Tuesday, December 30, 2008

NexCen Sells Bill Blass for $10 Million

Som's old ready-to-wear line. See it and weep, friends.


NexCen wanted to unload Bill Blass from its books months ago but only just now made the sale. And like every pair of Manolos in this town, they had to mark it waaaaay down to get it out the door. Though NexCen sought $25 million for the designer business in September, they sold it for a mere $10 million. The lucky buyer is Peacock International Holdings LLC, a men's dress shirt and neckwear company. We know — random.

NexCen shut down the Bill Blass ready-to-wear line on December 19, laying off 60 employees with no severance. So now that the label's in Peacock's nest, can the line spread its wings and soar once more? Eh, don't get your hopes up. At least, not anytime soon. Since Peter Som left as head designer of the Bill Blass line two months ago, reportedly over frustrations that NexCen didn't know how to run a designer brand, and NexCen couldn't financially support a spring 2009 runway show, it's going to be hard to revive the brand to its former ready-to-wear glory. No head womenswear designer (it should be noted Michael Bastian remains creative designer for menswear) and no runway presence do not a booming label make, and few expect it to become so.

Meanwhile, NexCen plans to use the cash to pay off some of its debts, like that incurred by the Blass brand and, perhaps, its purchase of the Great American Cookie company. Yeah, the company that wants to focus on selling cookies and growing ice-cream franchises was evidently not the best choice to run a designer fashion label. Stereotypes don't exist for nothing.

Christina Aguilera to Do Topshop Line?

Christina Aguilera to Do Topshop Line?


We've seen rumors about this in the British tabs before, but it's back, so here goes: Topshop owner Sir Philip Green is reportedly wooing Christina Aguilera to design a collection for his chain. The enormous success of Mirror, “Philip loves her style and believes she would add something new to TopShop. Christina is the blonde bombshell who is into pop whereas Kate is the rock chick and model." Thanks for clearing up their occupations, anonymous source. On that note, we've been thankful that Christina has avoided designing things people can wear for some time. If we do say, she seems to be in the midst of a fashion/image crisis right now. The Studio 54 jumpsuits and Hot Topic lingerie she wears onstage, the permanently bold lip color, the thick black eyeliner she probably tattooed on in secret — it's like she landed at a Madonna concert from Planet Moulin Rouge and thought that was how we do things on Earth. Well,Moulin Rouge came out at the end of the VHS era for goodness sake. Upgrade yourself, honey!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Update: Kate Moss for Topshop

This is just a quick follow up to my recent post about the Kate Moss for Topshop Christmas Collection. The full range is now available online UK | online USA. In typical fashion the ‘best’ pieces, in particular the limited editions, have already sold out - and will most likely appear on eBay with jacked up prices. The range was only launched today! Such is the iconic status of Kate Moss. I personally think this is the best collection so far and for the first time i’m tempted to part with my cash. The mini dresses all look great with a really cool vibe about them…

Rate Her Outfit: Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester, AIDS charity benefit at NYC’s Roseland Ballroom.

Last week’s ‘Rate Her Outfit’ was fun! I enjoyed reading your comments. It’s always interesting to see how people view another person’s style. This week we’re rating the beautiful Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl fame (Blair Warldorf), who I personally adore. I nearly always love her style, whether on or off the screen. The oversized boyfriend blazer is right on trend for this season; as are the shoe-boots (if you can call them that - they’re somewhere in between, right?). I’m just wondering if the outfit is a little too much blue? Would you have styled it with a contrasting colour top instead? Don’t forget to leave a comment and rate her outfit. Be as brutal or as nice as you please!

Kate Moss for Topshop: Christmas Collection

The Kate Moss for Topshop Christmas collection is launching soon: Tuesday 28th October. I haven’t been that impressed with this collaboration so far, so i’m hoping the Autumn/Winter 08 offering will be more exciting. Kate has been on a promotional treadmill this week with press interviews. I liked some of her style tips so I wanted to share them with you! Here goes…

  1. Never look like you’ve tried too hard - or rather don’t try too hard! Mismatching can add a much more personal touch to an outfit.
  2. Be brave and try new hair styles! It can completely transform your look just for one night and inspire a new way of looking at your existing wardrobe.
  3. Mix old with new - the options are endless and it’s good to make your own vision. Recently for a friend’s wedding I paired a beautiful Chanel maxi dress with an antique blue velvet cape and a pair of huge Turkish hoop earrings which gave the dress a totally unique feel.
  4. Don’t take a vintage or second-hand piece on face value as it can be altered in so many ways. I’ve lopped the hem of many full length gowns and made necklines lower. It does help to have a genius dress maker, otherwise just do it yourself!
  5. When going out for the evening, think about your arrival - the accidental pairing of a battered leather jacket and floor sweeping gown looks amazing and effortless, as does an embroidered jacket paired with your old jeans.

I wholeheartedly agree with point 5 - to me, nothing looks cooler right now than a fitted leather jacket thrown over a fancy dress. I love the contradiction. Just a couple of weeks ago I wrote about the edge it adds to an otherwise feminine outfit.

Here’s a sneak peak. The black mini dress with the contrasting white leopard design will surely be a sell-out. FROM 28th OCT…USA girls visit Kate Moss for Topshop | UK girls visit Kate Moss for Topshop

The Lash Stash

This is such a neat idea! Sephora have put together a ‘best selling sampler set’ of mascaras. They reckon the set of 10 mascaras has a retail value of $85 but the The Lash Stash is priced at just $35. Not bad hey! This would make a cute Christmas gift wouldn’t it?

The Last Stash allows you to test drive a new mascara every day until you find your true lash love, with ten travel-size black mascaras from your favorite brands.

My favourite, Dior Show, isn’t included. What’s your ‘go to’ mascara?

Jessica Alba Wears Karen Zambos Vintage Couture

Jessica Alba is all about the scarves. It seems like she rarely goes anywhere without accessorizing her outfit in this way. It’s easy and effective. She recently stepped out in this interesting scarf called ‘Vote’ by Karen Zambos Vintage Couture, $108. See the words ‘VOTE’ emblazoned all over? She clearly sees her celebrity status as useful in encouraging the women of America to VOTE! Will you girls be voting in the Presidential Election? Tell me who you’re voting for!

Dresses, Dresses, Dresses…

Don’t you just love dresses? No fussing around having to match top with bottom - comfortable - feminine. What isn’t there to love about dresses? With the Christmas party season looming large (well ok, another 2 months, but i’m planning ahead!) i’ve been scouring the shops for suitable eveningwear. Nothing too dressy, just cool, fun and funky. Here are some of my favourite finds:

  1. Satin Puffball Dress, ASOS, £38. Love the contrast between the hot pink and black.
  2. Dolce Vita Pearl Dress, $155. I’m literally drooling over this one.
  3. Heaven Belted Dress, Madison Marcus, $328.
  4. Floral Chiffon Dress, Mina, £66. The long sleeves are elegant and perfect for winter.
  5. Bandeau Dress, Rare, £45.
  6. Metallic Trim Dress, Ichi, £35

Victoria Beckham Gets Spiked!

Victoria Beckham at J Sheekey restaurant, London, October 17th. Check out the spikes on the shoes! Only V.B could rock these. I think she looks fabulous! I love, love, love the little black lace minidress…the shape, the length, the fabric, the too cool for school pockets! Ahhh…fashion at it’s best. Her dark cropped hairstyle really works for me with this fierce ensemble. What do you think?

The shoes are by Christian Louboutin (for Rodarte), of course, and are priced at a jaw-dropping £1,500. They give a new meaning to the phrase ‘killer heels’. At least nobody will be stepping on her toes in a hurry.

We Had No Idea That This Was the Way to Go

200810152038.jpg

We would like to think that we were developmentally beyond the part where we put the tube of toothpaste into our tote bags, thinking, Oh, no, that'll totally not end up being a really, really bad idea. Like, come on. Honestly. We spent half the day licking all of our stuff, because tap water was too uncontrollable and tissues got too sticky. Argh.

Anyway, we're in the market for a new tote bag, and we're thinking we'll be able to deal with this in Vietnam, which is where we are now. This city is fucking crazy! They literally have these helpful guards to walk you across the street since there is apparently not so much of a functioning pedestrian crossing system going on.

That's tomorrow. In the meantime: We were telling our best friend that these Japanese girls—and she was all, "How did you know they were Japanese? Couldn't they have been Korean? Or Chinese?" And we were like, "Because they were holding their passports! Snap!" We did not say "snap," but we certainly did think it. Anyway, we saw three passport-holding Japanese girls at our hotel yesterday, each carrying an LL Bean bag. We had no idea. This is, in any case, a super-cute bag for not much money, even if we would without a doubt find some way to destroy it with a beauty or health product. LL Bean regimental stripe bag, $22

Reader Mail! The Bridal Shower

We love love love reader mail. While your regularly scheduled writer is presumably laying on some tropical island, dodging monkeys, we are not traveling, not in a tropical area, and working under hideous lighting for far too many hours a day.

For bridal showers, we have a default gift. We've sent it to our best friend (yes, we skipped her shower), we've sent it to fiancees of friends, we've sent it to our Loved One's relatives we couldn't pick out of a crowd. We've always gotten really great feedback, so we'll keep giving it until someone tells us to stop. Or, all of our friends are married. Either way.

Personally, we don't love Philosophy products - we find them drying. But we think they smell great, have excellent packaging, are vague enough to be appropriate for everyone without being impersonal and they always present well.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Kate Moss for Topshop (Again)

It's that time again! New Kate Moss at Topshop. We can't look away. Even if everyone in the world is like, 'Er, can we please get Agyness Deyn for Topshop?'

We love this top because it is very Tucker but like 1/3rd the price, which, given the exchange rate, is incredible. Oh! We hate our international currency policy! KM for Topshop star-print blouse, $70




We don't mean to gross anybody out, but we totally threw up all over our last Kate Moss jeans. Before that, though, we loved them. We love TS denim: super cheap (compared to US premium brands) and fits awesome. Awesomely. Whatev. Zip skinny jeans, $90

We're not sure this qualifies as special, but we guess we like this top. So. Like we said. Agyness for Topshop? We're waiting. Double layer top, $56

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Hoodies!

They are a wardrobe essential, except in the sense that we do not, at the moment, have one, having lost our last one at a bar in Siberia after quietly, politely puking vodka into a shack bathroom. Ooh, way too much specificity for a Tuesday morning after a holiday, no? Anyway: above is the sort of hoodie we like: rather plain. In fact, this is exactly the sort of hoodie we abandoned in Siberia, except we tended to wear things beneath it. American Apparel California fleece hoodie, $38

It's pricier than we'd prefer, but we like the narrow silhouette and the long-ish sleeves. Bop Basics hoodie, $88

gray hoodie juicy couture

Sometimes we wonder what a hoodie looks like when it costs $200. This is it! Juicy Couture cashmere hoodie, was $288, now $201.60

red plaid hoodie

All we're saying about this one is that basically every single girl at our art school wore it. Urban plaid hoodie, $54


red gap hoodie

The Gap has about 40,000 different kinds of hoodies at the moment. We add this one because it is on sale, with the blue version under $10. We will say, however, that we prefer our hoodies long and narrow, as opposed to sort of wide and cropped, and these do not fit that bill. Gap tipped hoodie, $39.50, now $9.99 - 24.99

white j crew hoodie

Sometimes we dream about buying a cottage on Martha's Vineyard, and in our preppie dreamland this is the hoodie we would wear.

The Winner Is In!

Picture_8

John McCain also scored our favorite (second-place) endorsement, from C.: "I think I would be okay with McCain although I think it might be because he looks like a trustworthy hounddog." He does! That is the most accurate thing we have read about John McCain, ever.

Because we are populist-minded, our official endorsement, since John Edwards dropped out, is [Democrat nominee TK.] Honestly, we were sad when we thought Obama would lose, and we're sad now that it looks like Hilary Clinton will lose.

Hair plump! It makes everyone feel better. And the winner of this $95 bottle of we-are-sure revolutionary hair product: Zut! Please to be sending the mailing address.

This caucus's sponsor is the lovely Frederic Fekkai All-Day Hair Plump, $95

(Still Expensive) Sale of the Day

We haven't been as excited about Luella lately as previous, but we think this is really quite a good looking handbag. And currently forty percent off.

Luella Anita bag, was $695, now $417

Sale Item of the Day

The best thing about mini-skirts in winter: wearing them with tights. American Eagle Academy skirt, was $44.50, now $9.95

Another Valentine's Day Suggestion

Picture_1
Every year we have a new favorite thing at Bing Bang. This is it for 2008: it's so not jewelry-y, and takes care, all in one, of the whole layered-necklace thing. Easy peasy, that.

Figaro mixed chain, $285

The Sale at Bird!

We love Bird—it's the best boutique chainlet in Brooklyn (read: anywhere), an opinion not-at-all biased by the fact that we used to do some of their promotional writing. And sale! It is the only good thing about February.

Above: We think this is one of the most beautiful dresses ever. 3.1 Phillip Lim one-shoulder dress, was $660, now $449

Don't hold the unflattering angle against this dress, which we love. See by Chloe dress, was $410, now $229

This picture also makes us a bit sad. Trovata cashmere cardigan, was $225, now $129

And this picture makes it look a bit frumpy,we think, but Etoile by Isabel Marant is one of our favorite lines and we're just extremely confident that this looks adorable on. Etoile wool skirt, was $305, now $169

Friday, January 4, 2008

More More Sale: From Helmut Lang, Karen Zambos, LAMB, Etc

Honestly we just don't know where to start with all this sale stuff, but as we figure it out, we will gravitate to the cashmere things, and the coat things, because it is still cold as fuck. Above: Ella Moss cashmere dress, was $304, now $152

We have seriously wanted this coat for like a million years \ three months. That is a lot of coat for a not-entirely-absurd amount of money. Karen Zambos Vintage Couture swing coat, was $561, now $280.50

We would be fairly happy with this coat as well. It totally looks like she is not wearing any bottoms. L.A.M.B. bubble coat, was $485, now $242.50

This is not cheap. Chiffon! Never enough chiffon in the world. Or something. Rag & Bone swing dress, was $560, now $280

We swear these exact same jeans, more or less, were Oprah's pick yesterday for slimming denim. James Jeans - Dry Aged denim, were $198, now $99

That is nice pair of black pants, well discounted, but NB they're final sale so try on elsewhere. Helmut Lang stovepipes, was $355, now $106.50