uniqlo designers invitation project

Uniqlo is launching a website for their Designers Invitation Project to share images and bios of the designers who they have selected to do affordable collections.

For Spring 2009:
Steven Alan for women (mid-March)
Opening Ceremony for men (mid-March)
Shipley and Halmos for women (mid-April)
Guilded Age for men (mid-April)

The designers' collections will be available in Japan, the US, and online. I will definitely be checking out the designs at the flagship US store as soon as they launch and I will share my picks so you can snatch them up before they are gone! I am most excited about the womens shirt designs by Steven Alan (pictured above).

I hope that the recession has a positive impact on these designer collaborations and influences more designers to offer pieces at lower price points...

vivienne tam and bloggers

HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition

As a new fashion blogger it feels great to be appreciated.

Vivienne Tam is one of the most influential designers who has made a strong statement about the importance of fashion bloggers in the fashion community. The Vivienne Tam show at NY Fashion Week (which just wrapped up so I have a lot of runway shows to watch online) featured a bloggers computer lounge to offer bloggers an instant connection between the runway and the readers outside the tents. I hope that more designers start incorporating similar ideas to utilize the web to expand the world of fashion.

Here are some interviews with fashion bloggers at the Vivienne Tam show, which included my favorite fashion blogger Julia from Fashion Pulse Daily.

I love the concept that fashion and design should be equally accessible to everyone, which is why the designer collections pairings with budget retailers have been such a great innovation over the past few years. Tam has paired with HP to create a tiny and beautiful clutch-sized HP Mini that I must have!

Thank you Vivienne and I hope to see you at Fashion Week in the Fall....

affordable vintage

I just have to mention my successful trip to the attic sale at Zachary's smile today, which has been running every weekend in February yet still managed to have tons of wonderful items. I am going to pick this as my new favorite sample sale! I love the pairing of different vintage fabrics to create unique modern pieces. I came home with a pink cropped silk jacket ($20), 3/4 sleeve khaki jacket ($20), a Christian Dior (supposedly) patterned silk skirt (my favorite find for $10 in a bargain bin!), and a vintage handmade floral print dress ($10).

The sale ends tomorrow, but I will keep you updated on any future specials that they are runnning...I heard a rumor that they were going to do a clearance sale that involved a $20 cover charge to enter and fill a bag with as many items as you can. Sounds amazing!



So many cute jackets...I wanted ten more...the contrasting lining fabrics are unique for each piece...

UPDATE TO POST:
The Zachary's Smile sample sale will be continuing through the weekend of Feb 28 - March 1! Go check it out!

earnest sewn sample sale

Earnest Sewn denim

Thursday, Feb 19 - Monday, Feb 23

8am - 8pm

71 Gansevoort St., b/t Greenwich & Washington Sts., 3rd flr. (212-242-3414)

Earnest Sewn is my favorite brand for jeans right now, so I try to hit this sample sale every year to stock up on denim. They have most of the styles and colors that are available in the stores, only at a discount. This is my pick for jeans!

still here...

Sorry about the long absence from posting! My tan from Kauai trip is quickly fading as I slave away at work now that I am back in New York....I promise some great posts soon!

aloha

I am off to the beautiful island of Kauai for a week...but I will be back after President's Day to report on the beginning of fashion week!

Here is a peak into my suitcase at my picks for tropical island travel essentials...

• cut-offs in super short and bermuda lengths. I usually buy cut-offs at a Juniors apparel store instead of trimming a pair of my own jeans because the tightness in the thighs on regular length jeans is not ideal for comfy shorts. Denim Bermuda from American Eagle Outfitters, Tracy from Abercrombie & Fitch.
• bikini with removable straps. I like the option of strapless to avoid undesirable tanlines. Victoria's Secret has a huge variety of swimsuits at extremely affordable prices online. Checkered trim bandeau from VS.
• plastic frame sunglasses. I love these Ray-Ban Wayfarers in bright hues, but for beach trips I buy the cheap imitation styles so I don't worry too much about scratching them up or losing them in the ocean.
• cotton bag. I use a slouchy canvas bag as a combination purse and beach bag so I can move from the beach to an after-beach meal or shopping expedition without carrying too much around. Floral Canvas Tote from AEO.
• Muji toiletry containers. Instead of buying over-priced airline sized toiletries or switching to different brands that are available in these sizes, I put all of my regular toiletry products into mini reusable Muji containers to bring with me. An assortment of containers are available at the Moma store.
• casual cotton dress. I end up wearing the same versatile cotton dress over a bikini almost everyday. Again, the idea is to be able to straight from the beach to a restaurant or shopping trip without a trip home in-between. Front Detail Tube Dress by Splendid at BasicBasic.
• rubber flip-flops. I am a big fan of the Brazilian havaianas, which come in a variety of styles and colors and withstand wear and tear. havaianas.
  

sample sale in Noho

first NY sample sale post!

Zachary's Smile sample sale

303 Mulberry St (just north of Houston...behind their retail store)

They call it an "attic sale" but it's actually in a basement...and if there are no dressing rooms, I call it a sample sale. Zachary's Smile is known for selling simple modern style dresses that are sewn out of recycled vintage fabrics so each piece is similar, but unique. They also have an amazing collection of vintage pieces. All dresses at the sale are $20-$25. I just stopped by and if you are in the mood for rummaging, I guarantee there are some great finds! I tried on all of the pieces pictured above and loved them. If I had more time I would have focused on sifting through the assortment of beautiful vintage coats!

The sale is being held every weekend (Thursday - Sunday) in February from 1pm - 8pm. They'll continue putting out new products every weekend (or so they told me). But as all sample sales go, the sooner you go the better!