Black opaque tights with a slight sheen have been a popular choice among stylists working the fall 2007 shows in New York. Stop by your local costume or dance wear store and snag a pair if you're looking for an easy way to update your look!
Photos: Shiny black tights at Oscar de la Renta, Temperley, and Malandrino.
At long last, an alternative to Lanvin flats to love! A little over a month ago, I posted about a possible substitute for Lanvin flats. Having never seen a mid-market Lanvin flat knockoff, I was overly eager to share it with you, and thus posted about a flat that I had seen only in pictures on the internet. It turned out to be cheap looking in real life, and so I resolved to continue my search.
Pictured above are Saks Fifth Avenue brand flats, now available at Saks outlets for a mere $80. I am mystified as to how this substitute eluded savvy bloggers and tfsers while it was in Saks stores (perhaps it was not available at many locations?) and ended up at the outlet, but if the shoes are in some way less than desirable (uncomfortable, for example), it is absolutely impossible to tell from the pictures. (Note: at this point I have yet to see the flats in person; however, I plan on visiting a nearby Saks outlet soon to make an appraisal and will update this post upon having done so.) For those of you who do not have access to a Saks outlet, the flats are also available on eBay for approximately $150 from seller floridamuggle.
IN STORES NOVEMBER
Pictured at left is a dress from Behnaz Sarafpour's GO! International collection for Target. The 13 looks are now available in stores and online. Click here to shop.
Roland Mouret's capsule collection for the Gap will be available in the U.K. and France November 7, and in seven New York Gap stores in a few short weeks! View photos of the collection at Nitrolicious.
Sofia Kokosalaki's collection for the Nine West Front Row Project is available on the Nine West website and at 20 select Nine West locations. Now, I am absolutely enamored of Kokosalaki's work, but her talent as a designer is hardly apparent in her Nine West pieces. At least, that's my opinion; you be the judge. If you missed Thakoon Panichgul's Project Front Row collection, not to worry--it's still available at Macy's.
The wait is nearly over for Viktor & Rolf for H&M. The collection hits stores November 9th, and to help you prepare for the event, H&M has posted photos of the complete collection. If you haven't done so already, visit the H&M website to see if it will be available in a store near you.
Finally, Uniqlo will continue rolling out its designer collaborations this month; designs by SCYE for men and Adam Jones for women will be available in the Soho store later this month.
IN THE NEWS
Proenza Schouler have signed on to design a collection for Target's GO! International campaign. This is the most exciting massclusivity news in weeks! Preview the collection at Jane's Dress & Primp blog.
Alice Roi, Phillip Lim, Lutz & Patmos, Alexander Plokhov of Cloak and a handful of Japanese designers have agreed to design capsule collections for Uniqlo's Designer Invitation Project. The collections will be available beginning in February. The Shophound has the details, and has even posted a few sketches!
THE ECONOMICS
If you're economically inclined and interested in reading analysis of the trend of "ventures in massclusivity," check out this post.
No blog about fashion and economics worth its salt should be without a "Cheap Chic" series of posts. Thus, when I come across close substitutes for distinctive designer goods, I share them with you!
I never thought it would be possible to find a close substitute for the Lanvin ballerine, but the Nine West Shelbi is a near perfect match. Lanvin flats have achieved cult status among avid followers of fashion; that Kate Moss has been photogaphed countless times in her black patent leather pair has only added fuel to the fire. The flats retail for approximately $445 to $515, but are impossible to find in stores and selling for nearly $800 on eBay. The Nine West Shelbi, pictured above, is available in black patent and gold leather for a mere $64.95 at Nordstrom.com.
Previously: Substitute for...Belle by Sigerson Morrison and Substitute for...the Christian Louboutin Lastic Boot.
There are so many massclusivity partnerships these days that it can be hard to keep track of them all! Hence my first "Massclusivity Watch" post. I'll be posting each month to let you know what to look for in stores, and what to look forward to in coming months. (If you're economically inclined and interested in reading analysis of the trend of "ventures in massclusivity," check out this post.)
IN STORES OCTOBER
Thakoon Panichgul's capsule collection for Nine West is now available in 20 select stores and online. Visit the Nine West website to view a list of the specific stores carrying the collection, which consists of shoes, bags, and gloves. The collection follows Vivienne Westwood's collection for Nine West, which was available in September. Designs by Sophia Kokosalaki will go on sale in November.
Shop the latest of Paul & Joe for Target this month, as Behnaz Sarafpour's collection will take its place come November. I, like La Femme, was not too impressed by the first three Target GO! International collections, but I'll definitely pay a visit to Target to check out Behnaz's. Check out photos of the collection here.
IN THE NEWS
Viktor & Rolf for H&M will be available in approximately 250 stores in 24 select markets on November 9th. As of today, you can view a preview of the collection online and sign up for an email reminder. The company has not released a list of the specific H&M locations which will stock the line, but keep an eye out for one on the H&M website. One thing worth noting about the Viktor & Rolf for H&M collection is that it will include a $375 wedding gown. Now, the select H&M stores carrying the collections are always complete mob scenes the day the chain's massclusive collections hit the racks--it's almost frightening to contemplate adding a few bridezillas to the fashion-crazed mix!
Designer Roland Mouret has found himself a business partner in Simon Fuller. (If you read The Economics of the Affair, you'd know that this earns Mouret points in my book as it's increasingly important for talented designers to hook up with equally talented business partners as the designer fashion industry becomes more competitive.) The two have joined together to launch 19RM, and the company's first project is a line of 10 dresses for the Gap. What with fashionistas claiming that the Gap has Audrey Hepburn "rolling in her grave" with their skinny black pants commercial, it almost sounds too good to be true. And it is, if you don't happen to live in the UK or France, where it will be available. As for you lucky readers in France and the UK, mark your calendars: the line hits stores November 7th.
Kate Moss signed on to design a collection for Topshop in late September, which means we Americans have yet another reason to be jealous of fashion lovers across the pond. I find this deal particularly interesting as Miss Moss has a reputation for staying ahead of the fashion curve. I wonder, will she bring her fashion foresight to the masses with her collection for Topshop? Or will she have moved on to fresher trends by the time her collection appears in stores and on the Topshop website in Spring 2007?
Photo: The picture at the top of this post (scanned from Dutch Elle) features a piece from the Viktor & Rolf for H&M collection. I've included a couple more pictures of looks you won't find on the website quite yet after the jump, also from Dutch Elle.
As a fashion-obsessed economist, I love finding close substitutes for pricy designer items when I can (the key word being "close"--I'm very picky). Hence the second in a series of posts in which I'll share my finds with you. Pictured here are the Nine West "moonunit" (one word) flats. They are available in black, silver, or gold for a mere $59.00 at www.ninewest.com. They bear a striking resemblance to Belle by Sigerson Morrisons, don't you think? Click to see larger.
To see the first post in the series, which features a near perfect substitute for the Christian Louboutin Lastic boot, click here. Want to talk about the ethics of knockoffs? Check out this post first.
The other day I got to thinking: What blog about fashion and economics worth its salt would not have a Cheap Chic series of posts? Hence the first in a series of posts in which I will post about relatively inexpensive substitutes for hot ticket items.
First up: a substitute for the Lastic boot. The Christian Louboutin Lastic boot appeared in a number of Fall 2006 shows, and before Steve Madden introduced the ($179) Steven by Steve Madden "NVADE" ankle boot, there was no acceptable substitute (IMHO) for the Lastic boot on the market. I was considering purchasing the CL Lastic boot, and while I am currently on the waiting list for a pair, the $645 price tag would mean foregoing a pair of Lanvin flats or a pair of black patent leather Chloe platform slingbacks I have been eyeing. Also, if you consider the purchase of a pair of Lastic boots in economic terms, for an additional $466 you are getting better quality shoes (they'll last longer than the Steven's--trust me, shoes in the $200 range wear out quickly) and the red sole (for those of you who don't know, red sole = Christian Louboutin). I am a student and do not have the sort of budget to be paying $466 for better quality and red soles while still obtaining my optimal product bundle (perhaps a post on the budget constraint is in order?), so I will probably be opting for the substitute in this case.
LEFT: Steven by Steve Madden "NVADE" ankle boot, $179. Pre-order them here.
RIGHT: Christian Louboutin Lastic boot, $645.
Ankle boots are a big trend for Fall 2006, and the Lastic boot is my pick for ankle boots for the season. If you'd like to pictures of the Lastic boot on the Fall runways, or if you're wondering how to wear them, click here to see an earlier post devoted to the Lastic boot.
Also, I'm in the process of writing a post about knockoffs--so if this post rubs you the wrong way, sit tight!
This is the first in a series of posts about low-cost ways to add interest to an outfit, put a new spin on a piece you already own, or simply appear more stylish. First up: add a thin or medium width belt to one or more outfits you own that would accomodate the accessory, and wear it as it is shown(buckled and looped) on the model in the picture below. Since you probably already own such a belt, this fashion upgrade of sorts will only cost you a few minutes of your time as you (a) think abou outfits you might do this with and (b) figure out how to loop the belt. As a student of economics, I have been taught that there is no such thing as a free lunch--generally or in fashion. But I'd say this comes pretty close to it.
ABOVE: A look from the Hermes Spring 2006 collection. For more pictures (and more examples of outfits this "looped belt" works with), continue reading.
