Rumor Has It: Outnet.com Launching 4/16

So, for a few months now we’ve been teased with talk and speculation about theOutnet.com – Net-a-Porter’s discount diva sister site where shoppers will be able to snag last season’s Louboutins, Diane von Furstenberg, Chloé and more StyleMaxim favorites for 40-60% off.  Well, we’ve received word that the much anticipated launch is rumored to happen THIS THURSDAY, 4/16!!  In the meantime, you can visit the site and register your name, kind of anti-climactic but still, it’s something.  We have officially begun refreshing the page.

Obsessed with DVF: Brady Jacket Hot off the Presses!

You know we’re DVF-obsessed, right? Right! Here’s the scoop on the iridescent seersucker Brady jacket featured in the May ‘09 issue of Lucky Magazine, page 166 to be exact.  After some serious detective work (ok, ok, we just called the number listed in the mag), we found out that the jacket will be available sometime in May and will come in Grey and Gold.  They’ve had so many people call in about the Peach version below that they are considering producing it!  We’ll keep you posted!

Diane Von Furstenberg Brady Jacket, $285

Saks’ Fashion Faux Pas?

Saks Fifth Avenue received much criticism last November when it jumped the gun with its huge pre-holiday sale and slashed pries by 70%. After seeing this month’s ad campaign, we wonder if there’s a big disconnect between what’s going on in the retail world and Saks’ marketing strategy, which seems very short-sighted and in poor taste (or totally brilliant).

The campaign, which features Communist propaganda-inspired ads designed by Shepard Fairey, revolves around a mantra of conspicuous consumption that Saks has actually been using for a few years now. “WANT IT!”, scream the ads un-apologetically in bold, lipstick red font – and yet there’s not much to want. Saks, like its luxury retail counterparts Neiman Marcus and Barneys, has cut the number of featured designers leaving anemic looking racks.

More importantly, last month, the Wall Street Journal ran a great little interview with Anna Wintour in which she articulated what we’ve all been seeing not only in terms of fashion, but consumer behavior in general; the emphasis has shifted away from materialism – anything “too Dubai,” as Wintour puts it – towards simplicity and quality. On top of that, those who are still purchasing luxury goods don’t necessarily want to make a big show of it. Don’t get us wrong – the campaign is great and we LOVE Shepard Fairey, but it’s just the wrong time and place.  So what exactly is Saks thinking – is this a desperate ploy amidst the rumors of bankruptcy, an ill-timed move or are we just being too sensitive? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Style Matters 2009 Recap

A fun, eclectic group gathered at The Foundation Lounge in Kenmore Square on Thursday, March 19 to sip delicious vodka cocktails, talk Spring fashion and Boston entrepreneurship and support Dress For Success Boston.  The event was produced by the BU Entrepreneurs of Boston University’s Graduate School of Management.

Among us were our good friends, Grace Shin Im (our MC and 1st Runner Up for Miss Massachusetts) and Aileen Benson, founder of Style Fashion Production (our production consultant and runway coach).  Also in attendance, was Kim Todd, the Executive Director of Dress For Success, as well as a TON of friends and entrepreneurs from Boston’s growing fashion/media industry.  Together, not only did we raise over $4,000 for Dress For Success, but we had an incredible time!

The highlight of the evening was the Spring Silhouettes fashion show, which featured looks from Nirva, our favorite Boston designer and Lit Boutique on Newbury Street.  Hair and makeup were done by Phillipo and his team at Phillipostyle Hair Studio.

Click here for more photos from this fabulous event, read the article on BostonFashionIndustry.com and watch a short clip courtesy of New Brahmin!

Gucci Boston Event

FAB Gucci Event 2/24/09

We have to hand it to the Fashion & Retail Association of Boston University (FAB) – it organized a wonderful private event for its members at the new Gucci store in The Shops at Prudential Center on Boylston Street.

We arrived with plenty of time to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and browse the store. Our Italian friend, Silvia – a long time Gucci aficionado and retail marketing guru – offered her perspective on Frida Giannini’s impact on the brand since she became Creative Director in 2005. Silvia is unimpressed with the recent crystal GG collection, but maintains that the classics (especially the original Jackie hobo) are must-haves for any serious handbag collector.

Patrick Valeo of Gucci

What we anticipated would be an intimate affair became quite a crowd as FAB members gathered to hear Patrick J. Valeo, Vice President of Stores for Gucci America speak about his career path and the state of Gucci.

Valeo, who has held positions at Baccarat, Kiehl’s and LVMH was suprisingly young, very personable and down to earth. He shared personal career anecdotes and tips for succeeding in the retail industry. Networking is key (“use LinkedIn to make and keep track of contacts”), as is being proactive (“I pass along every unsolicited resume I receive”) and taking the time to listen to both customers and employees is extremely important.  Although he addressed a primarily undergraduate crowd, he gave a shout out to the MBAs in the room by stating that “managing four walls” is one of the best ways to put MBA training to good use.

Valeo also made it quite clear that Gucci is in great shape and has plans to expand despite the economic climate.

Congrats and thanks to FAB for a great event!

Designer Profile: Carlee Santarelli

Carlee Santarelli, a native Virginian and graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, knew from a young age that fashion was her life.  It wasn’t until she began working for Sonya Ooten, however, that she discovered her passion for jewelry.  Carlee’s first entry into the world of jewelry design is with a lovely collection of rings.

We love to make a statement, so when Carlee sent us her signature vintage fabric cabochon rings, we were thrilled!  Each hand-made ring is undeniably bold and one of a kind.  Carlee tops recycled vintage fabric with a cabochon to magnify the beauty of each unique textile.

Rings are $50 and available exclusively through Carlee’s studio and select LA boutiques.  For ordering information, email Illona Szabo.

Men: The Secret to Great Style

If you get a chance, take a look at the video of last week’s Louis Vuitton’s Men Fall/Winter 2009/10 Show in Paris – for two reasons.  First, you’ll undoubtedly catch a glimpse of Kanye West getting really excited over the debut of his sneakers (right), which will be available at LV stores in June for around $500 (btw, leave it to Kanye to wear the shoes that are in the show to the show!).

Second, you’ll notice that the looks are surprisingly accessible, simple and really easy to find inspiration in.  When we work with men, we find that they often think there’s a secret formula or a set template that once we give them – will secure them a place in the well-dressed category.  “Just tell me what I should be wearing,” they say.  It’s not that simple, and yet, it’s actually simpler.  It’s a misconception that whatever comes down the runway is meant to be “the template” (perhaps this is something women understand a little better than men).  Templates change from season to season.  The key to sustainable style is finding inspiration in the little things – the way a scarf is tied or a coat is belted, an interesting color/texture combination – and working those things that appeal to you into your everyday look.  It’s not a quick fix, but over time, you’ll notice the difference.  That said, here are some of our favorite looks from the LV show.

Michelle Obama in Jason Wu

Michelle looks absolutely stunning in her Jason Wu (Narciso Rodriguez‘ intern!) inauguration gown.

Are Our Quality Standards Too High?

After spending some time debating whether our quality standard for luxury goods just too high, we reached the conclusion that it’s absolutely not.  After all, we’d like to continue living in a world where young fashionistas can raid their mothers’ (or grandmothers’) closets and score some great vintage designer pieces. Is it really too much to ask for the seams of our Speedys to remain intact after a few years of use or for the red soles of our Louboutins to not show wear after only one night out?!

High end brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have enjoyed success because they’ve had brilliant creative directors and great marketing strategies for over a century. But the quality of their products seems to have decreased over the years – quite ironic given the fact that superb quality, not status, was the original value proposition for both of these brands.

Take Louis Vuitton, for example. In the mid-70s, to keep up with growing demand in the US, LV provided “The French Company” (now French Luggage) a special license to manufacture bags with its iconic monogram. Our vintage Speedy has held up better than its modern counterpart, a clear sign that they really just don’t make things like they used to.

In 2005 Louis Vuitton hired consulting firm McKinsey & Co. to help implement lean production techniques. Interestingly, the direct impetus for the program was not to increase quality, but to reduce production time and actually be able to stock to meet demand (very much counter to their previous strategy of forced scarcity). So while it doesn’t exactly resemble a Toyota plant, each LV factory has now shifted from having 250 employees each specializing in one task to “clusters of six to 12 workers, each performing several tasks” (read the WSJ article). LV proudly boasts that the defect rate has decreased.  That certainly saves the company money but doesn’t directly impact the customer since the quality control process happens before the bags hit the shelves. Ultimately, the defect rate doesn’t account for the quality of the material, which is probably diminished as it is moved around from station to station!  Our hunch is that our 2006 Speedy was produced under the new system and is evidence of the tradeoff between production speed (and a lower manufacturing cost) and the bag’s quality.

So, where exactly does that leave us? No more LVs – we’re holding out for a Birkin, with the hope that the ultra high end brands can actually live up to our quality standards (note that Hermès has increased its number of craftsmen, and has NOT changed its manufacturing system).

StyleMaxim Exclusive – Chloe & Reese Discount!

Fashion Boston Christian Dior Luncheon

What better way to spend a Friday afternoon than lunching with friends and viewing Dior’s 2009 Cruise Collection?

Thanks to Fashion Boston Magazine and its stylish editor-in-chief Alexandra Hall, Boston fashionistas had the privilege to enjoy the city’s first Dior fashion show. Models walked out of the Dior store and right into the Copley Atrium, where we enjoyed a fabulous lunch provided by Citrio.

Our friends at Boston Fashion Industry have photos and an article that do the luncheon way more justice than ours, but here are a few of our favorite pieces, courtesy of the Christian Dior site.

StyleMaxim Crowns Best Virtual Sample Sale!

The growing popularity of virtual sample sales means that we’re constantly alt-tabbing between three or more sites to find the good stuff. Is our energy even worth it?

In November, we set out to crown the #1 online sample sale. We ranked 3 sites: Gilt, Ideeli and HauteLook based on which had the best designers and highest average discount %.

First, we must confess, we discounted ideeli pretty quickly.  It was very accessory-focused and the brands weren’t all that spectacular.  So, we moved on to Gilt and HauteLook.  Both sites offer clothing and accessories for men and women.

The whole point of a virtual sample sale is that we don’t have to fight a mob of frenzied fashionistas (and fashionistos?) to get at that spectacular Badgley Mischka gown or that John Varvatos blazer.  Or do we?  After refreshing the sale page at 12pm on the dot and some harried clicking, we still couldn’t get the dresses we were eying from Gilt!  Feeling spurned, we decided to scour the internet for a particular party dress we had our eyes on and what did we find?  Gilt is actually marking up their items!  Another Badgley dress we saw on Gilt for $158 was $134 at Saks.  Same deal with a few others, but none of them were sold out.  So the lesson is, the good stuff goes fast and the leftovers aren’t worth it.

The winner was HauteLook, although the race was close and we’re still hoping to get lucky at Gilt one of these days.

HauteLook doesn’t have Gilt’s aesthetic appeal, but we actually managed to purchase a DvF dress from the Fall ‘08 collection and a Modern Amusement men’s overcoat both for super cheap (60% off).  A little digging around found the dress on sale on a few other sites but in a very limited number of sizes, and HauteLook’s price was the lowest.  HauteLook is slightly different in that instead of purchasing the items, they actually hold the sale and then order the reserved items that sold from the designer (a better business model, in our opinion).

While Gilt consistently brings the designers, prices aren’t the best and quantities are extremely limited.  HauteLook has a good balance of labels, price and availability.

iShopFem is premiering its first sale on December 8th, so we’ll let you know how it measures up next week.

Men: Cole Haan Shoes For Every Day of the Week

Use code NOVSALE30 to get an additional 30% off these sale items at Cole Haan (until Nov. 30th).

40% off Code at Shopbop

This is WAY too good to be true!  Where do you even begin? To make it easy for you we’ve picked out some of our faves. The code is DB40 and it’s good until Friday 11/21.

Spotlight on Diane von Furstenberg

Diane von Furstenberg is one of the fashion greats and a HUGE favorite of ours!  Credited with inventing the wrap dress we all know and love in the early 70s, DvF has maintained her place as a force in the fashion industry, constantly updating her iconic cuts and beautiful patterns to fit the times.  In 2006, she was named President of the CFDA.  Her board of directors?  Michael Kors, Derek Lam, Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren and John Varvatos, to name a few!

Shopbop usually carries a wide selection of DvF, and when we saw the Finola dress, we came to a complete halt.  LOVE the pattern, cut and the suptle lace detail around the hem.  The BONUS?  It’s also on sale!  This is a DvF too good to pass up!

Harvard Club Holiday Fashion Show Recap

The champagne flowed on November 12, 2008 as guests at the Harvard Club were treated to a fabulous evening of fashion and shopping.  Naturally, the highlight of the evening was the fashion show, produced by model and runway coach Aileen Benson and her team at Style Fashion Productions.  Aileen creatively choreographed the models (clad in holiday styles from Chloe & Reese, Nirva and Sara Campbell) to be lifted and positioned onto the runway by three pairs of male models in tuxedos.  Here are some highlights, courtesy of photographer Edward Fan:

Fair Warning – Varvatos and Jacobs This Week @ Gilt

What will you be doing on Tuesday 11/11 and Wednesday 11/12 at 11:59am?

We know WE’LL be refreshing Gilt.com to try to snag us some Marc by Marc Jacobs and John Varvatos as soon as the clock strikes 12!  These are two of our favorite designers, and at sample sale prices, this stuff will go within minutes.  So, set that Outlook reminder and make sure you’re a Gilt Member.  Here’s your invite: http://www.gilt.com/invite/stylemaxim

Sephora Friends & Family Discount 2008

After much speculation on whether the Sephora’s annual Friends and Family discount would be available this year, here it is!

Guys, Sephora has a lot of great stuff for you, too – check out the Sephora Men’s Store.

Elie Tahari Men @ Gilt Groupe

If you subscribe to our newsletter, you know that we’re rating four of the top virtual sample sales this month.  Gilt Groupe gets a point for this one.

Elie Tahari was half of the team behind Theory and we can definitely see the similarities between the two styles.  His designs are totally clean, streamlined and sophisticated and at sample sale prices the items below are amazing deals!  Grab these quick, the sale closes at midnight!

Great Addition to Your Holiday Dress Collection

Free People Twinkling Lights Dress, $188

Sephora Friends & Family Discount 2008

After much speculation on whether the Sephora’s annual Friends and Family discount would be available this year, here it is!

Guys, Sephora has a lot of great stuff for you, too – check out the Sephora Men’s Store.

Holiday Fashion Show at the Harvard Club

Join us on Wednesday, November 12th at the Harvard Club of Boston for an exclusive fashion show with some amazing designers. Hope to see you there!

• Chloe & Reese
• Nirva
• Sara Campbell

Women: Outfit of the Week

Totally bringing back the romper:

http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6401-473049-83&look=644347&width=4&height=2&layouttype=0

Sales, Sales Everywhere

Some of the highlights of our weekend:

• Revolve – 20% off with code ‘fall08′
• Fashion Chateau – 20% off with code ‘Chateau20′

Check out the stuff we picked up this weekend (ok, so it’s kind of random, but couldn’t resist; it’ll come in handy at some point soon):

http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6401-473049-83&look=644291&width=3&height=1&layouttype=0

Lipstick Jungle Style

Lipstick Jungle’s Nico Reilly (Kim Raver) is one of our style inspirations. We were so excited to discover the picture below on CelebStyle after having seen this chain-link necklace on Nico in the October 22 episode.

To tide ourselves over as we try to track down her actual piece, we complied this collection of chain-link necklaces.

http://widget.shopstyle.com/widget?pid=uid6401-473049-83&look=634814&width=3&height=1&layouttype=0

Our Newest “Gilty” Pleasure

Gilt Groupe is THE virtual sample sale to end all sample sales for both guys and gals! Right now we are completely nuts about the Swarovski Donatella Collier that’s available for $178 (vs. $425 retail). You may have noticed Vanessa Williams wearing a very similar necklace in last week’s episode of Ugly Betty and we can’t believe we found it here!

For men, we’re loving this Bamford & Sons Cashmere Crewneck sweater and a Chip and Pepper sale starts tomorrow. Oh, they have kids clothes, too – right now you can get Baby Juicy Couture for a fraction of the retail price. So, yeah. We’re pretty excited.

In case you’re not yet up on it, Gilt Groupe provides invitation-only access to men’s and women’s coveted fashion and luxury brands at prices up to 70% off retail! Each sale lasts only online for 36 hours and many items sell out quickly, so check it out before it’s too late! You can join here using our link: http://www.gilt.com/invite/stylemaxim

The Office Party

Style isn’t just about what you wear. Consider this “day-after” strategy the next time you get crazy at your company party – come in the next day acting like it never happened.  In the long-lost words of a sage whose name escapes me, “Act like you been somewhere before.” Your boss and your boss’ boss have worked hard to get where they are, and along with that hard work probably came some hard nights.  If you stroll in gabbing about the drunken escapades of your work chums or who made out with whom and have an unproductive day, you’re only showing them that you can’t handle burning the candle at both ends.  My strategy is simple: come into work, nod to the CFO, give a wry smile to my co-workers and hit the gas.  You should want to show the higher ups that you can be productive after a hard night and leave your hapless co-workers to the tomfoolery.

Baby Style at Topshop

This is the first installment of our baby style posts, thanks to a little inspiration from our friends M & M.

Fur Hooded Duffle, $55

Mini Check Dress, $36

Mini Dog Jumper, $32

Chloe & Reese

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending an exclusive Chloe & Reese Fall & Holiday Collection Trunk Show and absolutely loved what we saw. It’s so refreshing to see Annmarie Scotto, the designer putting her energy into creating timeless designs. Since the line’s successful launch less then a year ago, it is sold at fine retailers including Henri Bendel , Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie and Harrod’s of London. We particularly liked this dress on the right – it’s perfect for that special holiday party! The best part? You can customize this dress in virtually any color or pattern you’d like (yes, even hot pink).  For pricing and ordering information, contact melissa@chloeandreese.com and let her know StyleMaxim sent you!

Some more designs:

Men: Looking Good Is Not Difficult

A soft tee shirt, great pair of jeans and your favorite baseball hat never go out of style.  Often, men think that looking good is more complicated than it actually is.  Go to American Apparel, pick up some of those soft tri-blend t-shirts, put on a pair of relaxed 7s and you’re good to go pretty much anywhere.

Anya Hindmarch at Target – Grab these quick!

If you love Anya Hindmarch’s art-deco designs, you’ll be as excited as we are about her line for Target.  We know you can distinguish between the classic AH and the Target designs (right) but they look pretty good for 19.99 – 44.99.  Hurry up and order them – these are going to sell out quickly.  They’re already gone in the UK!

Stimulate the Economy: Great Deals on Essentials, Fellas

Guys, we know you don’t have time to think about it, so we’ve thought about it for you.  Now’s the time to update your jeans and work-wear.

http://stylemaxim.com/blog/?p=262

Stimulate the Economy: BIG Sales Going On Around Town, Ladies

Did you know that now is actually the best time to pick up that L.A.M.B. clutch or those Swarovski-studded A-pockets you’ve been eying? Yeah, yeah, we know that some of these need to sit in your closet until spring but who cares?! It’s called being proactive and these are some of the best deals ever!

Men at Work, Vol. 1

Women At Work, Vol. 1

Looks for our clients – JK

Looks for our clients – JK by StyleMaxim

Looks for our clients – MS

Looks for our clients – M.S. by StyleMaxim

Looks for our clients – HG

Looks for our clients – HG by StyleMaxim

Louboutin Dinner Party

Louboutin Dinner Party by StyleMaxim

Women at Work, Vol. 1

Men at Work, Vol. 1

Louboutin T-Shirt

How ingenious!  Who knew you could have your own Louboutin for only $40?!  We are definitely scooping one of these up ASAP.  FYI – If you sign up for Karmaloop’s mailing list, you can get it for $30!

Free Gold Watch 'Louboutin' T-Shirt, $40

Spotlight on Topshop

Topshop’s coming to NYC this fall!  Here are some of our top picks:

Topshop Apple Ruffle Dress, $150 - So cute, a Kate Moss design.

Topshop Meadham Kirchoff Top, $125

Topshop Boutique Multi Silk Tank, $90

Topshop Leather Lock Purse, $36

Men: The Best T-Shirts

If you’re like me, you can’t have too many t-shirts.  Here are some of my favorites.

American Apparel Tri-Blend, $20

Banana Republic Essential Crew, $16.50

James Perse V-Neck, $46

Spotlight on Coach

We’ve got our eyes on Coach this season – If you look past the multi-color/patchwork monogram fabric, you’ll find some amazingly supple leather and beautiful designs.  Here’s what we’ve got our sights set on:

Coach 'Whitley' Boot, $398 - You'll never need another boot. Ever. Also available in black.

Coach 'Sabrina' Handbag, $458 - Green patent leather perfection.

Coach 'Madison' Handbag, $498 - Hands down the bag to wear to work.

Coach 'Bridgit' Clutch, $498 - Small but SO unforgettable.

Men: This Week’s Hot Purchases, Vol 1.

Click on each image to go to the store’s site.

Ralph Lauren Half-Zip Sweater, $98 - Upgrade your sweater collection! We like the yellow and camel best.

Kenneth Cole 'Deal Me N' Loafers, $145 - These make a great transition from the office to après-work drinks.

Asics 'Wooly' Sneaker, $80 - Because you like weekends best.

Women: This Week’s Hot Purchases, Vol. 1

We’re always scouting hot items everywhere we go.  The top items that grab our attention the hardest each week will be posted here.  That said, here they are (click on each image to go to the store’s site):

American Apparel Hoody Dress, $39 - Perfect with black leggings and some Uggs, n'est pas?

Burberry Heeled Rainboot, $350 - Because those brightly colored ones are just not as polished. Also available in black.

Swatch Chronograph, $135 - This watch makes a great fall accessory.

Smashbox O-GLOW

We’ve been totally obsessed with Smashbox O-GLOW, the “intuitive cheek color” that is clear in the tube and then turns a cupcake-frosting pink when applied. It turns out it’s not really all that “intuitive”.  Apparently you can apply it to anything – even inanimate objects – and it’ll turn pink. You know what? We don’t care. It is still an Official StyleMaxim Summer Product.  It is the summer of product in a tube. So there.

Smashbox O-GLOW, $26 - This cheek color gives you the perfect blush.

Nike+ SportBand Review

We finally received the Nike+ SportBand on Monday after pre-ordering from Nike.com and decided to take it out for a spin today. Here are our observations:

Design: Pretty cool, very lightweight

Function: Weeell…

• The USB connector is poorly designed when it comes to actually inserting it into your laptop. It has a slight curve to it so as to fit the contour of the band but if your laptop is on a flat surface (such as a desk), it won’t plug in properly or at all. So weird that Nike didn’t think of that – did they test it at all?!
• Also, Pause vs. Stop Workout is sort of unclear. Perhaps we should read the manual but since there’s only one button it’s kind of hard to figure out. The audio cues you get when using the iPod+ are better.
• The battery life is only two hours. Not that we can run for that long, but it means you have to be conscious about keeping it charged. It does have a battery indicator on the screen so that helps.
• The screen is easy to read and toggling between Distance/Pace/Calories while running is also pretty simple.
  

Botom Line: Eh, it’s not bad for $60. Not sure how we feel about it yet. We’ll still listen to our iPods while running, but will use the SportBand as well.

Dining: Yada Yada Cafe, Boston MA

Yada Yada 34 Farnsworth Street · Boston, MA 02210 · (617) 451-9232 Walking into Yada Yada is walking into a magical place of fresh baked muffins and scones, friendly staff and cozy kitch.  Just go there, and you’ll see.