Uh huh - looks far better than Barcelona! Ugh, ENVY!!!!!!!! Enjoy it New Yorkers!
Posts Tagged Top Shop
The Top Shop opening party was in New York this week - and the city is in a complete frenzy over it. My best friend emailed me the other day to say that there was a Top Shop van at FIT giving out gift cards (of undisclosed amounts) and totes. Ugh, anywhere but here. The Times also wrote a feature on it that included absolutely no low points. Essentially, all anyone wants you to do right now is spend, spend spend - and to a lot of people Top Shop is dirt cheap, so they think it will work.
To me, Top Shop is a great source for fast fashion, but it isn’t some place I regular or count on to have much inventory for long. I first visited a Top Shop in Barcelona, and wasn’t entirely impressed - buying only a headband and belt. Online, there has been a little more excitement, except everything I like is either over priced or out of small sizes. I can only imagine New York’s assortment will be what dreams are made of, but I hope it can live up to the hype it’s built up after 2 years of anticipation (it was supposed to open in 2007). I also wonder how Top Shop will change the fast fashion climate not only in SoHo, but the rest of the city where you can find an H&M almost every 20 blocks, and sometimes 10. And - is the assortment’s price point offered different than overseas and what’s offered online like Zara is known to do? Hopefully - because in SoHo if you can’t find that perfect silk harem pant in your price range at Top Shop, you’ve got H&M, Forever 21, Zara, Armani Exchange, and American Apparel all within a literal stone’s throw.
I won’t be able to visit this magical land until Summer, however, but lucky for all of us outside of New York, Top Shop’s online store has gotten the hint and is offering free shipping all week! So, hop to it.
NY Times article “Top Shop in New York”
I didn’t initially latch on to this trend when Ralph Lauren first showed harem pants for Spring - but something just clicked this week and it’s all I’ve been shopping for. Harem pants have a Middle Eastern origin of course - but this isn’t the first time they’ve seen the catwalk. In the teens and 20’s, Paul Poiret was the first designer to utilize the vast source of inspiration that is the Middle East - and is infamous for his caftans, turbans and of course - harem pants. There’s a lot of hesitation to jump on this bandwagon because most gal’s just don’t think it’s feminine or attractive. I can see that - but at the end of the day it’s how you carry yourself. Pair it with a fitted top, gold bangles, a killer gladiator - and a lightweight knit or silk pant will flow and fall against your silhouette giving your look movement it wouldn’t usually have. I guess that’s the Marni in me though - who dresses for men?
Top Shop $20, originally $90
ASOS $38
Forever 21 $15.80
A bralette is technically a bra, gasp! If you go shopping around online for one - rarely will you find a detailed, more conservative version that you’ll need to achieve the bralette look. I first recognized this piece back in FIT, I had to do some sort of presentation on Prada and it must have been circa 2001 shows that I went back to - where she showed the high waisted circle skirts and midriff baring coordinating tops. Some also might recognize the look from the Sex and the City episode where Carrie gets stood up at Il Cantinori for her birthday. The actual aesthetic stems from the 50’s with the high waists again, but instead of bra tops - think knotted shirts, very Beach Boys - showing just a sliver of skin. I love this look for the daring - pair it under an open front or low cut top for evening - or have it peak through a boyfriend cardigan on the weekend. If that’s still too much - layer on some heavy chains or a sweet neck scarf to complete the look and downplay the bust. My goal is to cut up some old H&M bustier type bralettes that I used to throw under wrap dresses - and instead tie a boyish collared shirt over it with some tailored shorts for the present. Peggy Sue who?
Urban Outfitters contrast stitch $12.99
Top Shop denim $36
ASOS color block $25
Courtesy of photographer (slash street style maverick) Wayne Tippetts
Contact: Wayne@waynetippetts.com
Buy the leggings @ Top Shop $40
So - Top Shop’s Spring 2009 look book is finally complete, with Witchcraft finally being live online. How funny that the pair of leggings they feature on the witchcraft model are not on the site!? See post “Twinsies - Rodarte Leggings at Top Shop“. WTF. Anyway - we all may have to go the Rock of Love website route until we get to those precious Rodarte knockoff’s that are bound to hit somewhere, some place, soon!
www.FunnyLegs.com / $11.75
I get about 5 Google search hits a day via people searching for info about the Rodarte cut-out leggings shown for Spring 09 - so I have been hunting the web for a way to feed the need. Unfortunately, this is a quasi teaser post because the leggings featured are a preview to the Spring/Summer 09 Top Shop look book, so they’re not out yet - but they will be soon, and you better bet I will check the site everyday until they’re there. And - according to Google Analytics, for everyone in need I’m sure it will be well worth the wait.
Check out the Top Shop Spring/Summer 09 Look Book, “Witchcraft”
Bow headbands are nothing new to Gossip Girl, but I especially loved this oversized, floppy top-of-head version seen on Blair in “Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou?”, aka Bart Bass’ funeral episode. It’s very Polyanna, very Little Princess - and definitely a statement piece. I’ve discovered when searching for brand new trends or just weird vintage, i.e. jodhpurs, racers - that most search engines don’t recognize - Etsy is a great resource. Etsy is all handmade and often times custom. The exaggerated red bow below is made to order, so you can have your own little couture headband in any color of the rainbow for only $20 (ish). On the flip side, I was even surprised to see the Jennifer Ouellette headband as only $50 - as I have spent many an afternoon drooling over hair accessories at Barney’s, so the must see costumes on gossip girl have definitely created a saturated bow market - and thank god!
Jennifer Ouellette at Barney’s $50
Top Shop $22
Etsy $20
Shana Logic $18
The Victoria’s Secret bathing suit catalog was mailed out this week, and I was so excited to see the new styles but so disappointed while flipping through and realizing that it’s the result of a realllly bad last quarter. If anyone is really into the industry - Yahoo finance by retail sector is a great resource for apparel biz news, which is where I’ll often read about wholesaler inventory being way down this year. That means retailers like Victoria’s Secret aren’t buying that forward 50’s pinup suit this year because they can’t bank on the consumer to show up for it – so the wholesaler (design team) essentially scales back their style production.
What’s even crazier, as I hope this is the explanation for it and the cute suits aren’t gone forever – is that they featured a $300 crystal encrusted swimsuit on the cover. In reality, this reads not a penny over $60 worth – but what could be cute, inexpensive beading is instead Swarovski. Limited Brands - get your stuff together and put a key item feature on the cover (mix & match suits) that will actually drive people to spend. It’s so saddening because Victoria’s Secret swimsuits are always so playful, colorful, something for not only every body type - but every personality, and I always end up having to edit down 10 choices to 2 because of the incredible offering.
So, because I couldn’t find anything worthwhile, I’ve hunted down some adorable looks elsewhere:
Betsey Johnson $200ish (expensive, sorry!)
Urban Outfitters $98
Delia*s $44.50
Top Shop $50
