Hooked: Balenciaga Glove Sandal

Why mess with a classic. Just colorize it. That's the thinking behind Balenciaga's Glove sandal, a calf- and lambskin staple of Nicolas Ghesquière's runway. For spring, he simply added two warm hues to the cast of colors: terra cotta and rosewood. No other tinkering. Fin.

$745 at Balenciaga stores

• Posted Feb 02, 2012
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Hooked: The Beatles Comme des Garçons

When Comme des Garçons teamed up with The Beatles trademark on co-branded merch in late 2009, it was something of a magical mystery, minus the tour. Would it be a bunch of overpriced concert tees? Would any remaining Beatles be involved? And what's the connection anyway between an iconic English band and an iconic Japanese juggernaut? The answers: no, no, and we're still not sure. But we do know the collaboration was met with universal nods of approval.

Now, on February 17, Comme des Garçons will release more styles from The Beatles Comme des Garçons collection. They include rucksacks ($680-860) in tartan prints or all black, both with that curious green apple and The Beatles logo, in addition to two new tartan shirts ($395) in red or blue check.

Available at Dover Street Market and Comme stores in Paris and New York, until the worldwide launch in April. 

• Posted Jan 31, 2012
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Money Where Your Mouse Is: Amy Winehouse for Fred Perry

It's been seven months since her sudden and tragic death, but Amy Winehouse was again the subject of controversy last week when Jean Paul Gaultier showed his spring 2012 couture collection. With its black beehives and wannabe-Fred Perry polos, he imagined it as a tribute to the late singer. Her family and fans didn't agree.

They would say a more fitting tribute is a collection she was actually involved with, and which comes with her family's blessing: her collaboration with the real Fred Perry label. Winehouse's second and last collection, spring 2012, bursts with her perennial inspirations—namely, vintage 50's Americana and art-deco Miami. The new offerings include retro cadillac and jukebox prints across tie-waist blouses and collared dresses, pastel pink and blue gingham shirting, hot pants, cuffed knickers and a tie-back raspberry pink halter that is so undeniably, inimitably Amy.

Available January 30 at Amy Winehouse for Fred Perry

• Posted Jan 29, 2012
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A Store Is Born: RA Paris

The Antwerp Six descended on Paris in 1988—and it seems the invasion isn't over yet. Enter RA Paris, a temporary satellite of RA Antwerp, that city’s vanguard shopping spot. Running through Fashion Week (aka March 3), Anna Kushnerova and Romain Brau have popped up in the Marais (14, rue de la Corderie), creating a tripped-out shopping experience based on the Surrealist salons of the 1920s. In keeping with the absurdist spirit, RA Paris will host a slate of happenings, like Serkan Cura's feathery couture show that kicked it all off.

Back in Antwerp, RA opened in 2009 as a vehicle to support young designers, and now the quirky shop carries everything from cutting-edge special projects to takeaway lunches. Its Paris location will encompass the same vision, with clothes from the likes of British glam-grungers Meadham Kirchhoff alongside vintage garments by the likes of Chanel, Alaïa and Mugler. Now that's an invasion the French can get behind. 

• Posted Jan 29, 2012
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Money Where Your Mouse Is: Karl at Net-a-Porter

Karl Lagerfeld has landed at Net-a-Porter. And it looks like no part of the e-tailer has been left untouched. Its online magazine declares “KARL IS HERE," followed by a definition of KARL-O-PE-DI-A (in case you didn't know, it's a noun that means “a comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects or numerous aspects of the one and only Karl Lagerfeld”). The words “innovator," "pioneer," and "visionary” make ample appearances. Even the “a” in Net-a-Porter is now the ponytailed profile of the designer's head.

Lagerfeld's exclusive collection for Net-a-Porter is modeled by Abbey Lee, Arizona Muse, Sui He, Saskia de Brauw, and Anja Rubik. In an editorial shot by the man himself, these five catwalk queens rock such edgy, monochromatic staples as metallic silk dresses, cracked leather collars, and biker-style vest jackets. With zips and sharp corners everywhere, the collection brings together a mix of influences, from 80s New Wave to androgyny. Shoes also figure into the equation, with heeled gladiator sandals the clear winner.

To celebrate the online launch, five offline pop-up shops were unveiled in Paris, New York, London, Berlin and Sydney. Net-a-Porter describes the massive global interest as “all about Karl”—and that's the only way it could ever have been.

Visit Net-a-Porter

• Posted Jan 26, 2012
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A Store Is Born: Louis Vuitton Rome

For the ultimate tour of the iconic history of Louis Vuitton, consider visiting the Eternal City instead of the City of Light. As it turns out, Rome is home to Louis Vuitton's latest store, a word that doesn't do justice to the import of its Piazza San Lorenzo location in a building dear to Romans, the Etoile Cinema.

Louis Vuitton's first Maison in Italy, the century-old cinema that closed its doors over ten years ago will spring back to life, not only carrying Vuitton’s full women's and men's collections and displaying its finest finery (i.e. rare, museum-quality luggage), but also offering screenings of important films. Italy is synonymous with film and Louis Vuitton would never deprive Romans of their cultural legacy.

• Posted Jan 26, 2012
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Hooked: Lanvin Eyewear

Following Lanvin's recent debut of a sunnies collection, the house has set its sights on everyday prescription glasses (as if anything Lanvin does is ordinary). Its first optical collection under the creative direction of Alber Elbaz draws inspiration from retro shapes and industrial details—not to mention the designer's own signature specs.

Square and round frames in horn and various metals are accompanied by jewel accents, visible screws and antique finishes for a familiar, friendly 1930s feel, while a color palette of beige, brown and ocean blue ensure that they're suitable for all skin tones. Enough to make you flub that routine eye exam on purpose? We think so.

Here's a video that sheds light on the manufacturing process...

• Posted Jan 24, 2012
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Alexander McQueen Is Finally Available at Dover

Don't ask why it's taken this long, just bask in the news that Sarah Burton's Alexander McQueen is, for the first time, gracing the racks at Dover Street Market. It's just one of the pleasant surprises from today's big reveal of the spring collections, arranged in settings customized by the designers themselves. Ann Demeulemeester overhauled her space, while Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, and Stephen Jones made wee tweaks to theirs.

Never to be outdone, all of the new collections by Comme des Garçons have arrived, from Play to Junya Watanabe, and in the basement New York designer David Lindwall has installed his "nihilistically beautiful" T-shirts. As for the smiles on street level, the new window display comes courtesy of artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. Never a dull moment at Dover.

• Posted Jan 15, 2012
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Sale Alert!

Mountains of black snow and ice haven't yet piled up on New York City curbs. Which is to say, it's a good time to hit some sales. All of the following start today...

Aloha Rag
- 50-70% off most fall collections
- 505 Greenwich St., NYC

Project No. 8
- Final men's markdown. Up to 60% off current-season coats, shirts, sweaters, trousers, shoes, scarves, ties
- 38 Orchard Street (at Hester), NYC

Opening Ceremony
- Up to 70% off the likes of Rodarte for OC, Christopher Kane, Band of Outsiders, Marios Schwab
- Store locations and online

• Posted Jan 12, 2012
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Hooked: Maison Martin Margiela

Both fighters and lovers can get behind Maison Martin Margiela's new men's sneaker style for spring. Based on boxing shoes, with their characteristic flat sole and acres of rope-like shoelace, the suede high-tops float like a butterfly, but sting with a $680 price tag.

• Posted Jan 08, 2012
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