Case in point - compulsive online shopping. I have been on the hunt for a bevy of bottoms this Spring - from trouser to harem to pencil crop, and happened to be on a silk harem pant googling binge when I came upon Express and the insane online sales they’ve been having. A girlfriend of mine actually showed up to a party I threw a couple weeks ago in these, along with Chanel mary jane’s - and looked effortlessly chic. So, when I saw these silk tapered trousers online I had to ask - and yes they were Express. Not only do they read Wang - at $11.99, yes $11.99 - you can afford to buy 4 pairs to hold you over when you just don’t feel like pulling that iron out. I actually just received mine today - however when I ordered them they were $15.99, so my condolences go out to Express - gradually marking an $80 pant down to $11.99 has got to hurt. Regardless, I am ecstatic UPS delivery status was wrong and I got these a day early so I can wear them to the Austinist party tomorrow. Heaven sent.
Shop the silk tapered crop pant @ Express.com $11.99
I’m not much for housewares - but when I saw an ad in Lucky mag while sipping vino at my girlfriend’s yesterday - I couldn’t ignore the vibrant prints I knew were Orla Kiely. At Teen Vogue we used to get the adorable little canvas totes with the colorful and minimalist designs - but as my beau does way more cooking than me and I can hardly bring myself to finish decorating our pad, this one just passed me by. No worries, though - looks like there is still a great selection available on retailer of the moment Target.com. Maybe Target should just solely do diffusion, what an idea - like a mass, nationwide Opening Ceremony for all designer diffusion brands. Regardless, I loved the little desert trays and serving bowls, maybe this will provoke me to actually buy some rather than serving friends dip in pots and pans!
Shop Orla Kiely for Target
$1,265 Louboutin’s vs. $12 @ GoJane.com
These pups are from the Philip Lim Spring 09 show, the flat version from post “Ruffled & Rosey Louboutins for Philip Lim’s Runway”
Shecky’s is a big deal in New York - but the word has got to get out to our girls in the south, especially Dallas! Shecky’s is kind of jack of all trades night of girly fun - i.e. a bevy of designers to shop from, complimentary manicures, blow outs, and DRINKS! They’re held every few months in different cities, and this February 25th & 26th - they’ll be in Dallas.
General admission is free (sign up via www.Shecky’s.com), but it does not include their famous goodie bags - valued at over $100 worth of beauty and girly treats. To get a goodie bag (trust me, you’ll want it), tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Oh - and if you buy before Feb 15th, they’re only $15.
Texas ladies: I’ll be giving away 2 goodie bag tickets to a lucky reader - stay posted!
Word on the street from SoCal is that Fred Segal on Melrose & in Santa Monica are holding a 75% off sale in stores - and pretty much everything is marked down.
8100 Melrose Avenue / Los Angeles, CA
500 Broadway / Santa Monica, CA
www.FredSegal.com
Thanks Tiff!
Just picked up these adorable satin, gingham wedges from Payless - for $38 bones! I’ve been in a little rut when it comes to Payless outside of New York. I sometimes wonder if people are even aware of how fantastic it is - and if the buyers out in Topeka, Kansas (yes I’m serious) would plan an assortment correctly for a city outside of NY - we might all spend a lot more money there. Here in Austin, there are about 5 Payless’, only 1 of which carries the designer collections - so when I was reading up on the new styles that were in the 34th street store in Manhattan, it was about 4:55 and I bounded out of the office on my way to pick up some serious spring shoes. Unfortunately, they had about 1/3 of what I was expecting, but I did manage to snag the Lela Rose wedges above - they had such a distinct 40’s feel to them, very romantic - like the Notebook! So, my beef with this story is that Payless needs to realize that Austin is not West Texas and give us a better assortment. There are fashion forward girls outside of NYC and perhaps they’d know that if they weren’t based in Kansas.
Shop Lela Rose “Caruth” check wedges $38 @ Payless.com
Love Charlotte Ronson’s aesthetic, but isn’t this what Jovovich Hawk for Target was for? I already have my hippie, downtown rocker diffusion line. And - even though it’s not diffusion which Urban Outfitters carries of Ronson’s, I still would much rather spend my money on the real thing (which isn’t THAT much more), than the watered down version. I also can’t remember the last time I was in a JCPenney - that requires a mall, most times, or an urban sprawl - both of which I try to avoid (excluding Target). Anyway, you can’t fault her for going mass, it means dolla dolla bills - and it’s definitely her livelihood in the design, but Charlotte Ronson isn’t really aspirational - and that’s the missing link.
Shop I Heart Ronson for JCPenney
View the full slideshow, “First Look: Charlotte Ronson for JCPenney” @ Nylonmag.com
All Charlotte Ronson up to 50% off @ UrbanOutfitters.com
When will it end?! I’m all about designer looks for less, and this really was a great concept when it was first introduced to mass. I can remember waiting outside of Opening Ceremony in the rain, after pushing my way through rush hour subway traffic (Chinatown is the WORST), to snag Proenza Schouler for Target before it hit stores. In NYC, you have to take a long and awkward train to get to a Target - so this was every woman for herself. Unfortunately, by the time I got in - only 10’s and 12’s were left, so I had to go home defeated. I then waited until 3am for it to hit Target online, when I made my purchase (to be safe two sizes of every piece) to get those beautiful bustier cup bodices they’re known for. Crazy, yes - but that’s the point.
I have never been as excited about any diffusion line since. The beauty about Proenza for Target was that the result completely embodied what the RTW was about, what was really aspirational that people pined for. Now that it’s become mainstream to have 2 to 3 diffusion lines under a brand, there is really no tie to the original designer at all, and it’s always something I can find elsewhere.
Norma Kamali has been trying to make a comeback for the past few years - she has a little bit of the Halston curse - and in doing so launched her first diffusion line for Everlast which made no sense at all. Now that she’s collaborating with Wal-Mart, I hope she knows she threw all hopes of future Vogue covers out the window, and should focus on one market and do it well. On the flip side, her basic aesthetic works well with this consumer base - a more casual, athletic female in mind with power colors to match. I really do appreciate that a designer is taking it to Wal-Mart this time - which might be the freshest idea yet.
Shop Norma Kamali for Wal-Mart: Dirt Cheap
Trench $30
Blouse $15
Bag $6
Jacket $20
I’m not sure exactly how Gap’s markdown cadence works, but in Austin I was able to snag a cream version of this cashmere cardi for $29.99! It’s still a steal at $42.99 online, as the original price is $118 - and although it’s not Ralph Lauren cashmere, it still feels super lux to the touch. I would definitely recommend running out to the store, though - the color assortment even for sale was pretty vast - I really, really wanted the bright orange to go along with the whole Tangerine & Pink vibe I’ve been feeling lately (see post: Fresh & Fruity - Fuchsia & Tangerine for Spring) - but it had a makeup stain, so be careful and shop smart! As sizing goes, the cardi’s are of the boyfriend kind - so if they don’t have your size, buying a size or two up is absolutely justifiable with some latex leggings and cinched waist belt.
Visit Gap.com
