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subscribe to style file blog via RSSOn Our Radar: Chance
May 25, 2012 11:50 am
When I was a kid, my mom used to dress me in stripes, and ever since then, I have racked up a growing collection of striped pieces (I still keep the tradition going today with my daughter Gloria). Especially in the summer, cutoffs and a striped top are my go-to weekend outfit, so of course, when I first saw Chance’s California-inspired collection of timeless basics, I was immediately drawn to it. From the boatneck shirts in turquoise, green, and blue to the canvas totes and printed beach towels, it’s all so perfect for summer. (The one-year-old brand’s designer, Julia Leach, knows a thing or two about stripes—she’s the ex-creative director of Kate Spade.) And though it’s just her second collection, filled with a range of long cotton dresses, tanks, and shorts, it’s already exclusively stocked at Barneys. It’s all very basic, super chic, and classic. If you are going away to the beach this weekend, you might want to visit her Web site or stop by Barneys for a quick shopping spree.
Pictured: Boatneck tee, $68; beach towel, $85; and Body of Water tote, $235. All available at Barneys New York and www.chanceco.com.
tags: Barneys New York, Chance, Julia Leach, Kate Spade
Michael Kors, Living Large
May 25, 2012 8:31 am
Michael Kors has a larger-than-life personality and even bigger ambitions for his namesake luxury brand. Coinciding with the debut of two new boutiques in Madrid and Taipei earlier this week, the designer just opened his largest lifestyle store to date at 667 Madison Avenue yesterday. With soaring 22-foot-ceilings, an 18-foot-high video screen (yes, campaign model Karmen Pedaru looks that much more beautiful when she’s blown up in high definition), and logo-etched glass walls complemented by custom steel fixtures, the 6,655-square-foot bi-level retail space is double the size of the previous location, which was located just next door. The new digs still have that clean, minimalist aesthetic that is characteristic of most MK stores, but the immense size better balances the burst of vibrant colors found in the current summer collection on display (accessories from both Collection and MICHAEL Michael Kors are available upstairs, while downstairs is entirely devoted to the less expensive line’s clothing). Speaking of, to celebrate the upgraded digs, Kors brought in Leandra Medine, a.k.a. The Man Repeller (the label’s second collaboration with the blogger), to style the mannequins the night before opening the store’s doors to the public. Whether Michael Kors, a name so intricately tied to sexy American sportswear, is man repelling? Well, that’s up for debate.
Michael Kors, 667 Madison Ave., NYC.
tags: Leandra Medine, Madison Avenue, Michael Kors
On Our Radar: Dalila Barkache
May 23, 2012 5:05 pm
You might have already caught jewelry designer Dalila Barkache (and her exquisite taste in clothes) in Style.com’s Summer Shopping Guide this week, along with the likes of Inez van Lamsweerde, Phoebe and Annette Stephens of Anndra Neen, and music producer Caroline de Maigret. Since launching her line during Paris fashion week in October 2011, when she didn’t even have a showroom yet, the Paris and Tunis-based designer has been making a name for herself with her eponymous line and its best sellers, like her gold and diamond engagement ring sets.
“I always wanted to do something distinctive—my first thought was being a perfumer but the school was too expensive,” she tells Style.com. “One day a friend asked me if I would consider passing the admission test to get in the jewelry school, and that was when I first thought going into it.”
Good choice—after studying at the highly acclaimed Ecole de la rue du Louvre, she landed her collection ($460 to $8,000) in Dover Street Market. And at the moment, she’s in L.A. hard at work on a collaboration with the graffiti artist Neck Face, then off to Tunis, and then Tangiers. Dalila Barkache is one to watch. One of her new rings is pictured, above.
tags: Anndra Neen, Caroline de Maigret, Dalila Barkache, Dover Street Market, Ecole de la rue du Louvre, Inez van Lamsweerde
Favorite Of Royals, Now Favorite Of Yours, Too
May 23, 2012 10:18 am
Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Albert II of Monaco own Fabergé eggs. Now you can, too. The fabled Russian jewelry house founded in 1897 by Peter Carl Fabergé, goldsmith to the Russian Imperial Court, was revived in 2009 with his great-granddaughters Tatiana and Sarah helming the company’s heritage council, and it’s opening its first store in the U.S. on Madison Avenue today. Among the offerings designed by creative and managing director Katharina Flohr (late of Russian Vogue) are Les Favorites—miniature egg pendants (pictured) made from precious stones encircled in tiny diamonds or the guilloché enamel that the jeweler is famous for. “The fashionable young crowd in London are really embracing our fine egg pendants,” Flohr told Style.com at a walk-through of the new store yesterday. (New York is the house’s third store after Geneva and London.) “They collect the eggs and wear them layered like charms. In fact, there’s a waiting list there of clients wanting the latest edition to add to their collection.” The pendants start at $6,500 and there’s no waiting list—yet—on Madison Avenue.
tags: Faberge, Katharina Flohr, Russian Vogue
White Out
May 22, 2012 4:11 pm
Memorial Day weekend is finally a few days away, and although I wear white year-round, including during the winter, I especially can’t resist buying new white pieces for summer. It’s my go-to color for warm weather. One of my favorites in my wardrobe is a cotton dress from Jenni Kayne Spring ‘11—I’ve worn it over and over again. But every year I add a couple of new summer white pieces to my collection. Earlier this year, during Milan fashion week, I was lucky enough to find a great full-skirted Alaïa number at the Corso Como outlet for a bargain, but besides that, I have yet to find the perfect new additions for this summer—until now. Here are a few items I have my eyes on.
From the top left: Acne Lucille denim dress, $353, available at www.mytheresa.com; Proenza Schouler sleeveless belted shirtdress, $850, available at www.kirnazabete.com; Diego Dolcini flat sandals, price on request, available at www.diegodolcini.it; Mother Runaway skinny flare jeans, $196, available at www.shopbop.com; Lanvin two-tone minaudière, $2,390, available at www.barneys.com.
tags: Azzedine Alaia, Corso Como, Jenni Kayne, Kirna Zabete, Mother, Proenza Schouler
Karen’s Candy Bar
May 22, 2012 1:53 pm
Just to make sure you’ve got plenty of eye candy this summer, Karen Walker is serving it up in multiple flavors around the globe. Tomorrow, the designer opens her Candy Bar pop-up shop at Restir in Japan, filled with her new limited-edition collection of sunnies (in extra-sweet shades like toffee, vanilla, bubble gum, and strawberry) and her current Spring/Summer offerings. The Candy Shop will be making its way around the world over the next year, including stops at TenOverSix in L.A. (May 25 through June 22) and Cloak & Dagger in New York (June 29 through July 13). Here, Style.com has an exclusive first look at the pop-up and the sunglasses ($220 each).
tags: Cloak & Dagger, Karen Walker, Restir, Tenoversix
Shop The Look: Stripes
May 22, 2012 12:22 pm
No matter the season, stripes are always on trend. Breton T-shirts and sailor stripe dresses have become warm-weather staples, but now designers like Markus Lupfer and Stella McCartney are offering fresh takes on the classic pattern. From sunglasses to smoking slippers, we’ve rounded up seven striped essentials to set your wardrobe back in line, just in time for summer.
1. Ralph Lauren sunglasses, $309, available at www.mytheresa.com.
2. Stella McCartney Falabella striped tote, $1,149, available at www.saksfifthavenue.com.
3. Band of Outsiders pocket-detailed jersey T-shirt, $235, available at www.net-a-porter.com.
4. Markus Lupfer Charlotte striped dress, $270, available at www.net-a-porter.com.
5. Lacoste Goa watch, $95, available at www.lacoste.com.
6. Citizens of Humanity Charlie super flare, $218, available at www.revolveclothing.com.
7. Charles Philip Shanghai St. Tropez smoking slipper, $135, available at www.bloomingdales.com.
To view more looks, click here.
tags: Band of Outsiders, Citizens of Humanity, Lacoste, Markus Lupfer, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney
Cannes Ready
May 18, 2012 6:24 pm
The truth is, I’ll be home in New York this weekend, taking long walks in Central Park and having friends over for a barbecue. But a girl can dream. And where I’d really like to be spending my weekend (and, what the hell, next week) is Cannes.
What to pack for the French Riviera? Neon and zebra-print K. Jacques St. Tropez flat sandals ($315) to wear with an all-white outfit, or to pair with crazy printed cotton pants. And this Proenza Schouler boho dress ($1,650) is perfect to wear from the pool to cocktails. For evening, I’ll take my inspiration from Giovanna Battaglia, who was the star of the Cannes red carpet last year at the amfAR gala—I would go with vintage, in my case, this Chanel one-shoulder gown from 1986 ($2,298) with a couple of bows in the back and peplum on the waist. To finish the look, Irene Neuwirth’s black and diamond earrings (price on request) would bring it all up to date, as would my customized Charlotte Olympia clutch ($745), embroidered with my name.
tags: amfAR gala, Cannes, Chanel, Charlotte Olympia, Giovanna Battaglia, Irene Neuwirth, K. Jacques, Proenza Schouler
Southern In The City
May 18, 2012 8:54 am
New York’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) kicks off this week, and the fashion set is not to be left out. Designer Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin, has organized a series of events called MAKESHIFT, to initiate, she says, “a larger conversation around finding the point where the professional worlds of fashion, craft, design, and DIY intersect.” As the Alabama-based (hence the name) Chanin points out, “The important business and brand building parts of the fashion industry can sometimes obscure that initial designer act of making things with our hands.”
Last night, Chanin unveiled one of the main centerpieces of MAKESHIFT—her craft/design pop-up shop with fellow Alabamian Billy Reid at Reid’s Bond Street shop. “Anytime we can work with Natalie, we’re in,” Reid says. “When she proposed the idea of the pop-up shop for design week, it was a perfect fit. We had been working with crafting quilts into jackets so it was a timely item to have included.”
Inside the 20′ by 20′ pop-up, you’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces exclusive to the store, from designers including Gaby Basora of Tucker, Maria Cornejo, Albertus Swanepoel, Susan Cianciolo (a fashion darling-turned-artist)—and of course, items from Reid and Chanin as well.
The pop-up, open through May 25, is located at Billy Reid, 54 Bond Street, New York. To learn more about MAKESHIFT, visit Alabamachanin-makeshift.com.
tags: Alabama Chanin, Billy Reid, ICFF, MAKESHIFT
Building A Better Barneys
May 17, 2012 3:12 pm
While Barneys’ Madison Avenue flagship is getting an extensive renovation, the retailer’s online home is getting some work done, too. This week, Barneys revealed the new, revamped Barneys.com, with new features to streamline browsing and product suggestions from a host of influencers, including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Julianne Moore and her stylist Leslie Fremar, and Rachel Chandler Guinness and Tom Guinness.
Among the new tools is a “Favorites” feature, which allows you to make categorized lists of your go-to designers, favorite products (those exclusive to Barneys are marked XO—Exclusively Ours), options in your size, and your preferred color choices, all of which can be shared across social media platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, and The Fancy. If you’re looking for ideas, there’s also a “Most Loved” section, which shows the products the most customers “Favorite.” And the editorial sub-site The Window now has designer pages as a home for each brand available to its customers. Once you’ve figured out what you want to buy, it’s just two clicks away.
tags: Barneys.com, Julianne Moore, Leslie Fremar, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Pinterest, Rachel Chandler Guinness, The Fancy, Tom Guinness, Twitter
