Kim Kardashian is HOT! Let’s face it…love her or hate her…she’s HOT!

I read a recent article about her and she is truly smart, savy, professional and Hot! Plus she is a true entreprenurial designer at heart. Basically, the kind of woman, women love to hate. Am I right?

But still there is something very appealing about her.  So when I learned she was going to do a Super Bowl commercial, I immediately thought the Super Bowl might be fun. The video is airing close to the two minute warning during the second half. She is suppose to be breaking some one’s heart but we don’t know who?  That really got me going.  Nothing like a good mystery, steaming with sex appeal.  I just showed my husband the screenshots of the SKETCHERS Shape-ups Super Bowl commercial, starring Kim Kardashian and got him steamed up about it….the Super Bowl of course.

Check out SKECHERS at www.facebook.com/skechers, where you can “Like” SKECHERS and receive special offers. Plus enter the Kim Kardashian sweepstakes after The Big Game. And tune in to see a special Kim Kardashian video aired during halftime on their Facebook page.

Toodles.  Look for my review on Sunday.

Just found a great little house I like a lot!  No bedrooms, no bathrooms, no kitchen but full of beautiful, interesting clothes.  “Maisonette 1977″  which means “little house 1977″  is designed by Jane Ibrahim, a Parsons School of Design grad.  She worked for Michael Kors, Vigal Azrouel, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass New York, Theory and Cynthia Steffe before undertaking her own line. She was a self professed lover of “grunge” at 13 and even after a decade of design experience you’ll see glimmers of that love throughout the line.  Part of that is what makes it so uniquely appealing and the other is that it is just beautifully feminine and wonderfully crafted.  A dash of sweet, a pinch of tough, a splash of modern and a hint of retro.  Add it all up and you get totally wonderful.

It’s no surprise that even though this is her third collection, she’s getting tons of coverage.  Her looks are loaded with press appeal – distinctive, interesting, and sell-able at the same time.  Like the Skye shearling coat featured in Marie Claire this Fall.  A master piece!  I love it 101 times.

Also look for her pieces in Lucky and In Style.

Keep your eye on Maisonette 1977.  Or better yet bet your “open to buy” money on Maisonette 1977.  In my opinion “its the little house that can”.  Jane Ibrahim’s unique take on mixing textures and patterns, craftsmanship in draping and modern sensibility translates  into eye catching fashions. Just what retailers need to motivate the consumer to buy.  Now I love it 102 times and growing!

PS I don’t know about you but I always like to meet the designer so here’s Jane (on the right)!

Photos:  Maisonette 1977 Website and Facebook Pages

Where to find it:

General:
Maisonette 1977  info@maisonettenewyork.com
212.695.5770

Sales:
Joey Showroom    info@joeyshowroom.com

Asia Inquiries:
Maisonette 1977 Asia    joanna@maisonettene

Paul Luckham an engineer and Manel Torres fashion designer teamed up to create cotton fabric that comes in a can.  It’s called Fabrican Ltd. and the company is working on mass-producing this fabric in an aerosol can.

The fabric consists of tiny cotton fibers dissolved in a solvent which quickly evaporates after you spray it on, leaving a seamless piece of fabric right on your model or mannequin.  It feels a little like suede and can be washed and reworn.

While it creates a custom (and snug fit) when sprayed on the body, sizing could easily be standardized through the use of mannequins.  And since it can be dissolved in a solvent and reused again and again, there is no waste.

Sound to good to be true.  There are those pesky aerosol cans and the chemical solvents involved but Luckham and Torres just may be in “high cotton” pretty soon.

Leslie Gifford designs awesome sweaters that keep you warm while making sure you feel cool. The name comes from a 360 degree circle which she says replicates the seamlessness of the most perfect shape found in nature. Her mostly cashmere sweater line combines California contemporary with New York sophistication to make a wardrobe. But she does not limit her creativity to just cashmere, she uses silk, wool cashmere, silk cashmere, Australian wool, organic cotton and linen in various gauges and weights

For fall 2010 Leslie has introduced her first accessory collection. It is an outrageous collection of scarves, wraps, blankets, gloves and hats in cashmere and cashmere blend yarns.

Each of Leslie’s everyday essentials have a unique design twist; texture, stitching, buttons,  wrapping or like the newly patented ‘Pocket Sockets’ which is essentially a glove built into a sweater pocket.

I love sweaters and consider myself a sweater aficionado given all the sweaters I bought and sold over my buying career. 360Sweaters are a sweater lovers dream.  They are priced well so you can achieve good margins at the store level, the details make them stand out from the sea of sameness and the quality speaks for itself.  So if you don’t have it in your store now…its not to late…sweater season has just begun.  Burrrrr!

Leslie Gifford Creative Director of 360 Sweaters

Photos: 360 Sweater Website and Facebook Page

Where to find it:

LOS ANGELES CORPORATE OFFICE
1520-C CLOVERFIELD BLVD.
SANTA MONICA, CA 90404
310-264-6111
310-315-2881 fax

NEW YORK SHOWROOM
526 7TH AVE, 4TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10018
212-683-9022
310-315-2881 fax

LOS ANGELES
Findings LA
860 South Los Angeles Street, Suite 608
Los Angeles, CA 90014Phone: 213-622-0717
Fax: 213-624-9536

CHICAGO
Stephen Mirkin & Associates
350 North Orleans St.
Apparel Center, Suite 1392
Chicago, IL 60654

Cell: 561-632-3190
Fax: 513 791-8178

DALLAS
Butch Plott & Co.
2050 N. Stemmons Freeway, Suite 15696
Dallas, TX 75207

Phone: 214-630-3009
Fax: 214-630-2470

Website:  www.360sweater.com

Christopher Raeburn’s eco friendly designs for men and women would have made fellow Brit, Winston Churchill proud.  This talented designer upcycles (a form of recycling where new products are made using other products that have become disused or retired) re-appropriated military jackets, Eurostar uniforms and old Belgium army tank suits into ethically beautiful jackets.  They are visually exciting in an earthy palette with burnished neutrals, cutting edge design and tons of history. The originals never saw combat duty and were found inside a UK surplus warehouse with the packaging labels from the 50′s still on.

In an interview with Fiona Sibley of the Guardian.co.uk he said  “My reasons for using this fabric is twofold: firstly, it is functional and waterproof. Secondly, the military always has to overproduce its garments, so there are warehouses with thousands of square feet of military surplus sitting around. For me, giving that a new lease of life is very interesting.”

His Battledress parka featured in the August 2010 issue of Vogue hit just in time as I was dreading the search for a new fall jacket.  Now I’m praying for snowfall.  Thanks to Raeburn I’ll be doing sorties in my Battledress and Wellies on the 9th grade soccer field.

His upcycled parachute parkas take on a different tone. So bright, light and whimsical they’ll  have you doing rain dances.  They’re fully waterproof so no threat of getting wet.

Raeburn has very limited distribution right now.   He currently sells through Barney’s in the United States.  If you want to be one of the lucky few, move fast.  This is just the type of special line that can heat up your outerwear business.

As Winston Churchill said ” I am easily satisfied with the very best”.  So am I.   If you are too, Christopher Raeburn is one of the very best new designers on the horizon.  So pick up the telly now and call.  Jolly Good Luck!

Where to find it:

Exhibition at Somerset House
Strand
London
WC2R 1LA

17 – 21 September 2010

Sales

Christopher Raeburn
christopher@christopherraeburn.co.uk
Tel:(+)44 (0) 78 8428 4560

Studio@christopherraeburn.co.uk
T +44(0) 208-5250-687

France

Tranoi Parc Royal, The Loft
10/12 Parc Royal
Paris
75003
France

With two sticks and string, a gang of wannabe knitters, and a community atmosphere,  Wool and the Gang has changed “Nanna’s knitting shop”  forever.

If you haven’t heard of it, Wool and the Gang, is a fashionable, new retail concept that opened in Soho in November 2009.  It’s part stylish design studio, part DIY knitting school, part luscious Peruvian yarn shop and part trendy knitwear boutique.  Knit them all together and you’ve got one fantastically, fun shopping experience.

Here’s how it all began.  In late 2007 Lisa Sabrier found some fantastic chunky yarn in a downtown knitting shop in New York and  thought if she took hunky yarn and combined it with chunky needles she could get fast results—ideal for today’s hectic lifestyles.  She had the concept and then just needed the design.  She and her partner Carolyn Main sensed people were looking for a connection to what they were wearing beyond logo’s and mass merchandise.  They felt they wanted a more personalized, meaningful experience.  One where instead of  “simply wearing it”, consumers could “make it as well”.  Sabrier and Main designed some hip styles, packaged them in cool kits for quick, easy knitting and launched them at Colette (one of my favorite Parisian boutiques). They were an instant hit and the rest is history as they say.

As soon as you enter their shop in Soho, you’re hooked.  Surrounded by bright-colored skeins of Peruvian yarn, white washed walls, designers abuzz with ideas, a huge working table in the middle of the store, and a crowd of people so interesting you can’t wait to join them in the fun and castoff a funky scarf or luscious sweater.

Their website is an engaging version of their store. Fun, hip interactive.  It’s a mix of easy how-to video tutorials, sketch memos, and great on-line shopping.

Wool and the Gang unlocked the mystery of how to connect with consumers in today’s fickle marketplace.  They put the FUN and the SOCIAL back in ready-to-wear.

If you are a boutique owner or a designer get over to Wool and the Gang for a healthy dose of imaginative thinking and out-of-the-knitting-basket thinking.  It’s worth the trip to New York or LA to get your creative juices flowing. Also their kits make a great addition to any boutique that sells knitwear.

Stop doing the same old, same old.  Get Inspired and your customers will follow.

If you can’t travel there, check it out here.

Photo’s – Wool and the Gang Website

Studio/Shop 98 Thompson Street New York, NY 10012
(212) 966 9266
nycshop@woolandthegang.com

www.woolandthegang.com

I told readers about A Peace Treaty in April 2010 and was thrilled to see Oprah just had an article in her magazine this month (September issue 2010)about them.  Must Love Boutiques scooped Oprah!  How about that. Glad APT is getting well deserved attention, just in time for the Fall season. Below is my original post.  Enjoy.

A PEACE TREATY is the beautiful by-product of a Pakistani Muslin (Farah Malik) and  a Libyan Jew (Dana Arbib).  In 2008 they joined forces to produce luxurious hand crafted accessories inspired by Middle Eastern, Asian, European and African influences. But here’s where it really gets interesting, they only work with local artisans in regions immersed in sociopolitical conflicts.  Why?  They want to provide employment to artists so they can preserve their trade.  They want to provide fair trade wage rates (that can be up to 8 times the local rate) so they can better artisans circumstances.  They want to enlighten people throughout the world about social issues that are important to them. In summary, they want to make the world a better place.

Their design inspiration starts with Arbib.  She forms a picture in her mind of what she wants to see people in or something she is lusting over.  Then she sketches it out for Farah and they start building on the ideas.

With ideas in hand they look for trades that are dying out because of industrialization and conversion to factory-based manufacturing.  They research the type of handicrafts a region offers or the types of colors and patterns used within the county’s aesthetic culture.  Story boards are made to inspire them as they look for interesting ways to modernize what a country has to offer and then translate it into one great accessory.

Each season they select a different region to work in.  Their new spring collection, Sozan Doz, was done in partnership with Afghan Hands. Each scarf is hand-embroidered by a widow in Afghanistan using traditional embroidery skills. In an interview with the Cut they told Sharon Clott, “It wasn’t easy, because infrastructurally, Afghanistan is harder even than Iraq to work in,” said Malik. “We had to airlift fabric in. The whole project took three or four times longer than any of the other projects we’ve done. It was a total labor of love.”  Their line is a total labor of love-Arbib’s love of graphic, textile and product design and Malik’s love for social justice and human rights-combined to create beautiful, lovely things.

While A Peace Treaty is mainly known for its exotic, understated, exquisitely crafted scarves, this Spring (2010) they introduced a jewelry line, Sunari which means “female goldsmith”.  The jewels are inspired by the Kuchi nomadic tribes of Afghanistan and the Turkoman tribes of Central Asia. There are 12 pieces in the collection and no two pairs of earrings or necklace are the same.  Each hanging amulet and talisman is 24 karate gold-plated and has beautiful intricate geometric carvings.

Their Capra collection of scarves and shawls features hand-woven Himalayan cashmere made from the shedding hairs of  Capra Hircus mountain goats.  The items are woven using the finest and silkest hairs of the goat and the skill and craftsmanship learned and passed down through many generations.  The Kilim collection of scarves, stoles and neckerchiefs features hand-blocked printed silks. The process embodies the art of carpet weaving found in traditional Central Asian kilim carpets.

If you need artisan-level accessories for a luxury market customer, you need A Peace Treaty.

Pricepoints: Scarfs: $$60-$320 Retail, Jewelry: $120-$280
Lifestyle: Casual Chic, Luxury

How To Find Them

Offices/Studio
1133 Broadway Suite 618
New York, NY 10010
646-352-2127 Phone
646-861-4643 Fax
farah@apeacetreaty.com
jesse@apeacetreaty.com

Showroom Representation:
Simon Showroom
95 5th Ave
New York, NY 10003-3052
212-242-1565
info@simonshowroom

Christie Murdoch wanted to keep her new clothing line “all in the family” – the tree family that is. With a retail store  named Banyan Tree, “Figwood just seemed like a natural name extension” Murdoch said.  A figwood is a member of the Banyan family which comes from the “banians,” or Hindu merchants who set up markets in the shade of these massive trees.  Just like the “banians” Murdoch just might have it “made in the shade” with this line.

She spotted a void for arty, chic, limited-distribution fashion that was well made and irresistibly priced. Murdock launched the summer line of Figwood on June 5 in her store. If the reception by her guests was any gauge of Figwood’s future, its going to be bright.

True to its name, Figwood has a light organic feel to it. Soft jersey knits tops, feather cotton dresses in watercolor prints, organza  like dresses with feminine detailing and arty sweaters as soft as spun cotton. The accessories mimic the spirit of the clothing. Delicate silver jewelry using the signature figwood leaf, colorful scarves, playful flower rings.  All irresistibly priced.

The summer line has a lot of dresses and many are One Size fits most. That seems like an impossible formula but it really actually works. While the fit is generally smaller I saw it on all shapes and sizes and it just magically seemed to work. The tops sized S through L are in great colors with a variety of silhouettes.

Sara Sandsbury, Figwoods designer worked for Ann Klein and saw many a great design end up on the cutting room. So as soon as she had the opportunity she resurrected some of her favorites, reinterpreted them with Murdoch’s direction and in less than 3 months Figwood was born.

Murdoch is applying the same philosophy she uses in buying for her store to her wholesale line. Seek out the special, the unique, the different. She’s limiting Figwood to small unique, specialty boutiques with the same sensibility as the Banyan Tree.

This line is small, special, and freshly interesting. It has a sophistication and a quality that defies the price point. A boutique could easily bring it in as a margin builder with a 2.7 markup or higher. It’s a good addition for a better boutique that needs a lower end line with a distinctive point of view and good design.

Figwood is launching Fall 2010 to a small group of boutiques at the StyleMax show August 7-9 in  Chicago.  Immediate fall sweaters will be available for October delivery. Resort 2011 will also be shown. Don’t miss the chance to get in on the ground floor of this new line. The designs have been fit tested straight out of the dressing room and sell through performance has checked strongly at the Banyan Tree.  That’s as risk free as you’ll find these days.

Pricepoint: Clothing $60-$120 at retail: Accessories $28-$90 at retail

Where to Get It:

Banyan Tree
2242 Professor Ave
Cleveland, OH, 44113
216.241.1209

On Facebook at: Figwood Company

shopbanyantree@gmail.com

If  Imogene + Willie was a celebrity I’d be in jail for stalking right now.  This retro-fitted gas station, now cool hip apparel boutique  “swept me off my feet”.  I’ve been obsessed with it, talking nonstop to friends and family and even a few strangers I corralled into listening, since learning about it.

Calling Imogene + Willie a boutique just isn’t right.  It’s a fresh new hybrid concept that combines artisan product design, one off manufacturing and selective distribution of some of the best premium denim apparel in the world. It’s customized before your eyes in a Nashville, Tennessee boutique-factory.  All the jeans have a story.  Their own special story.  Sometimes the story is about Matt’s fondness for experimenting with D.I.Y. techniques involving bleach, rocks, sticks and a big metal bathtub set up on the patio-cum-party space behind the store. Sometimes its the story of Teresa Mason, whipping up the best tacos in the city and then cleaning her jeans with a light dip in the comfort of her tub…while wearing her jeans. Whatever the story, a pair of semi-custom, hand-sewn selvage denim jeans starts at $200, can go as high as $450+ and requires one or more fittings.

Then of course there are the other countless beautiful things they source…. vintage cowboy boots, hamam towels from Turkey, hand dyed scarves from India………so much to love.

Husband and wife team, Matt and Carrie Eddmenson are the geniuses, the master artisans behind this concept.   They are also proprietors, artists, craftsmans, designers, sewers, washers, storytellers -  taking retail back to the authenticity of its early origins.   You’ll feel the difference the minute you enter their boutique, their factory, their blog, or their website. This small new brand that most people would never have heard about has caused a stir in the retail industry far beyond its Tenneesee borders

Mickey Drexler, the CEO of J. Crew who knew the Eddmenson’s from his Gap days, has a “fashion gut” more sensitive than a Geiger counter seeking radiation.  I’m guessing that’s why he snatched them up as soon as they came calling.  Now they are collaborating with J. Crew for an exclusive artisan line that includes two styles of jeans, two styles of handbags and a vintage t-shirt and sweatshirt.   The goods will appear in late August, on jcrew.com and in select J. Crew (Prices range from $350 to $425.)

Currently Imogene + Willie only wholesale to J. Crew and Stag, a boutique in Austin.  The Eddmenson’s want to keep their business intimate, hands-on.  I believe they will.

But, if you are a boutique owner and you want to differentiate your brand I suggest you:  1)  study and understand how they’ve successfully interpreted authentic and 2) fly don’t drive to Nashville, get down on both knees and beg the Eddmenson’s to collaborate with your boutique 3) if they don’t agree at once, stalk them till they do.  If you are a fashion brand do all of the same.  Guarantee it will be worth it.

Where to find them:

imogene + willie
2601 12th avenue south
nashville, tn 37204
615-292-5005
Website: www.imogeneandwillie.com
Contact Info:
carrie@imogeneandwillie.com
matt@imogeneandwillie.com

Photos: Imogene + WillieImogeneI

It was love at first sighting when I spotted designer Pierre Colorado’s Blake Standard Spring 2007 collection in New York – one year after his official launch. He was a senior designer at Abercrombie and Fitch (with an FIT degree in fashion design) when he saw the need for chic, sophisticated easy sportswear for all women.  Women who wanted to look great at work, or while running around with their kids to school activities, or while relaxing on the weekend in comfort without looking slouchy.

He filled that need with standout color palettes, special detailing, soft supima cottons and flattering styles. All with a “no fuss” quality that make them easy to sell and sell fast.  It also doesn’t hurt that they are reasonably priced with great detailing and quality.  The t-shirts sell at $48 and jackets and sweaters are in the $90-$142 at retail.

Colorado opened his first store in October of 2009 targeting women from 18-65 with an  active, family oriented life who love to travel, and want to look great and be comfortable doing it.   Now that he has a store as a testing ground he’s an even better designer.  He knows what sells, what doesn’t sell and most importantly why things don’t sell.  He hears and sees firsthand how customers respond to his collection.  That’s worth his weight in gold!

In fact, I think that’s why every piece in his collection is versatile, chic and flattering.  And the pieces mix and match and complement all sorts of things a woman already has in her wardrobe.  That’s a golden combination.  Enough to make me want to add it to my store buy this fall!

Website: www.blakestandard.com

Pricepoint: t-shirts $48-55 at retail, jackets and sweaters $90-$142 at retail.

Offices:
4140 North Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60613-2007
(773) 472-7220

Showrooms:
Atlanta
Chicago
Dallas
Los Angeles
San Francisco
New York
Contact: info@blakestandard.com