Down the Drain

News broke yesterday that the fashion house Luella has decided to cease trading. While I've liked some of their looks in the past, it's easy to see why they're not surviving the economic downturn. A mushroom keychain on sale for $54? An ugly, ruffled t-shirt I could get (but wouldn't) at Forever 21 for 10 bucks, on sale for $128? Pass, thanks.

I will not mourn these labels. If fashion houses want to survive this recession, and future recessions, maybe they should consider trimming down. Stop producing such massive collections, and focus on making each piece something someone would actually want to buy.

Columnists, bloggers, designers, and rich people talk till they are blue in the face about how if we could just get over the scary price tags, we consumers would be so pleased with our purchases if we made the switch from fast-fashion to high-end lines. While Luella doesn't exactly fall into the later category, it does follow the same modus operandi - use better fabrics, debut your collections on the normal high-end fashion calendar, jack up those prices, and then bask in all your ill-gotten riches.

No, I'm not saying that all designers immediately it the jackpot with that method. A lot do. But that's not the point. The point is, you're still charging way, way more than you know you should for your product. And that's why you shouldn't be surprised that the consumers you've willfully been scamming for years don't care at all to help you climb out of your financial hole. It's the same as when the music industry started crying because of digital music, and begging us to save them, but everyone laughed in their faces because we'd paid $15 one (or a million) too many times for a CD that cost $.02 to make.

Today's generation, just like every generation before them, is a savvy group of consumers. Where you could trick our grandparents and maybe parents into become brand whores, but it's much harder now. Heck, we're the first generation to demand fast-fashion. So I'm sorry that you mismanaged your money Luella, or you made some bad decisions. But you will never see me spending that kind of money on that kind of crap just to help what to me is just another scam-artist come back from the brink.

Ugh, I've been so sick the last few days. So a lack of posts, I'm sorry. I'll post again when I'm healthy!

Inhabit Fall Sample Sale

Inhabit is having their Fall Sample Sale online right now, with up to 80% off select styles. I currently own FIVE Inhabit sweaters, and I just ordered two more today. I have never, and will never, pay full price for them and have only picked them up at various sample sales. But that's only because I'm such a cheapie - these sweaters are seriously comfortable and they are a phenomenal staple for your wardrobe. It's why I get so excited every time I see there's a sale! The cotton is solid, the cashmere is super soft, and I've never regretted a purchase. I'm sure you feel the same way!

Stella McCartney for Gap Kids

This is the cutest diffusion line I've seen in quite some time and it's no surprise it comes from Stella McCartney. She's the queen of incredibly luxe looking, comfortable yet on trend pieces. She's also known for stratospheric prices. This line for Gap Kids is the perfect price range, so the question is, can you squeeze into it?

Thankfully for us smaller ladies and men, Grazia sent out a crack team to investigate. The results are these two informative (and cute!) videos showing one of their brave staffers testing out a few of the main pieces. Watch, drool, and then head to your local Gap and pray that it isn't all sold out!

Flirty fun

I'm not in love with the length of this shirt, but the sleeves are so Moschino.


For $28, it's a healthy amount of personality without looking cheap!

Perfect fall boots on Etsy

Etsy is a fantastic destination for affordable, quality vintage shoes. This time of year, sellers know that's what everyone's looking for, so there are an enormous range of options up currently. Here are some of my favorites:


Vintage Leather Equestrian Boots for $75. The rope detail is really on trend and the color here is fantastic.


Vintage Albert Assanti Boots for $105. There are so many designers doing this brown-on-black style with boots right now, but for a much much higher price-tag.


Black Leather Riding Boots for $64. This is just a straight-up steal. If these were my size I'd already have snapped them up.


Vintage Gucci Knee-Highs for $350. Finally, a little eye-candy splurge. These are truly gorgeous, and a great little piece of history. Plus, it looks like the seller is willing to bargain!

A Peak Inside

Have any of you checked out Sundance Channel's "The Day Before"? It bills itself as a four-part documentary series in which they chronicle, "the final 36 hours prior to crucial seasonal runway shows featuring creations by some of the fashion world's leading designers." And it is fascinating.



Simply noting the differences between the processes for each of these houses tells so much. The first episode I saw was the one on Fendi, and Karl Lagerfeld. One of the most striking take-aways, for both the viewer and clearly the editors, was how many pieces end up on the cutting-room floor. For every insane look you see below, there was one that was fully completed but will never have its moment on the runway.



In comparison, the Proenza Schouler episode emphasizes how small the house still is, and how important every scrap of fabric is. It was so interesting to see the designers agonize over every look, willing themselves to find the solutions that will make them work.



Most of all though, you come away with such a respect for every aspect of the craft, for each pair of hands detailing each look. I loved every minute of it!

Voice of reason

Finally, someone who isn't content with simply aping the comments of their fellow bloggers and fashion critics regarding the not-actual-disaster-Lohan/Ungaro collection. I've been a fan of The Emperor's Old Clothes for awhile now, and it's precisely because of this type of post. It's always nice to read a thoughtful and well-written article in my daily blog scan, so please, keep it coming!

DIY for the masses

In awesome-new-to-me blog news, you must check out PS I Made This. The author takes trends of the moment and shows you a really simple way to craft it yourself. In a time like now, where prices on off-the-moment items are too high, and we don't all have trust funds to support our sartorial desires, DIY is indispensable.

Check out this fantastic fur vest project:

See the full post with inspiration here and here, and keep checking back there for more great projects to keep your closet trendy and your wallet full.

Next Best Thing

Everyone loves Rick Owens. And clearly the most beautiful pieces he makes are his winter jackets - leather or puffy, sleek or voluminous, they are extremely flattering, and there aren't many other designers doing the same sort of thing.

So you can imagine my excitement when I wandered over to BCBG Max Azria's website and spotted these phenomenal substitutes at a MUCH more acceptable price. Check it out:






No, the styling isn't as spot on as you'll find on sites where Rick is sold, but use your imagination people! In fact, just go here, here, or here, and substitute in the coats from above. Works, doesn't it? And instead of almost $3000(!!!), all of the pieces above range from $158 to $248. Much, much better.

Wearing my head on my sleeve

It's unfortunately sold out online, but this leather jacket from Martin Lamothe is amazing.


I love the exact degree to which you can identify the horse heads on the sleeves - I thought after just seeing the first picture that it could be a trick, or that I was seeing something that wasn't there. I'm just impressed by how unique this is, but that's what I've come to expect from the buyers at Pixie Market, who are extremely adept at picking interesting pieces that are still completely on trend and often relatively affordable. It's a great store, so check it out!

Poor Girl

Poor Lindsay Lohan. She looks so insanely rough.



But it terms of the collection, I think it was decent. Totally wearable, if a bit obviously aimed at a younger, 80's-inspired crowd. This can only help Lindsay though. It's not that I think she really had any sort of a role in designing it. But just being able to have her name attached to something that doesn't suck balls has got to feel good. And I call bullshit on anyone trying to argue that this hurts Ungaro. When's the last time you paid any attention to that brand? And it isn't bad attention either, like some people are claiming - that it will devalue the brand. Come on, the big story at NY fashion week this fall was the sheer number of bloggers present, and the amount of power every designer was giving them - front row, favoring above editors and buyers. Ungaro is playing the game, and possibly winning. I'm impressed. Here are my favorite looks:

Love sandwich

Eeeep! I love seeing awesome people in awesome clothes. And Ellen Page.Is.Awesome. I don't think that should be debated. She's just so cool and natural, just really herself. Look at her:



Just so pretty and real. The kind of person you want to be friends with. And what is she wearing?



Alexander Wang. Totally awesome. She's the type of celebrity I enjoy seeing in his clothes. Ellen Page, you rock.

Outside looking in

How much do you hate the exclusivity in the fashion world? It always seems like you're being kept out of something, and it never sucks as much as when you can see the pictures from what you're missing.

This week DecadesTwo is setting up another pop-up shop in Soho, and though it's open to the public for three days, tomorrow they're dedicating to a private sale. For special, awesome people who aren't you and me. Sigh. Click through to Racked for some pictures of what will be gone by the time we the plebes get a crack at it.

DecadesTwo pop-up in Kiki de Montparnasse
79 Green Street, 2nd Floor
10/2-10/4, Fri & Sat 11-7, Sun 12-5

Steel and Black

One of my favorite online vintage boutiques is Holme. It's extremely well curated, and it seems like it's more important for them to feature great pieces instead of big names.

One of their most interesting pieces currently is this crinkle skirt. The fabric is partially a steel blend, which makes it an incredibly interesting, and an incredible steal at $36. It's a one of a kind that you're not likely to stumble on again.

Want this now

Fashiontribes posted this great Rick Owens jacket today, with a look to compliment it. I've seen the jacket already on Net-a-Porter, but I like seeing how other people would style it. Obviously, I'd put some tight black jeans and a cashmere scarf with it, but that's because I like it simple and comfortable. It's too much for me to shell out for now, but maybe I'll get lucky like last year when I scored this Rick Owens jacket:

for $180. $180, brand new. Sometimes, you just get lucky.

2nd Favorite Store in NY

Today I checked out a store in the East Village called Change of Seasons that just opened two weeks ago. According to the owner (who's running the store with just his partner right now!) Change's stock has never been worn, essentially making it an outlet. But this boutique has the best selection of any outfit I've ever seen.

There were about four racks of Margiela, Westwood, Balenciaga, Rick Owens, and much more. I was very tempted buy a few pieces, but I've burned through my budget for the month thank you very much. There was also a gorgeous selection of jewelry and other accessories.



Though the owner described the clothing as a season old, it does not matter when you're talking about such a well curated collection. There are currently coats, sweaters, tops (like the Rick Owens above) and dresses that blend in seamlessly with what's being offered for F/W 2009. Go now, so that when Change blows up, you'll get to say you knew it when.

Change of Seasons
341 E. 9th Street
Tue-Sun Noon-7:30pm

Smart basics, like duh

What's a stupid decision? Buying American Apparel at full price. What's an awesome decision? Buying American Apparel on Hautelook, where it's currently 50% off. I picked up the Baby Rip Bubble Tube Dress and the Cotton Spandex Jersey Unitard, both NOT TO BE WORN ALONE, because I don't need looks from boys that badly, but to layer under the insane number of sheer outfits in my closet and currently in stores begging to be in my closet.

My least favorite show from SS 2010

What's the point in even showing if you're going to present this crap? Honestly, there's nothing nice that can or should be said about this. Because there are way more talented designers out there that should have her space. Here's Pamela Rowland's tacky, hideous collection:


Terrible color, shapeless, and there's not a single occasion this should be worn to.


Oooo, flashing some skin in a high-waisted floor-length skirt straight out of your mom's closet fifteen years ago. Those flowers genuinely make me puke.


If you have a Bollywood bash in your near future, and you want a purposely ill-fitting gown so that everyone can look better than you, you are so in luck.


Ew. This is not LA Fashion Week. Ew.

My favorite show from SS 2010

And I seriously think I might save for some of these pieces. I will certainly be stalking the sample sale. Obviously these looks are super wearable, which means they'll stay in your closet and on your body for years and years and years. Plus, they have the little touches, like the incredibly flattering cuts, and the natural layering, that will make you stand out in a subtle way so that people won't even be able to point to what it is specifically, and of course they'll have to assume it's just you.

In honor of the Emmys...

If I ever inexplicably become super famous and get to regularly walk red carpets, you can bet your ass I'd rock some Marchesa. I was watching the Rachel Zoe Project this season, and one episode she dropped into their workspace during what I think was Fashion Week earlier this year, and even just seeing it on TV you could tell how mind-blowing the dresses would be up close. Here are my favorite looks from SS 2010:


My choice for a more classic look.


The one that would land me on the worst-dressed list, but I don't care because I dig the random swash of fabric.


A little Sarah Jessica Parker, but doesn't it look like despite all the action, it would actually be flattering?


So rock and roll, and I would definitely wear it with the tights. I kind of want to DIY those...

Neutrals with punch

Ports 1961 has been turning out collections with a clean yet interesting palette for years. It takes real talent to be able to make a simple dress in a plain color as interesting as something covered in sequins and feathers. Plus that necklace is AMAZING.

Preen SS 2010

The fit may be more unconventional, but I think these Preen outfits would actually look fantastic on. I particularly like the textures and volume - not too strong, wearable but not boring at all.