Style Fix

Fashion logic is the reverse of high school mentality. Growing up you want to do what everyone else is doing; it’s cool if the masses say it’s cool. But when it comes to fashion - it’s only cool if it’s exclusive. That’s the logic behind the new, hot, online shopping destination Rue La La.

Rue La La sets up two to three day designer boutiques that feature premier brands at private sales of 30 to 80 percent off cost. And when most online sales are offering you last year’s goods, Rue La La brings you this season’s threads. The catch is that you either have to be invited by a current member, or wait out your time on the wannabe list. But once you get your invite, membership is free.

Will you make the fashion club cut? Put your name on the waiting list today!

It’s not just rare, it’s probably the first time ever that the two media networks that I keep up with - animal issues and fashion - are in agreement.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 is currently up for discussion - commonly referred to as the Farm Bill, or the $300 billion Farm Bill. It was passed in the House yesterday and received more than two-thirds pro votes, which is what they will need to maintain the bill if President Bush were to veto it.

Now, I’m not up on laws or farm speak, but both fashionistas and animal / vegan advocates are showng support for this act that sets to defend farmers and the environment (though neither side is 100 percent for everything currently on the bill).

For the fashion side: Women’s Wear Daily says that this “could potentially help retailers and apparel brands save millions of dollars.”

For the veggie side: There are food safety and labeling issues addressed, with country of origin becoming a mandatory label. Nutritional programs would get more funding and support. There would be tax deductions for farmers using renewable energy sources. There are positive implications for organic food, rural preservation, and general conservation of resources, too.

To read more, the House Committee on Agriculture has put together a one-page factsheet about the bill as a whole. Plus, there is a page dedicated to the bill where you can read a factsheet on each section, follow the legislative proceedings, and read statements from involved people.

Dear J.Crew:

I’m impressed with the number of concepts that you have added lately - wedding dresses, yoga gear - but I just have question:

Can you use this super cute, orange and white, doodled fabric to make me a dress? If not, could you just send me some of the fabric so that I can make myself one?

Thanks.

The worst part about not living in New York City: missing tons of great deals through momentary-notice designer sample sales.

The best part about the Internet: designers are now offering the same speedy, cheap sample sales!

Google “online sample sale” and you will get a plethora of different designers and sites, changing constantly.

Dear Piperlime:

You get an A+ for catching my attention with this spring-loaded ad, featuring gorgeous, super-fun high heels.

How did you know that I have been hunting down artist-inspired fashions?

Thank you!

I just discovered a super cool discount shopping site. Endless.com brings you handbags and shoes for less than retail prices, plus they offer free overnight shipping.

Check it out! You can get a new pair of Kenneth Cole pumps, some Jessica Simpson boots, a Badgley Mischka clutch knocked down over $100 in cost, Reebok sneakers, stylish reusable shopping bags from Baggu, vegan sandals, work-requird safety shoes for him, and some Keds for the kids … all in one place!

PLUS (if all this isn’t enough), save $20 when you spend $100 on items deemed “eco-friendly.

Yowzers! This site is BETA now, but won’t be for long. Get to it; get shopping!

Bonus points to Endless for having a “report typos” section!

Color blocks are one of the few ’80s fashion trends that I am okay with having a resurgence. Here, we have - (in alphabetical order by company name, because “no particular order” seemed to particular) - a former “it” bag that cost (it’s no longer available) $1,300; a knock-off verging on copying for $56; and a $26 one that is more “inspired by” than copied.

Can you tell which bag is which?

Here are some tips of things to look at (as well as you can over the Internet):

* Quality and design of clasps, seams, zippers, metal pieces, handles, material, and color.

* Logo - is on everything, including the findings? Is it perfect in color, design, placement, etc.?

* Is it floppy or stiff? Designer bags have nice form and structure to them unless “floppy” is part of the design concept.

* Are the colors evenly saturated and nicely matched or striated, blotchy, and slightly off?

UPDATE: Answers are here! Click “more” below to find out if you knew your designer from your teenie bopper store brand.

(more…)

Has Brad Wilson ever got a deal (or two, or one thousand) for you! He is the man of the Internet hour with his Web site Brad’s Deals making headlines everywhere.

Sure, he’s a computer guy so the deals and sales that first get noticed are those for companies such as Dell and HP, but Brad’s Deals go above and beyond just techy stuff. His site highlights bargains on books, flowers, sporting goods, kitchen gear, cell phones, movies, food, and fashion! Brad’s far surpasses other coupon code lists out there.

Skip right to the apparel or Health and Beauty section, and you will find awesome discounts, coupons, and sale notifications for fashion merchandisers.

Here are a few current examples:

* Through April 15 Bluefly is offering an extra 10% off everything on their site during their 2008 Tax Relief Sale. Shoppers can also add a coupon code at checkout ($15 off $100 via code AFF15 or code VISA08) to save even more.

* Finish Line currently has 8 styles of Rocket Dog Shoes on sale for $19.97 each, before 10% off coupon code 141705 (expires 4/30) lowers them to only $17.97!

* Originally $179, a plant-based, sunless, spray-on, self-tanning system is now on sale at Gaiam for $59.99. Take 15% off with coupon code CCAB (expires 6/30), and lower the price to $50.99.

Brad, along with a hardworking team of deal hunters, also provide direct links to designer’s sale and clearance pages, exclusive “Brad’s Deals” coupon codes and promotions, notifications of what deals are ending soon, e-mail updates, tips on hot sale items, detailed shipping and tax costs, and every other deal-related tidbit possible.

Sign up for Brad’s Deals’ newsletter and get a special, one-time deal, too!

Bluefly - the site that brings you high fashion for less, supports Project Runway, and shows naked women in their “that’s why I Bluefly” TV ads - is proud to introduce a new boutique within the Bluefly budding empire.

B*Fly offers savings up to 40 percent off and targets teens, college students, and 20-somethings with funky tee shirts, designer denim, flirtier cuts, and - much to my delight - many pretty colors and patterns! B*Fly offers “a new way to B.”

Bluefly is also currently hosting a shopping spree sweepstakes with New York magazine. Click on the banner here to enter to win $10,000 towards a spring wardrobe and other great prizes in the Spring in the City Giveaway.

From vintage Bill Blass, to Godzilla tee shirts; Every imaginable tote design, to intricately cut metal jewelry - Mod Cloth has it! Find an outfit that no one else will be wearing; shop for fun, funky, unique, and one-of-a-kind clothes, apartment needs, and accessories in reasonable prices. But if you see something you want, move fast! Things fly quickly through the indie shop that is ***MOD CLOTH***

Here are some current up-for-grabs faves of mine.

I am beyond in love with the clothes for spring that have come with direct inspiration from major names in art history. First, I found impressionistic flowers in Stella McCartney’s collection. Now, thanks to the cover of the May Cosmopolitan, which features my fave Kristen Bell in an amazing dress, I discovered another painting-inspired spring collection.

ADAM, a design house by Adam Lippes, has a page dedicated to “Fashion as Art” with fabrics including hand-painted, Jackson Pollock-inspired, geometric shapes, dip-dyed, and more!

I am in love … but perhaps someone could make artist-like clothes that I can afford? Because ADAM’s $150 to $600 price range is not cutting it for my budget.

It is no secret that Gwen Stefani has fallen hard for Tokyo, Japan’s Harajuku style - a whimsical, child-like, fun in girls’ fashion, trends, makeup, and more.

Now she is taking her inspiration and creativity one step further: she has established a line of fragrances, the Harajuku Lovers collection. Each of the five different scents comes in its own adorable doll-like bottles created in the image of Gwen and her four back-up dancers (Love, Angel, Music, and Baby). Each bottle comes with a story about the character depicted.

I haven’t gotten a whiff of any of them yet, but the meticulously detailed doll spritzers, and the eye-catching ad, have made me want to!

You can find Gwen’s Harajuku Lovers collection in major department stores at $45 for 30 ml. and $25 for 10 ml. A compact with solid perfume versions of all five will be available this fall for $60.

Imitating Givenchy is not always a good idea. Case in point: just because Givenchy made ugly open-toed boots, Cheyenne, does not mean that you should make similar ankle boots with air holes.

These Tashkent by Cheyenne Morris boots shown here run about $415 for the grey ones (at Piperlime) and $500 for the tan ones.

It is a shame, really, because when Tashkent designer Cheyenne gets it right, she gets it spot on. So do check out the rest of her Spring 2008 shoes.

Let’s all hope that she soon loses this holey boot trend and instead makes more of her awesome sandals and flats.

What do you think? Would you wear them? You can see photos of these, and all Tashkent shoes, in action (i.e. on models’ feet) at Cheyenne’s home page.

“H” must be a lucky first letter for a retail name, because that is the only similarity that I can see between two industry stores that are seeing profits rise at a time when most retail companies are struggling to stay afloat.

Both Hermes - the top name known for gorgeous, expensive, silk scarves - and H&M - a haven for $8 cotton tees, cheap accessories, and affordable teen trends - have reported impressive increases in sales lately.

I happen to love my birthday more than any other day throughout the calendar year. Even as a child I looked forward more to my birthday than Christmas or Flag Day. I signed up for every free birthday club I came across.

But as adults, we don’t get free happy meals, ice cream sundaes, and such on our celebratory day.

Until now.

Piperlime, the Gap Inc. Web site that sells kick-butt shoes and handbags, will send you a little special something on your big day. All you have to do is tell them when it is, and which - if any - of their promotional e-mails you would like to receive. Plus, if you have a Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic card you can receive 500 points for signing up!

The birthday surprise is yet a secret to me, but since my birthday is coming up in one month and ten days …