February 17, 2011
© Courtesy Ralph Lauren
We first spotted this Ralph Lauren watch at the annual Salon International de la Horlogerie watch fair in Geneva. We've been fans of Ralph Lauren's überelegant Slim Classique model since the designer debuted it two years ago, but add the diamonds and a purple satin strap and our admiration turns to utter devotion. While we're dreaming about this watch, we're trading in the brown crocodile straps on our own timepieces for ones in the royal-purple hue. Ralph Lauren 42MM white-gold Slim Classique with one row of baguette diamonds and purple satin strap, $41,700; ralphlaurenwatches.com.
March 02, 2011
Red was out in full force at the New York fall shows, sometimes as a kicker to a mostly black-and-white ensemble, but more often as the main event. First down the runway at Chado Ralph Rucci was a neon-red Mongolian lamb jacket worn with a matching hooded dress, gloves and over-the-knee boots. Soon to follow were a scarlet-and-black chinchilla coat and a gold-and-carnelian paisley jacket lined with red mink. Michael Kors's all-crimson suit paired a dyed-fox coat with a jersey bodysuit and high-waisted wool-crepe trousers. At Marchesa, the candy apple-colored numbers included a puff-shouldered trench and lacy cocktail dresses. Ralph Lauren favored more romantic, wine-tinted hues, sending out a duo of bordeaux velvet dresses and a burgundy tuxedo jacket (while accenting the black looks with red-heeled shoes). Oscar de la Renta's collection delivered a Park Avenue meets Silk Road feel, showcasing a fuchsia and plum chiffon-trimmed alpaca coat, a bordeaux cashmere-jacquard cardigan atop a laser-cut suede skirt, and plum fox-brimmed hats. It seems that seeing red will have a whole new meaning this fall. Chado Ralph Rucci, 212-819-9066; michaelkors.com; marchesa.com; ralphlaurencollection.com; oscardelarenta.com.
Photo From left: Courtesy Oscar de la Renta, Courtesy Michael Kors, Courtesy Ralph Lauren
February 23, 2011
Brooks Brothers, which has long defined preppy chic for grown-ups, got in on the kids' game last fall when it debuted its Fleece line for boys and girls. On the heels of that success, the spring collection—a nautical theme, replete with anchors and sailor stripes—is rolling out just in time for the March 1 opening of the 3,000-square-foot Madison Avenue Fleece offshoot. The work of cult kidswear designer Nikki Kule (her namesake children's label, KULE, shuttered last year), the pieces are not simply miniature versions of those available to adults. For girls, there are cotton poplin tennis dresses, ruched floral blouses and argyle sweaters in pastel pink and peach, while the boys' department has striped rugbies, swim trunks embroidered with goggles and, for more formal occasions, seersucker pants, houndstooth dress shirts and the iconic blue blazer. brooksbrothers.com.
Photo Courtesy Brooks Brothers
March 30, 2011
The chic shops of Paris have added a few new members to their ranks in early 2011. A month ago on the Rue St.-Honoré, Michael Kors opened his first store here, which, at 7,000 square feet, is his largest retail space to date. The focus is on accessories, with a lineup of handbags, shoes, eyewear, watches and fragrances featured prominently on the first floor. Up the dramatic staircase and under the expansive glass ceiling are the women's ready-to-wear collections. A few blocks away, the Herrera mother-daughter team debuted their 3,330-square-foot CH Carolina Herrera boutique earlier this month. Lit by six enormous windows, the interior is a combination of dark woods, silk, raw linens and aged-brass fixtures. The space is divided into four distinct atmospheres: women's, men's, handbags and footwear, and special home and travel items. Not to be missed and exclusive to this store is the Paris shopping tote ($940) featuring a colorful map of the boutique's elegant neighborhood. A special side note: For an après-shopping lunch with the international fashion set—Christian Louboutin, Bruno Frisoni and Lanvin's Alber Elbaz have all been in—take a 20-minute walk through the Tuileries and across the Seine to Ralph's, the American restaurant Ralph Lauren has opened adjacent to his St.-Germain flagship. The fare includes Maine lobster and strip steaks from Lauren's Colorado ranch. Michael Kors, 279 Rue St. Honoré; 33-1/70-36-44-40. CH Carolina Herrera, 10 Rue Castiglione; 33-1/58-62-41-03. Ralph's, 173 Boulevard St.-Germain; 33-1/44-77-76-00.
Photo Clockwise from top left: Courtesy of Michael Kors, Courtesy of CH Carolina Herrera, Courtesy of Michael Kors, Courtesy of CH Carolina Herrera, Courtesy of Michael Kors
March 31, 2011
Every season shoe designs become more and more outrageous: more studs, more exotic skins, more death-defying height (who could forget Alexander McQueen’s ten-inch Armadillo heels a few years back?). Which is why the new spring collection of Aperlaï, designed by founder Alessandra Lanvin (granddaughter-in-law of Jeanne Lanvin) with Central Saint-Martin grad Geraldina Bassani Antivari, is a welcome change. The 40 pairs in the collection, which feature ladylike details and sumptuous shapes, are sexy but feminine. To be clear, the styles still have their share of super-thin metal stilettos and rich python and croc—plus the new exotic favorite, stingray—but they’ve been mixed with softer, colorful details like raffia ruffles, thick satin ankle wraps and even seersucker. Take the Clara heel, trimmed in black raffia, or the hot pink–strapped Chiara, with subtle nude snakeskin details. Each heel is at least four inches, but Aperlaï also offers suede and python moccasins for true comfort. The shoes are available at Bergdorf Goodman—albeit in limited quantities—and a Paris boutique is in the works. Shoes, from $570. For more information, contact Aperlaï at aperlai@aperlaiparis.com
April 07, 2011
The arrival of bathing suit season offers a few chic styles we found particularly exciting. First up is Vilebrequin, celebrating its 40th anniversary with special-edition swim trunks ($550). The patchwork design features many of the company's most memorable pastel prints, including salamanders, starfish, fruits and kangaroos. Tommy Bahama's fast-drying Hybrid of Paradise trunks ($98) double as sporty cargo shorts with a fixed waistband, a proper zipper, a button and belt loops for those beach clubs with strict dress codes. Orlebar Brown continues to roll out its Edition series (a selection of shorts with the same visual theme) such as its the Dog collection ($285), featuring digitally printed close-ups of man's best friend, and the Alan Aldridge collection ($325), displaying colorful illustrations by the artist. For serious surfers, there's the new Blade short ($110) from Oakley. It has a saltwater-durable inner compression short to increase muscle power and therefore the rider's control of the board. The outer short fabric has a nanotech coating that repels waters rather than allowing the fabric to absorb it, and it can stretch up to 120 percent.
For women, there's the debut of Thom.Dolan, a new line from Bill Blass and Ralph Lauren veteran Thomasine Dolan. Her Whitney suit ($165), an all-cotton, madras triangle-top bikini, is lined with a men's striped-shirt pattern that would be right at home on Nantucket. Cult designer Lisa Marie Fernandez has debuted a few new wetsuit-inspired numbers, including the amethyst-hued neoprene Nikki bikini ($345) with self-tie straps, curve paneling details and low-rise briefs.
Photo Courtesy Vilebrequin
April 14, 2011
At a cocktail party last week in his SoHo boutique, designer Elie Tahari introduced the fashion set to his new Emmy bag, designed in collaboration with actress Emmy Rossum. Available in four different sizes and in materials like natural raffia and soft glove or metallic leather, the bucket-shaped bag is as functional as it is polished, the kind of piece that can be carried everywhere, every day of each season. It has multiple interior and exterior pockets, is lined with soft cotton canvas, and comes in six classic colors: natural, black, white, mushroom, yellow, and washed metallic with yellow contrast stitching. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Safe Horizon, an agency aiding families affected by domestic violence. Tahari has also announced the launch of T Tahari jewelry, a collection of necklaces, bracelets, statement rings, earrings and brooches due out this fall. True to the Tahari way, the pieces will be replete with hues of gold, tassels, black diamond briolette-cut stones and clear crystals. The Emmy bag ranges from $400 to $800 at Tahari, 417 W. Broadway; 212-334-4441; elietahari.com.
Photo Courtesy Elie Tahari Collection Boutiques
April 28, 2011
Fashion exhibits have been rolling into museums as of late: Balenciaga at the de Young in San Francisco and Roberto Capucci at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to name a few standouts. This week, two important shows will join the ranks. April 28 marks the opening of "Inspiration Dior" at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. The venue’s second tribute to a fashion house (the first was to Chanel in 2007), it will comprise more than 120 Dior pieces, including couture, jewelry, watches, accessories and perfumes. Alongside them will be artwork that echoes Dior’s "New Look" aesthetic from masters like Picasso, Renoir, Cézanne and Gaugin. In New York, the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will debut its highly anticipated retrospective "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" on May 4. The tribute to the late designer will feature 100 of his provocative masterpieces, among them the famous Bumster trouser, vertiginous Armadillo shoes and flower-adorned Sarabande dress. Don’t miss the June 27 personal tour led by the show’s curator, Andrew Bolton, followed by a private lunch in the gallery ($350). Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, 12 Volkhonka, Moscow; 7-495/609-9520; arts-museum.ru. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., NYC; 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen.
Photo Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photograph © Sølve Sundsbø / Art + Commerce
May 05, 2011
This spring, L'Ermitage Beverly Hills introduced its Red Carpet package, in which guests are treated to a consultation with a personal stylist from Hollywood fashion favorite Marchesa. The stylist assists women in selecting a three-day wardrobe and handbag from the label, as well as shoes from Christian Louboutin. Next is hair and makeup at the famed Frédéric Fekkai salon for custom color, a cut and styling and beauty tips. Each night, guests try a different collector's-edition Dom Pérignon Champagne, served in Marchesa by Lenox stemware. At $25,000, the price is steep, but when one considers the other complimentary bonuses (in-room breakfasts, daily spa treatments, private fitness or yoga sessions with personal trainer Joshua Love and a chauffeured Range Rover), it's quite a lot of style in one package. At 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills; 310-278-3344; lermitagebh.com.
Photo Courtesy of L'Ermitage Beverly Hills
May 26, 2011
For some men, skipping the suit is not an option, even in three-digit summer temperatures. Thankfully, Freemans Sporting Club, known for its handmade suits and ruggedly stylish looks, sourced an extra-lightweight Loro Piana fabric (a merino wool and silk hybrid) to craft a wrinkle-resistant, fully canvased suit designed specifically to withstand oppressive heat. The soft-shouldered, peaked-lapel jacket is half-lined with cotton muslin, has piped internal seams and patch pockets and comes in a vibrant Picasso blue. Its open-weave design allows for maximum breathability, and the best part: It weighs only 14 ounces. Suit, $2,300; available online, or guests can be fitted for a custom suit at Freemans Sporting Club's New York or San Francisco boutiques. At 8 Rivington St., New York; 212-673-3209; 696 Valencia St., San Francisco; 415-863-2155; freemanssportingclub.com.
Photo Courtesy Freemans Sporting Club
