apparel

Reality in Style Offers Simple Clothing Designed To Flatter

Filed under: Apparel

You may be wondering why we would promote "simple" clothing when, after all, Luxist is all about luxury and the high end of living. The answer is because sometimes you just want a t-shirt -- or a basic pair of pants, or a simple dress -- that fits, is flattering, and is made of quality material, and you're willing to pay a bit more to get something that will last longer than an item purchased at The Gap.

I recently stumbled upon Reality in Style, which, according to its website, "was created in 2009 by college best friends Denise Apicella and Rachel Blakeman. After several decades of working in various fields, Denise and Rachel were continuously frustrated by the lack of comfortable, stylish and high quality clothing." After some research -- polling real women -- and "after picking up one too many backless shirts, Denise and Rachel decided to create an affordable clothing line emphasizing comfortable fabrics and styles designed to flatter different body types."

I haven't purchased an item from the line, as it doesn't offer petite sizes, but I simply put it out there for those readers who wear what a (former) friend called "grown-up sizes." The dress shown, for example, is called Tony, and is sleeveless stretch-cotton with a pleated belt accent. $395, available in even sizes 0-14.

See the gallery for some other basics.

Gallery: Reality In Style Offers Simple Clothing

Tags: apparel, clothing, dress, jacket, pants, simple, top

Mackage Opens Second Pop-Up Boutique in NYC

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping, Men's Style

Mackage Opens Second Pop-Up Boutique in NYC

Mackage is so pleased with sales in its first NYC pop-up boutique, in the Meatpacking District, that it has opened a second, this time in SoHo. Open through December, the store will carry the Canadian company's Fall/Winter '09 collection for men and women including butter-soft leather bombers, shearling styles, and its ever-popular Puffy down-filled winter coats. The line is popular with such celebrities as Hilary Duff, Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Hurley, Eva Mendes, Kristen Bell, Will.I.Am. and John Legend, to name a few. And a non-celebrity -- me. The coats are beautiful, practical, and better-priced than I expected for such style and quality. The SoHo store's details can be found in the photo above.

Gallery: Mackage Coats, Fall/Winter 2009

Tags: apparel, Canada, coat, coats, Mackage, mens fashion, MensFashion, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, SoHo, winter

PACT Offers Three New Ways to Save the World ... and Stay Comfy

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Green, Celebrity Design

PACT is back with a new print. The underwear designed to cover your ass while saving it from pollution and other environmental mayhem is out with a new look ... thanks to a little help from Yves Behar and artist Sage Vaughn. Three new prints are coming out, each aligned with a new cause.

Behar designed two of the new prints, which include shells and scales. Ten percent of the sales from these new undies (for men and women) will go to Oceana. The third, designed by Vaughn, is a butterfly print that will support Global Green USA.

"I love the idea of bringing a sense of joy and playfulness to philanthropy and the act of giving," said Vaughn. "Like a tattoo in an unseen place, the intimacy of underwear creates a unique relationship with the art." Before turning to the garments closest to your skin, Vaughn made a name as a painter and graffiti artist. He designed the new PACT print for his wife, Sweet P.

Jeff Denby, co-founder of PACT, says, ""We're thrilled to be working with Sage Vaughn for the Global Green print." He continues, "We're longtime admirers of his work, and his Global Green print is a stunning addition to PACT's collection of bright, bold patterns that capture the heart of the organizations they benefit."

Tags: apparel, environment, environmental, environmentalism, EnvironmentallyFriendly, global green usa, GlobalGreenUsa, green, green clothing, GreenClothing, oceana, sweet p, SweetP, underwear, yves behar, YvesBehar

Zappos Opens the Door to Its VIP Club, Four Days Only

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Services, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Shoes, Men's Style

Shoe paradise Zappos is opening the doors to its VIP Club during a special four-day window from Black Friday, November 27, through Cyber Monday, November 30. Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and lasting until midnight on Monday only, log onto to the special holiday VIP Club page and join for free, overnight shipping forever.

My love for Zappos has been documented on this site, plus all my friends and family know too. I am a hazard to my budget when I get within an inch of the site. But keep watching my posts on Luxist for more from Zappos, including great holiday gift ideas -- Zappos also carries bags, clothing, housewares, beauty items, and more -- a gift card giveaway, design contests, and more about its Couture section, which is what Luxist readers really care about, right?

UPDATE: The holiday VIP promotion has ended, but you can join Zappos's VIP waiting list here.

Tags: apparel, beauty, clothing, clubs, handbags, shoes, VIP, Zappos

Cynthia Rowley Legwear is Hot

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Your dress may be an inexpensive LBD from a discount shop, but no one will notice if you're wearing fabulous designer tights.

This holiday season, times are (ugh) still tight, but the opulence and flashy glamour of the 20s and 30s speakeasy culture are in. The way to follow the trend without breaking the bank is to focus on your accessories: make them as eye-catching as you dare. Textures, dark jewel tones, and all things that sparkle are your friends, and we just love these Cynthia Rowley tights.

Also, as with other accessories, you can get them for a far more frugal price than, say, a Cynthia Rowley dress. The tights range from just $15 for Antique Dot Tights to $250 for the breathtaking Embellished Tights shown. It's a smart way to buy into a designer who might otherwise be out of your budget.

Now, go spend your money on presents!

Tags: apparel, cynthia rowley, fashion, holidays 2009, legwear, style, tights

Christian Siriano Creates Exclusive Online Store

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

One of our favorite young designers is no stranger to fusion lines. Christian Siriano has teamed up with Payless to design several lines of edgy shoes and Victoria's Secret to create a line of makeup in Mediterranean hues. But now the star designer is bringing fashion to the public in a completely new way. In just another testimony to Siriano's business savvy and creativity, he recently released a line exclusively sold on his website, with six limited edition pieces all under $200. Now, finally fashionistas everywhere will have an opportunity to own their own authentic Christian Siriano piece. What makes the line truly luxurious, other than the delicate silk fabrics and gorgeous drapes, is that the line was inspired by his own Spring/Summer 2010 collection, which had models walking on water in seafaring colors and swaths of oceanic prints. By creating high-quality, affordable pieces taken from his same runway fabrications, Siriano is clearly out to revolutionize the fashion industry.

We spoke to Christian more about this in depth, and why he decided to incorporate these shapes. "The collection is very similar to my ready to wear collection," Siriano tells Luxist. "The fabrications are the same but the shapes are simple and very easy for women to piece into an existing wardrobe. Also these shapes are a limited collection and are not available anywhere else. Therefore the price is able to target the younger and fashionable Christian Siriano Fan."

Siriano says that he created the lower-priced collection for one reason alone: "We receive e-mails everyday, all day from fans who cannot afford anything over $200. It is my way to have my brand more accessible to women everywhere. That is the main goal at the end of the day, to have women wearing my clothes, feeling fabulous."

Our favorite piece is the Oceanic Scarf, a print taken straight from the runway, which is sure to add a fabulous pop to any monotone outfit this season. Check out the rest of the line in detail below. Click here to shop now, because these pieces won't last long.

Gallery: Christian Siriano Online Store

Tags: apparel, christian siriano, ChristianSiriano, fashion, holiday gifts, HolidayGifts, scarf, womens fashion, WomensFashion

Five Fab Finds and a History Lesson: Zipper Edition

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

The zipper was first invented, in a rudimentary form called the "Clasp Locker", in the late 1800s by a man named Whitcomb Judson. Many years later, in the early 1900s, it was perfected into the creation we know today by Swedish immigrant Gideon Sundback and was used mostly to fasten boots. The term "zipper" stuck after B.F. Goodrich used it in a name for a pair of boots showcasing the device (because of the "zip!" sound), and then zippers slowly but surely worked their way into the fashion world as a closure technique that's quick, easy, durable, and effective -- particularly In 1937 when in the "Battle of the Fly" the zipper beat out the button as the favored way to close men's trousers.

Today zippers are everywhere, in every house and on most people in some form or another at any given time. And today fashion designers not only commonly use zippers in their collections but often the zipper is the focal point, there as much for looks as function. See the gallery below for some of our favorite examples.

Gallery: Five Fab Finds: Zippers

Source

Tags: 5 fab finds, 5FabFinds, apparel, fashion, five fab finds, FiveFabFinds, history, history lesson, HistoryLesson, zipper, zippers

What Is James Wearing?

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Who is James? And why should we care about about his clothes? Because James Andrew, a New York-based interior designer, is hip, effortlessly cool (or so it appears), sports python loafers sans socks, can carry off a mint green suit, and wears Gucci like there's no tomorrow. For proof, and to see what other designers he has in his closet, check out Andrew's aptly named blog, What Is James Wearing?.

It's a vicarious read, and even better are the photos. Andrew models his outfit at whatever fabulous locale he's frequenting (he must rely on the kindness of strangers to take his photo) and then describes what's going on in the photo, followed by a breakdown of his outfit. It seems Andrew does quite well as a designer, because unless he has a personal shopper to do the legwork, he has a whole lot of time, and no doubt funds, to spend on his attire.

Andrew has two handsome whippets, Rupert and Nigel, whom he loves and shows off now and then on the site. I bet come winter, when it's time for their coats, they are the best-dressed dogs in NYC.

[Thanks, Shira.]

Tags: apparel, blog, blogs, clothes, designers, james andrew, JamesAndrew, what is james wearing, WhatIsJamesWearing, whippet, whippets

Organic Clothing With a Hint of Luxury

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Green

Lux Life Apparel recently launched an organic clothing site, Lux Green Living. (I know luxe is spelled with an "e," but this is how they spell it.) The site is just getting going, and for its first line is featuring Toggery by Kate D'Arcy, a simple, casual line with reasonable prices that the site calls "a fun, contemporary line that appeals to every body shape and is offered in all organic and sustainable luxurious fabrics." I saw only one item that cost more than $100. I randomly clicked on about 10 items, and all were made with bamboo or cotton, and some had Spandex. If you're looking for some light, breezy summer basics that are eco-friendly, this could be a place to start. See the gallery for a few items that caught my eye (too bad they don't come in petite sizes).

Gallery: Organic Clothing With a Hint of Luxury

Tags: apparel, bamboo, clothes, clothing, cotton, Kate DArcy, KateDarcy, organic, smallsplurge, smallsplurges, sustainable, Toggery

New from Rebecca & Drew - TrioPacks

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Rebecca & Drew, makers of the best custom shirts for women we've seen, have a brand new special for this summer: TrioPacks.

If you've worn their shirts before (perhaps ordered a custom one where you choose the fabric, cuffs, collar, embroidery, and more) we assume you're already hooked on the fit -- especially with those all-important double buttons that thwart the embarrassing side-view-peep-show which happens to other shirts when you sit. Their materials are the best, their sizes are custom by shape, height, and bra-size, and now you can get a three-in-one package of them -- It's luxury at a sensible discount.

"I rely on our classic shirts every day to get me through the week, and with the TrioPack, we wanted to create a simple, convenient, and cost-effective way to help professional women dress with ease so that they concentrate on their business at hand," says Rebecca & Drew co-founder, Rebecca Matchett.

The pack is $399, and you can pick light blue, black, white, pink, or a mix of colors. Normally the shirts are $150 - $195 apiece, so the savings are truly significant. We believe that Rebecca & Drew is raising the standards for work clothing for women, and hope that this release of a three-in-one will get more of their shirts out there, so we don't ever have to accept less.

Yes, you can have them monogrammed.

Check out our previous article on this amazing company, "Rebecca & Drew Makes Custom Shirts for Women," and visit RebeccaandDrew.com to shop!

Tags: apparel, custom, rebecca and drew, shirts, women, womens clothing

ELuxury Closing Online Store

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

Popular luxury fashion website, eLuxury is getting out of the selling business and is closing down retail operations. The company has issued a press release saying that they will launch a new editorial destination later this year. The website sold brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi and others. While it's sad to see eLuxury go, if you want to shop on the site, now is the time. The discounts are deep, the Dolce & Gabbana halter dress shown at right was $3,670 but is now $734. You can shop now through June 26.

Source

Tags: apparel, eluxury, online store, OnlineStore, shopping

New Celebrity Designer Roundup

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Wine, Cosmetics and Fragrance, Shoes, Men's Style, Celebrity Design

Lately there are so many celebrities designing apparel, shoes, wine, fragrances, and so on, it's hard to keep up. Can't read all the tabloids and style rags? We're here to help.

Here are a few celeb designers we've covered recently: Gwyneth Paltrow - apparel; Fergie - shoes; Charlie Sheen - shirts; Scott Weiland - apparel; Sting - wine; and Jason Timberlake - tequila.

And here are the newest I could find, though some have been around year or so: Sofia Coppola - Louis Vuitton clutches and small purses; David Arquette and Ben Harper - Propr apparel for Kitson (said to be eco-friendly); Lauren Bush - Lauren Pierce apparel; Paris Hilton - rumored to have a sunglass line be in the works, already has a shoe line; Kate Moss - apparel for UK store Topshop (a store opened in Soho recently to a crazed crowd); Nicole Richie - rumored to have a maternity line in the works, already has House of Harlow 1960 jewelry; Kimora Lee Simmons - Fabulosity apparel for JCPenney; Tori Spelling - Little Maven by Tori Spelling children's clothing; Taylor Swift - L.E.I. sundresses for Walmart; Kanye West and Rihanna - inked a fragrance deal with Jay-Z's licensing company, Kanye and Rihanna each will have their own scent; more Kanye - Nike Air Yeezy sneakers; "Bachelorette" Trista Sutter - Trista Baby diaper bags; and Snoop Dogg -- Rich & Infamous apparel.

I must stop now or risk link overkill (too late, maybe?). If you know of other new celebrity designers Luxist readers might want to check out, please share in the comments section.

Tags: apparel, celebrity, celebrity design, celebrity designers, CelebrityDesign, CelebrityDesigners, fashion, fragrance, shoes

Alyssa Milano Designs for NFL Fans

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping, Sports

Alyssa Milano has an option for female NFL fans tired of wearing oversized men's logowear but still wanting to look fashionable while supporting their team: her "TOUCH" apparel and jewelry line, available at NFL Shop.

Launched in spring 2007, TOUCH, which also includes lines for the NBA and NHL, was born out of necessity, according to Milano's Web site. When Milano, an avid baseball fan, went to games, "she wanted to wear fan gear to support her team, but found that the product mix offered in the marketplace did not address her everyday fashion needs. She felt women should be able to look stylish while cheering on their favorite team. So, she partnered with G-III Apparel Group and Major League Baseball to design and distribute a line of juniors' ladies MLB apparel." And so it began.

I just learned about the line when I saw a TV ad during a Sunday night football game; it seems the NFL partnership is fairly new. This line includes 245 products that range in price from $16.99 - $89.99.

View the gallery for some examples. Most of the products are available for multiple teams.

Gallery: Alyssa Milano Designs for NFL Fans

Touch By Alyssa Milano Oakland Raiders Women's Ruffle Vest

Touch By Alyssa Milano Minnesota Vikings Women's Short Zip Jacket

Touch By Alyssa Milano Tampa Bay Buccaneers Women's Denim Jeans

Touch By Alyssa Milano Green Bay Packers Women's Full Zip Hooded Fleece with Sherpa

Touch By Alyssa Milano New York Giants Women's Long Sleeve Top

Tags: Alyssa Milano, AlyssaMilano, apparel, clothing, fanwear, football, NFL, sports

Sarah Jessica Parker Wears Chanel's $250 Pantyhose

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Celebrity Shopping

NY Daily News Fashion (the poor man's Vogue?) ran a blurb a few days ago featuring Sarah Jessica Parker wearing a $250 pair of Chanel two-tone pantyhose. As Carrie Bradshaw would say, I couldn't help but wonder, what the heck was she thinking? Is her accountant on board with this kind of spending in a recession? But then I realized she might not have purchased them. The more famous and wealthy celebrities become, the less clothing and accessories they buy for themselves. Companies send them free items to advertise -- I mean, wear and use and enjoy. But as for SJP, and this legwear, I don't know. She's known to be highly professional, so maybe she did indeed buy these for herself.

During SJP's SATC days, you couldn't open a fashion magazine with reading about her wonderful style, classic glamour, etc. Then came her inexpensive Bitten line, which I haven't heard much about since its debut. The News item gives SJP props for getting back on the fashion track, but hits a sour note due to some not-very-nice comments from readers about her personal life (perhaps NSFW).

Tags: accessories, apparel, Chanel, fashion, pantyhose, Sarah Jessica Parker, sarahjessicaparker, SATC, SJP

Azzaro Upgrades the Ankle Boot with Crystal Heels

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

The ankle boot is a big trend this fall and Azzaro's version is sure to make you feel like a princess. These Enchantment boots look fairly classic in black suede from the front, until you notice the subtle crystal trim lining the almond-shaped toes, which leads your eyes around back to the 4 1/2" heels covered thick with luxe shimmering crystals! You'll need very few other accessories to make an outfit complete when wearing these beauties, and you're guaranteed to feel like a million bucks. $2,135

Gallery: Enchantment Suede Boots by Azzaro