is news when a designer decides to go back to a traditional two show a year fashion schedule.

The house of Blass is under pressure as NexCen looks to sell. Potential buyers being floated are Designer Licensing Holdings, Windsong Brands, Tharanco Group, headed by Haresh Tharani, and Iconix Brand Group. And what of poor Peter Som? It looks like he can keep his own line just fine. Richard Baker, ceo of NRDC Equity Partners, isn't interested in buying the Blass business, said a spokeswoman for Baker. NRDC owns Lord & Taylor and Creative Design Studio, and also has invested in numerous designers, including Peter Som, who designs Blass' women's line as well as his own.

Lutz and Patmos collaborate with a train conductor? No it isn't a joke or a publicity stunt. Amtrak conductor Chris Waugh became friends with Lutz as she rode the train to her Rhode Island home and the Shoreliner sweater was born. Named after the East Coast train, the $495 hoodie sweater, which has five buttons on the side and raglan sleeves is being sold to benefit Parkinson's Disease Foundation

Fashion in 50 Seconds 5/21

coutorture — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:00:58 -0700

Stella McCartney will show a collection at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts on June 1. The show is part of a program that will celebrate Liverpool as the European capital of culture in 2008.

Proenza Schouler continues resort season with a collection inspired by loungewear and layering. WWD calls it a collection full of contrast: "masculine, slouchy suit in delicate silk paired with a structured linen coat, and a flimsy checkered beaded dress layered over pajama pants."

Yigal Azrouël is opening a destination store in Water Mill New York. We have no clue where Water Mill is located.

Marc Jacobs thinks Tom Ford was a preppy back in the day. We say Tom Ford can be however he wants to be.

Apparel trends are still dismal. And we mean finances not the actual clothing.

In Soviet Russia Gap clothing wears you! No really, the Gap is opening in Russia thanks to a franchising agreement with Fiba Holding AS.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 5/19

coutorture — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:16:13 -0700

Aesthetes, Bohemians & Craftsmen opens at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles.

Chicago may have had a few embarrassing moments with a ersatz fashion week that never was, but that isn't stopping the city's ambitions. The School of The Art Institute of Chicago is beefing up its fashion program. It has announced a new master's degree in fashion design and simultaneously unveiled newly renovated studio space housing facilities for fabric development and manipulation as well as a shoe, millinery and accessories laboratory.

V is for profit. Both Versace and Valentino Group reported sales growth in the first quarter.

Pain at the pump isn't that funny of a joke when it means higher shoe prices. Guess its getting just as expensive to hoof it as to drive.

Vera Wang isn't afraid of a little economic downturn. She wants to open more stores.

Despite Marc Jacob's best efforts somehow the world has not gotten past Warhol yet. Interview Magazine isn't so big on reinventing itself it would seem.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 5/14

coutorture — Wed, 14 May 2008 06:36:40 -0700

Barney's CEO Howard Socol has parted ways with the beloved retailer. The industry veteran was rumored to be unhappy with the direction that the Dubai state investment fund Istithmar was taking Barneys after its August acquisition of the company from Jones Apparel Group.

Brooks Brothers is hitting the greens as clothing sponsor of the PGA's Stanford St. Jude Championship in Memphis next month, including the presentation of a championship jacket - part of its first effort to market the 190-year-old brand in national sports settings.

Liz Claiborne had a first quarter loss.

Buyers beware indeed! Specialty stores' open-to-buys might be holding steady, but at this month's Moda Manhattan and FAME trade shows, buyers reported they are looking more before making decisions.

Short people ain't got no reason to live? Well apparently Big and Tall stores are now making way for short and petite stores for men like Jimmy Au's For Men 5'8". Call it the hipster influence.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 5/13

coutorture — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:00:35 -0700

Cruise season has officially begun! Fendi, Escada and Elie Tahari showed off a few of their designs to Women's Wear Daily. Karl Lagerfeld went straight to the 70s for inspiration but thankfully kept things clean at Fendi. Escada was a little more scattered but played it safe with color. Tahari went with florals.

Chanel is taking over Miami with its preparations to show their Cruise collection on Thursday. Chanel is launching a widget the day after the show. It will allow Chanel fans to view clips from the show as well as interviews. Taking the bloggers right out of the equation.

Burberry will open a boutique in Cannes just in time for the film festival.

Bottega Veneta is releasing an eyewear line.

Dov Charney, CEO and Chairman of American Apparel, was honored as Retailer of the Year at the 15th Annual Michael Awards for the Fashion Industry.

Fashion in 50 Seconds 5/7

coutorture — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:38:02 -0700

Barney's and Target is a match made in heaven, at least in these tough economic times. Target is having trouble with same-store sales as its customers forgo superfluous purchases i.e fashion for toilet paper. Barney's is having a tough time selling 2,000K Lanvin dresses in second city markets. Thus somehow we have Target Co-Op. Not quite contemporary, still quite alluring and very easy to market. The Dior phone has been confirmed. Christian Dior said this week it would launch a signature cell phone, in partnership with Paris-based mobile specialist ModeLabs. The fashion phone will be unveiled May 21 at the Dior flagship on Avenue Montaigne. Donna Karen and DKNY are getting in bed with Maidenform. Starting for Spring 2009 Maidenform will have the liscening rights to produce Ms Karen's innerwear.