Cheryl Shops

The Calypso for Target collection is due in stores May 1st, and since that's nearly two weeks away, Target has released a lookbook featuring images of the entire collection--women's clothing and accessories, girls' clothes, and home items. There's a definite bohemian vibe, with strong tie-dye and elephant motifs running throughout. Fans of Calypso should be pretty happy, particularly if you love maxi dresses and ruffles; there are also some very summery woven tote bags and lovely beach hats. Clothingwise, my favorite item is this $36.99 dress, which I intend to wear as a swimsuit cover-up (I am incredibly in need of a new one); really, I'm the most enthralled with the home items, like the $59.99 pouf, a similar version of which Calypso Home sells for--I kid you not--$3,000. Prices range from $1.99-$79.99, and according to Racked, which has the full lookbook posted, quality is pretty high. Let's hear it for masstige!

Last week Uniqlo announced its upcoming three-part Designer Invitation Project [subscription required]. It kicks off with the return of Costello Tagliapietra next week on April 21, Charlotte Ronson arrives on May 5, and Vena Cava follows on May 12. Supposedly items will remain in stores until May 21; I have a feeling they'll sell out long before then, especially since every piece is just $29.99. The Cut has a full preview of the collection for your shopping-strategy purposes; hands off this Charlotte Ronson design--it's mine.

In shoe news, a reminder that the Swedish Hasbeens collection for H&M hits stores April 20; and always a favorite, the spring Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes are high-heeled, pointy-toed, colorblocked, and totally right up my alley. Fashionista has the scoop; shoes are due in stores mid-April, which means any day now!

If, like me, you're salivating over the Derek Lam for eBay crowd-sourced collection, good news: You can pre-order it now before it technically goes on sale to the public on May 10. And, finally, for the patterned-leggings fans out there, Topshop collaborated with Meadham Kirchoff, a London duo known for flowy, trippy, magpie-ish creations like, well, this. Proceed with caution.

 

So much has happened in the world of masstige since my last update! This is going to be a long post, so let's jump right in.

Target has released images of all the Go International Designer Collective dresses (otherwise known as Go International greatest hits) due to hit stores March 13th. Racked National posted the entire lookbook for all 34 dresses, so you can make a plan of attack. Going through it was a fun trip down memory lane for me; I will definitely be ordering the Thakoon dress at right (I already have the batik-print one that's also part of the collection) and the Rogan leopard-print dress--those were two of my absolute favorite collections ever, and who doesn't love a second chance in life? And even better, all dresses will retail for $50 or less!

And speaking of Target, their spring collaboration with Dolce Vita is already live--there are 20 or so styles (some are left over from winter and are on clearance), many of which are very similar to DV's main line. I have my eye on this nude wedge espadrille ($29.99!).

Forever 21 has also gone masstige-crazy recently; a Rollergirl-themed Petro Zillia collection debuted last month, and as of today, Rory Beca's collection is live on their website. Both lines are reportedly available in all 250 Forever 21 stores, but as you know, finding something specific at that store is, to paraphrase Clueless, like searching for meaning in a Pauly Shore movie. Regardless, I find the Rory Beca line to be more on the wearable side; I might just order this romper--not bad for $28.

Also available now, but of a slightly elevated masstige level is Steven Alan's collaboration with Dockers. There are three pants and a skirt for women, and three pants styles, one short, and one shirt for men; prices range from $128-$148--higher than usual for Dockers, but much lower than Steven Alan's usual prices. Everything is pretty basic but sure to please Steven Alan's many devotees.

If you missed out on voting for the upcoming crowd-sourced Derek Lam for eBay collection during Fashion Week, here are the 5 looks that will be produced. Prices range from $175 for the black sheath (one of my favorites) to $295 for the floral-print maxi dress (my other favorite), all styles come in sizes 0-16, and all will be available for purchase staring May 10.

Finally, apparently Vena Cava let slip at a Fashionista-sponsored panel that they're collaborating with Uniqlo. No details are available yet, but based on Vena Cava's numerous past collabs (Gap, Bloomingdale's, Via Spiga) and Uniqlo's, I have a feeling it will be pretty awesome. Of course, I will provide more information when I have it, so check back soon!

When & Where: Thursday, February 10 at noon, Milk Studios
Runway Recap: While waiting for Vena Cava's show to start, I tweeted that the music (specifically Happy Mondays' "Step On") was taking me right back to 1994--and, as it turned out, I was entirely correct about the year Sophie Buhai and Lisa Maycock had in mind when designing this collection. While not exactly an about-face from the duo's Memphis-inspired minimalism for spring, it was an evolution of that minimalism, albeit with a very strong nod to the sexy, Calvin Klein supermodel minimalism of the mid '90s. In other words: slinky matte jersey, shrugs, chokers (by Dannijo), square necklines, and cropped tops. Steeped in nostalgia, it completely took me back to my days as a Contempo Casuals salesgirl; the unfortunate aspect of this is that if you've worn it the first time around, you're too old for the second time. Maybe I can make an exception to that rule.
Standout Look: From the knit black tank and matching shrug to the striped kilt-like skirt, this is totally an outfit my teenage self would have loved. All that's missing is a pair of Dr. Martens.
Bonus Points: The well-stocked gift bag contained Proper Attire condoms (in packaging designed by Vena Cava), hand lotion, toothpaste and toothbrush, nail polish, and 'Zina Cava, a zine detailing the collection's mid-'90s inspiration.
Where to Buy: Click here for store locations.

Where & When: Thursday, September 9 at noon, Milk Studios
Runway Recap: If you are a regular Cheryl Shops reader, you'll know that Vena Cava is one of my personal favorite lines; the silhouettes are equally sexy and understated, their colors and prints are interesting, and the clothes just have a chic look to them. Designers Lisa Mayock & Sophie Buhai, always tapped in to what cool girls want to wear, were influenced by the Memphis design movement of the '80s, which translated into bright but offbeat colors, geometric shapes, and an overall minimalist bent. The collection was very controlled and well thought-out, and it also showed a certain maturity (that's as in experience, not as in something that won't appeal to their hip demographic). That said, it should also be noted that Vena Cava can take offbeat, even grandmotherly things--colors like salmon and ochre, shapes like culottes and midcalf skirts--and make them instantly desirable.
Standout Look: While there were some great tailored pieces in the collection, the dresses really caught my attention. This one has a somewhat unusual color combination at the neckline, paired with a free-form (but not shapeless) silhouette. Also, overall, I loved the styling in the show--wide cloth headbands, chunky geometric necklaces, tied belts, and chunky wooden wedges.
Bonus Points: I was lucky to get into this show--MAC at Milk is a notoriously small venue, and even Susie Bubble was relegated to the standing-room-only area with me. That said, I was actually happy to stand, because for once, I could see down to the shoes, and my photos turned out pretty well. One thing that helped this: the mellow music and the models' languid pace, a refreshing alternative to the usual breakneck stomp.
Where to Buy: Click here for stores.

The Vena Cava for Aqua collection is now on sale at Bloomingdales.com! The handy landing page gives you an at-a-glance preview of the entire line, and I can say it looks very Vena Cava, which is good news for fans of the label. The day dresses are what really stand out for me; this triangle-print chiffon number is my favorite, I think (although it's hard to pick!). The collection is available now online and in stores starting September 1st.

Nitrolicious reports that the Isabel Toledo for Payless collection is now live; I must say, I'm impressed with how much quirkiness the mass chain let her get away with. Case in point: the totally weird yet awesome High Ghillie booties and the fabulous Belted Poodle boots. My favorite pair, however, is the supersexy Toreador pump--with shoes this hot, who needs leather?

And, finally, in other shoe news, Fashionista reports that the next round of Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes hit stores October 19th and, shockingly, cost only $95. I'll take one of each!

The lucky ladies at Fashionista got to model the new Vena Cava for Aqua collection, which will be available at Bloomingdale's and Bloomingdales.com this fall. (I love the sexy lace inset on this tee, pictured at right. It's very Vena Cava.) I also spotted a wispy faux fur vest in the Bloomingdale's Girls Night Out catalog that came over the weekend. Speaking of Vena Cava, Style.com has photos of their lower-priced Viva Vena line, which according to them, is in stores now.

And while I always cover Target's clothing and accessory masstige collections, I often glaze over its home collaborations. Until now, that is--Nitrolicious has photos of the upcoming John Derian for Target line; the 100-piece collection is priced entirely under $25 and hits stores September 5. (And for the John Derian fans out there, this is actually his second project with Target--the first happened two years ago). Lucky for me, I will be in Michigan, land of suburban sprawl, when these products hit shelves, so look out, Michigan Targets. I'm coming!

Just announced today, Vena Cava is designing for Bloomingdale's Aqua line. Aqua is always one of my go-to sources for trendy and fairly inexpensive but well-made clothes--think of it as a step above the Forever 21s and H&Ms of the world. As far as designer lines go, Vena Cava isn't terribly expensive to begin with (you can find their dresses on sale for less than $200), but based on their upcoming Viva Vena line (in stores this fall) and now this collaboration, it's obvious the VC girls are casting a wider net, and I will gladly take the bait.

At long last, the East Harlem Target is finally opening this Sunday, and to commemorate the occasion, the chain will debut a mini masstige collection inspired by the neighborhood. Target's Harlem collection features dresses by '70s uptown designer Stephen Burrows, and beach towel sand swimwear designed respectively by husband-and-wife duo Ruben and Isabel Toledo. Nylon has a preview, and while the Isabel Toledo bikini has been getting all of the blog attention, I find myself most drawn the the towels, particularly this butterfly one. The collection will be available at the East Harlem Target starting Sunday, and online and in select Target stores starting August 1st.

Speaking of Target, they've been offering one-off designer exclusives in their Red Hot Shop. Currently they have this cute Geren Ford dress for sale. It's $89.99, which is a bit high for Tar-zhay, but it's 100% silk and very Geren Ford (whose signature dresses normally retail in the $300-$400 range).

Forever 21 is apparently hoping to become known more for its designer collaborations than its designer lawsuits: It announced a first collab with Brian Lichtenberg, who apparently dresses Beyoncé and the Kardashian sister but is probably best known for "designing" Lady Gaga's caution-tape ensemble in her "Telephone" video. The collection will feature mostly tanks for women and men, and it hits select stores August 13. You can read about it on Forever 21's blog, The Skinny (yes, really).

Finally, Fashionista is reporting that Erin Wasson x RVCA is dunzo, since Billabong announced it was buying the surf-and-skate-inspired line last week. Which is all well and good; there's always their collaboration with Rumi Neely.

Just weeks ago I reported Uniqlo was collaborating with Velvet, and now, as of this morning, that collection has hit the store. Racked reports that everything is very soft and under $20, and that there are still a ton of pieces in stock. It may not be reinventing the wheel, but I'll take a nice pair of jersey harem pants or a cute tank dress any day.

On a slightly more exciting note, Fashionista has pictures from the upcoming Mark Fast for Topshop collection, which lands in stores next Friday, June 25. Prices should be in the $!00-$200 range (unless Topshop decides to jack up the exchange rate), and, um, I will take one of these, please. (Side note: Fashionista has vastly improved after hiring the knowledgeable Lauren Sherman as its editor. If you had given up on it, I suggest giving it another try.)


Not quite masstige but definitely on the more affordable side come two items of good news. One is that Viva Vena, Vena Cava's lower-priced line, has released a lookbook, and Elle has it. Everything will reportedly retail for under $200, and the line is due in stores this fall. In even better news, one of my favorite designers, Yigal Azrouel, is repositioning his Y Yigal line as Cut 25 [subscription required], a broader contemporary collection with more separates and more of a cooler, downtown-girl aesthetic. The line should retail for about a third the cost of Azrouel's main collection, and it will debut exclusively at Saks, Bergdorf Goodman, and Intermix in July.

Of the 35 shows I saw, here are my personal favorite ten, in no particular order.

Vena Cava
Airy chiffon dresses and quirky prints meet leather pants and punky details to create a downtown girl's ultimate wardrobe.


Rad Hourani
Without regard to season or trend, Rad further refines his signature look of boxy biker jackets and skinny pants.


Tibi
With bright colors, pretty prints, and a Guns N Roses soundtrack, Tibi delivered a breath of fresh spring air.



Yigal Azrouel
The draped jersey dresses, pegged trousers, and washed leather jackets of my dreams.


Toni Maticevski
With artfully shredded tulle and sooty colors, decaying glamour has never looked more beautiful.


Max Azria
It looks like Max Azria has found a strong voice for his signature line: an edgy minimalist sophisticate.


Rebecca Minkoff
Totally on-trend, wearable looks that gave a nod to early-'90s Versace and the Supermodels.


Chado Ralph Rucci
Impeccable from start to finish, with an incredible regard for a woman's body, a gorgeous collection that twisted and turned around the spine.


Nicole Miller
The perfect juxtaposition between techno-sleek structure versus soft fluidity.


Ports 1961
A lovely voyage to Japan, rendered in gorgeous fabrics and shapes that effortlessly floated away from the body.

Vena Cava Spring 2010
Where & When: Thursday, September 10th at noon, Milk Studios
Runway Recap: Words cannot describe how excited I was to be invited to the Vena Cava show; it's one thing to be invited to a show of a designer you appreciate, and another thing entirely to be invited to a show of a designer you truly admire (and wear). And so watching the Vena Cava show felt like shopping--I literally made stars on the run sheet next to the looks I want to buy. There was so much great stuff: unique prints, flowy chiffon dresses, fluttery jersey dresses, tribal details, slouchy pants and blazers, and even some punk-rock details. The styling was cool (all the models wore sunglasses), the makeup was cool (purple lips and nails), and, yes, the clothes were cool.
Standout Look: The subtle mix of textures and prints--the printed and solid silk with a striped elastic belt--make a somewhat complicated idea totally easy to wear. This was one of many great dresses in the collection.
Bonus Points: This was my first show at Milk Studios, the "cool kids" alternate venue downtown, and aside from the fact that I had no phone reception, Milk gets two thumbs up from me. The show had a very democratic first-come-first-serve seating plan (hence how I ended up in the front row), and, for extra bonus points, the Fiery Furnaces provided live music.
Where to Buy: Click here for store locations.

MasstigeWatch!
This one is a quickie! First of all, The Tracy Feith Go International collection is now live (it has been since Sunday) but, sadly, the leather jacket pictured here is already sold out, as are some of the other looks, like the mixed floral-print dress. Who would've thought Feith's quirky floral prints would've been such a big hit? I might order the white dress or the flower power bikini, but otherwise, I'm sitting this one out.

In other news, yesterday's WWD [subscription required] had some more info on the upcoming Gap Design Editions collection, which I reported on earlier this month. They've released the ads, which feature hot models Raquel Zimmerman, Anna Jagodzinska, Arlenis Sosa and Coco Rocha. Also, the abundance of hats has been explained: They're designed by Albertus Swanepoel, who is the CFDA Fashion Fund recipient for accessories. As stated before, Vena Cava and Alexander Wang are the other designers, and everything is khaki; prices run a very reasonable $39.50 to $88. Most importantly, the collection hits stores June 16th. Because I pretty much want everything pictured at left (especially that Vena Cava sheath!), I'm there.

MasstigeWatch!
For the last two years, the Gap's Design Editions have been variations on the classic white shirt, but this year, designers are taking on one of its other old standbys: khaki. Racked has leaked photos, and while there are only two designers participating this year, those designers are Alexander Wang and Vena Cava, which are two of my favorites, which means I am incredibly excited about this collection. The obvious pick is the Wang motorcycle jacket, but my absolute favorite is the dress pictured at right, from Vena Cava (I'm assuming). There are no other details--like when it's hitting stores--available at the moment, but as soon as I hear anything, I'll post it right here.