Wear What When

Jason Wu x Target

A few look book images have been released, and a few area Target stores have confirmed that they’ll have the line on opening day, February 5.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 10, 2012 at 07:15AM 4 Comments

Style.com announced some more information regarding the upcoming Jason Wu x Target collaboration yesterday; notably, they posted a few look book images. A full set of looks has yet to be released, but what’s out so far is textbook Wu; feminine, classic, and if not good girl-gone-bad, well, then, good girl-taking-bad-under-consideration.

The images here are the ones style.com has; they report that the collection will consist of 53 items—that’s 350 shy of the giant mass of specially designed Missoni gear that hit Target in September.

Wu told the style site,"The focus isn’t just getting Jason Wu at a lower price point, it was about creating an entirely new collection that I think my regular customers will enjoy, too.”

Regular customers and bargain hunters alike can trek to the West Seattle, Southcenter, Kent, and Everett Target stores on the first Sunday in February to check it out. If I were intent on getting into the low-price lace tee-shirts and short skirts, I’d trek outside of the metropolitan area and hit up a store in the ’burbs.

I’m not saying they don’t know who Wu is in, say, Snohomish County, but I’m betting the lines won’t be quite as long. Then again, will the selection be as good?

Wu’s Target looks may well be at other target shops across the state; you should call around in the direction of your choice and check. The initial customer service reps at the aforementioned stores didn’t have a sliver of a clue what I was talking about when I first called, but upon explanation (“it’s like the Missoni collection, W-U.”) they were able to investigate and report back. The Northgate number, btw, just rang and rang and rang and rang …

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Tags: Seattle Style News, Seattle Style Headlines, Designer Collaboration

Headlines: Jason Wu x Target

Will you camp out at the Northgate Target again when the Wu collection hits town?

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Oct 07, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Jason Wu is Target’s next collaborator.

What were you doing on the morning of September 13?

If you were standing in a Target store neck deep in Missoni I’m especially interested in your reaction to the October 3 news that the mega-retailers next collaborator is Jason Wu.

WWD reported it first; subsequent stories from outlets like Elle all mused similarly; the Missoni thing all but threw Target on it’s backside (headlines read: Shoppers furious with Target), but it doesn’t feel like Wu will have the same affect.

Past capsule collaborators include Rodarte, Zac Posen, Thakoon, Richard Chai, and Rogan Gregory. The ferociously artful and hugely collectible Mulleavy sisters didn’t totally upset the apple cart; it’s hard to believe that Wu will.

Typically categorized as super feminine and classically elegant, the young New York-–based designer just doesn’t have the fanatic street appeal or the icon factor that makes collaborations like these reach fever pitch. But, it’s worth noting that style.com fashion writer Nicole Phelps began her review of his recent Spring 2012 collection by asking, rhetorically, “Jason Wu, edgy?” It was a little more something-something. And who knows how the Obama factor will, well, factor in.

And hey, it’ll be easier on all of us if servers and shoppers don’t crash.

Here’s what Wu told WWD: “The exciting thing about this limited edition collection of affordable women’s wear and accessories is that it allows me to reach a wider audience and bring my designs to people who may not have been able to purchase them before,” said Wu. “My collection for Target is chic and wearable. I think women everywhere will enjoy it.”

There is no word yet on the Wu x Target shelf date, and while we’re just going to assume for now that Seattle shops will get it, we have nothing concrete to confirm that either.

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Tags: Seattle Style News, Seattle Style Headlines, Designer Collaboration

Headlines: Portland Collection in Elle

Our sister city is in the national fashion mag this month.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Sep 30, 2011 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Elle features Pendleton’s Portland Collection and takes a page from the Northwest look in this month’s issue.

We’ve talked about Pendleton’s Portland Collection under the rubric Headlines before, and you’ve seen our edit of the pieces in New West; I want to make sure you don’t miss page 218 in the October issue of Elle magazine, either. Told ya there’d be buzz.

(If you want to see the pieces in person, I’d suggest a trip to Les Amis, where they mix in beautifully with lines by Rachel Comey and Isabel Marant.)

With the subhead, “With the high-end Portland Collection, Pendleton Woolen Mills lays claim to a fashion-savvy, youthful customer,” the national mag piece tells the story of Pendleton’s president, his light bulb moment (summed up: young cool people like us!), and the look, feel, and street cred of the men’s and women’s looks created by Nathaniel Crissman, Rachel Turk, and John Blasioli.

Word from a reliable PDX source has it that Pendleton didn’t commission the designers to do a spring collection because they wanted to see how fall sold. Because the current season is selling so well, Crissman, Turk, and Blasioli are sketching and cutting as we speak, hard at work on Fall 2012.

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Tags: Seattle Retail News, Seattle Style Headlines

Headlines: Boycotting Forever 21, Understanding Barcodes, Gilt Group (Still), and a New Name for Nordstrom

Style and fashion news that matters in Seattle.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Aug 19, 2011 at 09:00AM 1 Comments

Photo: Refinery 29

Which one of these patterns is a rip-off of the other? And which big-box fast-fashion shop should you consider boycotting because of it?

Dozens of petition-holding campaigners make it hard enough to get through downtown. Imagine if the area around Sixth and Pike, where the new-ish Forever 21 sits, were surrounded by indie designer-wearing fashion activists asking you to boycott the store? Oh, I doubt it will get to that, but as Refinery 29 reports here, change.org is charging the company with some pretty straightforward design theft allegations.

Are you as curious about and perplexed by those smart phone bar codes as I am? Do people actually use them to get good deals on beauty products, fashion products, or electronics—or even just to ‘like’ a brand on you-know-what in hopes of maybe later scoring some good deals on any or all of the aforementioned? Don’t people just go shopping anymore? AdAge breaks down some bar code business here.

And, if you’re still trying to parse this whole Gilt City, Rue Seattle, Living Social, Groupon, et al (is it just me or is there a new one every day?) thing, the New York Times business section drills down on the Gilt Group modus operandi. (via @trendscaping)

Finally, Nordstrom has a new name. (And no, it’s not "Nordstrom’s"—yeesh that’s a pet peeve of mine. People, there’s no apostrophe “s” there, k?) At least in New York. The NYTimes speculates here that the brand new Soho outpost uses the name Treasure and Bond, and takes a non-for-profit angle, in order to make friends with the city before launching a bona fide in the Big Apple.

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Tags: Tech, Nordstrom, Seattle Style Headlines

Fashion’s Night Out Update

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Aug 05, 2011 at 02:15PM 0 Comments

Those of you saving September 8 for Fashion’s Night Out in downtown Seattle will be pleased to know that the first round of good-time, nighttime shopkeepers and restaurant/bar owners is in and a really fun night on the town is starting to take shape.

Joining Mario’s, Barneys, and Nordstrom in extended hours, special promotions, and general fashion and snacks-and-cocktails merriment are Alhambra, Ann Taylor, Columbia Sportswear, Free People, Baby and Co., J. Crew, True Religion, Nancy Meyer, The Finerie, Eileen Fisher, Swink Style Bar, Morton’s, RN74, and Mistral.

At the risk of sounding like a cliche, there really is something for everyone, especially those who still think there’s no fashion scene in Seattle.

More to come on how, specifically, each store will be celebrating, and how we Wear What When’ers will be joining in.

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Tags: Special Event, Fashion's Night Out '11, Seattle Style Headlines, Baby and Co., Baby and Co.

Headlines: TLC goes Big Sexy

A reality show gets into the reality of women’s bodies.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Aug 05, 2011 at 06:30AM 0 Comments

America’s next top role models? TLC debuts a reality show starring these five plus-size gals on August 30.

Get ready for a healthy dose of reality on your TV. Among fashion headlines this week was a reveal from TLC (via mediamarketjournal.com): Their Big Sexy debuts on August 30 at 10.

The show will follow five New York-based plus-size (that term is starting to sound dated) fashion industry wanna-be’s on casting calls, interviews, and other outings.

We had a huge response from real-sized readers when we introduced you to Seattle-based real-sized supermodel Tara Lynn after her gorgeous figure graced the cover of French Elle; and a really informative dialog ensued when I asked you to, ahem, weigh in on plus-size shopping in Seattle.

I’m thinking Seattle will tune in to Big Sexy. If and when you do, let us know what you think of it.

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Tags: Model Behavior, Seattle Style Headlines

Headlines: Karl Lagerfeld, Macy’s, More [Updated]

In fashion news this week, less is (mostly) more.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jul 22, 2011 at 07:30AM 0 Comments

A just-released sketch from Karl Lagerfeld’s mass market-priced collection for Macy’s. We don’t have word yet whether the downtown Seattle Macy’s (or any of the others) will carry the line.

Hey, this is a new series. Every week or so, we’ll chime in with top fashion news from around the world—and what it means in Seattle.

We did get last winter’s Lanvin collection for H&M, so here’s hoping Karl Lagerfeld’s fall ‘11 collaboration with Macy’s makes it to Seattle. WWD reports that the collection will be in 235 of the department store’s more than 800 locations. (Note: you must have a subscription with WWD to read the definitive report on the subject.)

In the meantime, the first-look sketches allude to what a Macy’s exec told WWD is “quintessential Lagerfeld but done at affordable prices.” The 45 dresses and separates are to be sold for an average of $100.

The iconic designer all but invented the high-low capsule collection thing. He told WWD, “It’s interesting to see and participate in the world of others in that business on all kinds of levels.”

Calls to Macy’s HQ have not yet been returned; when we know whether or not our downtown store will carry the line, we’ll be sure to report back.

UPDATE 8/25/11: We’ve got confirmation. The Lagerfeld for Macy’s collection will be sold in the downtown Macy’s Impulse department (where you’ll find Rachel Roy and BCBG MaxAzria), but no word on when it’s set to arrive.

In related less-is-more news this week:

Gilt City president Nathan Richardson talks to Bloomberg radio
about the expansion to Seattle, the difference between his brand and Groupon, and the curated lifestyle thing.

How big, fat, juicy, and luxurious will fashion’s September issues be when they start arriving in local mailboxes in the next few weeks? Adweek reports marginal stair-step increases in page counts, but it’s not likely you’ll feel much heft as you page through fall fashion reports. Still, we’ll take any increase we can get, right? Print is not dead!

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Tags: Seattle Style Headlines, Lagerfeld for Macy's, Designer Collaboration