liz claiborne

The Fashion Statement: Juicy Couture Taps Erin Fetherston

Finally, a designer -- not a celebrity -- getting tapped to design a major label!

On May 1, Erin Fetherston will start her stint as guest designer and creative consultant for Juicy Couture with plans to design the line until the end of 2011. As soon as the holiday season, 2010, you can get your hands on limited edition pieces that will no doubt incorporate the girly, fairytale-like Fetherston stamp.

Juicy Couture, as I'm sure most of you are well aware, is known for the iconic velor track suits that every fashionista donned to do everything but exercise or go to the gym. They were too nice for that! As the trend started to wane, the company was acquired by Liz Claiborne that had a deal to eventually phase out co-founders and designers Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy. The two gave up their control of day-to-day operations earlier this year.

By the looks of things, the marriage will be a good one: Both designer and brand are from California, Juicy has always been Fetherston-level girly and both appear to need the other. WWD reported that Nordstrom dropped Juicy Couture for fall and some new creative blood might drive interest again and help the brand steer clear of becoming just another corporate brand.

Tags: Erin Fetherston, ErinFetherston, Gela Nash-Taylor, GelaNash-taylor, Juicy Couture, JuicyCouture, Liz Claiborne, LizClaiborne, Pamela Skaist-Levy, PamelaSkaist-levy

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Tranquility Ranch, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today we are checking out Tranquility Ranch in Seely Lake, Montana, the 720-acre retreat owned by Art Ortenberg and his late wife, clothing designer Liz Claiborne. Ms Claiborne died earlier this year but the ranch has been on the market for a year. The ranch has a variety of water features including ponds, wetlands and a private 20-acre lake. The main log and stone home is located at the water's edge. It is close to 9,000 square feet but has just two bedrooms (guests stay elsewhere on the property) and includes an indoor pool. The land also includes a guest home, caretaker's home, a barn and a large riding arena. Christina Lewis of the Wall Street Journal's Private Properties column reports that Claiborne and Ortenberg retired to the ranch in 1989 to devote themselves to wildlife-preservation causes. The property was listed at $8.5 million but has been knocked down to $7.5 million. Not too many interior shots on the listing but it does seem like a very tranquil place, although a bit more Ralph Lauren than sporty Liz.

Gallery: Tranquility Ranch