Vince Camuto, Louise et Cie and Two by Vince Fall 2013 Preview

 

The layout of Vince Camuto's midtown showroom is a lot like one of their stores with glass, mirrors and chic lighting all meant to enhance your shopping experience. At times I forgot I was supposed to be taking pictures and wanted to head to the till with bags and accessories in tow. Unfortunately this was not about shopping and the Fall collection won't be available until around August, but that gives you an idea of how I felt about the collection.

Vince Camuto has come a long way in a staggeringly short time. What started as a shoe line is now a full range women's collection with two off-shoot brands; dedicated shoe line Louise et Cie and Two by Vince sportwear. All of this combined for an astounding amount of product. Standout pieces were a Two by Vince moto vest with chintzy floral embroidery on the front and back (see above).  Gemtone, colorblock loafers by Louise et Cie will be a great alternative to ballet flats as well as the patent leather rose oxford with tassels (see below). Architectural style totes from the Vince Camuto collection had zippers on the side that allowed for some modification and came in a great range of colors. 

Vince Camuto's expansion plans have not ended as a menswear expansion is on the horizon. With the way this brand is moving expect for Vince Camuto shops to be as numerous as Gap, Aldo and H&M by next year.

 

Vince Camuto

 

See more images of Vince Camuto, Two by Vince and Louise et Cie Fall 2013 after the jump and see more images on Instagram...

In the Showrooms: Uniqlo Lifewear Fall/Winter 2013

Uniqlo x 10 Gruppen 

 

Yesterday Uniqlo held a preview of their Uniqlo Lifewear collection at Industria Studios in the MeatPacking District. It was an absolutely gorgeous day in New York. I left early to get there and took my time enjoying the beautiful weather, strolling down Jane Street humming Macklemore's "Can't Hold Us". I even stopped in a bodega to grab a munchie. I was in such a mood that if Uniqlo Lifewear were constructed from pungent, leftover refuse from the 90's, I would have thought it was the greatest collection since the late Alexander McQueen's famed Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear showing. Fortunately, and expectedly, it was not made from such things and I got to see a nicely edited, affordable collection that's going to be a hit with their fans.

Uniqlo Lifewear was broken down into several lines curated by the great Nicola Formichetti each highlighting a unique feature. Unique - Uniqlo hmmm...fitting. A flannel collection harked back to the grungy days of Nirvana. A legging collection had the look of trousers making it a great transition item. A collaboration with Swedish brand 10 Gruppen was fun and quirky, while the Ultralight Down Jacket collection was full of fun prints and super lightweight. Also included, were Uniqlo staples like the Heattech line and the super affordable Cashmere collection.

Price points for Uniqlo Lifewear start at a wallet-friendly $39 to a still wallet-friendly $100 so don't expect these items to last long when they hit stores. 

See more pictures of Uniqlo Lifewear after the jump....

First Look: Chalayan/Mavi Capsule Collection

 

Last night Mavi launched their first official collaboration, a capsule collection with Hussein Chalayan aptly titled Chalayan/Mavi.

At first glance, as I scoped out the somewhat structured collection, I wasn't certain that it was denim. I touched, I groped, I examined and still wasn't certain, until I turned up one of the skirts and saw the familiar warp and weft of an inside-out jean. Wow. The texture was, dare I say it, luxurious and the denim was so subdued that it was that difficult to tell. Amazing.

Although sleek and minimalist, Chalayan went for a sporty theme with mesh paneling and poly banding that either wrapped around the leg or went straight up and down a'la tuxedo stripes. I couldn't decide which was my favorite; the holographic wraparound stripe or the trouser shorts with the tuxedo stripe. I'll take both thank you.

The collection will hit stores soon and will retail for upwards of $200.

Click on the thumbnails to see more of the Chalayan/Mavi collection...

 

In the Showrooms: KangaROOS x Shane & Shawn

Can anyone think of a more nostalgic sneaker brand than KangaROOS. I remember back in my elementary school playground days that if you didn't have ROOS, you weren't sh*t. Maybe not in those exact words, but you know what I mean.

I had no idea that the brand was still around, but after talking to a female relative this weekend who's apparently an undercover sneakerhead, they have a following. She mentioned that she prefers more throwback, retro sneakers and includes them in her collection. Go figure. And here I was in the showroom absolutely gushing about how people were going to love that they were "bringing them back". Shows how much I know. Not only are they still here, but they're global! Here in the States they are in collaboration with designer twins Shane & Shawn Ward who also have their own shoe collection that is pretty dope (see below).

The KangaROOS x Shane & Shawn collection is straight up throwback with all the features you loved from your original playground versions. And with the current sneaker movement emerging right now in fashion, these are dropping at just the right time.

See more pics of KangaROOS x Shane & Shawn and Shane & Shawn's eponymous collection after the jump...

 

We Really, Really Like Kathy Wilson Atelier by Kathy Wilson

 

If you've watched Elle Creative Director, Joe Zee's show "All On The Line" on the Sundance Channel than you're probably already familiar with Kathy Wilson (above). In Season 2, Episode 3, Joe Zee helps Kathy transform her line from staid to stylish and we got a chance to view the results.

Kathy has a vivacious personality and was a pleasure to chat with. On the advice of Joe Zee, she used herself as muse (and rightfully so), with the result this time around being a line of chic separates and outerwear. I particularly was enamored with a silk, windowpane plaid burnout. It was just one of those pieces that simple, but not. There was a white jumper with black piping that I could totally see me wearing (sorry no pics) and an emerald green silky top that would span all age ranges.

See more pics of Kathy Wilson after the jump. But please note, he pictures I took do not give Kathy's line justice so I highly recommend checking out her e-commerce site....

 

UPDATE: NOOKA's Fall Collection is Future Fresh Fun

A few days ago I was able to preview the Fall collection of future fresh accessories brand NOOKA. I remember a year or so ago, I almost bought a NOOKA watch but chickened out. Sad to say, I have a hard enough time with the traditional clock face and was afraid that NOOKA's offbeat display would have me stammering like an idiot if anyone ever stopped to ask me for the time. However, I'm thinking about overcoming my fear as I was completely engrossed in their latest collection. And it's not just limited to watches.

The brand collaborated with Fila for a capsule collection of mens sneakers called Fila x NOOKA. In keeping with NOOKA's futuristic aesthetic the sneaks are super sleek with details that would fit in any of the post-future blockbuster movies coming out this Summer. So now we know the answer to that age old question..What happens when a watch and a sneaker get married and have kids. Well, more like a day old question. ;-)

See more of NOOKA's Fall collection after the jump...

UPDATE: We just got word that the Fila x NOOKA collaboration is only available in China. Hopefully it will make it's way to the States and when/if it does, we'll let you know. Watch this space.

In the Showrooms: 7 For All Mankind Fall 2013

 

Guys, 7 For All Mankind (Seven) is going to shock the hell out of you this Fall. Some things we can talk about, and some we can't but take my word for it, you are going to love it.

Let's start with mens. Seven is really bringing their 'A' game with the men's collection. Jeans were brushed on the inside for maximum comfort and the indigo hues were so rich, they looked luxurious. There were also some pieces that took their cues from men's formalwear such as herringbone striped jeans that would go great with a pair of brown brogues. Also, Seven has a new line of men's shoes to add to the collection. One in particular had denim along the edge which was pretty damn cool. With a full range of tops, bottoms and shoes, men go literally wear head to toe Seven now (check out the model).

The women's line is so well-rounded that the only thing missing were dresses and skirts. The jacquard jeans were my absolute favorite. I loved how decadent they were. And they weren't just novelty pieces to pump up the collection. There was a whole range of jacquard styles with the weave only on the front or for the boldest of us, a full jacquard jean with jacket to match. Leather pants mimicked snakeskin and croc, while coated denims were so slick they will make the choice between leather or denim a real dilemma (be like us, get both). Also on hand were the most lightweight, suede-like fabrics. If you're a texturephile like me, be warned, you will not stop touching yourself if you wear them.

And last there is a top secret line coming that is going to seriously blow your minds. And when it's revealed, just remember you didn't hear it hear first.

Click on the thumbnails to see the Fall collection and stay tuned for the lookbook. To see more images visit our instagram. 

 

 

In the Showrooms: GUESS & Marciano Fall 2013 Preview

Walking into the GUESS and Marciano Fall preview was like walking into the middle of an editorial. Every corner was a live diorama offering a snapshot of the GUESS lifestyle (see our Vine vid). Sooo much better than photographing clothes on hangers, no?

Fall was very ladylike for the Marciano line with plenty of above the knee dresses and sleeveless tops. It will be a chilly season for the Marciano girl but at least she'll look fabulous. My favorite was the mixed print (above). I'm still unsure if I liked it because of the print itself, the styling, or the contrast of the model's red hair, but I gave it top marks.

Not to get all Wendy Williams on you, but there's no other way to describe GUESS' main collection as anything but fierce. Skintight denim jumpers, coated body-con pencil skirts, animal prints, this collection was made to turn heads. My favorite item was the jean with leather panels. I posted it to my personal facebook page and it was a favorite of my girlfriends too. One friend pointed out to me that it looked like an updated version of the suede-fronted jeans from the Boys II Men era. I actually had a pair of those and never thought they'd come back. After seeing GUESS' version, I am sooo ready for the update. Love them. There were some great accessories as well like the multicolored chunky necklace (neck party?) and the suede, 80's-inspired satchel. Great pieces that will definitely make a statement (more accessories on Vine). 

 Click through the thumbnails to see the Fall collection. For more images visit us on Instagram.

Marciano

 

GUESS

Brand to Watch: Williamsburg Garment Company

First, let me start off by saying, as long as this post is, I have had to condense it several times, because it is very difficult talking about Williamsburg Garment Company without talking about the workingman's journey and business savvy of founder Maurice Malone. I met Maurice in his Williamsburg office and what I expected to be a typical "walk me through the line" session turned into much more. It's rare to meet with the actual designer of a line, so to get the inspiration directly from the source was a real treat. But with Maurice I got much more, his story. He's a very soft-spoken and humble person who was a victim of the economic downturn after 9/11. Without going into too much detail (because I want to get to the line) through grit, determination and a unique business model that brings cost savings to the retailer as well as the consumer, he managed to grow a fledgling brand from three styles in 2011 to a complete mens and womens collection that's sold globally. Impressive! Especially considering Maurice is a one man show. Again, I want to get to the line, but just know, we'll be revisiting him again. So watch this space.

Williamsburg Garment Company is made up of premium quality jeans, with minimal frills and gimmicks. There are no outrageous back pocket details, no fancy finishes and no outrageous silhouettes. When you buy a pair, what you get is a great fitting pair of jeans that can work with just about any look. The only identifying features are an embossed "W" on the belt line and an extended coin pocket. My favorite of the men's line were a pair of sulfur-dyed jeans (see below) which had the texture of stiff linen. Denim connoisseurs are going to love breaking that jean in. Also the neon orange jeans will have those guys who are early adopters of color jumping, no diving..head first..with a loud splash, into the trend. And we know camo is making a comeback, but Williamsburg Garment Company's cargo pocket-less chino is unique in a why-did-no-one-ever-think-of-it sort of way. The women's jeans were rife with pastels for Spring, which seems basic if you're not paying attention, which I was. The colorways range from a pale version and a darker version of each color with the pale version being the reverse side. They are not reversible, but being able to choose the reverse of the jean is another one of those why-did-no-one-ever etc etc moments. My favorite of women's were the engineer stripe boyfriend jeans. Stripes are popular for Spring but no one's done any other version than a skinny.

Overall, I was enamored with the quality of the collection. So many brands try to impress with their lines that they've forgotten that sometimes you just want a great pair of everyday jeans. Maurice has hit on a something so basic in us with his business approach that I am pretty confident that this line is going to blow up. Just remember, that when you're reading about it in GQ that you heard it here first.

Click on the thumbnails for more images from Williamsburg Garment Company.

In the Showrooms: Scotch & Soda/Maison Scotch Pre-Fall/Fall 2013 Preview

 

I see so much apparel, especially during what I like to call preview season, that it is often hard for a brand to stand out in my mind. Ever since Phoebe Philo was outed for sending a coat clearly inspired by Geoffrey Beene down the runway this season, there has been an ongoing debate about the originality of designers. It's true. It is very difficult to be original nowadays. To be fair, as we become more global, true inspiration becomes more fleeting. Therefore, when originality peeks it's head out it is all the more apparent. For this reason it was an absolute pleasure to preview Dutch brand Scotch & Soda's Pre-Fall and Fall 2013 collection.

It was my first time visiting the brand and immediately upon walking into their showroom I was overwhelmed with how much product there was and the range of color and texture in both the men's line and Maison Scotch, the women's line. Globally-influenced, mixed-media was a common design technique and played off both elements well. For example, a leather moto jacket was thick with North African-inspired embroidery on the back and a striped shirt had similar embroidery down the sleeves. A pair of jeans had southwestern style embroidery down the sides that still has me scratching my head wondering how it was done. The best was how these elements were used in unexpected ways. One of my favorite examples of this was the asian-inspired bomber jacket. What an elegant and fun way to dress up a sporty item. I will for sure be making this jacket part of my personal collection this Fall. Another favorite of mine was in menswear. Varsity-style sweatshirts were created using subdued tropical prints. Wow! It's something that can't be described, but must be viewed to fully appreciate it (see below). And speaking of mens, it's no secret that I've been talking about the emergence of color in men's denim, but Scotch & Soda is several seasons ahead of the game and is already producing printed jeans and chinos for men! Guys if you want to know what the future looks like for you, see below.

Overall it was an outstanding collection and perusing the racks was like being in a candy store. I can officially say that Scotch & Soda is one of my new favorite brands. Keep an eye on this space for the full lookbook and visit instagram to see more.

 

Maison Scotch

 

Scotch & Soda

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