What's New? A Fashion Roundup to Sustain Us Until Spring
Around this time every year I start getting antsy. Unlike the transition from winter to spring (new beginnings!) or even summer to fall (changing colors!), the shift from fall to winter feels about as damp and dank as November weather. Maybe it’s daylight savings and the fact that it gets dark before I can even justify that 5:00pm glass of wine. Or maybe it’s because outside of gift items, holiday attire and a smattering of early spring pieces, there’s not a whole lot of newness in fashion from now until the end of the year.
To help spark some life into my fashion fuel tank, I’ve been trolling social media and other online platforms to find some new news. After doing my research, I found some fresh inspiration to hold us all over until spring (or at least until after the holidays!).
Designer Collections To Watch
Fashion East
Established in 2000, Fashion East is fiercely committed to easing the path for emerging young designers early in their careers. Each season, three womenswear and three menswear designers are given the opportunity to present their collections to London Fashion Week’s international audience. In addition, these designers receive mentoring, PR and business guidance from experts within the Fashion East community. Since its inception, Fashion East has helped launch some of retail’s most exciting new designers including JW Anderson, Simone Rocha and Kim Jones. Among this season’s standouts is Robyn Lynch. Lynch, a female designer of menswear, hails from Ireland and celebrates her roots with chunky bold colored knits and monochromatic looks that any man or woman would be proud to wear. For anyone looking to stay cozy and bright during the holidays, Robyn Lynch’s vibrant orange sweater is a fab find.
Real Buy
Brooklyn native and pop artist, Trevor Andrew, personifies street style. His iconic collaboration with Gucci back in 2016 took him out from behind his canvas onto the runway in a big way. Andrew’s previous collaborations with Reebok, Oakley, The Rolling Stones and 2 Chainz also helped pave the road to launching his first collection, Real Buy. If you liked GucciGhost but didn’t want to pony up the $$$, I’d click into Andrew’s online store ASAP and scoop up as many of his $65 t-shirts and $120 hoodies as possible. While just a few weeks old, Real Buy is sure to grow up quickly—and I’m excited to see what that looks like for this talented artist.
GUCCI GHOST
VS.
THE REAL BUY
Forty Five Ten
Let’s face it—shopping is hard work. Even professional shoppers and stylists can feel overwhelmed by choice or lost in the aisles of over-merchandised stores. Whether shopping for myself or for my clients, I always prefer a retail destination that offers an edited assortment with a unique point of view. Recently, friends introduced me to Forty Five Ten, a Dallas-based retailer with outposts across the country including a jewel box of a shop in Yountville, California. Small but mighty, this Napa Valley retailer packs a serious punch, offering men and women a carefully curated selection of mainstream and emerging designer apparel, accessories, skincare and home goods. Sifting through the beautifully appointed racks, I discovered luxey silk tops from Co hanging side by side with patchwork track pants from Phillip Lim. Next to this unlikely couple, classic Celine handbags stood proudly opposite a floating shelf filled with locally made organic skincare lines. With so much to choose from, I found myself doing laps around the store to make sure I didn’t miss anything! Just this month, Forty Five Ten expanded its portfolio out West with a stunning new store in Aspen. (Note to girlfriends: We will be making a stop here in March!) and this spring, they are slated to open a 16,000 square foot multi-section store in NYC’s Hudson Yards—hopefully in time for my annual spring break pilgrimage to the Motherland!
Esqueleto Home
Anyone who knows me knows I am crazy for jewelry. From the daintiest pave diamond pinky rings to a badass silver skull ring, I’m an equal opportunity collector who loves to mix my Grandmother’s gold charm bracelet with anything from my favorite studded leather wrap bracelet and Sidney Garber Rolling Bracelet to my vintage Boucheron ID bracelet and Repossi cuff. Given my eclectic taste, it’s no wonder I am totally addicted to Esqueleto in Telegraph Alley in Oakland where jewelry collections range from rock n’ roll (Anthony Lent, Michael Spirito, Nick Potash to name a few) to rare rocks (owner, Lauren Wolf, features diamonds of all shapes and colors in her stunning, one-of-a-kind engagement rings.) As if jewelry wasn’t enough of a distraction, Esqueleto also offers an array of home goods including funky ceramic bowls and coffee cups, woven wall hangings and framed etchings and...plant babies (who knew?!) Expanding on its lifestyle concept, earlier this month Esqueleto opened Esqueleto Home in Los Feliz, sister store to its first LA location in Echo Park. Book me ASAP on the next JetSuiteX flight from Oakland to Burbank!
Chanel Beauty For Men
Since the announcement, I can’t stop thinking about Boy De Chanel, Chanel Beauty’s launch into makeup for men. The line includes foundation, a brow pencil and lip balm all designed to help men enhance their complexion, tame their facial hair and nourish their lips without compromising their “natural” look. (There’s even an online tutorial for him to “Learn the Moves.”) Hmm...could this be the next foray into an increasingly genderless fashion and beauty world? A holiday stocking stuffer for my husband and teenage son? Or will makeup for men fizzle out like a fashion flash in the pan? (See my October 2018 blog post which delves into the notion of women cross-shopping menswear as part of a larger genderless vision.)
Here’s to keeping it imaginative and interesting until the next round of fashion newness arrives.
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