POPSUGAR Tech

Alexa Chung to Launch Her Own Label

Justin Fenner — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 08:29:46 PDT

Alexa Chung has confirmed that she's working on her very own clothing line.

"Yes, I'm definitely going to do that," Chung said when Numéro Tokyo asked her about the idea in an interview for its September issue. "I'm looking into it right now."

A spokesperson for Chung later confirmed the plan for the line to Vogue UK, but offered no other information. Though the line is in its infancy, Chung told Numéro Tokyo she's committed to creating it herself.

"I've got nothing to lose, it's a bit of fun," Chung said. "In this current era of celebrity no one believes you actually design the stuff anyway, even though I sketch everything myself. So if it sucks I can say I had nothing to do with it, and if it's really good I can say 'Here are the drawings, it's all my own work!'"

Helmut Lang Fall 2012

Christina Perez — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:10:03 PST

>> For Fall 2012, Michael and Nicole Colovos offered up a confident collection of strong-lined separates steeped in Helmut Lang's intrinsic cool. This time around, the brand's signature pieces - draped dresses, funnel-neck sweaters, power blazers, and skinny pants - were done up in a tactile assortment of Winter-ready fabrics: pebbled leather, cobweb knits, structured wool, and high-pile fur. Also on hand was a surprising - and welcome - amount of color and pattern in the form of crimson, oxblood, and molten lava prints.

Getting to Know Aldo Bakker

Elka Karl — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:29:19 PDT

On my recent trip to Holland, I had the great fortune to stop by designer Aldo Bakker's monastery-like studio in Amsterdam. The designer of tableware, furniture, and functional objects started his career as a jewelry maker, as did his father, Gjis Bakker, one of the founders of design powerhouse Droog. I've been a fan of Bakker's work for some time now, and taking a peek into the designer's inner sanctum and design process was a thrilling opportunity for me. Looking much like a younger, yoga-toned Brad Pitt, Aldo Bakker's grace of presence was matched only by his supple, graceful designs.

Keep reading to learn more about this designer.

Celebrating Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

POPSUGAR Fashion — Tue, 03 May 2011 06:01:09 PDT

In November, the Met revealed its plans to honor McQueen's legacy at the annual Costume Institute Gala this year. Now, we're only one day away from the exhibit's opening, one that promises to pay homage to the fashion great, from his early postgraduate collection from 1992, to his final collection, which debuted February 2010, following his death. As we anticipate the retrospective's opening Wednesday, May 4, we're looking back at McQueen's iconic runway history and the designs we hope to see.

Guess What This Stool Was Inspired By?

Elka Karl — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:00:00 PDT

This curvy stool created by Po Shun Leong is made from one piece of plywood that's been transformed into this curvaceous shape. Can you guess what sweet treat inspired it? (Hint: you often will get one at the end of a certain type of meal out.)

John Robshaw Shares Next Season's Color Palette and Why He Loves Block Printing

Elka Karl — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 10:34:57 PST

Did you catch this past weekend's John Robshaw sale at One King's Lane? His items flew off the shelf at a fast clip, and if, like me, your favorite finds sold out before you could click them into your online shopping cart, don't worry: the textile designer plans on working with OKL again in the future. John recently took the time to answer a few quick questions I had about his process and inspirations.

On colors inspiring him right now: "Next season, the colors I will be working with are smoky clay, white and gold. I have this smoky clay color that I put right on an unbleached white linen with gold. It will be an old gold that sort of fades and tarnishes."
On why block printing is a timeless technique: "I love block printing because it is spontaneous. I mess around with the blocks. I have fun and make mistakes. When I spill dyes I usually muck up the blocks, but always stumble into some new combination, thought, or idea that would not happen on a computer. I love block printing because it is hands-on and there is no way to replace that.
On why he chose to work with One Kings Lane: "The One Kings Lane folks are truly fanatics about the home industry and you can tell that their passion is driving their success. They take the time to properly organize and curate sales, which I find really boosts the consumer shopping experience on One Kings Lane."

Take a look below for some of my favorite finds from John Robshaw's current line. Want to learn more about this designer? Check out this article on Elle Decor.

Source

3 Sites Gilt Groupies Should Check Out

Emily Co — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:05:23 PST

"What! You got that from Gilt?" is a common envious reaction I have when my bargainista friend shows me her latest cyber buys. She is a true bargain eshopper - someone who is dedicated and consistent towards the art of online shopping. As for me, I can never sit still long enough to diligently pore over countless clothing images online. If you're a big fan of Gilt Groupe, check out these other sites that will help you score designer items at a steal.

Rue La La: Another savvy find, Rue La La runs two-day sales that start at 10 a.m. EST for all kinds of merchandise. When I was surfing through the site, I spotted everything from luxurious comforters to Diane von Furstenburg shoes, and even furniture for kids. Looking at their upcoming sales, Rue La La almost seems to be a hybrid of Gilt and Groupon, because mixed in with the product sales are discounted Culinary Institute of America classes.
Ideeli: If you decide to join the ranks of the three million Ideeli members, you'll be able to buy goods at 80 percent off. Further, items on sale come in a wide variety that includes apparel, accessories, home products, beauty items, trips, and clothing for kids. Things that caught my eye were the flirty Betsey Johnson dresses for about 70 percent off and lava tech hair dryers on sale at around a 40 percent discount.
HauteLook: Check into this site everyday, and you'll find 48-hour deals for items like designer apparel, getaways, home furnishings for 50 to 75 percent off. My favorite finds were 7 For All Mankind Jeans that were going for 60 percent off the regular price and the cutest baby dresses for half off by celebrity mom Ali Landry.

The Covet List: Irene Neuwirth Earrings

POPSUGAR Fashion — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:20:04 PST

We believe in strategic spending: each season we invest in a few good pieces that we believe will withstand the test of time and changing styles, and then we fill in the holes with affordable goodies from brands like Zara, H&M, and Target collaborations. Every Friday, check in for the latest item from our Covet List.

The Piece: Irene Neuwirth Chrysoprase and Diamond Earrings

The Investment: $2,880

Why We Covet: Irene Neuwirth's unique designs always seem to include exotic gems in colors so beautiful you can't stop staring at them. Case in point: countless celebs like Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Reese Witherspoon, Rashida Jones, and Halle Berry have all dazzled while wearing her jewelry. Irene cites the ocean as a major influence in her work, and we can imagine these earrings and a flowy dress taking a walk down the beach at sunset. Fun fact: chrysoprase (sometimes called Australian jade) is a rare form of quartz, and small amounts of nickel give it that vivid green color.

Best of 2010: Designer of the Year

POPSUGAR Fashion — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:00:05 PST

In the fashion world, we eagerly await the oncoming year of designer genius. Fall and Spring fashion weeks deliver many collections to fawn over, but there are always the standouts. This year, we're deciding between the design houses who wowed us with creativity and wooed our fashionable senses: Prabal Gurung took the celebrity world - and ours by storm; between the line for H&M and the gorgeous silhouettes coming down the runway, Lanvin had quite a year; and Chloé gave us the kind of ethereal, femme, and modern we dream about. Of course, there's really nothing we could say about Chanel that you don't already know - timeless and still totally in tune with today's woman, there's nothing this design house - and Karl - can't do, while Victoria Beckham proved she can hang with fashion's big guns. So, who gets your vote?

(From left to right: Prabal Gurung, Lanvin, Chloé, Chanel, and Victoria Beckham)

Are Budget Designer Collaborations Worth the Cost?

Emily Co — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 06:00:59 PST

The fast-fashion retailer, H&M, has partnered up with high-end designers in the past including, Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, and now Lanvin. If you ever wanted a Lanvin dress, but could never afford one, perhaps you should check out the Full Lanvin For H&M lookbook on Fashionologie. The high-fashion designer has collaborated with the affordable clothier to come out with a collection that's a lot cheaper than what the Lanvin brand generally sells for. The line comes out in stores on November 20, so I'm sure plenty of budget fashionistas have their wallets ready.

I was looking at the selection, and it can be considered a good deal if you take into account how much Lanvin clothes cost - the Lanvin For H&M pieces are around 90 percent off the designer price. Still, those dresses range around $200 and are a lot higher than the regular under $50 H&M dresses. What do you think of these collaborations - are they worth their price tags?