Second City Style Fashion Blog - Style, Luxury, Beauty & Shopping

Miu Miu Creating more U.S. Buzz

Miu Miu has been pumping up their stateside profile, in spite of the recession. So much in fact that they have opened up a second store in Southern California at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa last month.

The brand is currently working on changing the perception that they are exactly like the Prada brand. Though they both have a high luxury standpoint, Miu Miu is "more immediate, ... more trendy," which could be the reason why it's suddenly starting to get stateside recognition.
 
“The U.S. is an emerging market for us, not because of the U.S. economy, but because, for historical reasons, we are not that penetrated here,” Sebastian Suhl, the CEO of the Italian luxury label’s parent Prada Group, said speaking out on the future of the brand and why they have not been affected by the recent economy.

“There are so many major cities we could be in, and eventually we will...There are cities like Atlanta, like Houston, where we are not and should be."

Miu Miu currently has six U.S. stores, opening a seventh in Las Vegas' CityCenter this month and almost 50 locations worldwide.

-Taneisha Jordan

Source; Photo: WWD

J.C. Penney Can Have-a de Mango!

 

J.C. Penney Co. Inc. has just inked a deal today to be the exclusive U.S. department store retailer of Barcelona-based fashion juggernaut MNG by Mango.

Penney will start with a roll-out in the fall of 2010. This will eventually make Mango Penney's largest contemporary label.

Mango can boast of over 1,300 worldwide but as of right now, there are only 12 U.S. stores. With this Penney deal, they will launch in an extra 600 J.C.Penney stores. This will certainly increase their American stateside visibility.

Though there are three Chicago Mango stores, this collaboration will no doubt help you get a little bit closer with the brand.

—Taneisha Jordan

Source; Photo: WWD

Gareth Pugh Keeps Thinking About a Fast Fashion Line.

First looks of Gareth Pugh's Spring 2010 collection

And speaking of Gareth Pugh, the British born designer opened up to Style.com recently about his consideration of the now wildly popular diffusion line trend. Pugh's avant-garde eponymous line commonly retails in the four digit price point, but the designer claims he is not against the idea of creating some fast fashion.
"I have considered it," he quipped. "The offers have come in, and every time we get an offer, I mull it over. I’d like more people to have access to my clothes, but the timing hasn’t been right, or the project hasn’t been right, or some combination of both those things." Pugh said when he was first approached on the idea he did not even have a factory and was still making his clothes by hand. He called the concept of a fast fashion line at that point in his career, "premature." But not the young designer has established himself impressively, hosting a standout show yesterday in the initial lineup of Paris Fashion Week. The collection's "soft" tone of various shades of gray and artful, feathered headpieces are already winning rave reviews by the fashion media. And yet, could a vision as eccentric as Pugh's translate well into the fast fashion market? It seems time will only tell. When asked if companies that have asked him before to produce a diffusion line should keep asking, Push noted, "Sure, keep asking. And I'll keep thinking."

Article Source: Style.com, NY Mag
Photo Source: NY Mag
-Alia Rajput

Sonia Rykiel to Create Lingerie for H&M's Latest Diffusion Line.

Sonia Rykiel's Spring 2010 40th anniversary show

Through another new partnership, Sonia Rykiel has announced her status as the latest collaborator with H&M. Rykiel has signed in to produce the first designer diffusion lingerie line for the retailer, which the retailer is tagging, "a totally modern, new kind of lingerie look." Rykiel is known in the designer fashion world for her edgy, artfully risque collections full of entirely sheer pieces and playfully shaped pasties. But despite others on the retailer's now extensive list of designer collaborators, Rykiel will also be featuring the affordable collection in her own stores around the world. And the lingerie won't even be the extent of the design project between the two: Rykiel is also launching a Spring 2010 knitwear collection for the store, complete with accessories. Rykiel has been named the " Queen of Knitwear" in the past and plans to make good on her moniker for the diffusion line, due to hit stores February 20th. So that's two times to have to line up outside but at least, come winter, you can wear your Rykiel where people can actually see.

Article and Photo Source: NY Mag
-Alia Rajput

Ruffian Designers Plan New Collection for Anthroplogie

      Ruffian designers Claude Morais and Brian Wolk

The designer duo behind the label Ruffian have just confirmed a freshly inked deal with retailer Anthropologie. Brian Wolk and Claude Morais just launched their Spring 2010 collection for their Ruffian label, and are not losing any momentum as they gear up for the four-collection Anthro collaboration. Named 'Mise en Scene' (translated as “the complete aesthetic, or the gestalt,” Wolk told WWD), the first of the four part series will launch in November in 55 stores nationwide. The collection will include apparel and housewares and will feature a Forties-inspired camel coat, silk dresses and blouses with an original print designed by the pair, hand-seamed hosiery, candles produced by French firm Cire Trudon and silver degradé glasses. The designers predict that by spring they will also add bedding to the collection. Anthropologie seemed elated by the upcoming collaboration as chief merchandising officer, Wendy Wurtzburger said of the designers, “They really pushed to have what was right for their aesthetic but also what would be right for our customer. They’re so great at creating magic and mystery.”

Article Source: WWD
Photo Source: Harper's Bazaar
-Alia Rajput

British-Based Liberty Plans to Make Stateside Debut with Target.

'London' has been the word on many a fashionista's lips lately as news from the city city's style scene has been popping up in everywhere from the comeback of their fashion week to the various design collaborations scheduled to take place in the coming months. One such particularly pleasing partnership comes from the news received late last week that Target, on the heels of working with Anna Sui and Rodarte, will be featuring a line from British label Liberty. The 134 year-old Liberty brand, famous for its wild and cheerful prints, has discussed the option of creating a line for the mass retail chain which would debut next spring and feature mostly colorful, floral dresses and accessories.

Liberty has has been getting a boost of media attention lately for several other fashion-focused reasons. Kate Moss chose to include the brand in her latest Topshop collection which debuted earlier this summer. The label has also recently confirmed other collaborations with artist Grayson Perry, Nike, Cacharel, and luxury house Hermes. And, according to ElleUK, the label hosted a innovative new advertising device last week in the form of a "Fash-mob." Fans of the label were invited to step out onto London's Carnaby Street clad in Liberty designs and just hang out in public, taking pictures and just generally being seen. The label even organized an ANTM-like runway "walk-off" with prizes. We can't wait to sign ourselves up for the first American version!

Article Source: Racked, ElleUK
Photo Source: ElleUK
-Alia Rajput

Anna Sui For Target Collection Plans Fashion Week Pop-Up Shop.

Looks from Anna Sui for Target's Gossip Girl-themed collection

For all the Gossip Girl fans, or Anna Sui fans (or both), that are coming to Fashion Week: have we got a treat for you! The Anna Sui for Target collection, loosely based on the styles of the characters from the show, will be holding a sneak preview as part of the Fashion's Night Out festivities. Although the wares will not officially be available in stores or online until September 13th, the designer and retailer decided to open a special pop-up shop on September 10th as part of the Fashion Week kickoff festivities. The shop will only be open until September 12th and all the styles in the new collection will be available. Each of the Serena, Blair, Jenny, and Vanessa-inspired styles retail for under $150 and will probably go quick so make sure to pencil it in to your crucial Fashion Week agenda!

The Anna Sui for Target pop up shop will be located at 54 Crosby St., near Spring St.; Hours will be: Thursday 9/10 (11–11), Friday 9/11 and Saturday 9/12 (11–8).

Article Source: newyorkmag
Photo Source: collegefashion.net
-Alia Rajput

The Gap Gets Back to Its Roots with New Premium Denim Line.

 
Looks from Gap's 1969 Premium denim collection

Gap's executive vice president of design, Patrick Robinson, admits that the brand he works for, one of the most universally recognizable American brands of the past four decades, has been floundering stylistically for the past several years. "We lost our edge for a while when we started making things up instead of talking directly to you, " Robinson noted yesterday at the label's retail location on Fifth Avenue and 54th Street in New York. The stylish and affordable brand has been boasting simple, seasonally-savvy separates for on trend youth since its debut in 1969. And though it offers a bevy of color-swirled dresses, skirts, sweaters, scarves, and even pjs, Robinson claims the new direction the store will be taking starts with its original inventory—denim.

When the first Gap store opened its doors in San Francisco in 1969, the store sold Levi's blue jeans and audio tapes. The denim line grew more and more extensive and has remained a staple of the brand for many years, even serving as a sort of rite of passage for many an impressionable American youth. Now, the label has combined its long-lived knowledge of denim design with a fresher, more current look in the recently launched Gap 1969 Premium Jeans collection. The collection features several different wearable styles from the Always Skinny to the Boyfriend to the Sexy Boot cut. "We started from scratch," Robinson said of the design process that took over a year in hundreds of factories worldwide. "We literally got rid of every jean in every store, and now have replaced them with these." Robinson says the fit of the new collection is what makes the pieces stand out, claiming the $69.50 pairs could rival any designer brand. Robinson himself has been on a nationwide tour of the collection launch, recently converting customers in the likes of L.A. and Dallas simply from having them try the jeans on. "This is what we should be doing," said Robinson. "This is why we're Gap."

Article Source: fashionweekdaily
Photo Source: fabsugar
-Alia Rajput

Rodarte Signs On to Collaborate with Target!

Rodarte's looks (from left) fall 2009, shoes from fall 2008, and spring 2009

The edgy, fashion forward label of Rodarte has become well known due to the meticulous details in the pieces' construction, the various materials used such as string, leather, and layers and layers of tissue thin fabric, and the often four-figured price tag. Up until now the closest most of us could get to the actual designs of Rodarte was through a drool-heavy session with a WWD slideshow. But now, though they still have yet to officially comment on it, designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy have teamed up with Target to design a line for the retailer's Go series, the series of diffusion lines set up to feature up and coming designers. The Go series Target line, comprised of 55 pieces, will range from $9.99 for knee-highs to $79.99 for a leopard-print jacket. That's a delightfully far cry from $920 thigh-highs and skirts starting at $2,000.

The line will launch at most Target stores and on Target.com on December 20 and be available through February 6. Target reps are already promising the same level of immaculate construction the the design duo is famous for, to appear throughout the pieces in the fast fashion line. A Target spokesman recently told WWD, "It’s very feminine, yet very modern. The collection incorporates a rich mix of patterns and fabrications and everything from sequins and bows to faux fur. The key with Rodarte is layering.” Since the collection's debut falls in line with the holiday season, the retailer also claims that many of the pieces will be appropriate for seasonal-savvy occasions. "...Rodarte, which is known for evening clothes, designed “a variety of great holiday dresses." The spokesman said. "There are stand-alone pieces and pieces that can be worn together to create an ensemble by layering different patterns, textures and prints." Target was one of the original retailers to embark on the mass-produced venture, teaming up with well known designer names to design affordable collections for their consumer base. Besides Rodarte, the Go series is also currently in the works to collaborate with Thakoon and Richard Chai. The retailer's separate Designer Collaboration series has featured more established names such as Anna Sui, Anya Hindmarch, Isaac Mizrahi and Alexander McQueen.

Article and Photo Source: newyorkmag
-Alia Rajput

Kanye West May Be Designing Soon for Gap Inc.

Kanye West

The Chicago Tribune reported late last week that despite conflicting rumors, Kanye West was in fact interning at Gap's headquarters in Manhattan with pal and creative director of the brand, Patrick Robinson. West has reportedly been hired to "spruce up" the universal casualwear label and has been taking his job very seriously, putting in a ton of hours and staying at the offices as late as 2 a.m. He can't be working that hard and not be up to something. Although speculation has surfaced that the rapper/producer is working on his own line for the brand, no reports have been confirmed. Yet. The music mogul already has a line of sneakers for Nike and a high end footwear collaboration with Louis Vuitton under his belt. We're hoping he does end up using the Gap to keep his creative juices flowing!

Article Source: The Chicago Tribune
Photo Source: newyorkmag
-Alia Rajput