Fashionista

Racked Dealfeed: YSL, Oliver Peoples and More” y 11 mas

Racked Dealfeed: YSL, Oliver Peoples and More
Best Dressed: Pre-Halloween Edition
Street Style: Sierra’s Sweet Sixteen
Cartier Launches Its Latest Love Collection With a Fancy Dinner
Breaking: Prada Introduces Made to Order Service
You Have Until 5pm Today to Enter to Win a Foley + Corinna Bag!
Carol Smith Getting the Boot From Conde Nast Really Pisses Me Off
Fashion News Roundup: Costume Deets From Snooki and ADR, Amy Winehouse Drunkenly Models Her Fred Perry Line and Free Proenza Dresses?
Ask Chris Benz: How Can I Make My Vintage Wardrobe More Modern?
Ten Questions For Project Runway: Season Finale Edition
J.Crew’s Holiday 2010 Collection Launch: Jenna Lyons Talks Gifts, Gingham, and Why She’s Still Set on a Louboutin Collab
BOO! Happy Halloween From YSL and Chanel

Racked Dealfeed: YSL, Oliver Peoples and More

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 02:30 PM PDT

JF & Son 
Deal: 30% off fall merchandise, including the beaded CK blouse (was $148, now $104) and the floral print cut-out Weimer dress (was $188, now $132)
When/Where: Ongoing. Mon—Sat noon—8pm, Sun noon—6pm. 19 Kenmare St at Elizabeth St (212-343-3131)

Oliver Peoples
 Deal: Frames from Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith for $119; frames from Mosley Tribes will be $99. Also, get 30% off prescription lenses.
When/Where: Friday, October 29 through Sunday, October 31. Upper East Side: 10am—6pm, 755 Madison Ave at 65th St (212-585-3433.) Soho: Fri—Sat 11am—7pm, Sun noon—6pm. 366 W. Broadway at Broome (212-585-3433)

Yves Saint Laurent
 Deal: Up to 75% off clothing, bags, and accessories
When/Where: Thursday, October 28 through Saturday, October 30. Thurs—Fri 8am—8pm, Sat 9am—4pm. Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, fourth floor (212-463-0071)

Selima Optique 
Deal: 30% to 90% off eyewear, clothing, and accessories, including vintage Hermès bags and womenswear from Tsumori Chisato
When/Where: Wednesday, October 27 through Sunday, October 31. Weds—Sat 11am—7pm, Sun noon—6pm. 7 Bond St between Broadway and Lafayette (212-677-8487)

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Best Dressed: Pre-Halloween Edition

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 02:00 PM PDT

We couldn’t help but wonder if this week’s best dressed had Halloween on the brain when putting their ensembles together (It might just be us). Aurel Schmidt partied at the Whitney in a witchy black sparkly number. Kate Bosworth and Lauren Santo Domingo both wore Proenza dresses with Halloween colors. Leighton Meester could have been dressed as Blair Waldorf in this Elie Saab frock. And Keira Knightley’s Valentino dress is…so pretty it’s scary?

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Street Style: Sierra’s Sweet Sixteen

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 01:00 PM PDT

Name: Sierra

How old are you? I just turned 16 yesterday!

What did you do for your birthday? My dad threw me a surprise birthday party and secretly called all of my friends and invited them!!

How would you describe your style? I like sweaters a lot. I don’t really have a set style, it’s always changing, but whatever’s cheap!

What are the most prominent colors in your wardrobe? Grey and black.

What was the last good movie you saw? Rosemary’s Baby

What is your favorite dessert? I love desserts! I’m obsessed with all pies except cherry pie. I love lemon squares and chocolate mousse, but pumpkin pie is my all time favorite! Too bad it’s only around once a year… But, this time of year I get to have my birthday AND pumpkin pie!

What are you wearing? Metropolis boots, Urban Outfitters’ skirt, Beacon’s Closet top, and the sweater is from my dad’s closet.

**All photos by Ashley Jahncke.

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Cartier Launches Its Latest Love Collection With a Fancy Dinner

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 12:30 PM PDT

Cartier's Love bracelet is sort of the Birkin bag of jewelry.

It’s a fashion industry favorite, but also one of the brand's biggest commercial successes. And it has secured a place on the wrists of everyone from the Kardashians to the Roitfelds. So, naturally, if the Love's simple design and symbolic message are so widely appealing, why should Cartier stop with the bracelet?

Thankfully, they haven't. Cartier's been reincarnating the Love design since its genesis in 1969, in necklaces, earrings, rings, and new materials.

"Strong design allows for evolution," Pierre Raniero, Cartier’s Director of Image, Style, and Heritage explained last night at a dinner to preview the new Love offerings. (The event took place at The Lion, a newish West Village restaurant from The Waverly Inn’s John DeLucie.)

This time, the evolution comes in rose gold, pink sapphire, and black ceramic. And while all of the new pieces feature the signature Love screw design, they each have separate clasps for easy removal. It might not be as romantic as the original Love bracelet, which must be removed with its accompanying screwdriver—but hey, it will make airport security a tad bit easier.

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Breaking: Prada Introduces Made to Order Service

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 11:30 AM PDT

If you like your Skechers, but love your Prada backpack, then you’re really going to love this news.

Prada‘s classic boating shoe can now be made to order. Clients who decide to take advantage of this service can mix and match to their hearts content and choose from 16 color variations and four different materials: patent leather, fluo patent leather, suede and “Nevada” leather. You can even have your initials inserted onto the dust bag.

So, if merely owning a pair of Prada sneakers isn’t enough to make you feel special, now yours can truly be one of a kind. (PS: expect more bespoke offerings from Prada in the future.)

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You Have Until 5pm Today to Enter to Win a Foley + Corinna Bag!

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 11:00 AM PDT

This fall, all we can think about is ladylike handbags. From Celine to Chloe and back, every great label made a version of their own.

And that includes Lower East Side staple Foley + Corinna. Best known for their City Tote, the brand has created one of the most covetable cross-body bags out there.

The “Chainy Crossbody,” as they like to call it, is quite possibly our favorite bag of the season. Especially in that gorgeous ruby color (shown).

And guess what? The generous team over at F + C wants to give away the ruby Chainy to one lucky Fashionista reader. (Retail value: $450.) Just click here to enter. The deadline is Friday, October 29. Bonne chance–we’re jealous!

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Carol Smith Getting the Boot From Conde Nast Really Pisses Me Off

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 10:31 AM PDT

Former Elle chief brand officer Carol Smith, who left in April to head up Conde Nast’s food group, got fired yesterday, reports WWD.

Smith was hired by former Vogue publisher Tom Florio, who also “left” the company a few months ago.

As someone who is deeply entrenched in the transformation of the fashion publishing world, this really irks me. Not because Smith was so crucial to Conde Nast. And not because she won’t find another fabulous position. (I’ve only heard wonderful things about her as a leader and a boss.)

No, I’m angry because Conde Nast is still so top heavy. There are way too many high-paid executives with nothing to do. Roles aren’t well-delineated, and there isn’t one singular mission statement. (At least not one that is actually implemented.)

In other words, America’s most powerful consumer publishing company is a complete mess. At least on the business side.

Fashion publishing is changing rapidly, and no one knows what’s next. But a company with so many resources–financially and editorially–should not be this behind. "We are terrible with layers of management," a source told WWD. "We don't do that well. We don't know what their jobs are supposed to be."

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Fashion News Roundup: Costume Deets From Snooki and ADR, Amy Winehouse Drunkenly Models Her Fred Perry Line and Free Proenza Dresses?

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 10:04 AM PDT

The Pickle Princess of Poughkeepsie: It goes without saying that the streets are going to be full of Snookis this Halloween, but why not one-up all the others and actually replicate Snooki’s Halloween costume? WWD weirdly snagged a sketch of Snooki’s custom-made outfit, which involves a very short green bustier dress with pickle-shaped sequins and a pickle scepter. We can’t really think of a more appropriate costume for Polizzi. {WWD}

ADR Halloween: Anna Dello Russo‘s outfits are of the utmost extravagance 365 days/year, so can you even imagine what her Halloween outfits must be like? She shares her top style references for this weekend’s holiday. They include Lady Gaga, Jeff Koons, Givenchy couture and Fish costumes at the Chelsea Arts Ball in 1927. She explains, “This is a Schiaparelli mood: women as fish. It's anthropomorphic, part of the culture of fashion.” Ah, of course. {NOWNESS}

Winehouse Models Fred Perry: Amy Winehouse was supposedly a drunk, stumbling mess during the shoot for her new Fred Perry line. The finished (no doubt retouched) images just look weird, no? {Telegraph UK}

Don’t Sweat It: Apparently, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen wore cashmere sweaters during spin class at Soul Cycle in Tribeca. We appreciate wanting to look good while working out, but sweating in dry clean-only just doesn’t make sense. {Hollywood Life}

Tough Questions: London Fashion Week applicants who bill themselves as sustainable designers, will now be put through an 18-question test to determine the authenticity of their sustainability claims. {Ecouterre}

Total Rubbish: Rubbish Magazine 2.5 will be out soon. The magazine has great visuals and includes contributions from Henry Holland, Duro Olowu, Holly Fulton and even Alain de Botton. {Rubbish Magazine}

Fashion Illustrations: The first installment in a series of designer-inspired illustrations is by Cardigan designer Lynne Hiriak. The series focuses on emerging talent and we definitely agree that Cardigan is a label to watch. {JC Report}

Free Proenza? V Magazine is sponsoring MOVE! a PS1 art installation this weekend in which artists are collaborating with designers like Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenburg and Proenza Schouler on some kind of performance piece. More importantly, V‘s Cecilia Dean just tweeted that there are Proenza dresses scattered about the city?? {Racked NY}

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Ask Chris Benz: How Can I Make My Vintage Wardrobe More Modern?

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 09:30 AM PDT

Mr. Benz,

I hope that this finds you well. So, I’m a vintage addict. My closet is filled with second-hand clothes, particularly stuff from the ’50s and 60s. I love the styles, but I’m sick of looking like a girl from my mom’s yearbook. Literally. Your clothes are sometimes vintage-inspired, but they look modern, too. Do you have any ideas of how I can make my look more modern without relinquishing that vintage flair?

Dear Vintage Addict -

So many of my friends are vintage addicts, too, and growing up in Seattle during the grunge years, there wasn't ever a spare moment that we weren't combing the Salvation Army and thrifting for fuzzy old cardigans and crumpled prom dresses.

There are are few sure-fire ways to make vintage pieces your own and a bit more modern. The number one easiest trick, I think, is to pair more identifiably nostalgic pieces with new things. A ’50s party skirt with a white tee or tank top or a bellbottom pant with a shrunken boy blazer. ou can experiment with jewelry and accessories to keep your look fresh.

If you have dresses that you love, but that are a bit too “period,” take them to the tailor and have them shortened, take some sweep out of the skirt, maybe let out a bit in the waist to make it feel more relaxed. If a jacket has a bell sleeve or a puff that you're not feeling, have the tailor take it down to something more “now.”

This tip is one we used all of the time in high school: cut things off! A raw edge always looks modern, so don't be afraid to cut off collars, hems, sleeves, et cetera. You might surprise yourself with a very Comme de Garçons effect when you get scissor-happy with an old dress. Why not cut the lining out and wear it inside out? Cut the skirt off entirely and make it into a top. Hack the bottom off a trench coat and make it a short swing jacket.

Finally, this was a major grunge trick and it's a goodie: If you're feeling daft, take a needle and thread and create a running stitch along the raw edge with a contract-colored string.

xx
CB

Chris will be back next week with more fashion and career advice. Got a question? Email him on askchrisbenz@fashionista.com.

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Ten Questions For Project Runway: Season Finale Edition

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 09:08 AM PDT

*Yep, I'm saying who won. Read at your own peril.*

1) How much did the reunion segment make you miss Casanova and Peach? I'm so excited for Peach that she has a gay following. That's a sure sign that you're awesome.

2) Who wants to try gold metallic cat eyes after watching Collier Strong make up Mondo's girls?

3) Was Andy's putty-colored bathing suit as disturbing as Tim said? Ugly maybe, but I wasn't necessarily disturbed by it.

4) When is Jessica Simpson going to get a proper stylist? The girl is stunning, but that whole ensemble was a tragedy, from hair to shoes. It looked even worse on TV than when I saw it live during NYFW. That's all I'm going to say.

5) Did you like Gretchen's palette? I really hated it. But I'm biased against earth tones in general. Oh, and I’m biased against Gretchen, too.

6) Wasn’t it obvious immediately that Andy was doomed?

7) Who smiled while watching Mondo's collection walk? No one does high-waisted patterned "crazy" pants like this man. But…would you wear them?

8) Now Nina's saying the clothes are too young? What the hell is the ideal perfect age? All season everything was deemed too old.

9) Ooh, how juicy was the judges' deliberation? Michael was getting downright loud at Heidi.

10) Can someone please wake me up when Mondo is the winner? I know, I know. I heard all of Michael’s arguments. It makes sense. But I’m still ticked off.

11) Extra bonus question: What on earth am I going to do on Thursday nights now?

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J.Crew’s Holiday 2010 Collection Launch: Jenna Lyons Talks Gifts, Gingham, and Why She’s Still Set on a Louboutin Collab

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 08:00 AM PDT

Marissa Webb, AMEX's Jessica Igoe, Lyons, Muytjens

It may only be Halloween weekend, but according to the fabulous folks at J.Crew, it's already beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. Yesterday evening, American Express and the classic-cool high street store joined forces to celebrate the launch of the latter's Holiday 2010 collection at their Fifth Avenue flagship store.

As a line of eager shoppers wrapped around the block outside, J.Crew's creative team mingled with those inside—and were more than happy to spill the details on their holiday gifting lists. "I think I've bought something like 12 gingham shirts at this point," laughed Jenna Lyons, the brand's President and Executive Creative Director (and our own longtime girl crush). "And lots of cashmere socks—I mean, who would actually spend $30 on a pair of socks for themselves? They're the sort of extravagant thing you'd never treat yourself to—which is why they make for a great gift."

Meanwhile, we couldn't help but grill J.Crew's dapper VP of Men's Design, Frank Muytjens, about what to buy for the guys in one's life. "I love our Thomas Mason oxford shirts…and the Alden for J.Crew wingtips," he said. "Every man should own a great pair of wingtip shoes—once they're broken in, you'll have them for the rest of your life.”

As the event's media hour wrapped up, J.Crew's head honchos took their places on the store's main staircase to greet their friends and fans—and share more about the new holiday line. "We saw this amazing picture of a decrepit, old mansion," explained VP of Women's Design Marissa Webb, "and that raw, rustic, faded-out image inspired this whole collection. It's about the idea of contrast, of taking a raw space and bringing it to life with shine and color. After all, J.Crew stands by the idea of mixing and matching!" Judging by Marissa and Jenna's own attire—both wore festive, embellished pieces paired with outdoorsy olive field jackets—it's clear this store's team practices what they preach. Added Muytjens, “We love things rooted in history–things with a patina.”

As for the new collection itself, it was chock-full of the classic standbys for which the store's known—think luxe cashmere knits in an array of autumnal mustards and rusty reds, plenty of sequined skirts and cardigans, and the occasional hit of plaid. And following J.Crew's successful collaborations with both Essie and Stila, Webb hinted that the company is planning to pair up with other beauty brands in the near future. As far as Lyons is concerned, however, there's one label she's truly courting for a J.Crew collaboration. "Christian Louboutin!" she exclaimed. "If he said yes to the idea, I would die and go to heaven."