Racked NY

RackedWire: A Closer Look at Nau's Eco-Friendly Pop-Up; Lisa Perry's Moving On Up

2009-11-10T22:47:54Z

SOHO—Cool Hunting gets a good look at Here/Nau/NYC, the pop-up shop so sustainable it's made primarily out of garbage ("upcycled materials," in the parlance of our times.) The space, which opens at 69 Mercer Street on Thursday, sounds amazing, with white walls and floor and exposed wood beams that showcase the unusual materials to their best advantage. Just look at that web of branches on the ceiling! When the shop finally opens, expect to see merchandise from Timberland, Malin + Goetz, and Loomstate, plus a miniature coffee shop and all sorts of live events. [Cool Hunting; Previously]

UPPER EAST SIDE—Lisa Perry recently announced her big move to the Upper East Side. The designer's flagship store is slated for a mid-November opening on Madison Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets. Confessing recently to WWD that she's "more of a shop girl" who loves interacting with customers, Perry looks forward to transforming the former Citibank space into a design and art studio (she even plans to keep the vault and glass offices). The boutique will also feature the launch of her lower-priced collection, Lisa Perry Play, in the spring.—Phillip Picardi [WWD, subscription req'd; Previously]

Above the Fray: Hugo Boss "Sale" at Soiffer Haskin

2009-11-10T22:24:25Z

It was quite crowded at the Hugo Boss sample sale at Soiffer Haskin in midtown today, which is definitely a testament to the designer's cult following. Men were buying things left and right, snatching up the $70 dress shirts and the wool topcoats... no consensus on whether or not the wool was "heavy" or "light" though (the price list differentiates between the two). Moto jackets, track jackets, and suit separates were also bountiful, and quite chic. Overall, the selection was fantastic; every size in almost every style was available, and nothing was too picked over. Maybe that's because the discount was barely recognizable. You'll definitely still have sticker shock at this sample sale.

]]> Since there wasn't a tremendous discount, it was hard to be excited about any particular item. If we had to pick, the suits looked like the best bargain, and would make also make a wise investment. Boss by Hugo Boss suits offered more of the trim, two-button look that's been in style recently, but three-button ensembles were well represented. The fabric ranged from lightweight to winter-appropriate, and if you pair them with the 3 ties for $100 deal, you'll walk out a winner. Even though the shoes were quite nice, the discount wasn't too generous.

And, ladies, taking a peek at the selection of womenswear might be worth it. A few fashionistas were present, and enjoying their pick of blazers, leather jackets, and fashionable boots for quite cheap. While there isn't a lot to pick from (only three or four racks), there aren't a lot of women to compete with, either. If you're craving some of Boss' minimalist designs for your own collection, the sale might be worth a peek. Otherwise, save your money for the upcoming sales that are hitting later on this week.—Phillip Picardi
· Dealfeed: Hugo Boss [Racked]

DEALFEED: Hugo Boss

2009-11-10T22:23:57Z

Label: Hugo Boss
Deal: Up to 60% off suits, coats, knitwear, and shoes
When/Where: Through Saturday, November 14. Daily 9am—5pm. Soiffer Haskin, 317 W.33rd between Eight and Ninth Aves (718-747-4656)

McQueen-adillos!: Fashion blog White Lighting uses the...

2009-11-10T22:19:48Z

Fashion blog White Lighting uses the occasion of Lady Gaga's new video to explain why the Lady matters: "If you love fashion, and don't love GAGALOO TOO..then you don't get the joke, you don't get the fun, you don't get the THING. You don't have to love the music (bad move) but you have to LOVE THE LOVE." Click through for a breakdown of the video, which includes Gaga in full-on Alexander McQueen spring 2010 insect-alien-priestess mode, armadillo shoes included. [White Lightning]

DEALFEED: Lafayette 148

2009-11-10T21:48:46Z

Label: Lafayette 148
Deal: Markdowns on jackets, dresses, cashmere, and leather starting at 75% off
When/Where: Wednesday, November 11 through Friday, November 13. Daily 9am—8pm. 148 Lafayette St between Howard and Grand Sts (877.523.1488)

Now Open: The 120+ Holiday Shops At Bryant Park

2009-11-10T21:35:23Z

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? We know, we know; nothing is more annoying that going into a Duane Reade to find the deodorant aisle confusingly squashed in with the cleaning products so that Christmas wrapping paper can dominate half the store. This, and crowded Fifth Avenue sidewalks, are not our favorite images of the impending holiday season, but The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park are.

Like the markets that clog the squares of European cities every winter, the Bryant Park holiday shops are a maze of mini-stores, all in booths customized by the vendor with wood floors, decorative lighting, and even small TVs. Selling everything from the usual plaster-of-Paris ornaments to cute Tyvek wallets (in Dynomighty's booth), the shops are a perfect destination for browsing and last-minute, hurried gift buying.

]]> We moseyed through the maze yesterday evening, and noted a few things you might want to know before getting sucked in as well:

· As of yesterday, all of the booths aren't yet open. We spotted people still setting up their tables in their shops, merchandising and prepping, while other booth remain dark and completely empty. We suppose some retailers will only begin to rent their spot closer to Black Friday.

· Some of the biggest booths belong to big names. For instance, if you enter the maze of shops from the northeast, the first booth you encounter—and it's a large one— is Sabon, the soap purveyor. You'd think they'd already be happy with their presence around the city, but soaps being easy stocking stuffers and all... You'll also find a large Max Brenner chocolate shop; just when we thought we'd gotten rid of him from the East Village, he pops up here.

· The Holiday Shops have a Twitter. Of course. We suggest following them for announcements on further booth openings and special events.

· The Shops are open until January 3, 2010. Daily hours are: Monday thru Friday 11am–8pm; Saturday 10am–9pm; Sunday 10am–6pm.

· The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park [NYCGo]

Storecasting: Bath and Beauty Line Skinnyskinny Cleans Up the 'Burg

2009-11-10T21:23:10Z

Eco-beauty brand Skinnyskinny, which has been producing organic soaps, lip balms, and buckwheat pillows in Williamsburg since 2005, will open its first store this Thursday. The line is currently carried at places like ABC Carpet & Home, so you know it's not kidding around. The boutique, at Roebling and N.4th Streets, will be as green as the products it carries: It's built from reclaimed wood and powered by renewable energy. It also happens to sit next to Skinnyskinny's workshop, which we can't help but imagine as a sort of Keebler tree in which wee hippie elves stir vats of bath oils.

]]>

· Skinnyskinny [Official Site]

Hugu Boos and Girgio Armwni: Please enjoy this series of photos...

2009-11-10T20:43:38Z

Please enjoy this series of photos of knockoffs in a souk in Tunisia. We're especially amused by the "GK On," an "antitranspirant" for men. Only Galvin Klein can keep a man from transpiring in style. [Hapsical via FWD]

DEALFEED: Elie Tahari

2009-11-10T20:22:51Z

Label: Elie Tahari
Deal: Up to 85% off samples from the designer collection
When/Where: Wednesday, November 11 through Sunday, November 15. Daily 10am—7pm. Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave between 15th and 16th Sts (no phone)

Collabs: Sonia Rykiel's Sexy Spanx for H&M

2009-11-10T20:09:32Z

Image via Cocumag

Last time we saw an ad for Sonia Rykiel's H&M lingerie collection, we wondered whether it was possible to wear anything over the the nipple rosettes and matching upper-butt embellishments. In the latest image to emerge from the campaign, Rykiel has gone in the opposite direction. The sleek pink high-waisted panties and structured tops look hot on Lara Stone and friends, but they might be worryingly Spanx-like on mere mortals. Luckily, the same Polish fashion site where Nitrolicious turned up the photo above also has another ad from the series. It does feature another set of granny panties, but they're in a more accommodating black, and they're shown with some sheer bathrobes and giant head bows—very Blair Waldorf in her boudoir.

]]>

· Collabs: Feast Your Eyes on Sonia Rykiel for H&M [Racked]
· Sonia Rykiel for H&M Ad Campaign [More Pics] [Nitrolicious]
· Sonia Rykiel for H&M [Cocumag]

DEALFEED: Anlo, Shoshanna

2009-11-10T19:26:00Z

Label: Anlo, Shoshanna
Deal: Up to 75% off swimwear, dresses, and other fashions, including markdowns on baby girls' swim (from $75 to $35), jeans for $75, and dresses for $150
When/Where: Wednesday, November 11th and Thursday, November 12. Weds 10am—6:30pm, Thurs 10am—5:30pm. Shoshanna Showroom, 231 W. 39th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite 422 (212-719-3601)

Now Open: Superdry, Britain's Hollister, Hits Noho

2009-11-10T19:20:32Z

Superdry, the Japanese-inspired British label, made its New York City debut on Sunday in NoHo on Broadway and Washington Place. Upon investigation today, the ladders, boxes, and exhausted-looking employees revealed that the store wasn't fully ready. The upper and lower levels, as a matter of fact, won't be open to the public until next year. No matter, though, for the store is packed with the merchandise, which seems to be a medley of Y-3 meets Hollister.

If you're worried about that combination, you're not the only one. Long, skinny, cable-knit v-neck sweaters (for $130, mind you) brought back painful memories of high school, as did the graphic hooded sweatshirts and "Osaka" printed graphic tees for $50. Yes, Superdry seems to be following a business model similar to that of Abercrombie and Hollister, and for that, we may not be able to forgive them. But after some careful digging, we found the denim was super-chic, as was most of the leather and tech-y outerwear. What's more, hipsters and NYU students alike will surely love the incredible amount of $80 plaid shirts in the collection. In short, it may not be for everyone, but it's definitely worth a visit.—Phillip Picardi
· Storecasting: Superdry Slips into Canal Jeans [Racked]
· Storecasting: Superdry Brings a British Take on Japanese Style to NYC [Racked]
· Superdry [Official Site]

Street Scenes: Rahel on E. 10th Street

2009-11-10T18:40:52Z

Today's Street Scenes subject is Rahel, shot on E. 10th Street and First Avenue. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike her outfit below. Your choices are 'Perfection!,' 'So close,' 'I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who did this to you?'

[Photo by Daniel Krieger]

Rahel is wearing a vintage fur-collared sweater, jeans from Beacon's Closet, shoes from K-Mart, and sunglasses by Claw Money. Her bag is from No Relation and her jacket is by Monsieur (it used to belong to her dad.) Her favorite store is Min-k.

More Street Scenes

Now Open: Jodi Arnold Pops Up on University Place

2009-11-10T18:17:45Z

The new-ish Jodi Arnold pop-up shop on University Place and 10th brings a little bit more chic to Greenwich Village. The "MINT" collection features an array of styles and fabrics, notably flowy tops with embellished necklines, some luxe dresses, and cozy, woven knits. The shop was quiet when we stopped by, but the sales associate assures us that things have been going well. "The neighborhood has been really friendly to us," she said, adding that even NYU students have been known to pop in for a purchase. The collection starts at $150 for the sweaters and can go up to $450 for dresses. But shoppers, if the price is right, then go for it. Jodi Arnold will be departing from Greenwich Village at the end of December, but (we were told) more pop-up shops should be expected next year.—Phillip Picardi
· Jodi Arnold NYC [JodiArnold]

Makeovers: Soho's Banana Republic Gets Peeled

2009-11-10T17:57:06Z

Officially, the revamped Banana Republic flagship at 550 Broadway doesn't open until tomorrow, but the store exposed itself late last night. The scaffolding outside has been dismantled and the brown paper peeled off the windows. Inside. the place is decked out in strings of red lights. A sign claims a new "Concept" (something about "Exploration" and "Discovery"). But it really looks like your mother's BR and appears to be all about—you guessed it—shopping. If all goes according to plan, the pre-holiday sales rush will commence today at 3pm, when the doors quietly open to customers.

]]>

· Storecasting: Filling Banana Republic's Gaps in Soho [Racked]
· Consolidations: Gap Rethinks Soho Banana Split [Racked]

Are People Still Excited about Jil Sander for Uniqlo?

2009-11-10T17:21:56Z

Video via Sample Sally

According to Sample Sally, Uniqlo just imported another shipment of +J, their collaboration with Jil Sander. The well-cut basics caused some good old-fashioned designer collabo chaos when they first appeared at the store in early October. Many fast fashion chains would have stopped there (see e.g. Anna Sui hanging on the sales rack at Target), but Uniqlo must be banking on the collection's inherent quality, rather than its novelty.

Sally reports that they've brought the new selection of cashmere and blazers for men and women directly from Japan. Which adds an interesting twist: "The sizes are for the Japanese customer, which means a slightly smaller cut than the average American." This is great news for all those skinny boys who lined up back in October, but unfortunate news for the 6'4" linebacker-shaped fellow we saw trying and failing to fit into a coat on opening day. If you're not familiar with Japanese sizes (you philistine!), Uniqlo has a handy conversion chart to help you find the best fit.
· Stocked up on +J at UNIQLO [Sample Sally]
· Lineblogging: Jil Sander Fans Throng Uniqlo Sidewalk [Racked]
· Spotted: Anna Sui Still Hanging On at Target [Racked]

Email Scan

2009-11-10T16:00:00Z

We scan the inbox so you don't have to. Today, three items of note:

Best Bets Daily: Tommy Hilfiger cashmere-lined leather gloves
Brooklyn Based: Not updated
DailyCandy: A shopping list of all the best gadgets and gizmos
DailyCandy Kids: Not updated
I Heart Daily: 14-year-old Jessica Markowitz sends Rwandan girls to school
MUG: Guide to the good New York sales
Refinery29: Off the L: The best boutiques in Greenpoint and Williamsburg (pictured)
Thrillist: Brooklyn Kitchen Labs opens Monday
UrbanBaby Daily: Maclaran gives free kits so its strollers don't amputate your fingertips
VSL: A graphic novel about Boilerplate, the world's first robot soldier
WWWD: Garments inspired by garments by Chloé
The Zoe Report: Life threads fragrances by La Prairie

Above the Fray: Lauren Moffat Lovely but Limited

2009-11-10T15:53:26Z

Our friends over at Sugar Rock Catwalk got an early look at the Lauren Moffat sample sale, which opened in Chelsea today at 9am. The good news: Everything is very cute. The bad news: Prices, while reasonable, are a little high, and merchandise is limited. But the cuteness! SRC found printed wool bombers marked down from $350 to $140, studded skirts down from $310 to $90, and silk dresses down from $372 to $120. Judging from the photos, there's a lot of sleek gray and studding—we're talking gray studded coats, gray studded dresses, gray studded skirts—but it's all very "let us reconsider the best things about the '80s" rather than "The theme of this costume party is 1984!" Bottom line: Don't go expecting to save a lot of money, but do stop by if you like the brand.
· Dealfeed: Lauren Moffatt [Racked]
· Inside: Lauren Moffatt Sample Sale [Sugar Rock Catwalk]

Shoe Porn: We don't really understand why Bailey's...

2009-11-10T15:30:42Z

We don't really understand why Bailey's Irish Cream is sponsoring a pop-up shoe shop in Soho, but we're certainly not complaining. Starting tomorrow, heels and boots from brands like Sergio Rossi, Farylrobin, and Barbara Bui will be selling for $75 each to benefit nonprofit Clothes Off Our Back. The store opens at 11am at 421 West Broadway between Prince and Spring Streets. For an early look, click through to Time Out New York's slideshow. [TONY]

Oh No Manolo: Will Exposure Ruin the Sample Sale?

2009-11-10T15:16:44Z

News of the usually-secret Manolo Blahnik sample sale hit the airwaves last week, and now shoe fiends are worried that the exclusive shopping experience will be spoiled. Writes Fashion Prospectress:

Inventory is completely insufficient for a massive stampede—there are probably only 80-100 pairs of shoes per size. In the past the sale has been really special. You are guaranteed to walk away with at least one pair (or two, or three) of great shoes, and the prices are unbeatable.

She suspects the organizers will switch either the date (this Thursday) or location (the Warwick Hotel.) If they do, we'll let you know—we're sending our toughest Racked correspondent over to document the insanity.
· Manolo Blahnik Sample Sale [Madison Avenue Spy]
· Manolo Blahnik sample sale [Fashion Prospectress]

Collabs: Another day, another celebrity getting into...

2009-11-10T15:05:59Z

Another day, another celebrity getting into fashion design. This time it's Alicia Keys, who is doing silver jewelry with Gisèle Theriault. The line is called "The Barber's Daughter" and will have positive inscriptions of poetry and prayers in it. It will launch with a pop-up shop on Clinton St. on November 23 and 24th, and Keys will show up the second day. [WWD]

Retailers Really Want You to Buy a Snood

2009-11-10T14:50:07Z

Images via American Apparel, Burberry, WSJ

Can snoods save the fashion industry? Probably not, but the Wall Street Journal reports that retailers are trying anyway. Snoods are sometimes Scarlett O'Hara-style hairnets, but in this case we're talking about long, tube-shaped scarves that can be worn as hoods, and they're being pushed by Bloomingdales, Henri Bendel, Saks Fifth Ave. and apparently everyone else in the world. Burberry and Banana Republic have cashmere versions for $295 and $98, respectively. The Limited's acrylic knit version is only $39.50, and American Apparel has one for $28 that they're calling a "circle scarf."

The trend makes sense as snoods are easy to layer and different enough to pique the interest without alienating anybody. It could also be seen as mildly insidious, as WSJ opines that "the rush to the snood reflects the fashion industry's scramble to invent new types of clothing that consumers don't already possess." A lot of retailers, however, are not so keen on the word "snood," which really does sound sort of silly, but possibly not as silly as "infinity scarf," which is what Banana Republic and The Limited are calling them. The weather has been wonderfully, unseasonably warm and un-snoodlike lately, but will you wear one this winter?
· Can the Snood Save Christmas? [WSJ]

Tuesday AM Clickage

2009-11-10T14:40:36Z

Via EssG/Racked Flickr Pool

Local
· Saks Fifth Avenue employee stole $130,000 from the store [NYP]
· Cristiano Cora salon gave free haircuts to anyone unemployed [NYT]

National
· New auction site BillionaireXchange is eBay for the mega-rich [NYP]
· For spring 2010, Alexander Wang studied clothing at Paragon Sports [WWD, subscription req'd]

Collabs: Real Rodarte for Target Photos Finally Up

2009-11-10T13:55:02Z

Images via Nitrolicious

Rodarte's hotly anticipated line for Target is due out in December, and we're starting to get actual, honest-to-god official pictures as we're getting down to the wire. Marie Claire has the scoop, and Nitro:licious has the scans, which tell us that the faux lambskin jacket and the skeleton-print sequin dress we saw earlier are inspired by Harold and Maude. "We loved the idea of making something serious, that seems so black and white, somewhat playful," they said. We also love the idea of the sequin ribcage dress, especially when it's only $49.99.
· Finally, Clear Images of Rodarte's Target Line Surface [The Cut]
· Rodarte for Target [Marie Claire] [Nitrolicious]
· Collabs: More Sneak Peaks at Rodarte for Target [Racked]

Luella Latest Label to Cease Trading

2009-11-10T13:28:25Z

Images via Style.com

In tragic fashion news, Luella Bartley announced today that her much beloved label, Luella has ceased trading. Its global licensee has decided " not to invest further" in the brand, and orders for Luella's critically lauded spring 2010 collection could not be filled due to the unexpected closure of its ready-to-wear producer.

"This is a very disappointing situation for everyone involved with the brand," Bartley said in a statement. "It is upsetting not to be able to protect jobs in this difficult economic climate. I love the Luella character and hope that after we have survived this challenging time the Luella girl can have an exciting future ahead of her, whichever incarnation she takes on next. We have a number of options open to us, and are considering these over the coming months."
· Luella Ceases Trading [VogueUK]

Monday PM Clickage

2009-11-09T23:06:39Z

Eryn Brinie mannequins via Cherrypatter/Racked Flickr Pool

Local
· Fashion week overlord Fern Mallis has never been inside a Wal-Mart [NYMag]
· Soho's Eryn Brinie launches online shopping [The Thread]
· Inside the barely-manageable retail frenzy at La Perla [Sample Sally]

National
· Go look at these $755 giant puffer jackets with aliens on them [Racked LA]
· Vogue styles Lady Gaga popping out of a furnace [The Cut]

RackedWire: Another Apple UWS Peek; Petite Pomme Opens in Tribeca; Thakoon for Men

2009-11-09T22:56:43Z

The inside of the 67th Street Apple store, partially revealed! Are you swooning yet? Via Gizmodo

TRIBECA—Charming Dumbo kiddie store Pomme just opened a second shop, this one at 186 Duane Street in Manhattan. Petite Pomme (aww) forgoes older kids, catering entirely to babies, parents-to-be, and the bewildered and grateful friends of parents-to-be who have no idea how to buy presents for newborns and could use some retail guidance. (Tangential but uplifting aside: If you count the Bowery Bazaar, this is the fourth new store we've written about today. Eat that, Great Recession!) [Racked Inbox]

SOHO—Among the menswear items included in Hudson Square boutique Aloha Rag's upcoming private label collection is a red plaid cardigan designed by Thakoon Panichgul. "But Thakoon doesn't do menswear!" you stammer, because you are a fashion nerd. “I’m dying to do men’s wear, I really am,” replies Thakoon—or at least that's what he told WWD. The cardigan will appear in Aloha Rag in February, but only in the New York location, Hawaii not really having much need for cozy sweaters. [WWD]

Racked Bookshelf: Grace Coddington's Catwalk Cats

2009-11-09T21:30:07Z

Need something to read on the subway en route to the next sale? In Racked Bookshelf, we pull new titles in fashion and design to see what's worthy of the printed page.

It's not new, in fact, its in its seventh printing—but Grace Coddington's The Catwalk Cats just keeps popping up. Maybe it was just a reason to drum up some holiday season sales, but Coddington recently appeared at Clic and signed copies for adoring fans. Pair that with the newest trend in fashion—cats—and we couldn't not take a closer look at the charming, Coddington-illustrated gift book and post a short review.

What can we say—it's a little silly; it's definitely for cat people (maybe even more than it is for fashion people). The book opens with a Sally Singer (as Coddington cat Puff) introduction before a charming, captioned photo gallery of Coddington and partner Didier Malige's children—er, cats. The photos are black and white, adorable, a little grainy, and all by Malige. The gallery is followed by a very loose graphic narrative detailing a year in the life of the family crew of five cats via Coddington's pretty adorable ink illustrations and hand-written text.

]]> These cats walk the runway for Karl Lagerfeld, pose for Arthur Elgort, are feted by Rei Kawakubo, sit front row with Anna Wintour, Isabella Blow, and André Leon Talley, and even win Oscars—just like us! It isn't all flash bulbs, glitz, and golden statuettes, however—the Coddington cats deal with racism, weight problems, and drug addiction. Life is hard.

Retailing for $32, copies on Amazon are currently starting at a mere $9.78. A pittance considering the priceless chance to make every weird cat nerd on your holiday shopping list feel cool for about three minutes!
· Grace Coddington Brings Her Catwalk Cats to Clic [Racked]
· RackedWire: Grace Coddington Predicted Fashion's Cat Fixation [Racked]
· The Catwalk Cats [Amazon]

Storecasting: Premium Sneakers Coming to Bed-Stuy

2009-11-09T20:51:34Z

Image via Bed-Stuy Blog

Bed-Stuy Blog reports a shiny new storefront being readied on Tompkins Avenue between Putnam and Jefferson, next to coffee shop Common Grounds. The store, called Sole Survivor, promises premium sneakers in an expensive-looking space. As the blog puts it, "I love the look of the storefront—the bold white exterior, the sidewalk lights, the font (Is that Helvetica Neue Bold Condensed???) It looks very Soho." Indeed! Given that the owners put up a Halloween display, it seems the spot should be open soon.
· Premium Sneaker Boutique Coming to Tompkins [Bed-Stuy Blog]

Inside Revamped H&M 5th Ave, With Jimmy Choo!

2009-11-09T20:33:23Z

This afternoon at Fifth Avenue and 51st Street, the mega H&M reopened with all departments free of painter dropcloth and sporting a very geometric, very new-rave remodeled look.

Where you first enter into the atrium, it like a maze of the trendiest items that H&M carries, complete with mannequins in blazing pink afro wigs and matching shaggy coats. This is where they set up the designer collaborations on the day of release as well, so familiarize yourself with it before Saturday's Choo launch.

Also on the first floor are two accessory closets, all black and tunnel-like, and they sit on the walls to the far right and left of the atrium. Moving up to mens on the second floor, we see the revamped look most here, with a clean aesthetic despite the all black shelves, and oriental rugs imparting a luxurious, distinguished mood. Our favorite area was the suiting section, slightly more enclosed than the rest of the floor and with an excellently organized wall of shirts and large table of knickknacks that attempts to evoke the feel of the Ralph Lauren Purple Label brand. We likey.

]]> Meanwhile, on the top women's floor, nothing much has changed to our eyes, Shelves are white, and sections are heavily organized by color. Because of the impending winter, there's a navy blue section, a large red section, and a veritable ocean of pitch black clothing with sparkles and touches of gold here and there. In fact, we got a Roberto Cavalli for H&M vibe from quite a lot of it.

If you wander back down to the selection of womenswear on the first floor, you might notice some hired muscle guarding the contents of a window display. He's got his eye on the actual Jimmy Choo for H&M items, in the flesh, sitting there in the Fifth Avenue window. We managed to cop a feel of one of the big black purses and the suede dress with fringe, and that fringe is straight-up buttery leather. That doesn't mean it will look flattering on us though, and that guard is there to make sure that no one tries to steal it, buy it, try it on, or even look at it sideways. Good luck even getting near it; we were lucky.
· Freebies [Racked]
· All Jimmy Choo For H&M Coverage [Racked]

Billboards: Calvin Klein on Houston Does It Again

2009-11-09T20:05:03Z

Image via testspiel.de/Flickr via Gothamist

You may find this hard to believe, but it seems a Calvin Klein ad over on Houston Street has ruffled some feathers for its racy content. We know: Shocking. This time, the offending billboard involves a damp Eva Mendes manhandling an equally shiny guy. As Calvin Klein goes, it's kind of vanilla: There are only two people involved, they don't look like they're cutting tenth grade homeroom, and neither appears to be on the brink of starvation. Still, the Daily News managed to scare up at least one offended party, an MTA worker wondering why no one seems to be thinking of the children.
· New SoHo Calvin Klein billboard with Eva Mendes in sheer lingerie has residents hot and bothered [NYDN]
· Billboards: Eva Gets Labeled on Houston [Racked]
· Billboards: Soho's Calvin Klein Threesome Is "Borderline Pornographic" [Racked]

Street Scenes: Ryan on Seventh Avenue

2009-11-09T18:51:12Z

Today's Street Scenes subject is Ryan, shot on Seventh Avenue between Bedford and Leroy. Feel free to vote on whether you like or dislike his outfit below. Your choices are 'Perfection!,' 'So close,' 'I feel strangely ambivalent about it,' or 'Who did this to you?'

[Photo by Daniel Krieger]

Ryan is wearing pants from Barney's, a vintage shirt, shoes from a thrift store, and a scarf from Neiman Marcus. His favorite store is House of Ray Records.

More Street Scenes

New Magazine Alert: The Duane Reader

2009-11-09T18:25:06Z

Conde Nast might be experiencing some financial setbacks, but the age of magazines isn't dead as long as Duane Reade is around. As part of its new, city-centric rebranding project, the drugstore chain has begun to publish a periodical called the Duane Reader. We picked up the holiday edition in the Flatiron District yesterday. The articles all manage to connect DR's store-brand products, New York iconography, and the holiday spirit—if you spill cocktail sauce on your Empire State Building t-shirt at a Christmas party, for example, Duane Reade's Apt. 5 "Oops Stick" can help. There's also a holiday planner guide that recommends the Radio City Christmas spectacular and Macy's window displays, and a genuinely useful list of restaurants serving dinner on Christmas. Our favorite part, though, is the back page, which briefly explains the history behind the name of DR's Five Points coffee blend. "Five Points was a notorious slum," it announces cheerfully, before recommending Martin Scorcese's Gangs of New York and/or a trip to the Tenement Museum for those who want to learn more.
· Duane Reade Ups Its Beauty Prestige [Racked]
· RackedWire: Duane Reade Improves Itself [Racked]

Now Open: Task Does the Job in Williamsburg

2009-11-09T17:44:36Z

North 3rd Street between Wythe and Berry in Williamsburg is turning into its own little shopping micro-neighborhood, what with the relatively recent openings of the Mast Brothers Chocolate Factory, Hollander & Lexer, Book Thug Nation, and little boutique Task. The latter, which opened earlier this fall, carries a small and carefully curated selection of housewares alongside clothing for women and children from brands like Antik Batik, French shoe company Bensimon, and Orla Kiely. The aesthetic is romantic and eco-friendly, exactly what you'd expect from a former corporate designer who quit the business world to follow her dream in Williamsburg.
· Task [Official Site]

Deadlines: Coupon Sherpa has made millions of...

2009-11-09T17:09:24Z

Coupon Sherpa has made millions of lives easier by rounding up a comprehensive list of Christmas shipping deadlines. Generally we are opposed to thinking about the holidays this early in November, but this is much more useful than, say, Duane Reade's plastic tree display. [Coupon Sherpa]

DEALFEED: White + Warren

2009-11-09T16:40:40Z

Label: White + Warren
Deal: Major discounts on classic cashmere, including $85 sweaters and $50 t-shirts for women, $125 v-necks and thermals for men, $80 scarves and more.
When/Where: Tuesday, November 10 through Thursday, November 12. Tues—Wed 8am—7pm, Thurs 8am—3pm. 80 W 40th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, third floor (212-398-3295)

Now Open: Bowery Bazaar, Good Old-Fashioned Flea

2009-11-09T16:25:50Z

The Bowery may have become a stretch of gleaming modern buildings, but its new flea market belongs to a well-worn older model. The Bowery Bazaar, which just opened on the first floor of shiny new tower 351 Bowery, consists of exactly the same collection of t-shirt stalls, vintage clothing stands, and soapmongers that you'll find at flea markets around the city. Think Williamsburg's Artists and Fleas minus the vinyl section, or the weekend artist's market on Mulberry Street minus all the young designers.

The bazaar is still getting off the ground, of course—we spotted several empty stalls—and it did have a few notable booths, including truly delicious baked goods from Brooklyn's Michael Allen Desserts. But flea market competition is cutthroat around these parts. In a few weeks, the Brooklyn Flea will bring its rolling yuppie pupusa revue to the empty Tower Records space at Lafayette and East 4th Street. The Bowery Bazaar is going to need more than just a few jewelry stands if it wants to keep up.
· Sign of the Times: Flea Market Opening on the Bowery [Racked]
· Ho! Ho! Ho! The Flea Takes Manhattan (For a Month) [Brownstoner]

Email Scan

2009-11-09T16:00:00Z

We scan the inbox so you don't have to. Today, only one item of note:

Best Bets Daily: Skinny, textured ties and other neck paraphernalia
Brooklyn Based: Not updated
DailyCandy: Elsylee Galetes Artesanals cookies
DailyCandy Kids: Not updated
I Heart Daily: Guitar Hero's Band Hero takes on Rock Band
MUG: It's Indie Bookstore week in New York
Refinery29: Local color: Inspiring street fashion from New York (pictured)
Thrillist: Mermaid Oyster Bar opens Tuesday. Nom.
UrbanBaby Daily: Denim Therapy adds elastic panels to your jeans for $60
VSL: Mathieu Young's Harvest records the marijuana harvests
WWWD: Style stalking November trends
The Zoe Report: Christian Dior riding boots

DEALFEED: Lauren Moffatt

2009-11-09T15:11:08Z

Label: Lauren Moffatt
Deal: Up to 75% off dresses, bombers, skirts, and tops. Credit cards accepted for purchases $200 and over.
When/Where: Tuesday, November 10 through Thursday, November 12. Daily 9am—7pm. 214 W 29th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves, suite 1503 (212-465-0839)

Freebies: Today, H&M unveils their newly renovated...

2009-11-09T15:05:54Z

Today, H&M unveils their newly renovated flagship store at Fifth Avenue and 51st Street, and to celebrate, they're handing out gift cards to the first 300 people in line. There's a bit of a gamble involved, though: Cards are worth anything from $300 down to $10, which might not be worth waiting for. [Racked Inbox]

Burberry Launches Facebook Analogue

2009-11-09T14:50:51Z

Image via Art of the Trench

The Sartorialist's super-kinda-secret Burberry project is finally out in the open, and it's a social-networking site that's just about Burberry coats. It starts out as a library of photos of different people in coats, and you can sign up to leave comments about the ones you like, or don't like, as the case may be. You can choose to look at people by gender, style, coat color, and, awesomely, you can even sort the pictures by weather if you want to see people wearing trench coats in the rain. (Or if you just want to see people in Burberry trench coats getting rained on. We're not going to judge the schadenfreude-y.)

Burberry commissioned photographers to shoot fashion and street-style portraits of its coats, starting with the Scott Schuman photos that have been trickling out. You can also submit photos of yourself in a Burberry trench and cross your fingers that they put you on the main page with the fancy photos. In Burberry's perfect world, users will create profiles and upload photos and make libraries of their favorite coats. We've killed a few minutes on the site, but that sounds like more of something you'd want to do while wasting time on Facebook than something you'd want to do on an entirely separate Facebook-analogue that is just about Burberry coats.
· Burberry Makes Social Networking Pretty [Fashionista]
· Art of the Trench [Official Site]

Monday AM Clickage

2009-11-09T14:48:22Z

Artist Will Cotton's cake sculpture at Partners & Spade

Local
· Where to shop on Havemeyer Street in Williamsburg [NYMag]
· How to save $17.29 on YSL's Parisienne perfume [Brokelyn]
· Owner of Billy's Antiques & Props films own death for horror movie [Page Six]
· An undermining look at how Anna Wintour copes with turning 60 [NYP]

National
· Why fast fashion is "for losers" [PSFK]
· Alice & Olivia teams up with Erickson Beamon on jewelry [WWD, subscription req'd]

International
· How "feeble, pathetic" Versace lost its '90s luster [Newsweek]

Billboards: Jimmy Choo Shows Some Leg In MePa

2009-11-09T14:40:24Z

Now that we're down to the final days before H&M releases their most recent designer collaboration, Jimmy Choo for H&M, billboards like the one above spotted in the Meatpacking District should pop up around both NY and LA. This special ad space, high above the intersection of West 14th Street and 9th Avenue, is prime H&M territory, where they first splash images from their designer collab campaigns.

In the past, this billboard has been used to showcase the hot piece in the collections; see examples with the long dress from Matthew Williamson and the polka-dot scarf from Comme des Garcons. So what do we have here from Choo? The $129.99 shoes, the unique pair that's been flashed around since the first collection images leaked. Also keep in mind that the ad campaign was shot inside the Boom Boom Room top-floor bar/lounge at The Standard Hotel, which happens to be about a block away from this billboard. H&M sure knows their demographic for this collab.

If the triple-digit pricetag for H&M shoes doesn't deter and you choose Choos, the H&M collab releases bright and early this upcoming Saturday.
· Collabs: H&M Prepares Shoppers For Jimmy Choo [Racked]
· Jimmy Choo For H&M Already On eBay [Racked]
· Finally: Official Jimmy Choo For H&M Photos [Racked]

Now Open: BookCulture Opens Broadway Outpost

2009-11-09T14:03:22Z

The new BookCulture location that took over the old Morningside Bookshop space at 114th and Broadway, a spot home to beleaguered independent bookstores for five decades, opened its doors on Saturday and people were in and shopping before the boxes were even unpacked or the credit card system was operational. The woman we spoke with said the original BookCulture at 112th will remain open, but this location will be a more mainstream bookstore that will house, "more fun books. The other place will keep all the text books." Eventually the two BookCulture locations will be able to talk to each other so they'll be able to let you know what is in stock at both stores, but they're still working out the system.
· Storecasting: BookCulture Taking Over Old Morningside Bookshop Space [Racked]

La Perla Debuts New Line, Absorbs Superfluous Ones

2009-11-09T13:47:21Z

Images via WWD

La Perla is reworking some of its brand structures by consolidating a bunch of its current lines into three core brands, including the new Villa Toscana line of lingerie, beachwear and loungewear in pastel fabrics, flower prints and laser cut lace for contemporary, "aspirational" customers. Villa Toscana will absorb La Perla's current Anna Club, Aquasuit and Joelle brands. As part of the switch, the Black Label, Limited Edition and Bridal labels will be wrapped up in the highest-end line, called simply "La Perla," and La Perla Studio, Malizia and Glamour will just be "La Perla Studio" from now on.

La Perla is also rethinking its strategy and distancing itself from its more recent, fashion-oriented positioning. The fashiony lingerie was good for the brand, but was creating a disconnect with consumers, said La Perla's brand consultant, Frederic Loebb. "There were beautiful products in our windows, but remote from our customers and conveying the message that they were designed for top models' bodies," he said. The company plans to scale back on the fashion-oriented underpants for supermodels and make up the difference with pieces that focus on fit and timelessness.

]]> The new strategy thankfully involves a price drop of about 25 percent, so La Perla's bra and panty sets will run around $300, Villa Toscana's sets will be $150-200, and Studio will be running for under $150. La Perla's CEO Alain Prost says the lower prices will be possible by focusing on making "less, yet better, products" and taking more time on each piece. We were under the impression that producing more garments at lower quality was how most places manage to lower prices, and if you make fewer things of higher quality, you tend to wind up with uber-pricey clothes.
· La Perla Unveils New Strategy [WWD]

Rowley Takes Off: Cynthia Rowley has been hired by...

2009-11-09T13:08:51Z

Cynthia Rowley has been hired by United Airlines to design some new uniforms for flight attendants and other airline personnel. They're expected to start showing up in 2011, and we recommend she start by making all the uniforms available in all the sizes to avoid the kind of media kerfuffle Delta had to deal with when its Richard Tyler-designed uniforms included a red dress that was only available up to a size 18, but had navy uniforms up to a 28. [Mediabistro]

Racked Maps: Weekend Shopping Report

2009-11-07T14:00:04Z

We've laid out all the weekend's sales for you in handy map form; let us all know in the comments if anything is worth visiting. We're especially curious about what's left at Ungaro, about which we've heard mixed reviews. Also, what's the selection at Kontainer like?

Week in Review: Gap Scaffolding Collapse on Broadway; J.Crew's Crowded Sample Sale; and More

2009-11-07T13:20:30Z

In case you missed them, here are the top stories from the week in Racked: Disasters: Gap Down on Broadway and 8th Street, Lineblogging: J.Crew Not As Bad As It Looks, Storecasting: Filling Banana Republic's Gaps in Soho, Now Open: Babel Fair's Wonders of the World, Now Open: For Devi Kroell, 'UES' Means 'Unusual, Exotic Skins, and Now Open: Mysterious Mogul Nygård's Mini-Flagship

Racked NY

RackedWire: A Closer Look at Nau's Eco-Friendly Pop-Up; Lisa Perry's Moving On Up

Above the Fray: Hugo Boss "Sale" at Soiffer Haskin

DEALFEED: Hugo Boss

McQueen-adillos!: Fashion blog White Lighting uses the...

DEALFEED: Lafayette 148

Now Open: The 120+ Holiday Shops At Bryant Park

Storecasting: Bath and Beauty Line Skinnyskinny Cleans Up the 'Burg

Hugu Boos and Girgio Armwni: Please enjoy this series of photos...

DEALFEED: Elie Tahari

Collabs: Sonia Rykiel's Sexy Spanx for H&M

DEALFEED: Anlo, Shoshanna

Now Open: Superdry, Britain's Hollister, Hits Noho

Street Scenes: Rahel on E. 10th Street

Now Open: Jodi Arnold Pops Up on University Place

Makeovers: Soho's Banana Republic Gets Peeled

Are People Still Excited about Jil Sander for Uniqlo?

SPONSORED POST: American Apparel at HauteLook

Email Scan

Above the Fray: Lauren Moffat Lovely but Limited

Shoe Porn: We don't really understand why Bailey's...

Oh No Manolo: Will Exposure Ruin the Sample Sale?

Collabs: Another day, another celebrity getting into...

Retailers Really Want You to Buy a Snood

Tuesday AM Clickage

Collabs: Real Rodarte for Target Photos Finally Up

Luella Latest Label to Cease Trading

Monday PM Clickage

RackedWire: Another Apple UWS Peek; Petite Pomme Opens in Tribeca; Thakoon for Men

Racked Bookshelf: Grace Coddington's Catwalk Cats

Storecasting: Premium Sneakers Coming to Bed-Stuy

Inside Revamped H&M 5th Ave, With Jimmy Choo!

Billboards: Calvin Klein on Houston Does It Again

Street Scenes: Ryan on Seventh Avenue

New Magazine Alert: The Duane Reader

Now Open: Task Does the Job in Williamsburg

Deadlines: Coupon Sherpa has made millions of...

DEALFEED: White + Warren

Now Open: Bowery Bazaar, Good Old-Fashioned Flea

SPONSORED POST: It's Face Time at Equinox

Email Scan

DEALFEED: Lauren Moffatt

Freebies: Today, H&M unveils their newly renovated...

Burberry Launches Facebook Analogue

Monday AM Clickage

Billboards: Jimmy Choo Shows Some Leg In MePa

Now Open: BookCulture Opens Broadway Outpost

La Perla Debuts New Line, Absorbs Superfluous Ones

Rowley Takes Off: Cynthia Rowley has been hired by...

Racked Maps: Weekend Shopping Report

Week in Review: Gap Scaffolding Collapse on Broadway; J.Crew's Crowded Sample Sale; and More